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Sonoma Injury Lawyers Mittleman and Pritel
Practice Areas and Legal Definitions
California Vehicle
Accidents:
Legal claims that arise from vehicle accidents are typically
governed by the law of negligence. Any individual who negligently
operates a motor vehicle may be required to pay damages to an
injured victim. A personal injury case involving a vehicle accident
may become formalized through civil court proceedings, or may be
resolved through an informal settlement before a lawsuit is filed.
Vehicle accidents can include:
The surviving family members of a fatally injured accident
victim may be able to bring wrongful death charges against the
defendant.
California
Automobile Accidents:
The Sonoma car accident lawyers of Mittleman & Pritel have years of
experience and a successful track record representing clients who
have suffered significant injuries in automobile accidents. The
Mittleman & Pritel law firm works closely with doctors and
other health care providers to discuss the short and long-term
medical consequences of an injury. The firm possesses a detailed
comprehension of California’s automobile insurance and liability
laws and understands the different sources of recovery available to
car accident victims and their families.
California Bicycle
Accidents:
According to the Federal Highway Administration, over 67,000
cyclists in the U.S. are injured every year in accidents involving
motor vehicles. Many cyclists who are injured in bicycle accidents
are unaware that they have a personal injury case, and that they
may be entitled to compensation for injuries, pain and suffering,
medical bills and lost income.
Damages awarded in a bicycle injury claim can include:
- Compensation for an injury sustained while bicycling due to a
pothole, poor road, or defective sidewalk
- State-mandated residential and commercial bicycle laws, which
entitle bikers to observe different traffic rules than cars, trucks
and other motorized vehicles. This may mean that a biker is not
legally responsible for an accident.
California
Boating Accidents:
Typically, powerboats such as runabouts, cabin cruisers and jet
skis are the most common watercraft to be involved in boating
accidents, although sailboats can be involved in accidents as well.
The most frequent sources of injuries are caused from propeller
accidents and collisions. Because personal watercraft such as jet
skis can’t be steered when the throttle is released, inexperienced
drivers often have collisions when confronted with an emergency.
Serious personal injury and even death can occur due to a boating
collision or from a person falling over the side of a watercraft
and drowning.
California
Motorcycle Accidents:
Motorcycle riders are often exposed to dangers not met by
automobile drivers and other motorists on the road. The lack of any
substantial protective barriers, as well as the difficulty that
other motorists may have in seeing or stopping for a motorcycle,
leaves riders prone to serious personal injury in the event of an
accident. The Sonoma motorcycle accident lawyers of Mittleman & Pritel can advise injured
riders of their legal rights and discuss the litigation options
that are available.
California SUV
Rollovers:
Although SUV rollovers do not occur as often as other automobile
accidents, when they do occur they have a higher chance of
resulting in serious injury or death, and are considered to be the
most fatal type of vehicle accident on national roadways. According
to the Federal Highway Administration, SUV rollover accidents
account for more than side and rear fatal vehicle crashes combined,
and are three times more likely than the average passenger car
rollover.
Although SUV’s were designed primarily for the purpose of
off-roading, manufacturers have since discovered their immense
popularity as family vehicles, and have begun removing roll bars in
current models. SUV seat structures are not designed to keep
occupants in place during a rollover (regardless if seatbelts are
worn), and vehicle roofs, windshields and side windows easily
collapse, increasing the risk of occupant head, brain, spinal cord
and back injuries. While the body of an SUV remains the same as it
would if used for off-roading, the removal of the roll bars,
combined with the high center of gravity due to multiple
passengers, make rollover accidents, and occupant ejection, that
much more fatal.
California
Slip and Fall/Premises Liability:
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere and can cause
serious personal injury. Most slip and falls happen in commercial
settings, such as grocery stores, drug stores, office buildings,
construction sites, gas stations and malls, but they also happen on
private property. Premises Liability accidents can include toxic
exposure, animal attacks, swimming pool accidents and amusement
park ride accidents. In any event, there exist duties on the part
of the property owners to maintain the property responsibly and
avoid the existence of hazardous conditions.
Dangerous or defective conditions may be large or small, temporary
or permanent. Therefore, investigation of the claim is essential to
a successful case. Temporary conditions such as water on the floor
of a grocery store or snow and ice on the stairs of a restaurant
need to be investigated quickly.
California
Dog/Animal Bites:
Every year, millions of Americans are bitten by animals. Being
attacked by a dog is an extremely stressful event. Many dog bite
injuries leave scars and have lasting emotional effects. In the
State of California, the owner or keeper of a dog is strictly
liable for his or her dog, even if it is the first time the dog has
injured someone. As long as the injured victim was not trespassing,
teasing or tormenting the dog, the keeper or owner of the dog is
liable for any injuries sustained. Compensation for a dog bite can
include payment for medical bills, pain & suffering, mental
anxiety, fear and scarring.
California
Wrongful Death:
A wrongful death occurs when a person is killed due to the
negligence or misconduct of another individual, company, or
organization. A legal action for wrongful death belongs to the
decedent's immediate family members, usually a surviving spouse and
children, and sometimes parents. Under certain circumstances,
unrelated minor children living with and supported by the decedent
may also bring a claim for wrongful death. In order to bring a
successful wrongful death cause of action in California, the
following elements must be present:
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The death of a human being caused by another's
negligent or intentional conduct.
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The survival of family members who are suffering
the loss of financial support, love, care, comfort, supervision,
guidance, household assistance and general society previously
provided by the deceased.
The general rule in California in wrongful death cases is that
one is entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages
which are suffered as a result of the loss of a loved one. Economic
damages in a wrongful death case include an award for the financial
contributions which the decedent would have made to his wife,
children and/or parents had he or she survived. It also includes
the recovery for funeral services in memory of the decedent and for
burial costs. Non-economic damages include loss of love,
companionship, comfort, affection, society, solace or moral
support.
If you or someone you know in Sonoma, California, or within the
surrounding cities and counties of California needs the assistance
or trusted legal advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer,
please contact the attorneys of Mittleman & Pritel today at
1-866-338-3669 or complete the contact form provided on this
site to begin your free consultation with a skilled California
accident attorney.
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