In California one of the most visible areas of litigation is the personal injury law sector. Whether because of the sheer volume of people or the demographics of those residing throughout the state, California personal injury lawyers are some of the busiest practitioners of law. With the tragic Metro Link accident in September, 2008 a spotlight has been placed on personal injury law in California like no time in recent memory .
Before we get into how to handle a personal injury law matter, lets first take a look at what California law defines as personal injury. A personal injury occurs when a person has suffered some form of injury, either physical or psychological, as the result of an accident or medical malpractice.
The most common types of California personal injury claims are road traffic accidents, accidents at work, tripping accidents, assault claims, accidents in the home, defective product accidents and holiday/boating accidents. Here are 5 steps to take in order to ensure the best possible outcome in a personal injury matter.
Continue reading ‘California Personal Injury Lawyers: 5 Quick Tips to File a Claim’
Imagine this scene: You’re opening your bills, only to find one of your credit card account balances with an over-due five-digit charge. You know you didn’t make that purchase, so you refuse to pay for it. A few months later, you decide to buy a new car, so you submit a loan application to the car dealer. You get a phone call that afternoon with the bad news, “I’m sorry, Ms. Jones, but we are not able to extend credit to you at this time.” When you ask why, they tell you that your credit report indicated you’re in debt way over your ability to pay. Bummer! You’ve become a victim of identity theft.
Now imagine this: You finally order that credit report, like you’ve been meaning to do for years. When you get it, you learn that you own a house you don’t know about and you have credit card balances at three different stores you’ve never even heard of. Someone has stolen your identity to make their life richer! How did the identity theft happen? And what can you do about it?
There are many ways an identity thief can get your personal information to build a mountain of debt that creditors expect you to pay. Maybe they got hold of your name, address, and social security number by going through your garbage one night. Or perhaps you gave them the information when “their representative” contacted you to verify some details on your account. Or maybe they’re a computer hacker that figured out how to get your credit card numbers when you made a purchase at the local boutique. They may even have gotten your information by pretending to be you (or someone in your family) when they contacted your bank or service company. The worst-case scenario is when someone uses your social security number and then goes out and commits criminal acts. Ever seen the inside of a police station or jail? You could! There are a multitude of ways to become a victim of identity theft!
Identity theft and fraudulent use of personal financial records is a growing problem all over the world. In 2004, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission conducted a study that indicated over 9 million people are victims of identity theft every year. A 2003 study conducted in the United Kingdom suggested that 20% of all consumers had been subject to identity theft. Clearly, in the English-speaking world, identity theft is an ever-greater threat to your personal and financial well-being.
Continue reading ‘Useful Tips For Identity Theft Prevention – Guard Your Financial Records’
Slip and fall injuries are a common occurrence throughout the nation. If your slip and fall injury was caused by the negligence of a property owner or manager, you have the right to hold that person responsible through legal action. When a visitor to a property suffers a preventable injury, the law of premises liability determines responsibility and is applicable to both residences and businesses.
Premises liability claims involve injuries that are suffered while you are on another person’s property. Property owners and businesses have a duty to maintain a safe environment for customers, pedestrians, and other visitors. They also have the responsibility to effectively warn these people of possible dangers and hazardous conditions.
Examples of premises liability Some instances of premises liability cases include: Slip and fall injuries caused by slick floors or standing water Pool drownings Trip and fall injuries caused by uneven sidewalks and walkways, slippery stairs, or poor maintenance Inadequate security (such as lighting and surveillance), which can lead to a third-party assault Construction site injuries Falling trees Products falling off of shelves at a store.
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A personal injury can result from negligence, auto accident or medical malpractice. If you are a victim of personal injury then you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent individual or authority. Personal injury law provides financial compensation to help the victims of personal injury to recover from their losses.
However, if you are planning to file a personal injury lawsuit then you must familiarize yourself with various issues involved in filing a personal injury lawsuit.
1. Is there any time limit to file a personal injury lawsuit?
Yes, indeed there is a time limit within which you must file your personal injury lawsuit. This time limit is known as SOL or Statute of Limitations. Every single U.S state has its own Statute of Limitations. If you are a victim of personal injury within US then you should read US Personal Injury Statute of Limitations.
If your State’s Statute of Limitations has expired then you cannot file a lawsuit. Therefore make sure to file your lawsuit within the Statute of Limitations of your State.
Continue reading ‘Personal Injury Law FAQ’