Los Angeles Injury Attorney, Personal Injury Lawyer in Southern California

Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July Weekend!

Many of us will be on the local roads this holiday weekend.  Increased traffic and intoxication by irresponsible drivers, make for a dangerous journey for travelers.  With many of the destinations, such as Las Vegas, San Diego, Los Angeles and many attractions in Orange County, in our backyards, we will face much of the traffic, even if we choose not to travel.

The following tips will certainly reduce chances of accidents and injuries:

1.  Take alternate routes, avoid busy highways;

2.  Avoid peak times, by altering travel plans;

3.  Allow enough time, and avoid getting on the road when you are tired or sleepy;

4.  Never drink and drive;

5.  Practice defensive driving, avoid aggressive behavior on the road;

6.  Make sure your vehicle is safe to drive - check your brakes, brake lights, head lights, tire pressure.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend.  Feel free to contact us with any questions or inquiries.

An Auto v. Motorcycle Accident Claims a Life in Malibu, Near Los Angeles

Recently, an accident claimed the life of a motorcyclist in Malibu, when a driver leaving a popular restaurant, turned into its path.   The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Malibu / Lost Hills Station shut down eastbound lanes of the Pacific Coast Highway for hours and investigated this fatal accident.  Although the driver was tested at the scene for alcohol, the Sheriff believes that unfamiliarity of the driver with the area, may have been the cause of this motorcycle accident.

In such fatal motorcycle accidents, auto accidents, pedestrian accidents, or truck accidents, the police agencies conduct a thorough investigation with an eye towards  possible criminal conduct, such as reckless driving, drunk driving, or driving under the influence of drugs.  However, it is the job of an experienced personal injury attorney, to conduct such investigation to reveal who the responsible party or parties maybe.   While the family of a deceased motorist or pedestrian will undoubtedly be grieving after such a tragic event, they should contact a qualified aggressive injury lawyer to handle this type of serious case immediately.

What is Medical Payment (Med-Pay) Coverage and Why Should I Purchase it?

Many auto insurance carriers in California offer Medical Payment or Med-Pay Coverage, when selling automobile insurance.  Medical Payment Coverage provides benefits to the occupants of a vehicle who get injured in an automobile accident.  In some circumstance it may also provide coverage to the insured individuals, if they are injured in any other type of automobile related accident, such as pedestrian accident, bicycle accident or if injured in another person’s vehicle.

Medical Payment Coverages are usually either “Reimbursable” or “Non-Reimbursable”.  The Reimbursable type of Medical Payment Coverage requires the benefits to be paid back to the insurance carrier, if and when the injured person receives compensation for the injuries from a third party.  The Non-Reimbursable type of coverage, does not have such a requirement.

Medical Payment Coverages can also be either “Primary” or “Excess”.  Primary Medical Payment Coverages, pay any medical bills that are incurred as a result of a covered loss.  Excess Medical Payment Coverages, only pay the medical bills or portions of medical bills for covered losses, that are not covered by individual’s health insurance.

Depending on the type of Medical Payment Coverage, the policy language, and other considerations in each individual case, an experienced auto accident attorney, maybe able to negotiate a resolution to maximize recovery to the injury victim.

Contact one of our experienced accident attorneys to learn more about your auto insurance coverage, before you ever need to use it.

I was in an auto accident; what is my claim worth?

Valuation of a personal injury claim is more of an art than science. When a driver is responsible for causing an accident, then he or she is liable to pay the injured party, a wide range of damages.

The damages may include; medical bills, loss of income, permanent disabilities, pain and suffering, future medical care, loss of consortium, and in some rare cases, even damages to punish the wrongdoer.

Although, many of these damages seem very straight forward, proving the full extent of it, requires expertise of an injury lawyer who specializes in representing injury victims who have been involved in auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bus or trucking accidents, and any other type of serious injury accident.

With offices in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, and throughout Southern California, Law Offices of Jubin J. Sharifi, APLC, has been assisting injury victims get compensation from the largest insurance companies and corporations for the last eleven years.

Jury Convicts Drunk Driver for Killing Three People in a Car Accident

In Santa Ana, California, Jury convicts drunk driver of killing three individuals in a car accident. This particular case got a lot of media attention, because one of the victims was a major league baseball pitcher. However, unfortunately everyday drunk drivers cause serious injuries and even deaths on the roads of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, and Riverside counties.

Although, the case mentioned involved a criminal prosecution of a drunk driver, many individuals who have been injured in accidents involving drunk drivers, seek justice by suing for damages in civil court.

In a civil suit, the injured party can seek a variety of remedies against the responsible party. The type of damages that an injured party is entitled to can include reimbursement of medical expenses, loss of earnings, loss of earning potential, pain and suffering, cost of future medical care and also punitive damages.

Many of these types of serious injury cases that result from auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, bus or trucking accidents, involve dealing with the insurance companies, defense attorneys and the court system.

It is always a good idea to consult with an experienced and aggressive personal injury attorney to learn about one’s rights when involved in a legal case.

With offices throughout Southern California, Law Offices of Jubin Sharifi, APLC is available for FREE CONSLTATIONS.

Who Is Entitled To Loss Of Earning Capacity?

If you are injured in any type of accident, such as car accident, motorcycle accident, taxi accident, airline accident, or trucking accident, your ability to earn a living in the future maybe affected. This type of damage is called “loss of earning capacity”. An experienced Los Angeles Injury Lawyer can assist you in proving and recovering such damages in case of a serious injury accident.

Since this type of claim involves assessing damages into the future, it is more complex than other types of injuries, such as recovery for medical bills, pain and suffering, loss present earnings, and other types of injuries. Therefore, consulting a local accident attorney is always recommended.

Calculating loss of earning capacity involves gathering information regarding the injured person’s current earnings, his or her potential for future earnings, and resulting limitations due to the injuries.

If you or a loved one is seriously injured in any type of accident in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, or Orange Counties, please contact us for a free consultation regarding loss of earning capacity or any other type of injury claim.

Compensation For Loss Of Earnings After An Accident

Being in a car accident, boating accident, motorcycle accident, pedestrian accident, bus accident, truck accident, or even a train accident, can not only result in serious bodily injuries, but also result in loss of earnings. In order for an injured person to recover damages for loss of earnings, he or she would have to show evidence of such a loss.

The following are usually required as basic evidence of loss of earnings:

Medical Records – usually explain how the particular injury may limit an individual’s ability to perform his or her job duties. Medical records of an injury victim - with a fractured hand for example, would explain why he would not be able to work.

Employment Records – will further explain why the limitations placed on an injured person by the doctor would keep him from working. A construction-worker who injures his back in a car accident, would probably not be able to perform his regular job duties and may be forced to take time off.

Proof of Earnings – such as paycheck stubs, deposit receipts and other documentary evidence of the injured person’s earnings at the time of the injury causing accident, is helpful in determining the actual value of the loss of earnings.

Obviously not every claim is going to fit the simple examples provided above. Self employed individuals, professionals, persons with permanent disabilities, pre-existing conditions and other variations presented in real life can complicate the issue of loss of earnings. An experience personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles, Encino, Glendale, Long Beach, Covina, Pomona, Colton, Fontana, Rialto, or San Bernardino should be consulted in any serious injury accident.

Distractions Cause Accidents

Carelessness is often the cause of many Los Angeles car accidents. Distractions in the car, such as the radio, pets, children, and most commonly cell phones are cited as the cause of many injury accidents in California. In Los Angeles, drivers spend hours in their cars, commuting to and from work; spending lots of time on their cell phones.

According to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSB), driver distraction was documented in 80% of auto accidents and was the main cause of 25-30% of auto accidents.

Although, using handheld cell phones while driving, have been illegal in California for some time, many still engage in this distracting and dangerous activity.

If you are involved in an auto accident and suspect that the party who is at fault was using a cell phone at the time of the accident, be sure to give this information to the investigating police officers.

In the event of a serious accident, such as a car accident, trucking accident, taxi accident, or a pedestrian accident, an experienced personal injury lawyer can assist you in handling of your case. At the Law Offices of Jubin Sharifi, we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Are Car Accident Victims Entitled to General Damages (Pain and Suffering)?

Anyone who is injured in California by the wrongdoing of another, is generally entitled to general damages, also known as pain and suffering.

Pain and suffering is compensation for any pain, discomfort, fears, anxiety, and other mental and emotional distress and anguish suffered by the injured person in a personal injury case.

For example if someone suffers severe neck injury, back injury, whiplash injury, brain injury, brain injury, fractured bones, or any other type of serious injury in a rear-end car accident in Los Angeles, other than compensation for the medical bills, and loss of earnings, that person is also entitled to a pain and suffering or general damages. In this example, the jury would consider awarding an amount that would be deemed appropriate for the type of injury suffered by the injured individual who was involved in this car accident, or other types of roadway accidents such as, motorcycle accident, trucking accident, pedestrian accident, or bus accident.

As residents of Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California, such as Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, or San Diego Counties, we are at risk of being involved in a serious roadway accident. It is very important to know your rights in case of ever being involved in an injury accident.

Taking advantage of a free consultation with a local personal injury attorney is a great way of getting your questions answered in this regard.

What You Need to Know About Motorcycle Accidents.

Many motorcycle accidents involve serious injuries or even death of the motorcyclist. Most motorcycle accidents happened due to the other motorists not being able to see the motorcycle.

In Many situations, the injured motorcyclist is too injured and hurt to even talk to the investigating officers or the first responders. Often this results in Traffic Collision Reports that are adverse to the injured motorcyclist and place him or her at fault for the accident.

An experienced injury lawyer who handles motorcycle accident cases in California (especially in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside County) can assist an injured individual by gathering all helpful information from the witnesses, other parties involved, and most importantly remain involved with the investigating agencies, to insure that no evidence is left out of final report.

Also, it is absolutely a good idea to document all injuries by taking photographs of the cuts, bruises, discolorations or any other visible sign of injury or damage to the victim. This will be helpful to demonstrate the full extent of the injuries to the insurance company adjusters, opposing counsel, judge, jury, arbitrator, mediator or any one else who will review the case for evaluation.

Due to the more serious nature of injuries involved in most motorcycle accidents, it is very important to consult with a motorcycle accident lawyer immediately. It is very helpful to have an experienced motorcycle injury attorney on your side when fighting the big insurance companies.

To speak to one of our attorneys regarding your injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident, car accident, bicycle accident or any type of serious injury accident, in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange or Riverside County or anywhere in Southern California, call us immediately. We are available for FREE CONSULTATIONS.