If you have been seriously injured in an accident, it can be stressful to consider how you will pay off your medical bills and take time off from work to recover, while still supporting your family. Often, the only way that an accident victim in Southern California can cover the expenses associated with serious injuries is by bringing a personal injury lawsuit. At Sharifi Firm, PLC, our experienced trial attorneys can offer knowledgeable legal counsel and aggressive representation if your accident was caused by another individual or entity. We handle lawsuits arising out of motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls and other accidents on property, construction accidents, and other incidents. Our attorneys also can assist families who are pursuing a wrongful death claim after the loss of a loved one.
Truck AccidentsDue to the weight and size of commercial trucks, the injuries sustained in a truck accident tend to be catastrophic or fatal. In addition to holding a negligent driver accountable, you may be able to hold other parties liable for your damages. This is important because truck accidents often have multiple victims, all of whom may have catastrophic injuries and may be making claims against the driver's policy limits. There may not be enough coverage for serious injuries and fatalities. You may be able to hold a truck driver's employer vicariously liable for a driver's negligence in the course and scope of employment. Additionally, in some cases, the trucking company may be held directly liable by a Los Angeles personal injury attorney for its negligent hiring, negligent training, or negligent supervision. For example, a trucking company should conduct background checks on job applicants for significant red flags like DUIs. Unfortunately, too often, a trucking company looks the other way when there are red flags and hires a driver with a history of negligent or reckless conduct. These companies can be held responsible for negligent hiring if the driver causes an accident.
Motorcycle AccidentsSince there is no structure protecting a motorcyclist, he or she will typically suffer severe injuries or death when struck by a larger vehicle. When suing for damages, a motorcycle accident victim may face bias from insurance adjusters and the jury, based on being a motorcyclist. It is often assumed that motorcyclists are daredevils or are reckless on their bikes, even when they have followed all of the laws and rules. As a result, it is crucial to retain an experienced personal injury lawyer in the Los Angeles area before speaking to an insurance adjuster for the other party. For example, a motorcyclist's failure to wear a helmet may be construed as comparative negligence when traumatic brain injuries are sustained. However, you still can receive a reduced amount of compensation if you were partly responsible for a crash, in proportion to the defendant’s degree of fault.
Premises LiabilityProperty owners in Southern California owe a duty to visitors to keep their property free from dangers or to repair or warn of problems of which they are aware or should be aware. If you were injured in a slip and fall or as a result of another type of dangerous property condition, you will need to show that the property owner had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition in a premises liability lawsuit. In most cases, constructive notice must be established. It can be shown by proving that the condition existed long enough that an owner using reasonable care would have noticed it. For example, if a spill existed in a convenience store for 24 hours, it is likely that a reasonable owner would notice it. However, if it only existed for 10 minutes, a reasonable owner might not notice it. Often, surveillance footage is helpful for a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer seeking to establish notice.
Construction AccidentsAfter many construction accidents, a worker's exclusive remedy against his or her employer is workers' compensation. However, there are usually multiple entities involved on a construction site, and in some cases, another subcontractor or contractor may be liable for its negligence on the site. California follows the rule of joint and several liability with regard to economic damages. That means that any defendant at fault for an accident may be held 100% responsible for economic losses like wage loss and medical bills. However, each defendant is only severally liable for noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering or mental anguish. This means that each defendant is only responsible for noneconomic losses in an amount equal to its percentage of fault.
Wrongful DeathWhen somebody dies as a result of another party's negligence or wrongful conduct, it may be possible for certain family members to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit. This is a civil lawsuit that is separate from any criminal charges that may also be brought. In fact, you may be able to recover wrongful death damages even if a prosecutor was unable to establish criminal culpability, due to the different burdens of proof in each type of case. In a wrongful death lawsuit, fault is expressed in monetary damages, which are paid to certain survivors if liability and damages are established. People who may bring a wrongful death claim include a decedent's surviving spouse, any surviving children, and if there are none, other survivors in a line of descent.
Consult an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney in the Los Angeles AreaAfter a Southern California accident that caused catastrophic injuries, it is crucial to determine what contributed to the accident so that you can hold the appropriate parties accountable. At Sharifi Firm, APC, our experienced attorneys can evaluate the circumstances surrounding an accident, advise you on your options, and vigorously advance your rights. Contact us at (866) 422-7222 or via our online form. We also represent victims and their families in cities such as Temecula, Rancho Cucamonga, Glendale, Covina, San Bernardino, and Riverside.
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