California Trial Lawyers Blog

A shockingly high number of California drivers are underinsured or uninsured, which can make the already difficult situation of being in an accident even worse. Fortunately, there are some options available to you, especially if you have uninsured motorist insurance as part of your policy. Once proper steps are taken to contact law enforcement or other emergency services if necessary, it is very important that you do not sign anything and that you contact an experienced lawyer to represent you immediately.

Uninsured Drivers on the Rise

With the high number of uninsured drivers in California, it is all too common to find yourself wondering where to go next after an accident with one of them. The first thing you should do after any accident is contact appropriate emergency services, including law enforcement and medical professionals if anyone is injured. Assuming the uninsured driver remains at the scene, get contact information from him or her and give your information as well. Provide an accurate statement to police once they arrive, but do not take responsibility for the accident—you do not have all the information in the moments immediately following a collision.

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When we entrust elderly family members to nursing homes, we expect them to be treated properly. Fortunately, most California nursing homes are places where our elders are given respect and taken care of. There are some tragic exceptions to this, though, so it is always a good idea to be aware of signs of abuse and to act on any suspicions or concerns you have.

Physical Signs

Many indications of abuse at nursing homes are physical things that you can observe during a visit with a loved one. Look for bruises or infections that seem sudden or do not have an immediate explanation. Some injuries can occur naturally, and when promptly taken care of do not present a serious threat. If bruising or bone fractures cannot be easily explained…then it may indicate physical abuse.

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If you’ve ever been involved in a rear-end collision, chances are you’ve heard the common theory about who’s at fault. Even for people who haven’t been involved, the common perception is that the person at the back of a rear-end collision is always at fault.

But did you know there is no actual rule behind this theory? The theory holds true most of the time, but there’s no specific law alluding to this. So how did this idea get started? To get there, we need to answer a few other questions.

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Based on statistics comparing drivers in Long Beach to other California cities of comparable sizes, Long Beach drivers are generally pretty safe. There are some specific areas— collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists, for example—where Long Beach has pretty high numbers, but incidents of driving at high speeds or under the influence of alcohol are fewer. Long Beach drivers seem to show proper caution and treat driving with respect, though it may be a dangerous place to walk or ride a bike.

OTS Rankings

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) compiles collision rankings each year to compare how drivers in different cities of comparable sizes perform in terms of collisions with injuries or fatalities. While these numbers might not demonstrate exactly how good drivers in a particular city are, they do allow for comparisons in certain categories to show where there is room for improvement.

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When you drop off your child at school, you hope that he or she will learn, so that he or she can take on the world someday. For eight hours, your child’s safety is in the care of other adults and educators. You’re most likely still stressed about your child’s well-being, even though he or she is in good care. But what happens if your child does get hurt at school? What steps should you take?

Identify If Your Child Is Hurt

The first thing to do is to identify if your child has been hurt because of an occurrence at school. The easiest thing you can do is assess your child’s behavior/appearance and compare it to how he or she looked/acted in the morning/daily. Strange behaviors or marks won’t always mean “hurt” (children are children after all), but you should be on the lookout for peculiarities.

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Find out what California law says about DUIs, so you don’t ring in the New Year with one. More importantly, learn what to do if you’re charged.

The holiday season is a time of celebrating with friends and ringing in the New Year, often with libations and refreshments. While it may seem innocent enough at the time, it can be too easy after a good holiday party to get behind the wheel of your car – even if you’ve had one too many to drink.

Fines and penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) have become much harsher in California than they were in the past. And judges have been known to bring down strict penalties for even first-time offenders. For these reasons, and for the safety of yourself and others on the road, it’s important to understand what California law says about drinking and driving.
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Being involved in a catastrophic car accident can be especially traumatizing for all involved. Whether it is a single-vehicle or a multi-vehicle collision, the effects of these accidents can result in long-term consequences for the injured party. Car accidents can be caused by any number of factors from intoxicated, distracted, or fatigued drivers, to hazardous road conditions. In the event that there is a catastrophic car accident, here are four ways in which the victims’ lives can be dramatically changed.

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Our very own Joseph Low will be speaking at Berkeley’s Boalt School of Law on Tuesday, November 15^th at 6:30pm. Attorney Low brings his years of experience to the lecture series, and will discuss law related topics he’s dealt with as a trial attorney.

One of the most prestigious law schools in the nation, Berkeley Law boasts a top ten ranking according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 Best Law Schools list. The school, also known as Boalt Hall, has produced leaders in both law and government sectors, and has a host of distinguished alumni who have gone on to help shape the United States. For more information about events hosted by the school, please visit https://www.law.berkeley.edu/events-calendar/.

Trial attorney Joseph Low has been recognized by the American Board of Trial Attorneys and Order of the Barristers. A recipient of the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Medallion for Excellence in Trial Advocacy by the American College of Trial Lawyers, Joseph Low calls on his experience to help shape the face of trial law in America as an instructor at Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College. No stranger to the speaking circuit, Attorney Joseph Low spends his free time traveling across the country to deliver lectures to not only students, but licensed attorneys and judges.

People in the city of Long Beach love their bicycles – and with good reason! Southern California boasts a wonderful climate year-round, and riding a bike is an efficient way to travel around town and also to get some exercise. There is a downside though, and that is that bicyclists face a great deal of more risk to their safety than other motorists on the road.

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Most schools have rules and procedures for creating safe environments for students. However, injuries sometimes occur at schools through faulty equipment, bullying, inattentive staff, and facility flaws. Knowing your rights and the rights of your child can help you recover damages from school injuries.

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