personal injury attorney chula vista Tag

California Laws Dealing with Injuries to Children on Private Property

If your children are more active in the community during the summertime, it is important to teach them about the dangers of wandering onto someone else’s property without permission. The best way to deal with injuries is to avoid them in the first place. However, if your child has been injured on another person’s property, here are a few things you need to know.

Laws Dealing with Negligence that Apply to Children

Some California laws have changed regarding liability when it comes to trespassers. In the past, California laws about trespassers who suffer injuries didn’t apply to children, especially if the court deemed that the situation that the child was drawn toward as something particularly attractive to children (a friendly looking pet, a pool with no fence, etc.).

Those laws were done away with many years ago. However, landowners are still expected to foresee potential dangers, even one’s that may affect a person with no business being on their property. The courts apply this even more so when a child is involved. As a result, injuries on private property are handled on a case by case basis.

Getting Help in a Personal Injury Case

That means it more important than ever to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side when dealing with such situations. The compassionate attorneys at Petrov Law Firm hate to hear about any child suffering from an injury, and we are happy to help families seek the compensation they deserve. To learn more, please call 619-344-0360.

Watch Out for Water Hazards During Summertime

Summer makes people want to be outside having fun in the sun. That means more trips to the beach, local pools, or maybe even to a lake. However, there are a number of dangers that lurk in association with water recreation. Here are a few ways to keep you and your family safe.

Avoiding Common Water Injuries

Here are a few things you can do to stay safe and keep your fun activities from quickly becoming dangerous:

• Avoid water that isn’t properly treated – If you get some kind of parasite from pool water that hasn’t been cared for properly, the owner will likely be held responsible for medical expenses. However, if you are at some random lake or pond, it’s tough to know if the water is safe, and you will be swimming at your own risk.
• Use caution around power watercraft – Someone on a jet ski should be looking out for swimmers, but it is better to use caution and stay out of the line of watercraft than to get hurt, even if it’s not your fault.
• Watch out for shallow water – Diving into water that is too shallow can lead to serious injury and even death. Pools should be properly marked as to depth and whether diving is safe, but always check the water depth yourself first just to be certain.

If You or a Loved One Has Suffered a Water-Related Injury

There are many times that water injuries could have been avoided with proper caution. A failure to properly treat a pool can lead to serious medical conditions. An incorrectly marked pool can result in paralysis from diving into the shallow end. A boat may strike a swimmer due to the careless operation or because a person wasn’t properly licensed or trained.

The personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm can help you to seek due compensation if an injury has resulted in medical bills, missed work, or mental suffering. To learn more, call 619-344-0360.

3 Steps to Take When Inured by a Defective Product

When a defective product comes off the line, goes through the chain of distribution, reaches a consumer, and causes an injury, the manufacturer is at fault. In fact, if it can be shown that the manufacturer knew that some products were defective, negligence may result in a number of lawsuits. Here are 3 steps you should take if you have been injured by a defective product.

#1 Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Your health is of primary concern, so the first and foremost item of business should be getting the proper medical attention. Make sure you keep copies of all of your medical records related to the injury, including bills and any pictures or x-rays taken of the injury.

#2 Keep the Defective Product

Unless it is dangerous for you to store the item that caused your injury, hanging onto the item can allow you to show how the product caused your injuries. At the very least, you should try to take a number of photographs that show the defect in the product and how the injury occurred.

#3 Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

Don’t sign anything before speaking to an attorney, even if the manufacturer has offered you a settlement. In most cases, if you accept any kind of compensation, including a refund for the item or a replacement item, you may affect your ability to collect further compensation.

The personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm can help ensure that you receive the compensation you are due in the case of injury caused by a product defect. Contact us today at 619-344-0360 to learn more.

It’s the Most Dangerous Holiday of the Year for Drivers and Pedestrians

New Year’s often means celebrations that last late into the night. Unfortunately, this translates into January first being one of the deadliest days on the road every year. This is especially so because of the number of drunk drivers.

Several years ago, a study was conducted that showed that the average number of fatalities due to drunk drivers on a given day is 36. However, on New Year’s Day that number spikes to 54. It also increases during a number of other holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day and Christmas.

Pedestrians Also in Danger on New Year’s

New Year’s Day isn’t just dangerous for drivers. No day sees more pedestrian deaths than January 1st—not even Halloween, another holiday where pedestrian fatalities rise drastically.

If a drunk driver turns your celebration into a tragedy, what can you do?

Seeking Compensation for Wrongful Death in an Intoxicated Driver Case

One might think that getting compensation is an open and shut case when someone is killed by a drunk driver. However, you should always seek legal representation by an experienced and compassionate personal injury lawyer.

Insurance companies often seek to settle quickly and for a fraction of what a grieving family should receive. The wrongful death attorneys at Petrov Law Firm can help you to get what you really deserve. We offer free consultations, so you don’t have to worry about getting a bill just to see if you are entitled to damages.

If you have tragically lost a loved one to a drunk driver, please call 619-344-0360 today.

California Laws Regarding Commercial Truck Driving-What You Need to Know

What does the state of California require in order to reduce the number of truck accidents?

3 Important Regulations Regarding Truck Drivers in California

1. A CDL is required – That means no one should be behind the wheel of a large commercial vehicle unless he or she is properly trained and licensed.
2. Convictions can result in suspension – We’re not just talking about things like a DUI while working. Drivers can lose their CDL even if they commit certain infractions while driving a personal vehicle while off the clock.
3. Time limits – To keep drivers from being behind the wheel while drowsy, there are both state and federal regulations regarding how much time a driver can spend behind the wheel.

If a driver is injured in an accident with a truck, especially if the truck driver has violated any of the regulations noted above, compensation may be due to the injured parties.

Seeking Compensation After an Accident with a Commercial Truck Driver

If you have been injured in an accident with a truck driver, call the personal injury attorneys at the Petrov Law Firm. We work with a team of medical professionals to make sure that accident victims receive the proper medical care and are able to recover lost wages and compensation for pain and suffering. Dial 619-344-0360 to get started today.

Keep Kids Safe While Traveling This Holiday Season

If your children are under the age of 8, California law requires that they will have to travel in the back seat and in either a car seat or a booster seat depending on age. However, after January 1, the laws are being updated, so you may have to invest in a rear-facing child seat for your infant if he or she meets the following requirements.

• Age: 2 or younger
• Weight: 40 pounds or less
• Height: 40 inches or less

So unless your two-year-old is larger than the height and weight requirements, he or she will have to have the appropriate chair by the start of the new year.

When Injury Occurs in an Accident

The most tragic thing that can occur in a car accident is harm to a child. If you need to pursue a personal injury case, please contact the compassionate personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm to ensure you receive due compensation. Get started by calling 619-344-0360 today.

Pedestrian Deaths on the Rise in California

According to research released earlier this year, about 15% of California’s traffic fatalities are pedestrians. Serious injury or death are common when a motor vehicle strikes a pedestrian. According to research performed by AAA, the speed of the vehicle is the primary factor in how serious the injuries will be.

Driver Speed Increases Risk of Injury or Death

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that speed is the number one factor in causing injury to pedestrians. When a collision occurs with the vehicle moving at 23 mph, the risk of serious injury is at 25%. However, if the car is moving at 39 mph, the pedestrian has a 75% chance of sustaining serious harm. Clearly, caution by drivers around pedestrians is vital to minimize the risk of injury or death.

Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Claims in Pedestrian Accidents

A pedestrian accident can result in tragedy. The lawyers at Petrov Law Firm seek to help bereaved family members to secure damages. The speed of the driver, texting while driving, or other violations may result in a pedestrian death being labeled as a wrongful death.

In the case of serious injury, a pedestrian is likely entitled to monetary damages, especially if crossing at a crosswalk. Everything from medical bills and lost wages to pain and suffering needs to be factored in when an accident occurs. Call 619-344-0360 to get started today and let our experienced personal injury attorneys help you to achieve the maximum damages for your case.

Avoiding Workplace Slip and Fall Injuries

The Most Common Causes of Slip and Fall Injuries

Here are a few things that California businesses will want to watch out for, and things that employees should report immediately in order to keep the workplace safe.

• Slippery surfaces
• Wet surfaces due to cleaning
• Wet surfaces due to leaks
• Wet surfaces due to foot traffic on a rainy day
• Poorly lit areas
• Uneven surfaces
• Poorly marked transitions (i.e. a sudden step down)

Use of wet floor signs, quick cleanup of dangerous situations, proper lighting, and well-marked areas where a person should watch his or her step can do much to reduce the number of slip and fall accidents.

If You Have Been Injured in a Slip and Fall Accident

The first thing to do after an injury is sustained at the workplace is to fill out an accurate injury report. One should also communicate with and get contact information from any eyewitnesses. Since it is very rare for a slip and fall to happen without something that caused it, an important step is to document the problem by taking pictures before anything can be changed.

The personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm are experts when it comes to helping slip and fall injury victims to receive the appropriate compensation. Call 619-344-0360 to learn more.

Car Accident Injuries Involving Marijuana Use

Getting Proof if You’ve Been Injured by a Driver Under the Influence

Unfortunately, it’s not enough to prove that a driver had used a drug before driving. It is important to be able to prove that the drug impaired the driver in some way. Fortunately, not only would the driver making a mistake at the wheel lean in that direction, but you can also help matters along.

Just about everyone has a smartphone nowadays. If you are ever in an accident, and you notice the other driver is clearly impaired, don’t be afraid to film some evidence. Also, according to NIDA, marijuana use affects skills that are necessary for driving. This could make a fatality caused by someone under the influence a wrongful death situation.

Getting Help if You Have Been Injured or Lost a Loved One

Seek legal help immediately if you have been injured in an accident by someone driving under the influence or if you have tragically lost a loved one in an accident this way. The attorneys at Petrov Law Firm have an in-depth understanding of personal injury law and are experienced at handling sensitive wrongful death cases. Call 619-344-0360 if you need help forming a case against a drugged driver.

Suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia Following a Car Accident

Trigeminal Neuralgia: Common After Head or Neck Injuries

Car accidents often result in a head or neck trauma such as a concussion or whiplash. Trigeminal neuralgia is known to occur after this type of injury is sustained. The nerve is found beneath the check and can be easily damaged if a person’s face hits the steering wheel or even if a neck misalignment creates a shift that places pressure on the nerve.

Diagnosing and Treating TN

There is no primary test for trigeminal neuralgia. As a result, a physician will have to go by things such as pain location, intensity, and triggers. An MRI may also help to find damage. Getting a diagnosis is an important part of seeking compensation for injuries.

Treatment usually calls for the use of certain medications. However, in extreme cases, surgical procedures may involve the nerve being severed so that no more pain is felt. This will, however, result in some permanent numbness.

Seeking Compensation for Injuries After a Car Accident

Trigeminal neuralgia can be a scary and painful result of an accident with few good options for care. Pain may be ongoing and medical expenses can rack up during the diagnosis process and throughout treatment. The Petrov Law Firm can help you to get due compensation for the injuries incurred during an accident. Call 619-344-0360 without delay to start building your case.