Accident attorneys at Sette Law in Sacramento are well aware of the sobering statistics – in car crashes and solo accidents the biggest loser is almost always the rider of a motorcycle. Injury lawyers personally deal with the pain and disabilities inherent in most vehicle verses motorcycle accidents and we feel the time is now, as early as April, to remind all drivers to be aware of the risks faced by Sacramento motorcycle riders.
Attorneys work with statistics compiled by state law enforcement and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Unfortunately, our Sacramento accident lawyers report that motorcycle riders experience much higher accident rates than do drivers of automobiles. The NTHSA reports that out of 100,000 car accidents in 2006 – 13.10 involved fatalities. Our Sacramento injury attorneys say the comparison to motorcycle deaths in crashes is staggering – 72.34 percent per 100,000 crashes.
As Sacramento injury lawyers who also appreciate and participate in the recreational sport of motorcycle riding, we want to offer a few more sobering statistics. In 2012 motorcycle accidents rose 7.1 percent over the previous year with 4,957 deaths due to motorcycle accidents. Furthermore, injury lawyers say the NHTSA calculates bike riders are 26 times more apt than vehicle occupants to die in a motorcycle accident. Our injury attorneys also point out that motorcyclists face a five-fold greater risk of injury in an accident. In fact, in 2012, 93,000 people recorded injuries due to a motorcycle accident. Our Sacramento injury lawyers think these statistics are pretty compelling.
Sacramento Injury Lawyers note Disproportionate Injury Rates
In addition, older riders seem to be disproportionally represented in motorcycle accidents. Our attorneys point out that NHTSA data from 2011 indicates 56 percent of bike riders killed were over 40 years old. One reason may be the popular of bigger heavier bikes among more mature riders. Large ‘touring’ type bikes have a greater tendency to roll over in a motorcycle accident. Our Sacramento accident lawyers also attribute the increase of injury to older riders to more fragile physical condition that can come with age. Our Sacramento injury lawyers say the data supports the heightened risk for mature riders – between 2002 and 2011, there was a 78 percent increase in deaths to riders over the age of 40 in motorcycle accidents. Injury attorneys compare this to deaths over the same period to younger riders, which declined.
However, our Sacramento accident lawyers point out that there is an exception. In 2007, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that riders of “Super Bikes,” that can reach speeds of 190 mph, had a four times higher rate of death rate in motorcycle accidents. Lawyers say this may be due to a couple of factors – speed, of course, and inexperienced young riders.
Our Sacramento injury attorneys understand the allure of motorcycles – our region is a great place to enjoy the freedom and excitement of riding a motorcycle. Accidents, both our attorneys and safety officials say, are preventable, and conscientious riders can enjoy the freedom of motor bikes by employing effective safety measures.
For example, helmets can significantly reduce the severity of injury or of death in a motorcycle accident. Injury lawyers know that head injuries are the number one cause of death in motorcycle accidents. Compared to a rider wearing a helmet, a rider not wearing an approved helmet faces a 40 percent greater chance of death in a Sacramento motorcycle accident. Attorneys also point to a 15 percent increase of a serious injury to riders with no helmet. Our Sacramento accident lawyers see this mitigation as both easy and affordable for motorcycle riders throughout our community.
Our Sacramento injury attorneys also look to motorcycle associations for tips about safe riding. One group states that most accidents are caused by a car turning left in front of a motorcycle. Accident attorneys point out that motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable on this kind of crash. Avoiding this situation calls for extreme awareness on the part of the motorcyclist in order to avoid a Sacramento accident. Our attorneys say this is also true when it comes to lane changes. Automobile drivers may not notice a motorcyclist and precipitously dart over into the bike rider’s lane. Again, our Sacramento injury lawyers say it’s in the motorcyclist’s best interest to survey traffic constantly and anticipate movements that could lead to a motorcycle accident.
Injury attorneys know that it seems a bit ‘unfair’ that so much responsibility be placed on the motorcyclist. However, considering the statistics on death and injury it’s clear the rider has the most to lose in a Sacramento motorcycle accident. Our injury attorneys also want to highlight another very serious threat to motorcyclists, one that can easily be avoided! NHTSA figures for 2012 that show about 27 percent of fatalities were legally drunk at the time of their motorcycle accident. Injury lawyers say that 2,000 of those fatalities were due to single-car crashes. An astounding 43 percent of riders were alcohol impaired. Sacramento injury lawyers add that the incidence is even higher on weekend evenings when authorities recorded an increase of 64 percent of rider fatalities registering inebriated at the time of the motorcycle accident.
Sacramento injury attorneys may be pointing out the obvious – but drinking alcohol and driving a motorcycle is a high risk recipe for disaster. When alcohol plays a role in a motorcycle accident, lawyers know that judgment is impaired and the rider may be the actual cause of the motorcycle accident. Attorneys say that following vehicles too closely or pushing the bike to excessive speed, can lead to the bike rider being held liable for a Sacramento motorcycle accident.
Our injury attorneys at Sette Law, like so many people in our region, appreciate the thrill of riding a motorcycle. However, our profession also highlights the serious nature of any motorcycle accident. Lawyers regularly work with the often painful aftermath of accidents. Our injury attorneys are consequently involved in the details and statistics about motorcycle accidents. Thus, we know that riders are vulnerable and bear great responsibility for their own safety.
Personal injury due to manufacturer defect of products happens in the U.S. even though quality controls and rigorous manufacturing standards are governed by tough product laws. At Sette Law, our Sacramento personal injury attorneys know that product liability litigation requires keen understanding of complex laws governing product liability. In this blog we’ll cover a few of the major concepts involved in liability for products that cause personal injury.
Lawyers explain that any party in the manufacturing chain may be held liable for damages inflicted. Our Sacramento injury attorneys have identified product defects at key points such as manufacturing, assembly and at the point of sale. Interestingly, over the history of liability for products that cause personal injury, lawyers watched as law expanded to include non-tangible products like gas, real estate and written materials. Yet another interesting thing for consumers to know is that there is no federal law that governs products liability. Our Sacramento injury attorneys must refer to product liability statues enacted by individual states. However, The U.S. Department of Commerce has developed the “Model Uniform Products Liability Act” that states can voluntarily use and that our Sacramento injury attorneys may reference in personal injury claims.
Lawyers explain that behind a complex of laws is a simple principle: A product manufacturer may be liable for a personal injury if a person was using the specific product as intended when the personal injury occurred. Attorneys add that the user also is required to read and be aware of all manufacturer warnings regarding the product. These are responsibilities of consumers, according to Sacramento injury attorneys.
Further, there are two kinds of product liability claims lawyers work with – one involves Strict Liability and the other is manufacturer Negligence. In strict liability a personal injury lawyer will show that a product was defective and was present prior to the manufacturer offering the product on a marketplace or to a buyer in Sacramento. Product liability attorneys will also establish that the defect directly caused the injury.
Our attorneys can also look at other aspects to identify product defects that lead to personal injury. Sometimes a problem originates during the manufacture of products – in this case, according to Sacramento liability and injury attorneys – only a few products out of a batch may be defective and cause an injury. Lawyers say that when consumers use a given product for a purpose other than its intended purpose and an injury occurs, they will look first at the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings. If the description is not clear and concise, according to our Sacramento injury attorneys, the manufacturer could be held liable for the defective product injury.
Additionally, lawyers can look at Marketing Defects in a product liability claim. If marketing claims were untrue or misleading, this can be considered another source of a product defect in a personal injury case.
Our Sacramento liability attorneys may call on expert witnesses to support a personal injury client. Because the manufacturing process is often multi-faceted (including everything from engineering to production, design and distribution) expert witnesses can help support the personal injury claims of our Sacramento clients. Liability attorneys specialize while also having an understanding of the manufacturing chain and its many participants.
Attorneys at Sette Law are immersed in the complexities and nuances of Sacramento car accidents. Our lawyers know that people outside the legal profession are unaware of many details regarding accident law until they, or someone they love, experiences an accident and a resulting personal injury. Our attorneys say that having basic information about car accident law is useful for any driver in Sacramento.
Accident injury lawyers report that a 2012 CHP report documented 2,995 deaths in car accidents in California and 226,544 persons injured. Sacramento accident attorneys also point out that people involved in accidents not only suffer physical injuries but also can endure significant economic harm. And, personal injury lawyers say innocent victims as well as the driver who bears responsibility can face costly or painful repercussions as the result of a Sacramento accident.
Personal injury attorneys can help accident victims receive fair compensation for a variety of losses such as damage to vehicles, costs of medical treatment, legal representation and loss of income. Sacramento car accident lawyers also represent family members whose loved one has died in a car accident. In such wrongful death cases, lawyers can seek compensation for emotional damage, loss of support, love, companionship and financial support. In Sacramento wrongful death actions, attorneys will have to prove the defendant was negligent and that this negligence caused the accident. Injury lawyers know that the concept of Negligence is not always easy to establish.
This is also true in personal injury actions. Attorneys seek to show that a driver accused of causing the accident didn’t show “reasonable care” and that behavior led to the Sacramento car accident. Lawyers know that the concept of “reasonable care” is vague and often debated. The plaintiff’s injury attorney often faces strong argument from the defendant’s accident lawyer. If the debate ends in stalemate, the matter could end up in a jury trial.
And, that’s not the only challenge faced by the plaintiff in a Sacramento personal injury lawsuit. Attorneys also must show that injuries suffered were directly caused by the car accident. Lawyers for the defendant might argue that an injury was pre-existing, or that it only happened because the plaintiff didn’t seek immediate medical care after the Sacramento accident. Attorneys for the defense pull out all stops to show that injuries were unrelated to the car accident.
Personal injury attorneys who succeed in proving the direct relationship between the accident and injury and prevail in court, can collect damages from the defendant’s insurance carrier. Our Sacramento Personal injury lawyers know that California law requires that drivers have at least minimum liability insurance covering themselves and drivers of their vehicles. Our Sacramento car accident lawyers say this is a $15,000 injury/death policy and $5000 for property damage resulting from a car accident. Attorneys point out that this minimum coverage applies to both California and out-of-state drivers. Interestingly, personal injury lawyers add that the insurance requirement applies to drivers with invalid driver licenses and people with no license at all! Drivers who cannot provide proof of insurance will have their licenses suspended for 12 months if they are involved in a Sacramento car accident.
Attorneys say that insurance companies also have legal responsibilities to drivers they insure. Sacramento personal injury lawyers are aware of these legal requirements, but most consumers do not know that their insurance companies have specific obligations that protect consumers. Sorting through the details of insurance law requires experienced personal injury attorneys who help car accident victims whose insurance carriers may not be fulfilling their legal obligations.
Major freeways lace around and through Sacramento. Our injury lawyers at Sette law want to draw attention to trucking accidents that are a tragic byproduct of being part of a major interstate highway system. Our Sacramento accident attorneys know that in a big rig verses car collision, it’s the car and driver that usually sustains the greatest damage and injury. But injury lawyers are very aware that motorists often contribute to Sacramento truck accidents. Our attorneys have been involved in many cases in which motorists simply don’t respect the power of big rigs or the challenges faced by truck drivers passing through Sacramento.
Injury lawyers report that CHP data, from 2008 – 2012, shows approximately 200 people have been injured or killed in truck accidents each year. Add this to the statewide figure of 7,500 to 8,700 injured or killed and it’s clear that we should all pay more attention to public safety and trucking accidents. Injury lawyers also add that the figures for injuries reported by the CHP are probably lower than reality because many smaller accidents remain unreported statewide and in Sacramento. Our accident lawyers are gratified that local figures are much lower than those reported for the County of Los Angeles, but we think our region can do more to prevent truck accidents.
Our attorneys point out that Sacramento County is a thoroughfare for transportation with several highway routes – including eight state highways and Interstates 5, 80, US 50 and 99. This means that truck traffic is significant and with heavy commuter traffic, everyone must drive defensively to avoid Sacramento accidents. Our attorneys urge motorists and professional truckers to respect each other’s presence on roadways in Sacramento.
Injury attorneys look at driver behavior that contributes to Sacramento truck accidents. Our lawyers believe both truckers as well as motorists can create safer conditions for each other. Professional drivers of big rigs receive training and special licensing. Our injury lawyers think motorists should also be better educated about driving safely in high speeds on freeway environments throughout the County of Sacramento. Accident attorneys know that big rig drivers face many challenges due to the nature of their vehicles.
Nationwide, approximately 600 truckers are killed every year. Our Sacramento accident attorneys say the trucking industry educates and trains drivers, but the very nature of big rigs contributes to very serious accidents. Our injury lawyers know that driving a big rig is strenuous and demanding, requiring specific skills and strength. Professional truckers are trained to use turn signals far in advance of lane changes and turns. They know that sudden changes can lead to deadly accidents. Our injury lawyers suggest that vehicle drivers pay attention to trucker’s signals and to trucker’s rear view mirrors. Motorists should be aware a trucker’s ‘blind spot’ is significantly bigger than that of a family car driving a freeway in Sacramento. Our injury attorneys also say drivers should recognize that the weight of big rigs makes it impossible for them to ‘stop on a dime.’ If a vehicle driver cuts sharply on front of a trucker, causing him to apply his brakes suddenly, there is the risk of an accident. Injury lawyers say too few motorists realize what it takes to safely drive a big rig in Sacramento.
Personal injury attorneys also recognize that not all truckers adhere to the industry’s safety rules. Long distance trucking sometimes leaves drivers rushing to meet deadlines with too little sleep. Pressure to deliver products can be powerful motivation, leading to serious or deadly freeway accidents in Sacramento. Our injury attorneys urge long haul drivers to make safety paramount over deadlines to prevent trucking accidents.
Injury attorneys believe that safety on our freeways is a shared responsibility. Automobile drivers should understand how difficult it is to maneuver a massive big rig, and give truck drivers the space they need. Our Sacramento personal injury lawyers also point out that professional big rig drivers have a responsibility to consistently adhere to all rules of the road, and to respect public safety. Trucking accidents happen on freeways of Sacramento, our injury lawyers say, when a driver of a car or a truck stops paying attention to their responsibility on the road.
When an accident does happen, our Sacramento injury lawyers advise drivers to keep some basic points in mind. We know that emotions often run high in the aftermath of a crash, but our personal injury attorneys suggest that parties involved keep cool heads and don’t engage in arguments or discussion about the Sacramento accident. Lawyers know from experience that words exchanged in such circumstances can come back to haunt accident victims in the courtroom. Simply share contact and insurance information, resist debating over fault and make no apologies. Our Sacramento injury lawyers also suggest that, if it is safe to do so, parties can capture images of the accident scene with a smart phone or camera. However, since trucking accidents are often serious, Sacramento injury attorneys remind people that medical attention is the most immediate concern.
As Sacramento personal injury attorneys we know that liability in collisions is often complicated. Sometimes fault belongs clearly to an individual driver in a trucking accident. But injury attorneys know that liability can also be shared. People involved in an accident can help accident injury attorneys by keeping clear heads, recording information, names and conditions.
But, most important is for all drivers to respect the power they have behind the wheel to either prevent or cause a Sacramento accident. Our lawyers work and live in this community too, and we have a stake in the safety of our family and our community. Although our Sacramento personal injury attorneys focus on accident law, our greatest desire is to enjoy a secure and safe environment. Given that our region is home to so many major freeways and highways, it’s inevitable that Sacramento truck accidents occur. Injury accident lawyers at Sette Law stand ready to help and support accident victims but prefer, instead, to focus on prevention that builds safer communities. Our injury lawyers look to trucking industry and Sacramento drivers to share our roadways and our desire for safety.
From working on behalf of families who have lost a loved one due to the fault of others, our Sacramento wrongful death attorneys know how difficult and devastating this kind of death can be. For many people the emotional healing process has barely begun before they must move to file a claim with a wrongful death lawyer – in California the statute of limitations is a mere two years. Consequently, our Sacramento wrongful death attorneys must be prepared to handle emotional issues as they build a case based on evidence.
At Sette Law, our wrongful death attorneys specialize in this complicated arena of law to best support our clients in Sacramento. In wrongful death claims our lawyers work to clearly show that intentional or careless acts, negligence or recklessness caused the death of a person.
Traffic accidents, medical malpractice, airplane crashes and automobile accidents are among the most common causes our Sacramento wrongful death attorneys handle. However, there is no limit on the circumstances and sources involved in a wrongful death. Our wrongful death lawyers have levied suits against manufacturers, engineering firms and builders (among others) in Sacramento. Our wrongful death attorneys explain that individuals, organizations, agencies and corporations can be subject to lawsuits in Sacramento.
Wrongful death attorneys must be able to prove that negligence caused the death of a loved one and, further, that the plaintiff stands to suffer emotional hardship and financial adversity as a result of the wrongful death.
Lawyers work to gain compensation for many losses for plaintiffs in Sacramento. Our wrongful death attorneys know that no amount of money will ever compensate for the death of a loved one. This is particularly true when the loss is the result of an egregious wrongful death. Our lawyers have experienced the complicated emotions connected in wrongful death actions – attorneys know that not only grief but also anger is often present, and justified. Given tragic circumstances, the best we can do is lighten the emotional burden by taking away financial concerns, freeing our client to grieve and work toward healing.
Sacramento wrongful death attorneys may win payment for several factors related to a wrongful death such as medical and funeral expenses. But other costs can also be considered in a wrongful death including loss of financial support within a household in Sacramento. Our wrongful death lawyers additionally look for important, and immeasurable, factors – loss of love, moral support and companionship. Among the most important damages our Sacramento wrongful death attorneys fight in court to gain is punitive damages due to negligence of the defendant. This factor is often paramount for our Sacramento wrongful death clients.
Lawyers look for Clear Liability
Our Sacramento wrongful death attorneys have represented clients against a wide variety of defendants. Tragic deaths that happen due to the negligence of others can occur almost anywhere. Among the most common scenarios handled by our Sacramento wrongful death lawyers is the loss of a loved one due to the negligence of a driver in a car crash, or the liability of the driver’s employer. Other incidents involving vehicles include the builders or designers of roads or even public agencies responsible for signage in Sacramento. Wrongful death lawyers handle all-too-frequent cases in which alcohol played a role in Sacramento. Here, wrongful death attorneys may look to individuals who provided alcohol to the victim or to the business owner or home owner where alcohol was served.
Currently, our Sacramento wrongful death attorneys are monitoring developments in cases involving car manufacturers – one of 2012’s biggest, ongoing new stories. By the end of the year up to 17 million cars were recalled due to faulty airbags made by Takata Corporation including many popular makes driven here in Sacramento. Our wrongful death and injury lawyers say a handful of deaths and scores of injuries are already documented. Takata, distributors and potentially car dealers may be held responsible in any related wrongful deaths. Our attorneys, along with the nation, watch with interest as Congress steps in to order a potential nationwide recall of impacted vehicles in Sacramento. Wrongful death attorneys are already handling cases on the East Coast and more relevant cases are likely to emerge over time.
Medical malpractice is yet another source of wrongful death actions. Sacramento wrongful death attorneys consider some basic principle in medical malpractice, wrongful death claims. Attorneys must establish a doctor-patient relationship existed and that the physician’s negligence led to the Sacramento wrongful death. Lawyers must sift through many details of complex laws.
Whatever the source, a Sacramento wrongful death, our lawyers know all too well, is a difficult action for families in mourning. However, in our experience, loved ones frequently engage a Sacramento wrongful death attorney because they seek to prevent others from having the same experience. Particularly when it comes to large entities, such as corporations and mega-business interests who have contributed to a wrongful death, surviving family may feel a responsibility to alert the public about negligence that led to a Sacramento wrongful death.
Lawyers generally represent certain classes of people in a wrongful death lawsuit. Of course, immediate family members, committed partners and dependents can usually file in a wrongful death. Our attorneys also work with people who suffer financial losses such as support or care. These plaintiffs may or may not be related to the individual who suffered a wrongful death.
Within each category of wrongful death, attorneys have numerous factors and conditions to establish. In any Sacramento wrongful death lawsuit, a lawyer has demanding and specific criteria that underlie each case. As with many legal issues, our Sacramento wrongful death attorneys must understand the nuances of each case and the legal precedents to the claim. But in any Sacramento wrongful death lawsuit there is an emotional element that goes beyond the scope of many other court actions. At Sette Law, our Sacramento wrongful death attorneys must move beyond the requirements of law and employ a different set of skills. Wrongful death lawyers must embark upon their work with compassion, understanding and a commitment to our clients in Sacramento. Certainly, we realize there is little else in life worse than a wrongful death – our attorneys are dedicated to supporting surviving loved ones so that they can move forward in their lives.
Bicycle accident lawyers in Sacramento will watch the development of an accident claim that focuses on code governing pedestrian safety in Sacramento. Bicycle accidents have become increasingly common as residents choose bikes over cars for transportation in Sacramento. Our bicycle accident lawyers feel the action filed by Hilary Abramson may force clarification or change to a local code that appears to conflict with a state vehicle code.
The 69-year-old woman was hit by a bicyclist riding on a sidewalk in Sacramento. Her bicycle injury law suit asks for compensation for pain and suffering that included two weeks in the hospital and surgery. As a result of these Sacramento bicycle accident injuries, our lawyers say she is disabled with one leg shorter than the other. At the heart of her legal action is state vehicle code that would require bicycles to only ride on streets in Sacramento. Bicycle accident lawyers in Sacramento, however, know that a local traffic code indicates it’s okay for bikes to be on sidewalks in residential neighborhoods.
Her Sacramento bicycle injury claim is for $3.5 million. But, the victim explained her aim is to create greater safety for pedestrians in Sacramento. Bicycle injuries like hers would not happen, she believes, if safety laws were consistent and enforced in Sacramento.
Bicycle Injury Lawyers see Rise in Accidents
With an increase in people riding bikes to work and school comes greater threat to riders and pedestrians in Sacramento. Bicycle injury is most often associated with riders being hit by vehicles with bicyclists being extremely vulnerable on the streets of Sacramento. Our personal injury attorneys at Sette Law cite data from the national Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Center that shows an increase in injuries from 2011 to 2012 with 49,000 reported injuries to riders. Our Sacramento bicycle injury lawyers, however, say this figure does not reflect reality – the Safety Center reports most bicycle injury accidents go unreported nationally and, by extension, in Sacramento.
Our Bicycle injury attorneys at Sette Law encourage bike riders to know and follow best practices as outlined by the League of American Bicyclists. Although the rules appear simple, they could prevent serious accident, even death, in Sacramento. Bicycle injury accident prevention includes:
Be predictable when riding in Sacramento: Bicycle accidents could be avoided if riders follow traffic laws, signal turns, ride consistently straight and make their moves clear.
Be conspicuous: Prevent Sacramento bicycle accidents by wearing bright colored clothing, riding where vehicle drivers can see you, using reflectors on bikes and making eye contact with drivers in Sacramento.
Avoid bicycle accidents by thinking ahead: Constantly watch for what car drivers may do next, like turn or swerve, or open car doors in your path. Be aware of road hazards, potholes and debris, when riding in Sacramento. Our bicycle accident attorneys also note the safety group advises riders not to ride on sidewalks!
Finally, safety first: The league suggests riders have appropriate tools and always wear helmets. Our Sacramento bicycle accident lawyers go one step further and add that, since head injuries are a leading cause of death and injuries to riders, a helmet should be a basic personal requirement for bicycle riders in Sacramento.
Personal injury lawyers at Sette Law will monitor developments in the Abramson case and hope for greater clarification of traffic laws that creates greater safety for pedestrians and bicyclists in Sacramento.
Dog bite lawyers at Sette Law pay close attention to legal cases involving death or injuries. Unfortunately, it’s the most spectacular and deadly incidents that grab headlines. But our Sacramento dog bite attorneys are keenly aware of many more serious attacks by out-of-control dogs.
In 2001, the tragic attack of two dogs at a San Francisco apartment left a woman dead. According to our Sacramento personal injury lawyers, the owners of the aggressive Presa Canario dogs were actually licensed attorneys. After being charged and convicted of manslaughter and second-degree murder, they appealed the convictions for more than 10 years, continuing to draw national attention to dog bite law. Lawyers reference this high profile case as an illustration of complex state and local regulations regarding dog bites.
Complicated Statutes surround Dog Bite Cases
Sacramento dog bite attorneys explain the San Francisco case has many elements that apply to other incidents which were not as high profile. For example, the dogs had a history of aggression and had been in an abusive environment. These two elements, our Sacramento injury attorneys say, are common in dog bite cases across many jurisdictions. But, laws are not consistent from state to state and other “common law” may prevail. Our Sacramento dog bite lawyers must be aware of which statutes apply in individual cases in Sacramento.
Dog bite attorneys add that dog owners also have protection against liability. For example, if someone trespasses onto private property and is attacked by a dog, the trespasser may share in responsibility or assume all liability for injuries. Sacramento personal injury attorneys say a court can rule that a trespasser assumed a risk and actively contributed to the attack. In Sacramento, dog bite lawyers add that this principle can also apply to someone making a delivery to property where a threatening dog is known to live. In the experience of Sette’s dog bite lawyers, cases like these may result in a jury splitting responsibility for an attack between the injured party and the dog owner.
Owners may have Responsibility for Dog Bites in Sacramento
However, it’s important to realize that California code states that liability for damages caused by a dog bite in a public setting rests with the animal’s owner. The same is true for dog bites on Sacramento private property when the injured person is legally on the property. The dog owner is responsible for the actions of his or her dog.
Sacramento dog bite attorneys must be aware of all circumstances surrounding a dog bite claim or charge in a Sacramento court. Dog bites, like many personal injury issues, require clear proof of liability based on a broad range of evidence.
At Sette Law, our Sacramento car accident lawyers watch in amazement as GM recalls continue to mount and some responsibility is shared with federal regulators. A spotlight now falls upon the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with allegations it was aware of some GM defects years before GM issued a nationwide recall that includes owners in Sacramento. Injury lawyers are concerned that NHTSA’s vigilance fell short of reporting failures in ignition switches that failed and cut off power to airbags in some GM models. Sacramento car accident lawyers have long looked to the NHTSA for reliable information about safety on the streets and freeways of Sacramento. Now, personal injury attorneys learn that a congressional report faults the agency for not making public their findings in 2007.
This revelation comes as GM recalls in 2014 mount to 39 million, impacting drivers everywhere, including Sacramento. Car accident lawyers at Sette Law note that the NHTSA continued to investigate crashes of GM cars related to faulty ignition switches without highlighting the issue until GM itself finally went public. Our Sacramento personal injury lawyers point out that an NHTSA deputy administrator claims GM cloaked problems by not using the term “defect” in its reporting to NHTSA about the switches. Nonetheless, Sacramento car accident lawyers understand that, as a government agency, the NHTSA has the responsibility of public trust and must live up to that for car owners in Sacramento.
Car accident lawyers also note that the NHTSA had also bestowed a “five Star” crash safety rating on the Chevy Cruze which was later recalled for airbag defects. This is not the quality of service expected of the NHTSA by drivers in Sacramento.
Injury Lawyers watch Settlement Challenge
Further complicating the GM saga is a recent court decision that was decided in favor of the family of a young woman killed in the 2010 crash of her Chevy Cobalt. Sacramento injury attorneys say the family had arrived at a settlement with GM a few months before the ignition switch defect was made public and recalls were launched. The recent lawsuit sought to overturn the settlement so that the family could move forward with legal action. According to our Sacramento injury lawyers, it was the family’s accident attorneys that hired an expert engineering firm to analyze the mechanics of the Cobalt switch. They discovered the switch had been redesigned to prevent failure, substantiating the family’s claim that GM was aware of the defect leading to their daughter’s death. The court agreed and, Sacramento car accident lawyers say the family is moving forward toward a trial that could impact similar claims in Sacramento. Our injury lawyers say that GM expressed disappointment with the court ruling and claimed they had made the earlier settlement “…in good faith.”
GM Fights to Minimize Liability
Parties suffering injury and loss due to GM defects should be aware that GM mounts its own defense against liability, according to Sacramento car accident lawyers at Sette Law. For example, the company refuses to accept responsibility for the death of a back seat passenger in the 2006 crash of a Cobalt. GM injury attorneys limit their liability only to the young woman driving the vehicle because the Cobalt had front seat, not back seat, airbags. Our Sacramento personal injury attorneys believe this corporate approach is grossly unfair to both families who loss of daughters is equal, regardless of where they were seated in the deadly accident caused by the ignition switch defect.
Victims and their families, according to Sacramento personal injury attorneys, will have to be prepared for a vigorous legal battle as GM seeks to minimize its costs and responsibility.
Known in the legal world as tort law, personal injury cases involve a variety of circumstances for our clients in Sacramento. Personal injury lawyers work with clients to win compensation for harm they have suffered due to negligence or an intentional act. At Sette Law in Sacramento, injury attorneys specialize in this specific niche of law that also requires broad knowledge of a range of circumstances that can lead to litigation.
Our Sacramento personal injury lawyers know that high profile cases such as the 1994 McDonalds scalding coffee lawsuit are familiar to people because they made bold headlines. But, for most of our clients in Sacramento, our injury attorneys deal with more commonplace issues such as slip and fall cases, car crashes, dog bites, wrongful death and malpractice lawsuits. Another type of grievance that involves libel and slander has become more frequent with our Sacramento personal injury lawyers – particularly with the rise of such issues due to the use of the Internet to defame individuals and businesses.
Another arena that’s prominent in national news is increasing legal action against car makers for accidents caused by defects. Sacramento injury attorneys at Sette Law carefully follow developments in these cases to support clients in Sacramento.
Personal injury lawyers also represent people who were intentionally harmed. Unlike accidents that happen due to negligence or recklessness, such cases will likely have the additional component of a criminal charge against the individual causing the harm to our client in Sacramento.
Injury lawyers emphasize that personal injury litigation must be related to negligence or dangerous conditions by a person or an entity that owes individuals a “duty of ordinary care.” Our Sacramento personal injury lawyers point to the “duty” of GM to provide safe vehicles for drivers across the nation and in Sacramento. Injury lawyers say manufacturers and similar organizations share this responsibility. Individuals such as physicians and surgeons, landlords and others are in a similar position of duty to people in Sacramento.
Personal injury lawyers explain that dog owners also have a responsibility to public safety. Dog bite lawsuits are not uncommon and usually involve animals that are off-leash and out-of-control. In Sacramento, injury attorneys may seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, costs of surgery and other expenses related to a dog bite in Sacramento.
Personal injury lawyers should be selected on the basis of their expertise and experience in the particular arena of law.