- Wrongful DeathWhen a person dies because of the negligent, deliberate, reckless, or careless actions of another person or business entity, it may constitute grounds for a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. Families grappling with the shock and loss of a loved one should not have to face the additional hardship of the lost financial or other support the deceased person provided. Under California wrongful death laws, immediate family members may be eligible for compensation for their losses and damages. These family survivors include spouses, children, dependent stepchildren, and parents. If no immediate family members as described exist, then those who would inherit the victim's estate may file a wrongful death claim or the deceased's personal representative as appointed by the probate court may file on behalf of the deceased's estate.
- Traffic ViolationsHit and run drivers may flee the scene of an accident for many reasons. They may have been drunk or drug-impaired, may have been speeding, driving on a suspended or revoked license, may be an undocumented alien, or may simply have panicked, been afraid of law enforcement or the consequences of their actions. Regardless of the reasons, once found they can be held legally responsible for the injuries and damages they have incurred.
- Hit and RunNegligence is generally a matter of carelessness, an action or a failure to act in a manner that any other prudent person would engage in under similar circumstances. For example, a driver who takes to the road while under the influence of alcohol is a negligent driver who is not taking due care for the safety of others. Similarly, a landlord who refuses to repair a broken staircase on his premises may be deemed negligent by a court in regards to providing a safe environment for tenants and visitors. Negligence or misconduct is often the underlying cause in all types of accidents, such as those involving cars, buses, bicycles, motorcycles, trucks, and pedestrians as well as dog attacks, construction accidents, hit and run, slip and fall accidents, train accidents, and swimming pool accidents.
- Workers CompensationWhen a worker dies as a result of a work-related fatal accident or from work-related causes, he or she may leave behind a family devastated by the loss of their loved one and the financial support that the decedent provided. The worker may have been killed in any type of accident which occurred while performing job duties, such as falling from a scaffold, being killed in a work-related traffic accident, explosion, or fire, or from toxic exposure to chemicals or other harmful substances. Where a worker's death has been work-related, his survivors are eligible for California workers' compensation death benefits.
- Premises LiabilityPremises liability can apply to any public or private property, including a residence, office buildings, restaurants, theaters, shopping malls, hotels, motels, dormitories, nursing homes, sports arenas, entertainment venues, nightclubs, grocery stores, apartment complexes, hospitals, parking structures, and more. Examples of unhandled and potentially dangerous property conditions include wet floors, spills on floors, broken tiles or flooring, broken windows, poor or non-existent lighting in stairwells, hallways, or pathways, and other similar conditions. Typical incidents which may fall under premises liability include slip and fall accidents, swimming pool accidents, and dog attacks.
- Property DamageEveryone who is given a driver's license in California is obligated to stop at the scene when they have been involved in an accident to render assistance, provide identification, and determine the extent of any injuries or property damage. That is part of any driver's responsibility and part of the privilege of being licensed. Those who fail to do so are subject to criminal prosecution.
- Personal InjuryCar accidents lead all other types of injury incidents in personal injury claims throughout the country. As everyone knows, motor vehicle accidents are all too common, especially in high-density areas like the metropolitan cities and surrounding communities in Southern California. Every day accidents occur on the freeways and city streets of this geographical region that is home to millions of residents, commuters, and businesses. These accidents range from minor fender-benders to multi-vehicle pileups that clog freeway lanes for miles. All too often, they result in injuries for those unfortunate enough to be involved, from whiplash and soft tissue injuries to sprains, broken bones, ruptured discs, burns, loss of limbs, internal injuries, head injuries, and neck, back, and spinal cord injuries. In the most tragic cases, deaths occur with families left to deal with the shock and loss of loved ones.
- Auto Accidents
- Dog BitesCalifornia has strict liability laws concerning dog bites. Per Section 3342 of the California Civil Code, a dog owner is liable for the damages incurred when his or her dog bites a person, whether in a public location or on the dog owner's property. Those who are considered to be lawfully on the premises are those performing a public duty, such as a mail carrier, or persons who have been invited on the property, whether expressly or through implication (such as a service provider, repairman, or the like.) Whether the dog has never attacked another person or whether the owner has no knowledge of the dog being vicious is irrelevant.
- Slip and Fall InjurySlip and fall and trip and fall accidents which occur due to unsafe property conditions may lead to valid personal injury claims and lawsuits under premises liability. These types of situations are valid where the property owner has failed to remedy a safety hazard or failed to warn visitors of its existence. Property owners and managers who fail to properly maintain their premises may be considered negligent in such cases and find themselves liable for legal compensation to victims of slip and fall injuries. Compensation for damages may include past and future medical expenses, loss of earnings, pain and suffering, and similar damages.