Personal Injury

March 30, 2022

Does Lane-Splitting Affect Recovery for My Motorcycle Accident?

Sitting in gridlocked or being stop-and-go on freeways for hours is never a Southern Californian’s idea of fun; people try to avoid it whenever possible. For motorcyclists, that often includes moving between vehicles and splitting lanes. However, the practice often results in accidents, leading to injuries and/or fatalities. In fact, more than 400 motorcyclists lost their lives on California streets in the span of just a year according to the Governors Highway Safety Program. Motorists who strike a lane-splitting rider often argue the motorcyclist’s behavior was negligent and they, in fact, caused the collision; however, it’s not always the motorcyclist’s fault. A skilled Southern California personal injury attorney can often make the case the rider was not the cause of the collision.

Lane-Splitting Defined

Lane-splitting involves a motorcyclist riding between vehicles in different rows of traffic using their same lane. No state besides California specifically allows it. Proponents argue lane-splitting benefits riders in many ways, such as:

March 2, 2022

The Importance of Video Footage of your California Car Accident

By Walton Law, A.P.C.

The Importance of Video Footage of your California Car Accident

Although car accidents happen every day, we still don’t expect to be in one. When it does happen to you, your first thought immediately after is your safety.

After that, there is interest in reconstructing the accident and the recall of those involved. You probably have pictures that you’ve taken after the accident, but on-scene authorities, including the police and paramedics, may ask for your version of the events that led up to the accident. However, there are usually better alternatives: With cameras present on highways and used for local businesses, video footage could be a great resource for revealing what happened. Getting access to footage immediately after the accident can show who the negligent party is. But there is urgency because these digital records must be acquired before they are gone forever.

February 2, 2022

What is a Premise Liability Claim?

By Walton Law, A.P.C.

If you go onto an individual or company’s property and become injured on that property, you may be able to hold that property holder liable for your accident. Under the theory of premise liability, if the owner of the property doesn’t maintain the premises effectively, a visitor can collect damages for their injury.

Elements of a Premise Liability Case

All property owners in California owe a duty to visitors to keep them safe from harm by keeping up their property. The owners or occupiers of the property must take reasonable measures to help ensure safety. However, the extent of this duty may depend on different circumstances.

January 7, 2022

What is a Minor’s Compromise?

By Walton Law, A.P.C.

If your child has been injured and you have agreed to settle a claim on his or her behalf, you are not done yet – even if you have a signed settlement agreement in hand. You are only able to obtain the settlement funds for your child after jumping through a few hoops.

Minor’s compromise, often referred to as “minor’s comp,” is the procedure by which a parent or guardian (most likely through an attorney) provides details of a child’s settlement to the court for approval. This court approval is required for every settlement involving a child’s claim, even if no lawsuit has been filed. (There are some exceptions if the settlement is under $5,000.) The judge, in a sense, acts as the child’s advocate in examining the settlement terms to ensure it is a fair compromise for the child since, by agreeing to settle, the child is giving up the right to file a lawsuit down the road. (Children have until they turn 20 years old to file a personal injury lawsuit; the two-year statute of limitations does not start running until they turn 18).

The details of the child’s claim and settlement are examined at a hearing. Although this procedure sounds relatively straightforward, the paperwork required to support a minor’s compromise can be a bit daunting.

December 17, 2021

What Happens in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

By Walton Law, A.P.C.

When you’re thinking of pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, you want to know what to expect. Obviously, you wish to have the positive result of being compensated for the injuries that you’ve suffered from due to the wrongdoer’s actions. Although all cases are different based on the specific set of circumstances and details, there are certain commonalties and certain phases that will occur for any personal injury suit.

Medical Treatment

The first step to take after any accident or incident is to seek out medical attention. Although you may not feel anything at the time, it’s a good idea to check with a physician just in case because many conditions may develop later. You will want to have a medical record for further documentation to establish your case.

September 10, 2021

How Social Media Can Hurt Your Personal Injury Claim?

By Walton Law, A.P.C.

Silence is golden. Or at least it probably should be when it comes to social media and personal injury claims. It may start out innocently. You were involved in a serious car accident and suffered severe injuries. You make some social media posts because your friends and family are worried about you, and you want to ease their concerns. Social media is increasingly becoming more of our mode of communication. However, relying so much on social media can cause harm to your personal injury claim if you aren’t careful because much of the information obtained is fair game. As soon as you were involved in your accident or event, you want to make sure that you don’t jeopardize your upcoming case or current one.

Confidentiality

You shouldn’t talk about your potential claim or your case and certainly should not disclose certain details with anyone except an attorney. With your lawyer, the things that you talk about are confidential, and protected under the attorney client privilege. However, you lose that privilege the moment that you post something online; it is now public information. The general public, including the other side, can now be privy to the following:

August 13, 2021

How Do I Work with an Attorney on a Contingency Basis?

By Walton Law, A.P.C.

Many people are reluctant to hire a lawyer because they don’t think they can pay for legal fees out of pocket. Obviously, lawyers operate businesses and are paid for the work that they do. However, in personal injury cases, attorneys often don’t require payments from their clients at the onset. Instead they offer their services on a “contingency fee” basis.

The contingency fee arrangement allows an individual who has suffered a personal injury a way to hold those responsible accountable and to get the compensation that they deserve even if they can’t afford an attorney outright. This way they can seek out justice without the expense of a hefty monthly attorney bill that most other types of clients receive.

What is a Contingency Fee?

July 9, 2021

What’s the Difference Between Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice?

By Walton Law, A.P.C.

Consider the following scenario: You trip and fall at the grocery store, which results in a broken leg. You want to get compensated for your health care costs and lost wages. You realize that you would want to consult with a personal injury attorney to assist you with a claim against the supermarket. But in this same situation, you receive medical care from a doctor who uses an incorrect surgical device which makes your injured leg require an additional surgery. While you’re in the hospital, you acquire an infection with the end result being an amputation of your leg. Suddenly, it occurs to you that you might need another type of attorney for your claim against the surgeon. You ask around and realize that you want someone who specializes in medical malpractice. Read on to understand the difference between personal injury and medical malpractice.

Personal Injury vs. Medical Malpractice

By being exposed to solicitations and legal advertising, many people realize that when someone experiences a physical or emotional injury due to another party’s fault, then they could pursue a claim under personal injury law and would seek this type of attorney. However, if that injury is the direct result of a medical professional like a physician, then you would consult with a medical malpractice attorney. Medical malpractice is a legal specialty under the umbrella of “personal injury law.” Thus, all malpractice lawyers are personal injury lawyers, but not all personal injury lawyers are malpractice lawyers.

May 28, 2021

What You Should Know about Being Compensated for Gym Injuries

By Walton Law, A.P.C.

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As more businesses continue to re-open in California as Covid-19 cases decrease and vaccination rates increase, you might be more willing to check out your local gym to lose some of the pandemic weight. But what happens if you suffer injuries at your gym? Read on for important information that discusses your legal rights and what you should do to get compensated for any losses you may have suffered at the gym with a personal injury lawsuit.

When you visit the gym, you expect that the premises will be clean, secure, and well-maintained; you also expect that the equipment is safe to use for your exercise needs. Fortunately, this is true most of the time. However, if a gym owner fails to maintain their gym and its equipment, then it can lead to major accident and serious injuries. If an individual suffers an injury at the gym, then they could have a potential legal claim against the owners of the gym, the gym, and the gym’s insurance company.

Types of Gym Accidents

May 21, 2021

Auto Insurance Requirements in California

By Walton Law, A.P.C.

California, (like many other states) has minimum insurance requirements which must be made before you can operate a vehicle legally. Under state law, you are required to have automobile insurance, and if you don’t, there are penalties for not having the minimum amount.

The way that almost all accident-related injuries are compensated is through liability insurance. Since California is an at fault state, the insurance company of the person whose negligence caused the accident is responsible for paying for the injured party’s damages; this is the reason that California requires auto insurance minimums.

Minimum California Car Insurance Coverage