FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

-We handle a wide range of auto accident cases involving the negligent and reckless conduct of other drivers, including but not limited to: 

• Semi-truck, eighteen-wheeler
• Motorcycle accidents and crash injury
• Drunk driving crashes
• Hit and run accidents
• Rear-end collisions

Our offices can argue that the driver who hit you was acting negligently and should be held liable for damages. These damages may go towards covering your medical bills, lost wages from your job, pain and suffering, and other losses.

You should NOT suffer through a serious accident alone. Barry’s office is prepared to protect your rights in and out of court by building you a customized claim for compensation.

With the right car accident attorney at your side, the types of damages an insurance company will typically pay for include the following:

• Medical bills (past and future)
• Pain and suffering
• Lost income
• Loss of companionship
• Emotional distress

If you have been involved in a car accident, you are entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, car rentals, and expenses.

If you are successful in a truck accident lawsuit, you may be entitled to receive compensation for the following types of damages:

• Costs of Medical Treatment:

If the truck driver was totally at fault, you should receive full compensation for the costs of your medical treatment. This includes costs for time spent in a hospital, copayments for visits to your doctor, prescription drug costs, and the cost of any ongoing physical therapy or other care you had to undergo as a result of the accident.

• Compensation for Pain and Suffering: 

If your injuries were severe and caused you to experience extreme pain and emotional suffering, you may be entitled to

compensation.

• Lost Wages:

If you had to take time away from your job to recover from the injuries you sustained in the accident, you may receive an amount equal to what you would have earned during that time. Some truck accident victims are permanently disabled or have a reduced capacity to work in the future. In this case, you may be entitled to money damages for lost future earnings.

• Damage to Property:

If your vehicle or other property was damaged in the accident, you may receive compensation for the fair market value of your the property at the time of the truck accident.

• Blind Spots

• Faulty tires and brakes

• Improperly secured loads

• Impaired drivers

• Distracted Driving

• Seek Medical Care: The very first thing you must do following a trucking accident is to get immediate medical care and ensure all the passengers in your vehicle are properly treated.
• Call the Police: There will likely be police and EMT’s at the scene of the accident, but if, for some reason, there are not, it is important to call the police and report the accident. If the police or anyone else asks you, about the details of the accident, give only the most basic details, including your own contact information.
• Remain Silent: Refrain from saying anything, which could be interpreted as an admission of guilt. This includes even saying, “I’m sorry,” to anyone else involved in the accident.
• Take Photographs: If you are medically able, take photographs of the scene of the accident, and secure names and addresses of any witnesses.

Speak to an Attorney: Your best bet is to speak to an accident attorney as soon as possible. Our legal team will go over your case and discuss all the options.

-Holding all responsible parties liable can greatly increase the amount of compensation you receive. The list of potentially liable parties include:

• Truck Driver

• Trucking Company
• Manufacturer of the Truck

• Truck Maintenance Company
• Truck Loading Company

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Drunk driving
• Roadway debris
• Left turn and head-on collisions

• Get out of the roadway, if possible.
• Seek medical attention.
• Make sure you have the other party's insurance/contact information.
• Contact law enforcement and report the accident.
• Do not admit fault and do not discuss the accident with anyone except officers.
• Contact a personal injury attorney right away

• Police report
• Photos of the crash scene, damages to your motorcycle, etc. 
• Eyewitness testimony
• Photos, x-rays, and certified reports of your bodily injuries

• It is also beneficial to ask for contact information from witnesses, and incident and medical reports. This can substantiate that your injuries were, in fact, due to the accident.

• Seek medical attention promptly.

• Contact the police and file a report.
• Do not negotiate with the at-fault driver or the insurance company.
• Do Not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company.
• Consult a qualified attorney who cares about you.
• Know Your Rights
• Take photos of the scene of the accident including:
  • Damage to your bicycle
  • Your injuries
  • Any other damage

• Strains, fractures, and dislocations
• Facial and dental trauma
• Neck and back trauma
• Head injury
• Long-term or permanent disability 
• Death

• Drivers not yielding to a cyclist
• Drivers hitting a cyclist while making a left-hand or right-hand turn
• Alcohol-impaired driving
• Distracted driving
• Drivers drifting into the bicycle lane
• Motorist or rider error
• Environmental hazards such as uneven pavement or potholes
• Bicycle mechanical failure or defect

• Driving under the influence
• Making a left turn without looking for pedestrians
• Failing to yield right-of-way at marked crosswalks
• Distracted driving such as eating, texting or applying makeup while driving
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Speeding
• Driving while fatigued or sleepy

• Call the police immediately.
• Gather names and phone numbers of any witnesses.
• Do not make any statements to anyone, including drivers and insurers.
• Take photos of the vehicles involved and the scene of the accident to help prove your claim.
• Get the at-fault party's insurance information and write it down.
• Call a qualified and experienced pedestrian accident or personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

• Owed a legal duty to the plaintiff under the circumstances, and action (or through a failure to act); and
• Caused an accident or injury involving the plaintiff; and
• Harmed or injured the plaintiff as a result.

• Owed a legal duty to the plaintiff under the circumstances, and action (or through a failure to act); and
• Caused an accident or injury involving the plaintiff; and
• Harmed or injured the plaintiff as a result.

• Cuts and Lacerations
• Abrasions
• Crushing Wounds
• Punctures
• Fractured Bones

Since California is a “statutory strict liability state,” you do not have to prove negligence or fault to file a lawsuit and recover compensation. All that must be recognized is that you were bitten in a public place or lawfully in a private place. If you were not trespassing or provoking the dog, the owner is 100% liable for the damages the dog caused.

• Seek medical care (even a minor bite could become infected)
• Try to figure out who owns the dog
• Identify the insurance coverage (this includes yours and the negligent party’s)
• File a complaint with animal control and law enforcement
• Preserve evidence (clothes, photos of your injuries, the attack location, etc.)
• Find witnesses and get their contact information
• Document your recovery (via medical reports, a personal journal, etc.)

Consult with a personal injury attorney so you are aware of all of your options and can ensure your best interests remain protected

• For the most part, there is no real cap on compensatory damages following a personal injury claim. This means that courts are able to award any amount they feel is appropriate and reasonable.