Southern California Injury Law Blog

For years, Hollywood has exploited society’s fascination with thrilling and dangerous circumstances, particularly with the car-chase scene. Nothing could be further from the truth according to this auto accident attorney in Orange County. From the iconic police chases in movies like Bullitt and The French Connection to reality T.V. shows, risky, high-speed chases have been delivered to audiences as entertainment. The separation from staged spectacle to real-life tragedy, however, is sweeping.

On the streets, would-be audiences become innocent bystanders—often the victims of police chases. Police in pursuit inadvertently take the lives of about 400 people annually, and the numbers continue to rise, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHSTA. Thousands have been injured. More than 200 officers have died.

Southern California—with its extensive network of freeways—accounts for the region with the highest rate of pursuit in the country. As an auto accident attorney in Orange County, we can attest to the violence and injury that frequently occurs to clients of ours. Approximately 50% of high-speed pursuits result in collision and, consequently, injury. The police are often the pursuers, colliding with surrounding vehicles as they chase their target, the criminal. Police departments are granted immunity from liability if regulations for pursuit have been mandated, regardless of whether those regulations have been followed.

This immunity has implications varying from serious to fatal. In Garden Grove, an attempt by police to pull over a BMW for a minor traffic violation resulted in a six-car pile-up after the driver—who, it turns out, had stolen the car—fled. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. In Chico, the outcome was bleaker. While fleeing from police in a stolen vehicle, a teenager crashed into the side of the Priano family’s mini-van, killing their daughter Kristie. The lawless teenager was not even arrested after the accident. Outraged, the residents of Chico wrote “Kristie’s Law.” The proposed law would limit the immunity from liability of law enforcement when high-speed pursuits result in bystander injuries or deaths. Unfortunately, the law failed to pass in the California Legislature, leaving the citizens of Chico and neighboring cities to ponder the alternatives for preventing pursuit-related accidents.

With the proper implementation, tactical methods and technologies exist that may reduce pursuit-related deaths and injuries. In recent years, the PIT maneuver, in which officers box-in suspects with their squad cars, has been successful. This method requires skill and coordination, resulting in inconsistent application and, therefore, pursuit outcomes. Spike strips are another tool. Police must first outmaneuver the suspect in order to lay them out, which is not always possible. A laser-guided launcher carrying a tracking device, called StarChase, is currently in its final testing phases at the Los Angeles Police Department. Once launched from the front grill of the squad car onto the fleeing vehicle, the police will be able to track the suspect using GPS, negating the necessity of a dangerous, fast-paced pursuit.

The number of innocent bystanders injured or killed as a result of pursuit-related accidents rises annually. Police are responsible for maintaining order and protecting the public; at times, in endeavoring to accomplish these societal necessities, police jeopardize both. Adhering to departmental rules for pursuit and properly applying tactical methods are ways to mitigate the problem. We have yet to see how technologies like StarChase will change the future.

James Ballidis is an author and attorney practicing in Orange County, California. If you need help, please call us with any question you may have. We have free resources, access to an accident recovery hotline and a knowledgeable staff of attorneys to provide you with the information and assistance you need. Call us at 1 866 981-5596.

If you have been in an automobile accident, the actions you take immediately after the incident are crucial for receiving full compensation for medical care and property damage or loss. Consulting with an Orange County injury lawyer may clarify the legal process ahead, as well as insure the protection of your rights and the other party’s obligations.

Proper documentation of the accident scene will be critical to your case. Take photographs of the damaged vehicles and cross streets indicating the location of where the accident occurred. If you do not have a camera, utilize the one on your cell phone—or ask witnesses to take photographs. Accidents occur quickly, often rendering the people involved shaken and confused afterward. Do not rely on memory alone to support your case; it will be your words against the other driver’s in court. Concrete evidence like photographs will prove decisive in your case.

Keeping a checklist of the information you will need for your accident investigation and a camera in your car will insure that you are prepared to properly document the scene should you ever be involved in an accident. Your attorney will utilize this documentation as evidence, which will ultimately facilitate your case.

Automobile accidents can have serious ramifications in our lives: exorbitant medical bills due to accident-related injuries, job loss due to those injuries, and damaged or lost property. Negotiating with insurance agents can be equally formidable. An injury-accident attorney knows your rights after an accident and will insure they are protected and you are properly compensated.

If you have been involved in an accident in California, document the scene and contact an Orange County injury lawyer, or call us at 1 866 981-5596.

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in California, consulting a Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer before making any statements to the other person’s insurance agent or adjuster could be decisive to your case. The call is free and you may save yourself a lot of trouble. Let me tell you why.

An accident attorney knows your rights after an accident, as well as the other party’s obligations. They are familiar with insurance company tactics, evidence and also what is and is not important. Just getting informed will help you, even if you do not need an attorney. As an example, a bicycle accident occurred in Manhattan Beach. The cyclist struck a car door as the motorist, not looking before exiting, opened her car door into the oncoming cyclist. The insurance company wanted to argue that the cyclist was responsible becasue he was riding fast and also allegedly came from behind the car to pass, so that the driver could not see him. The cyclist was not seriously hurt, but an e/r bill was enough for him to call. He did not need our services, but the call saved his claim. He had witness, and at our suggestion spoke to them before calling the adjuster back. Knowing what they would say, he shot down every sill argument the adjuster raised, and the insurance company settled his claim.

Of course if you need our help, you can ask us to consider representing you. Why would we offer this free call, simple, becasue you know people that bicycle, and you will refer them to us if they need representation.

Additionally, if retained, the attorney will select the proper evidence to construct a strong case, which will insure proper compensation for your medical expenses and property damage or loss.

The injuries incurred from a bicycle accident can seriously impact your life: pain and suffering, job loss or lost time at work, and prohibitively expensive medical bills. Your ability to build a persuasive case may be compromised, which could result in lost compensation. An accident attorney will conduct a thorough investigation, establish a strong case, and advocate on your behalf, securing compensation commensurate with your losses.

Working with the insurance company may seem like a quicker and more direct route to a settlement. In many more significant cases, however, this is a tedious and unfruitful process: first you will have to establish that you were not at fault; then you will have to justify each and every medical bill you would like compensation for—often you will pay out-of-pocket until they approve the expense, they will take weeks to return your phone calls, and, then, they may argue they are not liable.

The settlement they offer you may not fully cover the medical care you need. Injuries, if not attended to properly, can have a long-term impact on your life. An accident attorney will insure that you receive the compensation you need to receive adequate medical care and move on with your life.

In some cases, you may need ongoing medical attention. An accident attorney will refer you to the right specialist. The attorney will communicate with your doctor and collect the information necessary for you to be compensated for your continued care.

After a bicycle accident, if you are more significantly injured, utilize the experience and expertise of an accident attorney to build a strong case for you. Focus on recovering from your injuries—your attorney will do the rest. Call us if you need help at 1 866 981-5596.

James Ballidis is an author of several books on accidents and injuries. His firm handles major cycling and bicycle accident cases in southern California. You can find his books at the firm web site of the Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney. You may also request free copies of his books on how to handle your own case if you are an accident victim in California. Simply call 1 866 9981-5596 or request your copy on the internet.

How much do you feel your child is worth? In the wrongful death lawsuit of junior lifeguard student, Allyssa Squirrell, the attorneys for the city of Huntington Beach insurance company have filed a petition to cap the city’s liability at $26,100.

Navigator’s insurance claims that the city’s liability is limited to the value of the boat due to admiralty law. In this case, the boat was worth $26,100. The Squirrell family attorney countered back with warnings to all junior lifeguard families—did you know that this program values your child the same as it does a boat?

This case will continue to be a battle between the city of Huntington Beach, insurance companies and attorneys. Having a wrongful death claim is never easy because it forces people to put a value on a person’s life.

This tragedy happened in July 2009 when then 11- year old Allyssa Squirrell was participating in the junior lifeguard program in Huntington Beach. Squirrell was killed during a routine training exercise called “speed drops”. The maneuver requires lifeguard boats to drop the youth off the back of a moving boat to simulate a water rescue beyond the surf line. She had not rejoined her training group yet when the boat turned around and the propeller struck her in the leg and hip. She later died in surgery and the autopsy revealed that she died of severe injuries to the back, leg and hip.

It was the first death in the program’s 45-year history and the driver of the boat, Marine Safety Lt. Greg Crow was obviously devastated. He voluntarily took a toxicology test to rule out drugs and alcohol as the cause. The incident was simply ruled a tragic accident. However, this tragic accident left an Orange County family without their precious daughter.

Even though no criminal charges were filed against Crow, the family went forward with their suit against the city of Huntington Beach for their daughter’s wrongful death due to negligence. The suit alleges that the employees of the program violated three boating rules; not decreasing their boating speed within 100 feet of swimmers, not having proper flotation devices and they didn’t operate the boat in safe manner. In addition to the boating rules, the suit alleges general negligence on the part of the employees on the boat for not looking out properly for the youths’ safety.

The Squirrell family attorney has attempted to settle with the city of Huntington Beach but now with the new petition in federal court for capped liability limits; it looks like the judicial process will be a lengthy one. Fortunately, I am familiar with the Squirrell attorney and he is competent and experienced. For more information on wrongful death claims please visit this link to many articles and posts on this important topic, from a California wrongful death attorney .

A neighborhood in Southern California is mourning the death of a 2 year old boy this week after he was fatally run over by a truck. The truck was backing up out of his family’s driveway when the young boy was hit. Furthermore, in 70% of these types of cases, usually it is a family member who kills or injures the child. Approximately 200 small children die from backovers each year and between 6700 to 7400 children are injured.

Backover is a term that is used to explain accidents that occur when a vehicle that is backing up, accidently hits a toddlers or young child. During the last 4 years, the U.S. has seen a fourfold increase of “backovers”. Unfortunately May and June have the highest volume of these accidents.

Legislation is still pending in congress to move forward with specific safety standard for vehicles on this issue. Safety advocates disagree on the type of safety mechanism; rear view cameras with video screens, radar, beeping sensors or larger rear-view mirrors. Although the technology is not perfect, choosing some or all of these features will improve backovers safety especially with larger cars.

The current car selection of backovers warning devices is still optional on most high-end cars. However, you could still opt to install your own camera or device yourself as well. For a complete list of these technologies, visit This child advocate site and click the link for technology.

Since many of today’s vehicles have blind spots and so many don’t have rear end safety devices, it is crucial that you educate your children and be extra observant during late spring and throughout summer when children are outside playing. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

• If your car is parked in the driveway, take a walk around your vehicle once before getting in the driver’s seat. Check for toys, kids and pets before starting your engine.
• Even if you don’t have children, always check while you’re backing up for children running or playing in your driveway. Half of all backovers do not occur in the child’s own home.
• When walking on a street or sidewalk, firmly take the hand of a toddler or young child. No safety legislation can beat the eyes of an attentive parent.
• Before moving your car, make sure all children are in full view
• Educate your children if they tend to play around cars in a driveway. Just because a car is not moving, doesn’t mean it won’t in the future.
• Trim landscaping around your driveway to keep better visibility

For additional information on this topic, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website to read their Report to Congress on this issue. The report is entitled, “Vehicle Backover Avoidance Technology Study."

James Ballidis is the author of several books on accidents and injury, and a California injury lawyer. If you need help, do not hesitate to contact his office at 1 866 981-5596 or view the California injury lawyer website for articles and information on child and other injury topics.

California is home to over 1.2 million licensed motorcycle drivers, but with the increase each year of injuries and deaths, the California Highway Patrol, CHP, declared May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. According to the CHP website, their primary mission is to prevent loss of life and injury to all motorists. With so many deaths and injuries occurring on motorcycles, their main focus is to get all drivers trained in the proper use of their vehicles. Last year in California there were 13,252 motorcycle injuries and 586 deaths.

Since 2004, the three top California counties that motorcyclists have been killed in are Los Angles, San Diego and Orange County/Riverside. Statewide motorcycle drivers represent 9.4% of all traffic fatalities, but account for only about 2% of the vehicles on the road. Motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in an accident according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

One of the most important pieces of equipment that a motorcycle driver can have is good helmet. Although not all states require helmet use, California state laws are quite clear that is mandatory. There are two main types of helmets; the three-quarter coverage or full face type of gear. The most important consideration when you purchase a helmet is that it meets U.S. Department Transportation (DOT) and state safety standards.

Last week a Huntington Beach motorcyclist was killed in a tragic collision. David Houck was riding his motorcycle and didn’t slow down in time and hit the back of SUV. He was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered major upper body injuries. However, the CHP said he would have survived the crash if he had been wearing a Department of Transportation-approved helmet.
For the latest Helmet Test Data, visit and search on helmet test data. On their website, brands and models are identified and whether they passed or failed the analysis.

In addition to good protective gear, a good safety course such as the CHP’s California Motorcyclist Safety Program, (CMSP). There are two levels of training; both beginning and advanced. You can find out additional information at their website. There are 124 locations throughout California and the cost is only $250. A few hours of training could just save your life.

By increasing awareness, the use proper equipment and good education, California roads can be shared by both motorcycles and vehicle alike. Drivers of all types of vehicles have a shared responsibility to keep our highways safe.

For more on our firm, motorcycle claims and protection, visit our California motorcycle accident recovery website. Feel free to call us if you need help at 1 866 981-5596 or look at more articles from a California motorcycle accident lawyer.

Late last year, pre-med student Drew Bianchi was awarded just under $50 million in damages for the tragic truck v auto accident that left him permanently disabled from a brain injury. As a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer, we see brain injury frequently after collisions. This is believed to be the highest non-punitive verdict in California history for an individual that has suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI).

In May 2007, Bianchi was a passenger in a car traveling along Highway 152 in Northern California. This narrow stretch of highway that goes through Pacheco Pass is sarcastically known as “Blood Alley” because of the volume of accidents on it. The car that he was riding in was literally smashed between two large trucks.

One trucker was driving a huge Peterbilt truck and was severely sleep deprived. The other was driving a huge 18 wheeler and was talking on his cell phone at . At trial, both drivers accused each other for crossing the centerline, but the facts are that they crashed head on to each other then smashed into the other car.

The jury awarded Bianchi $27.5 million for future medical expenses as well as general damages, lost wages and past medical bills. He unfortunately will never realize his dream of becoming a doctor, but he will be cared for properly.

Automobile accidents are the main cause of TBI in people under the age of 75. Of the 1.9 million people who sustain this type of injury, 235,000 are hospitalized with serious injury and 50,000 will die. Until recently, doctors took a “wait and see” attitude because symptoms of TBI can be subtle and may not appear for days or weeks following an injury to the brain.
New treatments are rapidly changing the way TBI patients are treated in the emergency room. Since your brain controls everything we say, do, think and feel, it is imperative to react as quickly as possible to save cognitive function. The following are two new treatments that if successful, could limit damage to trauma patients.

Researchers have created a very promising new treatment that will be going to human trials in a couple of years. A remarkable gel that is created from stem cells is injected directly into the trauma site. It not only promotes healing but also limits the severity of secondary trauma injuries.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is another new treatment that is currently recruiting TBI patients. Previous trials have shown improvements of up to 90% with many symptoms such as headaches, post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep disturbances. If you are interested in participating in this clinical trial, contact the Hyperbaric Medical Foundation for further details.

Depending on your age, type of injury and severity, all patients will have some sort of lasting side effects. Over 5.3 million Americans cannot perform daily activities due to severe head trauma and need lifelong help.TBI can also increase your risk for Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease The best way to prevent TBI is by wearing helmets while participating in outdoor activities and by doing your best to drive defensively to avoid accidents.

James Ballidis is a Los Angeles Truck Accident Lawyer, and author of several books on injury accidents. For more information about truck accidents please visit our truck accident library.

If you would like our firm to consider representing you for your injury accident, please call 866 981-5596 and we will advise you for free.

Ever wonder if you should hire a bicycle accident attorney? Think it is maybe unnecessary? Well maybe not. Let me describe the majority of experiences of clients that thought they could handle their case alone.

Two days ago, a woman came in after 1 year or wrangling with the insurance company. Liability was clear, that is, she was struck in the rear while riding her bicycle for sport. She had not treated much, just a little, but still had pain and injury from the accident.

The defendant who hit her, had a major insurance company cover his car. His car was repaired, and he was not hurt. He has moved on with his life, she has not. Instead of reaching her potential, and participating in a triathlon she was training for, she is stuck with a surly adjuster, that has offered her almost nothing for her claim. Her injuries continue to interfere with her life and ability to train.

She found me through my book, Athletes and Accidents. When she came in, I was candid with her. She has done a lot of things wrong on her case so far. First, she did not seek immediate and excellent treatment to cure her injuries. Instead she tried to tough it out, and the insurance company, understandably, now thinks more than a year later that her injuries from the accident are no longer an issue and instead she hurt herself training. As a Orange County bicycle accident attorney, I would have sent her to quality medical care, and the care could be paid out of the case, not her pocket.

Second, she has not had her doctors explain her initial injury and how to train around it. Her injury was to her foot. Instead, the doctors wrote no reports, and their records do not explain anything that was said to the client, or recommendation and precautions. This leaves the insurance company with the ability to argue about the injury and damages. They are also asserting that her training schedule caused or prolonged her injury, even though the doctor supervised her schedule. I would have asked for reports as the case and recovery unfolded, speaking to the doctor if necessary to protect the client.

Third, she actually quit therapy after six weeks, because she was so frustrated with the lack of results. I would have encouraged a work around, goal setting session, just like an athlete would do training for an upcoming event.

Finally, she had to deal with an adjuster, and insurance company that has more interest in saving their money than paying for her claim. The client had to do the accounting, and all the phone calls. An Orange County bicycle accident attorney will do that all for you, so that you can concentrate on your recovery, your sport, work and getting back to the business of life.

She exclaimed that it was not fair, that the driver could get back to normal and she had to continue to suffer. I told her had she come to me early, she would not feel so frustrated. We agreed to take her case, and from now on, my promise to her is that she need not worry about the insurance company and hassle of it all. We will get it done. We referred her to a competent athletes recovery program and she is responding well. While she put up a lot of road blocks to fully recovering under her case, we can and will be able to get it done.

The next time you think what can an Orange County bicycle accident attorney do for you, I hope you will keep a copy of this little story for your review.

James Ballidis is the author of several books on law and accident recovery, including Athletes and Accidents, 9 Pitfalls that Can Delay Your Recovery. For a free copy of this book, call 1 866-981-5596. Please only California resident athletes that have been in an accident may request a free copy. Otherwise, you may purchase the book on Amazon.

Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are dominating the way we use the Internet and communicate with our family and friends. Specifically, Facebook has grown so rapidly that it recently overtook Google in daily users. However, with this new trend towards detailing so much of our private lives, we need to be aware of who potentially might view our information and be especially vigilant if you’re involved in a personal injury lawsuit.

A recent California case involved a man that had been in a car collision with United States Postal Truck. Eric Sedie of Corte Madera testified that “every possible aspect of his life has been and will be affected until the day he dies”. Court documents showed that he had difficulty bike riding and participating in strenuous activities.

Judge Elizabeth Laporte allowed his social media site profiles to be included in the evidence and as a result, there were many inconsistent statements presented. With the addition of surveillance videos and other testimony, Sedie’s personal injury case dropped from $2.5 million to just under $300,000.

In another recent case in Ontario, California, a woman who claimed to be disabled from an accident had photos on her Facebook page of her dancing. In her personal injury case, the judge allowed the photos to be admitted into evidence. These factors can have troubling effects on your case.

Social media has created a new monitoring tool for insurance companies to investigate claimants and potentially find evidence to reduce claims. Obviously they are searching for anything you may have written regarding the accident; how it happened, who caused it, and possibly any admissions of guilt. In addition to any statements involving a case, the investigators may also review your photos and statements to see what type of person you are. In some jury trials, the defense could use your social media profiles to influence the jury and show the plaintiff in a negative light.

Online experts agree that strengthening your privacy settings is not an answer. You should not in a personal injury case exaggerate your claims, and you should post truthfully on these social media outlinks. Otherwise, you will be a likely victim of your own exaggeration and limitations. And regardless of whether you are involved in a case or not, you should always be mindful of your duty to be accurate and fair on the internet.

James Ballidis is an author of several books on the law, and practices as a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. If you need help with a case, you can contact us to consider representing you. Call 866 981-5596 for a free discussion on your claims and rights.

Nationwide, temperatures are increasing and a child advocacy group called Safe Kids USA, along with National Health and Safety Partners is starting a new campaign this spring to bring public awareness and expose the tragedy of “Forgotten Child” deaths.

Since 1998, over 445 children have died from heat stroke and many more have been injured; left unattended in automobiles. Parents and caregivers do not do this intentionally, but because of laziness and sometimes just plain busyness, they expose their children to dangerously high heat levels in cars.

Safety experts remind parents that a child’s body will heat up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s and a child left strapped in a car seat has no way of protecting themselves. In less than 10 minutes, a child’s body temperature can rise to 106 degrees—high enough to cause a stroke.

Recently here in Orange County, we had two incidences within 3 days of each other where parents had intentionally left their child in the car alone. In one incidence, a woman left a four year old in a locked car, watching a movie, and then went shopping in Mission Viejo. When the deputy found the girl, she had unbuckled her seat and was playing with the keys to the ignition. Not only was this vehicle at dangerously high heat levels, the risk of child abduction and unintentional car movement was a real possibility.

However in 51% of these hyperthermia cases, the child is literally “forgotten” by the parent or caregiver. Parents that intentionally leave their kids in the cars are around 18% of the time and in 30% of the cases, children are found to have climbed into an unlocked car.
In the fall of 2001, California’s governor signed into law, Kaitlin’s Law: Unattended Child in Motor Vehicle Act. It was named for a six -month old who died after being left in a park car for over two hours. The law clearly states that no child 6 years or younger may be left alone in a car unless a person over 12 years of age is watching them.

Whether you are a caregiver or parent, here are a few safety tips to remember:

· If you ever see a child left unattended in a car, please call 911
· Teach your children never to play in and around cars, and make it a habit of always locking your vehicle.
· Keys are not toys, keep keys away from your child.
· Never leave kids in a running car, even for one minute.
· When loading and unloading your vehicles, always double check that all children have left the car.

The Author James Ballidis is a child advocate, author and practices as an Orange County personal injury lawyer. For other articles on child injuries, playground hazards and protection of children see child dangers articles.

If you are the unfortunate victim of an accident, you may be wondering what you can expect to recover financially. This can be a tricky question, but there are many things you may not know. If your accident occurred in Southern California, Orange County personal injury lawyers can help you recover the fullest amount of damages from your accident.

The amount you may recover from an accident depends on the extent of the injury. Two people could be involved in the same exact accident and have completely different injuries. You will want to also take a look at how long you have been off of work and what this injury has cost you financially. Additionally, how the accident personally affected you is important. You are unique and your damage claim is entirely different than someone else's. We are not talking about repair of a car, or a simple wage loss. This is your life. All of these items are factors in the final decision of value.

You may want to attempt a quick settlement. This is usually not the best route if you are in need of a financial settlement. Rushing a settlement may leave you in the short term better off but in the long term, with no more rights. Each case requires careful balancing of your needs. You may want to take into consideration all of the financial aspects of your case and prepare a demand letter that you submit. If you have all of your facts and can prove your case, it can help you get a settlement with a good demand letter. But if you cannot develop this on your own, or need help with your accident, An Orange County accident lawyer may be able to help you compose and submit this demand letter in hopes of recovering your losses quickly.

When you are first looking at Orange County personal injury lawyers it is important to conduct an interview with this potential attorney and this can help you determine if an attorney can help you with your case. An attorney can offer their advice and help to determine if their services will benefit you. This can also help you to get a feel for this lawyer and you will see if there can be a potential working relationship with this attorney.

Orange County Personal injury lawyers can get you the help you need if you are involved in accident which results in an injury. You do not have to settle, or feel bullied by insurance company and a good lawyer on your side can be your voice and help you get the money you deserve. A consultation can tell you a lot about your case and all lawyers should offer this early conversation and consultation with advice for free. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If you do not need the lawyer, after the consultation, then you will at least learn the important parts of your case and be able to further benefit your case in the future. Further, if you made a friend, the attorney may be able to represent you later, and you did not cause your case to be weakened. Call an attorney if you have any questions.

Jim Ballidis is the author of several free books on injury, damages and selecting an attorney. If you want to view his books, or use the resources he offers for free, contact us at 866 981-5596 or visit the Orange County personal injury attorneys.

Any time you withhold information you look as though you are hiding something. If you have been involved in a personal injury accident, you may be scared to bring up any preexisting conditions you may have, or previous injuries. You may be under utilizing a strength of your case, and may not realize how important it can be to be completely honest.

First if you hire an attorney, you want to disclose all of your information to the California personal injury lawyers you choose. This includes any past medical issues. Let the attorney decide what may be important to your case. Your attorney will be able to advice you what is significant to your case, and develop a strategy for disclosure pertaining to your case.

If your case goes as far as a court of law, your credibility is a significant factor, that you want on your side. If something comes out later that should have been disclosed from the very beginning, the omission can damage your credibility and this may have disastrous results that contradict what you may have expected. Once your credibility is damaged, you may never be able to regain this fully.

You need to remember that the other side is going to use anything that they can to ruin your credibility and this is why you should make sure that you are up front. It is much better for your California personal injury lawyers to disclose this information, in a light favorable to you rather then the other side learning of it and using it to their advantage. Even if the information is damaging, it is better to plan for and minimize damage rather than loose credibility..

As an example, if you have an existing condition that was re-injured in an accident, you have to disclose this information early to your treating physicians. They may be able to distinguish the difference of injury and even document things they normally would not document. You can still claim new injury and you should not think that your case is over because you have an existing injury.

You do need to visit a doctor right after the accident and make sure that your entire medical condition is well documented. You need to make sure that the California personal injury lawyers have full access to all of your records, even the ones from the past if they are relevant.

California personal injury lawyers will inform you of all of the other things that are needed to make your case strong. You should try to provide everything that your lawyer needs in a timely fashion to make an early difference. For more on past medical history, read our articles from our free accident resource center.

If you need help, don't hesitate to get your attorney involved early. They can save you time and money, developing a strategy for your personal case facts.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s latest seat belt survey, usage is at an all time high with 84% of all Americans using them. Specifically here in California we have 95.3% compliance rate, due in part to tough enforcement by local authorities and the California Highway Patrol. However, that still leaves more than a million California drivers susceptible to serious personal injury if they are in a motor vehicle accident.

The popular California campaign, “Click It or Ticket” which began in 2005 has increased seatbelt usage from 92.5 to 95.3% in four years. That’s more than one million safer drivers on the road. Violations range from an adult ticket costing around $142 up to $445 for not properly restraining a child under 16.

Since the last campaign did so well, the CHP is now targeting younger drivers with the program, “No Belt No Brains”. The leading cause of death for young adult drivers is traffic collisions. This campaign will target teens in two ways; through PSA ads before major motion pictures and in print throughout California high schools. Either way, teens should get the message.

Thirteen of California’s 58 counties were identified to have the highest rates of teen drivers that had been killed or injured in a traffic accident without seatbelts being used. All of Southern California’s counties, including Orange were included. As an Orange County auto accident lawyer, we see the devastation of failing to belt up and especially in teens where we have seen horrendous injury and death in the last 10 years.

Tragically, last month a young California woman was seriously injured when the SUV she was riding in was exiting a freeway off ramp and rolled over. The woman who was riding in the passenger seat was ejected from the car, and then ran over by another automobile.
About half of all traffic fatalities involving unbelted passenger could be saved if they had only worn a seat belt. It takes only two minutes to buckle up and it could save your life!
Additionally, by wearing appropriate restraints, it can dramatically increase your survival rate if you are involved in a serious motor vehicle accident by 50%. Not to mention it models good behavior for your children to restrain themselves as well.

“No Belt No Brains” is possible only by a generous grant from the Office of Traffic Safety. “Click It or Ticket” is a cooperative effort among the five traffic safety-related departments under the state’s Business, Transportation and Housing Agency: the California Highway Patrol, Office of Traffic Safety, Department of Transportation, Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

If you are involved in a personal injury accident that is the result of someone else’s negligence, you will need to act quickly and California injury attorneys can make all of the difference in the world. You may not know where to turn and a good attorney will lay everything out for you clearly. You can have a much better understanding of what you are up against.

Interviewing a auto accident witness can be more intense then you originally thought. Sometimes, we want to believe that a witness will simply tell us their side of things fairly. However, like everyone, they may have a preconceived notion of how the accident occurred, may have some prejudice against you because they thought you were doing something wrong, or may even simply want to help but testify poorly thus eliminating them as a good witness. A good injury attorney will know the right techniques to use to interview a witness to get the most accurate information. You may want to let your attorney do all of the interviewing unless you learn the interviewing techniques that will provide the best results.

When a witness is interviewed by California injury attorneys there are many techniques that are used. Know what you are going to say, before you make any phone calls, can make a big difference in the results you get. Injury attorneys need to be very experienced when it comes to interviewing and they must have great ways of talking to people to get the desired results.

It is also a good idea to have a general idea of what the witness is going to say before the interviewing process. An experienced lawyer will be able to look at all of the provided information and get a feel for how the interview is going to go with a particular witness before the interview, based on the police report, and other witnesses. This advanced idea, can help them to get the best information available.

You may also want to use an injury attorney to help keep all witnesses helpful. If you irritate a witness, it can turn sour very quickly and this can affect the entire interview. You want to make sure that you use an attorney that is good at talking with people. This factor can make all of the difference in the world. If you think that your attorney is good when you are talking to them personally, chances are they will be great at the interviewing process of witnesses and this can help your injury case dramatically.

California injury attorneys are a great resource to posses if you are involved in an injury due to someone else. You never want to tread alone and if you have a knowledgeable attorney at your side, it can make difficult situation seem easier. You may achieve results that you did not expect, and you can focus on heeling, and getting on with your life.

If you are involved in an accident you want to begin the process by consulting with a Los Angeles injury lawyer. Many mistakes can be made without an attorney on your side and you may not be fully aware of your rights. You need to make sure that you are not bullied by the other side and if you let your lawyer handle things, you will be more likely to see a good outcome. But the biggest mistake is giving a recorded statement to the other side.

After your accident you may be contacted by the insurance company from the other side. It can be tempting to get the ball rolling, but you may want to be very careful about giving any statements to this company. You are not required to do this and this can be used against you in many ways. The statement will be recorded and anything you say is fair game for use later, even if innocently stated, like "I am not really that hurt." The insurance company prepares for these cases thoroughly, but you may be caught off guard by some of the questions and they may prevent you from answering these questions in a productive way.

If you are contacted by an insurance company you may think that as a large company they are fair and honest. You need to keep in mind that the insurance companies are out to make as much money, and pay as little on claims as possible, and this could come at your expense. If you are contacted by a large insurance company you will want to have your injury lawyer offices' phone number handy, and you can simply refer this company to your lawyer for any comment. This is a great way to show the other side that you mean business, and you are not willing to settle without fair compensation.

You may be contacted the day after the accident and sometimes injuries present several days after an accident. This is where a Los Angeles injury lawyer can be a great resource. They may delay answering any questions until your injuries have been fully assessed and this allows you time to prepare. You want to take this process slow and give both sides time to come up with an appropriate arrangement.

A Los Angeles injury lawyer can get you the results you deserve. If you have been involved in an accident, you should never go at it alone, and fighting an insurance corporation is nearly impossible without the proper assistance of an attorney. Get your life back on track when you get all of the things you are entitled to after an injury accident.