Slaughter & Slaughter announced today that it is joining with other federal, state and local highway safety, law enforcement, and motorcycle organizations in proclaiming May as “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.” During this time – and during the rest of the year – motorists and other road users are reminded to safely “share the road” with motorcycles, and to be extra alert to help keep motorcyclists safe.  Changing the driving habits of motorists and motorcyclists alike will help decrease the numbers of motorcyclist killed and injured in crashes. Motorcyclists are reminded to make sure that they are visible to motorists, and that they follow the rules of the road.  All road users are reminded to never drive, ride, walk or bicycle while distracted.

Motorcyclist fatalities increased slightly in 2010 to 4,502, accounting for 14 percent of total fatalities for the year. This increase in motorcycle fatalities for the year resumes the unfortunate overall increasing trend over the last 13 years, an upward trend that saw only a single one-year decline in 2009, when 4,462 motorcyclists were killed. However, the greatest decrease in the estimated number of injured people is among motorcyclists, with an 8.9-percent decrease.

According to reports, the Explorer was travelling on Old Highway 395 when the Honda Accord pulled out into its path of travel.  The driver of the Honda Accord was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, while the passenger was airlifted to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead.

If you have information regarding this crash, please contact the California Highway Patrol (619) 220-5492 – We will follow this story with updates as they become available.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident resulting in a wrongful death, please browse our website for useful information that can help you.  You can also order a free copy ($24.95 value) of Accidents Happen But Who’s Going to Pay the Bills? A Consumer’s Guide to the California Personal Injury & Wrongful Death System – you can order your free copy here.

For more information or a free consultation, please call 888.222.8286

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the South Sacramento CHP office at (916) 681-2300.

The situation escalated when Urich and others asked the group to be quiet. Urich also stated that another patron who was with two young daughters were being sexually harassed by the rowdy group. Rather than removing the drunken hooligans from the Hollywood Bowl, security personnel relocated the the man and his daughters to another area of the world-famous amphitheater . Urich stated that the security personnel were less than aggressive in removing the troublemakers, saying they were not “going to change the world tonight.”

Although the Hollywood Bowl is technically property of Los Angeles County, deputies do not provide security during events at the Bowl. Large crowds and excessive liquor always have the potential for unruly behavior and attacks on other patrons. If the unruly intoxicated group had caused physical harm to anyone, the Hollywood Bowl would most likely be held legally responsible for the injuries and other damages the victim suffers.

One thing to note: Because the Hollywood Bowl is technically a part of Los Angeles County, a claim for damages must be filed with the appropriate agency within six months of the incident or the right to sue is lost, notwithstanding the typical personal injury time limitations for most cases that gives you two years from the date of the accident to file suit.  You should consult with an attorney immediately about your particular case.

In most states, parents are liable only for the intentional wrongful acts of their children, and there is usually a dollar amount on this, such as $10,000 or $15,000. Now suppose that instead of deliberately hurting the bicyclist, the boy runs into the path in front of him, causing the bicyclist to lose his or her balance, fall off the bike, and sustain injuries.

Are the parents liable for the carelessness (negligence) of their child? In most states the answer to this question is no. While the parents are liable up to a certain amount
of money for the deliberate acts of their minor children, they are not usually liable for the negligent acts of their children that cause injury. One main exception to this rule is that, if the child is a teenager driving the family car on a family errand or with the express or implied consent of the parents (“permissive user”), the parents are liable for all injuries and property damage caused by their child’s negligence should he or she be a fault and get into an accident.

To protect themselves and their property from being the subject of a civil lawsuit, the parents should have the child who drives added to their automobile insurance policy. And we recommend at a minimum that you have 100/300 policy limits, which means that if a person is injured he or she can collect up to $100,000, with a total pay out per accident of $300,000 regardless of how many people are injured. We also strongly recommend that you buy an “umbrella policy” that covers your automobile and personal liability for up to $1 million. The cost of an umbrella policy is usually only a couple of hundred dollars, but if tragedy strikes you will be glad you have it, as it could save you from financial ruin. It is best to talk to your insurance broker or agent about your concerns as they are the experts in providing you the type of coverage that would protect you.

Soft tissue includes the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Soft-tissue injuries are micro-tears to the muscles and ligaments that are more painful and take

longer to heal than a broken leg. Sprains and strains mean something has stretched beyond normal. Muscle tissue may become strained when forced to exceed its ability to

work. Besides muscle tissue, sprains and strains can affect a ligament or tendon. Ligaments attach bone to bone, while tendons attach muscle to bone. A sprained ankle is

an example of a soft-tissue injury as it involves a sprain to a ligament. Sprains and strains occur when a person forces his or her muscles to perform beyond what the person does

on a routine basis. Muscle tissue may become strained when forced to exceed its ability to work.

Whiplash is a neck injury that usually occurs when the car you are sitting in is rear-ended by another vehicle, causing your head to suddenly snap backward and then forward, similar to someone cracking a whip. These extreme motions push your neck muscles and ligaments beyond their normal range of motion. The bulk of the back is muscle and may be injured by excessive force. Up to half of the people who suffer whiplash will continue to have pain months after the injury. In some persons, this chronic pain can be traced to damage in the joints, disks, and ligaments of the neck. While many people recover from whiplash in a few months, some people with whiplash injuries develop chronic conditions that can be extremely painful and disabling. The symptoms of sprain and strain include sudden, sharp, and persistent pain at the injury site followed by swelling.

Whiplash—also called neck sprain and neck strain—is a soft-tissue injury resulting from a hyperextension and hyperflexion that may cause micro-trauma to the soft tissues in the neck and upper back. The forces to the spine incurred during an automobile accident may cause the head and neck to suddenly and rapidly move forward, backward, and sideways. Muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the spine incurred during an automobile accident may cause the head and neck to suddenly and rapidly move forward, backward, and sideways. Muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the spine may become stretched beyond normal limits, causing micro-trauma or small tears in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, causing symptoms such as pain and burning. There is currently no specific treatment for whiplash, but health care professionals use physical therapy, oral pain relievers and muscle relaxants, chiropractics, immobilization of the neck with a soft cervical collar, massage, heat, ice, injection, and ultrasound.

The answer is an unqualified and resounding “NO.” The adjuster will often frame his or her questions in a way that is designed for you to say that the other driver or the business was not careless and the accident was the victim’s own fault by not paying sufficient attention to where he or she was walking or what he or she was doing. If the adjuster can’t get the victim to say that he or she was the cause of the accident, the investigator will try to get the victim to admit that he or she was partially at fault for the accident.

The investigator will also inquire into the injuries the victim suffered. The investigator often will want to take the recorded statement as soon as possible after the incident, often before all of the victim’s injuries have shown up or the severity of his or her injuries cannot be determined. If an insurance company’s investigator wants to take your statement, unless the injuries and property damage are minimal, you should refuse to give the adjuster a statement until you have retained competent legal counsel who knows the “tricks of the insurance trade” and will guard your rights diligently.

Before you give a recorded statement, talk to a lawyer who can properly advise you on the next course of action.  Call us today for a free consultation of your claim.  Also, make sure to order your free California personal injury book today.

At around 9:40 p.m., the man was driving on East Amar Road when presumably he lost control of his vehicle. His vehicle ran into the median on the road and spun, sending it into the light pole. Authorities estimated that the man was in his 20s or 30s.

If you have been injured in an accident of any kind, getting in touch with a personal injury lawyer is generally a wise idea. Contacting a Los Angeles personal injury attorney at our firm will give you access to professional advice as well as aggressive representation, if you need it. Contact our personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles by calling 310.882.6810.

Jennifer Costlow was riding her bicycle southbound on Normandie in Gardena, shortly before midnight, when a driver struck her in the back with a dark, two-door car. The driver did not stop, driving past the woman and then turning onto 166th street. Costlow was taken to a hospital, but tragically she died within only two hours.

Costlow’s boyfriend was riding his bicycle with her, but was not injured in the bicycle accident.

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident or in a hit and run accident, taking legal action can be important. Consider contacting a Los Angeles personal injury attorney for help – call 310.882.6810 and let us fight for you.

Reports say that the rollover accident took place at around 5:50 a.m. on Sunday. A Nissan Quest minivan was reported to have rolled onto its side, but there was not much information about the events leading to that. Upon impact, the driver of the Quest was ejected from the vehicle onto the road.

The driver, whose name has yet to be released, was 75 years old at the time of the accident. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the Los Angeles rollover accident when paramedics arrived. An investigation is ongoing but no other information has been released so far.

If you have been injured in a rollover accident, it is important that you contact a personal injury attorney to get the help you need. Our Los Angeles personal injury attorneys can provide representation as well as advice regarding your car accident. Call our Los Angeles personal injury law firm at 310.882.6810 for a free consultation.