Maybe you just ran into the pet store for a bag of cat litter, or perhaps you met with a friend to walk around the local mall for exercise. Unfortunately, there was a wet spot on the floor or an unsecured electrical cord in your path, and you ended up slipping or tripping – and then falling. 

A slip-and-fall situation could lead to major injuries, including a brain injury or broken bones. People who fall while at a store may expect to file an insurance claim or a civil lawsuit for compensation. When is the business where a slip and fall occurs responsible for the incident? 

When negligence led to the slip and fall

To bring a premises liability claim in civil court, an injured party will typically need to show that either there was some kind of regulatory non-compliance or that the business was negligent. 

Claims of negligence are more common than claims of misconduct, in part because many businesses engage in very unsafe practices. If you can show the business didn’t take reasonable steps to keep you safe, you could hold them accountable for your injuries. 

Understaffing a facility so that there aren’t enough staff members on hand to both tend to customers and keep facilities clean is a common and negligent business practice. Deferring repairs to roofs or damaged flooring is another negligent choice, as most people would recognize the risk that comes from making those decisions. 

If the circumstances that led to your injury related to negligence on the part of the business, then you may have grounds to initiate a claim against them. Knowing your rights after a slip-and-fall incident can help you defray the costs you may have incurred.

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Dogs are generally friendly and loyal companions. However, these friendly canines can quickly become aggressive if they feel frightened or threatened. And if they attack, the outcome can be life-altering.

Besides the physical injuries, a dog attack can also leave you with emotional trauma. If you or someone you love is a victim of a preventable dog attack, you may be eligible for financial restitution through a premises liability lawsuit. However, there are certain steps you need to take to increase your odds of getting the compensation you deserve. Here are some of them:

Seek treatment

If a dog attack results in a physical wound of causes excessive bleeding, you need to see a doctor immediately. A dog bite can lead to soft tissue injury, broken bones, disfigurement and nerve damage among other injuries. Additionally, the attack can also put you at risk of contracting infections like rabies, sepsis and tetanus among other bacterial infections.

Seeking treatment immediately following the attack will ensure that you receive the care you need to dress your wounds and stop the bleeding. It will also ensure that you receive an anti-rabies vaccine as well as treatment for other dog bite-related infections. Most importantly, it will ensure that you obtain a medical report that directly links your injuries to a dog bite. And this is important for litigating your personal injury case and justifying your financial claims.

File your claim

The financial costs associated with a dog attack (medical costs, missed work as well as emotional trauma) can run into thousands of dollars. To receive the compensation you deserve, you will need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the dog owner. However, you must do this with the statute of limitations period. In California, you have two years from the date of the attack to sue the dog owner for damages.

A dog attack can leave you physically and emotionally shaken. Find out how you can pursue damages if you are a victim of a preventable dog attack.

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There are many injuries that can occur during a car crash. For many victims, the injuries are minor things like pulled muscles, but there are also many catastrophic injuries that can occur. One of these is internal bleeding. 

Internal bleeding is a major issue because it’s not easy to recognize. If it’s left untreated, this can become life-threatening. It’s crucial that you get immediate medical care if you have any symptoms of internal bleeding. Some people who have this condition need surgery to stop the bleeding, and they may need to receive blood transfusions.

What are the symptoms of internal bleeding?

One of the reasons why it’s so hard to recognize internal bleeding is because the symptoms often mimic other conditions, and you can’t see any obvious outward signs that something is amiss. Some of the more common symptoms of internal bleeding include:

• Severe headache
• Severe weakness
• Severe abdominal pain
• Passing out
• Dizziness
• Problems with vision
• Shortness of breath
• Numbness
• Rapid heart rate
• Sweating profusely
• Low blood pressure
• Gastrointestinal symptoms

Some people with internal bleeding will develop bruising on the abdomen that can’t be attributed to anything else. Blood in the urine is also possible. They may also have dark vomit or stool that closely resembles used coffee grounds. 

Anyone who’s involved in a car crash should get medical care right away. Catastrophic injuries are best addressed quickly. This medical care can be expensive, so victims may choose to seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. California law limits how long you have to do this after a crash, so be sure you don’t waste time. 

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Although the phone is often vilified as the most dangerous driving distraction – and with good reason – it may not actually be the biggest issue. It’s just the one that impacts almost all drivers in the same way, since the vast majority of people have phones. But it may not be the largest distraction in its own right.

Some studies have found that having children in the car is a bigger distraction for parents than if they were on their phones. The distraction level was found to be 12 times as great. This can cause severe car accidents that could injure passengers or individuals in other vehicles. Any distraction is problematic, but that’s a very concerning increase. 

What do these distractions look like?

The distractions that children create have a wide range. For very young infants, the distraction could simply be crying or whining in the car, which is very common. Older children could ask for snacks or help picking up toys that they’ve dropped on the ground. Parents often wind up handing out items, answering questions, listening to complaints, turning on music and trying to keep children from fighting with one another.

Moreover, the distraction coming from children is difficult to handle because parents don’t feel like they can simply ignore it. They’re hardwired to want to help the children, and the children are used to getting that type of assistance. Someone who may be happy to set their phone down and ignore it while they drive just doesn’t have that option.

If a distracted parent causes a car accident and you suffer injuries, you need to know if you can seek financial compensation for your medical bills and other costs.

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The longer your commute is, the more it likely frustrates you. Many people think of their commute to and from work each day as a form of lost time. Not only is your commute consuming a significant portion of your day, but it also puts you at noteworthy risk.

You can potentially get into a crash that forces you out of your job and costs you thousands of dollars in medical care. What are some of the safety concerns that commuters need to consider for their own protection out on the roads?

Their afternoon commute is incredibly dangerous

According to statistics based on collision data analysis performed by the National Safety Council, the afternoon rush hour is the second most dangerous time of day, following the overnight hours. Between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., your chances of getting into a crash are substantially higher than at other times of the day.

Fatigue is a concern during both commutes

Whether you feel tired in the morning on your way into work or have a mid-afternoon energy slump, as many people do, exhaustion can affect how safe you are on the road. Additionally, you will cross paths with hundreds of other drivers who are also very tired.

Heavy traffic means higher risk

If your commute falls during the standard morning and afternoon rush hour windows, you will probably be on the roads when the density of traffic is the highest during the day. The more other vehicles there are close to you, the more likely you are to end up in a crash.

Commutes lend themselves to distracted driving

Given that you view your commute as lost time, it is natural to want to take that time back by listening to an audiobook, catching up with a friend on the phone or eating your breakfast on the way to the office. Your distraction and the distraction of other drivers can significantly increase your chances of getting into a crash.

Running late often means cutting corners

If you find yourself behind schedule, you may speed or fail to come to a complete stop at an intersection. The choices you make in traffic when under stress may be less safe. Even if you always give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go, you might encounter a driver who was not so cautious and who is now desperately trying to make up for lost time.

Identifying and trying to minimize common risk factors during your commute can help you prevent a motor vehicle collision.

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Being involved in an accident with a large truck can cause serious, long-term injuries. The costs of these accidents are usually much higher than accidents between passenger vehicles. 

These factors, along with others, result in complicated cases that are more challenging to settle than other motor vehicle accidents. Learn what factors make truck accidents so complex here. 

Injuries and damages

The size and weight of commercial trucks alone make the possibility of serious damages and injuries much higher. Truck accidents are more likely to result in fatalities, too. 

Most trucks cannot stop quickly, so when an accident occurs, much more force is involved than if it was another passenger vehicle. Trucks also take up more space, which means that when they break down, the possibility of causing an accident is higher. The truck accident case becomes more complex when more serious damages and injuries occur. 

Determining liability

The driver of a truck may not be liable for an accident. Some drivers are owner-operators, while others work for a company. Also, the load being hauled is owned by a different company. All these different owners and involved parties make determining liability in truck accidents more challenging. 

Regulations and laws

Large trucks must adhere to more laws, regulations, and rules than other drivers do. For example, truck drivers can only drive for a specific number of hours each day. This helps to eliminate cases of fatigue. If these hour limitations are exceeded, the violation can increase the potential of being found negligent for an accident. 

Protecting your rights when involved in a truck accident

If you are involved in a truck accident, you have rights. Be sure to contact the authorities, seek medical attention and gather evidence after the accident to protect these rights and recover compensation for your injuries and damages. 

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San Bernardino County is home to the only operating rare-earth element mine in this country. People who are on the roadways in the Inland Empire area are likely going to encounter semitrucks traversing to and from the Mountain Pass mine. This is in addition to semitrucks from other businesses. 

That makes it particularly important to understand the dangers of being near semis on the road. The more you know, the better you can protect yourself.

Semitrucks need more space than other vehicles

Semitrucks need extra room to maneuver. It takes them longer than the average vehicle to start moving and to stop. They need extra room when executing turns, especially right turns. 

Additionally, truck drivers can’t see in the area immediately around the truck because of the large blind spots. You shouldn’t ever stay on the side of a semitruck for a prolonged time because the trucker can’t see your vehicle. Pass quickly, when necessary, and don’t cut the truck off when you merge.

Truckers must do their part

Truckers are operating rigs that are very large and heavy. They must always remain vigilant while they’re driving. They shouldn’t ever drive aggressively. They need to be sober and fully aware, which means they can’t drive while they’re impaired, distracted or fatigued. 

Unfortunately, truckers who are feeling rushed to make a delivery or to a pickup may take risks that lead to crashes. Other drivers need to be conscious of trucks that are speeding and just let them pass.

If your vehicle was struck by a semitruck, the consequences can be traumatic and affect you and your loved ones for the rest of your lives. Make sure that you get appropriate legal guidance as you pursue fair compensation for your claim.

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If you’re out for a walk in the neighborhood and you encounter a threatening dog, you’re probably going to be tempted to run away from it. It stands to reason that you need to put as much space between you and the dog as possible, and you want to do it as quickly as you can.

However, although this may feel like it’s going to make you safer, running may actually just put you in greater danger. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t simply turn and run away from a dangerous dog.

Dogs have a chase instinct

First off, dogs have an instinct to chase, and they’re always looking for prey. If you turn and run, you can activate the instinct and make the dog even more aggressive.

You lose sight of the danger

It can be difficult to know exactly where to look in this situation because you don’t want to make eye contact with the dog. Dogs see this as a sign of aggression. But you do want to keep it in your peripheral vision, so you shouldn’t turn your back entirely.

Dogs are simply too fast

For the most part, the fact of the matter is that dogs are just too fast for humans to outrun them anyway. This is why you’re far better off trying to calm the dog down and slowly retreating from its territory. If you run, all you’re doing is risking riling the dog up or causing it to chase you. It’s much better to keep your energy level low to try to avoid a bite.

Of course, even if you do everything correctly, you could still be bitten by a dangerous dog. If you suffer serious injuries and infections, make sure you know what legal options you have.

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People own dogs for a variety of reasons. And owning a dog also comes with its share of responsibilities. Besides caring for the animal, California laws also require dog owners to keep their animals from causing property damage or injuries to people.

If you are attacked by another person’s dog, you may be eligible for compensation through a premises liability lawsuit. And since California is a strict liability state, you do not need to prove that the dog owner was negligent to win your claim. However, not all dog bite cases lead to compensation.

Here are instances when your California premises liability claim as pertains to a dog bite may be denied.

You were trespassing

California’s strict liability statute only applies if the dog attacks you on a public facility or if you were lawfully on the defendant’s property. The dog owner may deny liability if you were attacked while unlawfully trespassing into their property.

There was no bite

There has to be an actual bite for California’s strict liability law to apply. The skin does not have to be lacerated, but there has to be evidence of injury nonetheless.

But what if you are knocked down by the dog, with no bite or other injuries? Well, in this case, you may pursue a scienter claim rather than a premises liability claim against the dog owner.

You did not file your claim in time

It is important that you file your premises liability lawsuit within the stipulated statute of limitations period. In California, the statute of limitations for a premises liability lawsuit is two years. You risk losing the right to compensation if fail to file your claim within two years.

A dog attack can leave you hurt and traumatized. Knowing your legal options can help you protect your rights while pursuing your premises liability lawsuit in California.

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Have you ever checked your phone while stopped at the lights? Not only is it dangerous, but it is also illegal in California.

Most people know that it is dangerous to use a phone while in motion, but they don’t realize that the same holds true when they’re paused in traffic. Here is why it is such a problem:

You might not see a potential hazard

Let’s say you pick up your phone, check a text, send a quick email or catch the latest football score. You realize the light is about to change, put the phone down and pull away when it turns green. It sounds fine, but what did you miss while staring at the screen?

If you remain looking at the road around you rather than your phone, you can build up a more complete picture of the road before you pull off. It allows you to notice potential dangers and delay pulling away where necessary.

You continue to think about your phone

According to one survey, you typically still think about what you saw on your phone for almost half a minute. Maybe you are wondering how to reply to the text you read or how on earth your team threw away a great lead again.

So even if you pull away from the lights without incident, you are still at an increased risk of crashing for the next few hundred meters.

Hopefully, you never pick your phone up at the lights. Yet many drivers do, and one might crash into you. Getting legal help to show they were still distracted by their phone could help you get the compensation you need if injured in a car crash.

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