personal injury accident Tag

The Link Between Car Accidents and PTSD

According to researchers, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is very possible in the wake of a motor vehicle accident. In fact, people who experience severe car accidents are at risk for psychological problems in general. What are some of the signs of PTSD?

• Unwanted memories – reliving of the event
• Flashbacks to the trauma
• Nightmares regarding the traumatic event
• Severe emotional distress when reminded of the trauma
• Trying to avoid thinking about or talking about the event
• Avoiding places or people that remind you of the trauma
• Negative or hopeless thoughts
• Emotional numbness
• Feelings of detachment and difficulty maintaining relationships
• Being easily startled and always on guard
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty sleeping
• Feelings of guilt or shame
• Irritability or aggressive behavior

If you begin to notice any of these symptoms in the wake of a motor vehicle accident, you should contact a healthcare professional immediately. A doctor or mental health professional may be able to help you work through the challenges caused by PTSD, possibly with the help of prescription medication or cognitive behavioral therapy.

Getting Help for Your Car Accident Settlement

Receiving care is the number one thing following an accident. After that, you need to figure out how to pay for it. A settlement from the insurance company can help to cover medical bills, including ongoing expenses due to related issues like PTSD. Petrov Law Firm can help you to get what you really deserve from the insurance company. Before accepting any settlement, contact us at 619.344.0360 to discuss your case and learn what options are available to you.

Safety Tips to Help You Avoid Drowsy Driving

More people are taking road trips rather than flying to their destination during the pandemic. Driving back and forth on a daily commute can also lead to drowsy driving, especially if you drive off-hours to try and beat the traffic. Here are a few tips to help keep you safe at the wheel.

• Don’t drive during your normal sleep hours – If you stick to a sleep schedule, don’t change it up and get behind the wheel. You’ve trained your body to be asleep during those hours.
• Take needed breaks – If you are driving for longer than two hours or more than 100 miles, schedule breaks.
• Have a second driver – On long trips, it helps to have a second driver who can take over if you get tired.
• Check medication labels – This is especially vital if you are starting a new medication. If the label says that it may cause drowsiness, you need to see how your body responds before you get behind the wheel. Talk to your doctor if you think a prescription medication is making you drowsy during times you have to drive.

What If You Have Been Injured by a Drowsy Driver?

If you have been injured in a car accident by a drowsy driver, or if the other driver is at fault for any other reason, then you deserve compensation. Contact Petrov Law Firm today at 619.344.0360 to get our experienced personal injury attorneys on your side. We have the know-how you want when dealing with an insurance company to get the settlement you deserve.

Most Car Accident Causes Are Avoidable

California is a tort state when it comes to auto accidents. The driver who is at fault for the accident is on the hook for the damages. So avoiding car accidents where the blame is you is a must. Otherwise, your insurance company will have to pay out, and your rates will go up.

Since most car accidents are avoidable, you may be due compensation if the accident was the other driver’s fault. Here are some things that would make it clear that the other driver is to blame for the accident.

• Driving distracted – Whether they were on the phone, eating, reading, or applying makeup, a distracted driver is at fault in most auto accidents.
• Speeding – Car accidents that involve a driver who is speeding often end up doing more damage, both to property and to passengers. There’s no excuse for breaking the speed limit.
• Drunk driving – This one should be obvious. If someone is in a car accident and it turns out they are drunk, the blame is going on them. They should never have been behind the wheel.
• Reckless driving – When you see a car weaving in and out of traffic on the highway, it is best to let them go by. If they cause an accident, they will be to blame, but it’s just better to avoid the accident if possible.

If You Have Been Injured By a Driver in California…

These are just a few of the many behaviors that would make an auto accident a driver’s fault. If you have been injured by a driver involved in such a dangerous activity in southern California, contact Petrov Law Firm in San Diego. Our personal injury lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 619.344.0360 to get started right away.

Determining Liability in Truck Accidents

When the driver of a tractor-trailer makes a mistake, the effects can be disastrous for other nearby drivers. What are some of the most common ways that a truck driver loses control over their haul?

• Wide turns – A semi needs a much wider turning radius than smaller vehicles. If the truck driver tries to make the turn but crosses a double yellow line and strikes your vehicle, this is the fault of the trailer driver.
• Jackknifing – You may have heard this term, but outside of the world of transport, few people know what it means. Jackknifing is when the trailer swings out to the left or right of the cab that is pulling it. It usually occurs when a driver is traveling at unsafe speeds, makes a sudden motion with the wheel, brakes at the wrong time, or hasn’t adjusted their driving to what road conditions call for. The quick swing of the trailer can result in striking a vehicle, even forcing it off the road.
• Rolls – When a cab is pulling a heavy load and takes a turn at high speeds, there is a risk of tipping over. While a truck rolling will normally only affect the driver in the cab, if you happen to be alongside a trailer when this happens, it can cause severe damage or injuries.

Support for Your Personal Injury Case Involving a Truck

These are just a few of the things that can cause a truck driver to be at fault for an auto accident. When you need help maximizing your settlement from the insurance company, Petrov Law Firm is here for you. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to get your case into the hands of one of our experienced truck accident attorneys.

Pro Tips for Receiving a Fair Car Accident Settlement

In order to optimize the settlement that you receive in the wake of a San Diego car accident injury, you will want the assistance of a California personal injury attorney. Here are a few more tips to ensure that you receive a fair offer from the insurance company.

• Report the accident to the police and get a copy of the police report. Be sure never to admit any amount of liability.
• Document the accident scene if possible. If you can take pictures or even record a video of the scene and the surroundings, this is all helpful. Get pictures of the vehicle positions, damage, street signage, and the like. If any eyewitnesses pulled over, get their names and contact information.
• Don’t wait to see a doctor. Being in shock may cause you not to feel pain or injury. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to connect your injury to the accident.
• Don’t go on the record with either a written or verbal statement. The only person you should be speaking about your accident with is your personal injury attorney. This includes social media! Don’t Tweet or in any other way post information about the accident.
• Keep track of the damages. This includes your medical bills, missed days of work, and any other losses that directly or indirectly relate to the accident and injury.

Call Petrov Law Firm Today to Maximize Your Settlement

Petrov Law Firm in San Diego has the experienced attorneys that you want on your side when dealing with an insurance company. Don’t sign anything before you have the chance to discuss your case. Call 619.344.0360 to get started.

3 Things Insurance Adjusters Do to Cheat You Out of Compensation

After an accident that results in property damage or personal injury, an insurance adjuster will need to evaluate your claim. Even if the adjuster is from your insurance company or if they seem very friendly, don’t make the mistake of thinking this person is on your side. Their career depends on paying out as little as possible. Here are three things an insurance adjuster may do to try and reduce the compensation you receive.

• Delay your case – The longer you go without compensation, the more desperate you may become. When the adjuster comes back with a low-ball settlement, you may take it, thinking that you simply can’t wait any longer.
• Ask for ridiculous information – Sometimes, an adjuster may request things that are not even necessary just to make it as difficult as possible for you. If you give up, then the payout is zero, and that makes the insurance company very happy.
• Requesting a recorded statement – Don’t do this. Once you’re on record, the adjuster can twist your words any way they see fit to cheat you out of what you deserve. If your adjuster is acting sneaky, don’t talk with them at all. Leave all the communications up to your lawyer.

Personal Injury Attorneys You Can Trust in San Diego

Hiring a personal injury attorney lets the insurance company know that you mean business about getting a legitimate settlement. Petrov Law Firm in San Diego is here to help with your injury settlement in southern California. Call 619.344.0360 to get started today.03

Situations that Make Driving More Dangerous

The dangers of traffic accidents make driving a risky, albeit necessary, activity. What are some road conditions that increase the risk of injury, and how can you navigate these circumstances safely? Here are a few tips.

• Bad weather – Rain can make the road slippery, and fog can reduce visibility. When you are driving in inclement weather, be sure to drive slower than usual. Use the correct setting for your car’s headlights. Also, while you should never tailgate, you need to leave extra room between you and the driver ahead if the weather is bad.
• Construction zones – You need to stay alert to protect the lives of workers in construction areas. That includes following all posted signs that may indicate reduced speeds or restricted lane usage. You also need to be careful when it comes to the potential for tire damage.
• Night driving – Darkness reduces visibility. Headlights can light your way, but you need to be sure to switch to the low beams when traffic is coming toward you. Remember that it will be more difficult to see hazards in the road and drive accordingly.

Personal Injury Attorneys in San Diego

If you have experienced an injury in a car accident, you need the assistance of experienced personal injury attorneys. Call Petrov Law Firm today at 619.344.0360 to speak with experienced lawyers in the San Diego area. We can help you get the compensation that you deserve to receive from tightfisted insurance companies. Get your settlement started today!

Wrongful Death Cases

Generally, wrongful death cases occur because of an accident stemming from neglect. Intent to cause harm would mean the case is a criminal matter. For example, if a construction crane falls and kills someone walking by the construction site, the victim’s family would file a wrongful death case.

Not all wrongful death claims, however, are easy to identify or prove. For example, if a skier hits a tree and dies while skiing, generally the business that owns the ski trail wouldn’t be liable in a wrongful death case. Skiing has some inherent risk and the skier assumes most of that risk. However, if the trail had been mismarked as an easy path, but was, in fact, intended for more experienced skiers, the owner could be held liable. Again, neglect is key in proving that ski trail management should have more diligent about guiding less experienced skiers to the safer options.

Spouses, parents, and children are responsible for filing the wrongful death case. If you have a family member that you suspect died because of someone else’s neglect, contact a lawyer immediately. Evidence of neglect disappears quickly and witnesses become hard to locate. Don’t let a wrongful death go unnoticed.

Personal Injury by a Stranger

In this real life example, the injured passenger can’t sue the airline. Her only recourse is to get the name of the man who dropped his bag on her head and sue. While that might seem especially difficult, it’s not.

Once you have the other person’s name and address, a personal injury attorney can investigate possible options for recovering your medical and wage losses caused by the injury. In fact, if the other passenger has homeowner’s insurance, your lawyer might only have to file the claim with the insurance company. (Homeowner insurance policies cover people outside of the home too.) If you are too injured to ask for the other party’s name and address, contact the business where the accident happened. Generally, businesses use incident report forms to document contact information in the case of on-premises accidents. If you are too timid at the time of the incident to directly ask for the information, request an employee of the business to create the incident form.

Personal injury accident happen everywhere, and frequently involve people you would otherwise never meet. You don’t have to be in a car accident to file a claim against someone else’s insurance coverage. Airplanes, restaurants, shopping malls… regardless of the location, if a stranger is negligent and responsible for your injury, you can get help.

Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

If you’ve been in a car accident that was no fault of your own, you have a limited amount of time to pursue legal action for recovering the money you’ve lost due to subsequent medical problems or property damage. The statute of limitations (the time frame for initiating a lawsuit) is based on why you are suing, and is generally only within a few years of the incident.

You have less time to pursue a lawsuit if you are suffering from medical problems arising from the accident. You only have two years from the date of injury. That time frame can be adjusted if your medical problem did not emerge immediately. As soon as you notice a medical problem, it’s critical that you have a doctor document the problem. Then, call a lawyer.

You have up to three years to initiate a lawsuit for property damage. Unlike medical problems, there is generally no additional allowance if you claim the problem took time to emerge. Just as with a medical problem, you need to have a professional (such as a mechanic or a home inspector) document the problem. And then, call a lawyer.

Your lawyer will guide you through the complicated process of a personal injury claim or a personal property claim — especially if the claim falls outside of the immediate aftermath of the incident. If there has been a delay, even within the statute of limitations, you may have to answer some difficult questions from the defendant as to why you waited to make your claim.

Personal injury claims take time and patience to process. If you feel that an accident in your past is causing problems for you today, call a lawyer and find out if financial recovery is still possible.