There are important deadlines associated with filing a personal injury claim and it is important you discuss these deadlines with a lawyer so you do not miss out on your opportunity to file a claim.
Auto/Motorcycle Accidents
The fact is that most of us are reliant on our cars and motorcycles for our daily transportation. Anyone who has ever been behind the wheel knows of the issues that face drivers today. Drivers today or more distracted than ever and many drivers are also more impatient. It is not uncommon to walk into a store, coffee shop, or waiting room and see everyone on their phones, oblivious to the world around them. We are all guilty of this sometimes. However, the problem arises when this sort of addictive behavior follows people when they get behind the wheel. People who use their phones while driving are the cause of many of the accidents that we see today. They can be seen swerving in and out of lanes, stopped at green lights, and driving through stop signs. Distracted drivers are especially dangerous to motorcyclists that can sometimes be hard to see in the best of conditions and to bicyclists who have very little protection and are at risk of being struck by a swerving driver. If you get injured by someone who was on their phone, you likely have a case for negligence against that driver. It is important to have a lawyer who understands how phone data is stored so it can be discovered and used against the driver for your benefit.
As the population of Northern California continues to grow, the roads continue to get more and more congested. This causes some drivers to drive recklessly as they weave back and forth between the lanes in an attempt to get to their destination faster. This sort of behavior can be viewed as negligent (at the very least) and coupled with people’s inattention to the roads while using smartphones, accidents will continue to happen.
Although it is true that drivers are faced with new challenges with the advent of the smart phone, drivers today are still at risk from people driving too fast and from drunk or drugged drivers. With marijuana use now legal at the state level in California, many drivers get behind the wheel stoned. This can affect their attention to the road and how they drive.
Mr. Call has first-hand experience working for insurance companies in issues of motor vehicle liability and damages. He understands how insurance companies work and knows how to get them to pay out. One of Mr. Call’s family members went through a terrifying accident when he was growing up. Luckily, she hired a savvy attorney who got her the money that she needed to repair her injured leg and compensate her for her pain and suffering. It was the positive experience with this lawyer that led Mr. Call to the field of personal injury litigation and he knows how serious the claims can be, not only to the injured person, but to their family and friends as well.
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact The Law Offices of Taylor P. Call for a free consultation.
Construction Accidents
The construction industry in Northern California is sizeable, especially considering all of the new developments and road construction driven by the population growth in this are of the state. If you work in construction, then you know about safety regulations set by governmental agencies such as OSHA. You also know that not all companies follow the appropriate safety procedures. People are injured on construction sites every day. Many of the construction site injuries could be avoided or severely limited by using proper safety procedures. If you work for a subcontractor that was not using proper safety equipment or procedures, then you could have a claim against the subcontractor. However, you could also have a claim against a general contractor who generally carry larger insurance policies.
The Law Offices of Taylor P. Call does not solely look to safety procedures or the negligence of other workers when working on a claim. Sometimes it is necessary to look at the equipment itself to determine if there was a product defect either in the product’s design or when it was manufactured. The product could also contain inadequate instructions or warnings. While product defects are not an issue in most cases, it is always important to consider them.
Just like with motor vehicle liability, a worker (and the company he works for) can be liable if they use equipment in an unsafe manner, such as work trucks, backhoes, bulldozers, cranes, jackhammers, nail guns, welding equipment, etc. Contractors can also be liable if they fail to properly train a person in the operation of certain equipment.
It is important to have an attorney that understands construction and construction sites on your side to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve. Mr. Call’s father had a small subcontracting business and he spent his summers in high school and college and some time post-college working with his father digging ditches and installing water, sewer, and storm drain utilities for residential and commercial developments. He has worked side by side with many construction workers over the years and understands the perils of working in that industry. Mr. Call’s construction knowledge coupled with his knowledge of the insurance industry allows him to deliver quality legal representation to his clients.
If you have been injured on a construction site, contact The Law Offices of Taylor P. Call for a free consultation.
Boating Accidents
One of the great things about living in Northern California is our access to warm weather and along with the ocean and bay, a multitude of rivers and lakes to boat, jetski, and kayak on. However, every year people die or are seriously injured on our waterways. Operator error is a common cause of accidents on the water and can involve multiple watercraft, swimmers and kayakers getting struck, single boat accidents, or injuries involving propellers. People who operate motorized vehicles on the water should be adequately trained in their operation and refrain from drinking or taking drugs. This does not always happen, and it can lead to devastating results. Most people know that the operator of the vehicle/boat can be found liable for his/her actions in causing an injury, but the owner of the vehicle can also be found liable through what is known as vicarious liability.
Product defects can be a factor in a boating accident due to a defective design or defect in the manufacturing process. Failure to have proper instructions or warnings can also contribute to boating accidents.
Just like with motor vehicles, there are rules of the water that must be followed when operating a boat on california’s waterways. It is not simply a free for all on the water as some people think. It is important that your attorney is aware of these rules and statutes so he can properly represent you in your boating accident case. Mr. Call has spent hundreds of hours operating boats in Northern California, with much of this experience stemming from his time operating boats for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife throughout the central valley. He has taken boating safety classes and knows first-hand how dangerous it can be on the water due to inexperienced, reckless, and intoxicated drivers.
If you have been injured in a boating or water related incident, contact The Law Offices of Taylor P. Call for a free consultation.
Wrongful Death
Survival Action
Dog Bites
Those of us who are dog owners love our pets. For many, dogs are a part of the family and their owners would never think that their dog would attack anyone. However, certain dogs can have dangerous propensities, erratic behaviors, can be overly protective, or can be trained improperly or not at all. Dogs are not the only animals that can attack and cause injury, but they are the most common type of animal related injury.
Dog bites can cause lacerations, contusions, broken bones, infections, scarring, and emotional distress sometimes resulting in PTSD. California has adopted strict liability for dog bites, and unlike other states, dogs in California do not get one “free” bite before the owners are liable. Owners are liable to anyone who is bitten by their dog on public property or anyone who was bitten while lawfully on private property, regardless of the dog’s history of viciousness or the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s viciousness. However, the dog’s history of biting (or lack of) as well as the owner’s knowledge of the dog’s viciousness (or lack of) can be important factors in a dog bite case.
Sometimes dogs don’t bite, but instead jump on a person or knock them over. If a large dog does this to a child or elderly person, the injuries can be severe. Owners can still be liable for their dog’s actions if they injure someone, even without biting.
If you were injured by a dog, contact The Law Offices of Taylor P. Call for a free consultation.
