Bicycle Accidents

Stay Safe While Riding Your Bicycle in Southern California

Riding your bike can be a great way to get exercise or even to beat traffic on your way to work. However, if you are riding your bike around southern California, there are a couple of things that you will want to do to improve your chances at avoiding an injury, especially when so many drivers are distracted and fail to pay attention to other drivers, let alone cyclists. Besides wearing a helmet and other protective gear, here are two more things to consider.

• Be especially careful of cars making right-hand turns – When a driver is turning right, they usually have the right of way. However, it also means crossing a bike lane in many cases. Some drivers fail to check for cyclists before turning. This can be particularly true when waiting at a red light. If you both start to go when the light changes, that would be especially dangerous.
• Proper lighting makes you visible – California law requires certain lights or reflectors on all bikes in the state. However, you can increase your visibility to drivers and improve your safety by going beyond what the law requires. Front and rear lights in the daytime and at night, along with signal lights, can help you alert drivers to your presence.

Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Southern California

If you have been injured in an accident with a motor vehicle while riding your bike, call 619.344.0360 to get in touch with the personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm. We help California residents get the settlements they deserve.

Tips for Drivers to Avoid Smartphone Distractions 

California drivers need to watch out for distractions. Not only can they lead to dangerous accidents, but even if you manage to avoid an accident while driving distracted, you could still get a ticket if you are breaking the law. For example, California has a number of regulations regarding smartphone use while driving. Here are some tips to help you avoid smartphone distractions while you are behind the wheel.

• Turn it off/silence your phone – If you don’t know messages or calls are coming in, you won’t be tempted to look at your phone until you reach your destination.
• Have your passenger navigate – If you need to use GPS, make sure you have the volume up so you don’t have to look at the phone. If you have a passenger, let them be the navigator.
• Use hands-free or Bluetooth – If you are 18 and over, you can still make calls in a hands-free manner. If your car has Bluetooth, this feature can allow you to reduce distraction and obey the law. If you are under 18, you can’t use a smartphone for any reason while driving, even hands-free, so don’t even bother connecting your phone to the car’s Bluetooth. Refer to the first suggestion on our list.

Car Accident Attorneys in San Diego

If you have been in an automobile accident, especially if the other driver was distracted, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical bills and other losses. Contact Petrov Law Firm at 619.344.0360 to get in touch with an experienced personal injury attorney today.

Wrongful Death Suits in Southern California

One of the worst tragedies a family can face is when a loved one’s life is suddenly ended in an avoidable accident. If your family is experiencing such an injustice, we want to express our sympathies. Please, know that you are not alone and that your family may be able to receive compensation for your loss. Just a few of the ways that wrongful deaths occur include:

• Medical malpractice – Doctors and medical facilities must meet a minimum standard of care for patients.
• Defective products – Products must include instructions for safe use and must be recalled if the manufacturer learns of a danger to consumers.
• Workplace accidents – Workplace deaths can be avoided by proper training and safety equipment. However, not all employers provide these necessary things.
• Motor vehicle accident – Lives are ended every day by drivers who are involved in unsafe practices such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or by driving while distracted due to mobile devices and other factors.

While money cannot heal the wounds your family is dealing with, proper compensation can help you to cope with the financial loss. Gaining justice can also begin the healing of emotional wounds, knowing that the court system recognizes that your family was wronged by what happed.

Compassionate Wrongful Death Suit Assistance in San Diego

Don’t allow grief to result in your family being cheated by a low settlement. Before you sign anything, call Petrov Law Firm at 619.344.0360 to speak with a compassionate and experienced attorney to help you maximize any compensation that your family may be due.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians in Southern California

The weather in southern California is great for pedestrians just about any time of year. Unfortunately, drivers can make going for a walk an extremely dangerous activity. As a pedestrian, you need to be your own advocate and keep yourself safe. Here are a few tips:

• Always look both ways when crossing – You learned this in school. You heard it from your parents. It is still the number one safety tip for walking. Don’t assume drivers are looking for you. You have to look for them.
• Use a crosswalk when available – Sometimes, in rural areas, you may not have his option, but in a city, you always have to use the crosswalk. Drivers are more likely to be looking out for pedestrians when they cross at designated areas. Plus, it will help your case if you are injured in an accident.
• Avoid distractions while walking – Just like drivers get into trouble when they are looking at a phone while in motion, pedestrians can have the same problem. There are no laws about texting and walking, but you better believe an insurance company is going to bring it up if you try and sue their client for hitting you.

Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident as a pedestrian, then you need the help of qualified personal injury attorneys to get what you deserve from the insurance company. Call 619.344.0360 and speak with an experienced lawyer from Petrov Law Firm today.

Please Don’t Drive Drowsy San Diego

The CDC has estimated that about 6,000 fatal accidents occur each year due to drowsy drivers. This is a huge increase from a 2013 report that stated 800 deaths and 44,000 injuries occurred in that one year alone. Up to 3% of all motor vehicle accidents may involve a driver who is too tired to be behind the wheel. Consider the following reasons to pull over and take a nap if you are sleepy.

• Lack of sleep affects attention span – While drowsy driving makes up a small percentage of accidents, distracted driving leads to far more. If you are tired, you are more likely to let yourself get distracted in an effort to remain alert.
• Diminished cognitive ability – You just can’t make good decisions when you are beginning to fall asleep. Therefore, you may pull in front of a car that is driving to fast or is too close, or in other ways make a disastrous driving decision.
• Reduced reaction time – Being sleepy slows your reaction time, just like driving intoxicated would. If you don’t hit your breaks, swerve, or speed up in time, you may end up having an accident that an awake and alert driver could have avoided.

San Diego’s Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys

If you have been injured in a car accident, especially if the other driver was drowsy, distracted, or otherwise at fault, Petrov Law Firm can help. Our experienced attorneys are ready to fight to help you get the settlement you deserve. Call 619.344.0360 to get started.

Prepping for Your Personal Injury Case in California

Depending on the type of personal injury settlement you are seeking, you may need to gather different information. Here’s a short guide to three of the most common types of personal injury cases in California.

• Slip and fall – Through negligence or fault, you need to show that the owner of the property caused your injury. If you have pictures of the site where the injury occurred, this can be beneficial. Be sure to get a copy of any injury report you filled out at the scene.
• Dog attack – Insurance companies pay out millions every year to people who get bit by someone else’s dog. Be sure to keep track of your medical bills or any missed work in connection with the injury.
• Motor vehicle accident – In California, the amount of compensation a person receives is congruent to the degree of fault. If the other driver is 100% at fault, you should be compensated for any and all losses you sustained. However, even if you are 20% at fault, you should still receive 80% from the other driver’s insurance company.

Southern California’s Premier Injury Lawyers

If you have been injured in any of the aforementioned ways, then Petrov Law Firm has an attorney who specializes in providing the help you need. To learn more, contact our offices today at 619.344.0360. We have convenient locations in San Diego, North County, and Chula Vista to schedule your appointments in person. Don’t battle an insurance company on your own – help is just a phone call away.

Cycling Safely in Southern California

The US experiences a shocking amount of loss due to motor vehicle accidents involving bicycles. The fact is that when someone on a bike is struck by a car, there are almost always going to be major medical expenses as well as missed workdays. We’ve compiled a few of the best safe riding tips to help you bike safely around southern California.

• Always assume drivers won’t see you – A person operating a car should always be looking for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorbikes. Unfortunately, most people are too distracted, either by their own thoughts or something external. Therefore, you have to advocate for yourself and yield the right of way to oncoming traffic.
• Use hand signals – While some drivers may not know what they mean, you should still always use hand signals when turning. Of course, it is even safer to invest in some turn signal lights for your bike, especially if you ride a lot or at night.
• Wear something reflective – You need to have lights on your bike (some are required by law in California), but you should also wear reflective clothing to increase your visibility to other drivers after dark.

Help for Injured Cyclists in San Diego

If you have been injured by a driver while riding your bike in southern California, you need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney to get the full compensation that you deserve from the insurance company. Call Petrov Law Firm at 619.344.0360 to learn how we can help.

Read This Before You Take Your Bicycle on the Streets of San Diego

Riding a bicycle can be a fun pastime or a great way to get to the office without sitting in traffic and wasting gas. However, you have to be safe when you take to the streets, especially if you don’t have a car surrounding you to protect you from others on the road. Here are a few of the most important tips to keep you safe while riding your bike around San Diego.

• Wear the proper protective gear – A helmet may not always be a fashion statement, but it gives you much better odds of surviving if you are in an accident while riding your bike. Wearing something reflective is also important, especially if you are riding at night.
• Have lights on your bike – While only certain lights are required by California law, the more visible you are to drivers, the safer you will be. Lights on the front and back of your bike during the daytime and at night will increase your visibility.
• Watch for right-hand turns – Cars turning right will have to cut through the bike lane. Always assume that the driver doesn’t see you, even if you are sitting next to him at a red light. If you both start going the second the light turns green, it is going to go much worse for you than the car.

Personal Injury Attorneys for Bicycle Accidents in San Diego

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in southern California, call the attorneys at Petrov Law Firm to get the help you need seeking a settlement. Dial 619.344.0360 to schedule an appointment now.

3 Safety Tips for San Diego Cyclists

Do you ride your bike to commute to work in San Diego, or even just as a hobby? If so, you want to be as safe as possible. While drivers are supposed to share the road with bicycles, people are more distracted than ever, and that can lead to some serious injuries. Here are a few ways to protect yourself on the road.

1. Watch for drivers making right turns. Since bike lanes are usually on the right and cyclists tend to stick toward this side of the road anyway, you are at greatest risk when a driver is making a right-hand If he or she doesn’t see you, they may try to turn with you right alongside them.
2. Exiting the Bike Lane. When the bike lane ends or when you need to leave the bike lane to make a turn, use extra caution. It is legal for you to leave the bike lane when approaching a place that drivers can turn right. Moving into the vehicle lane will alert drivers to your presence and protect you from the danger mentioned in point one.
3. When a Stoplight Turns Green. Don’t assume that driver next to you sees you or that they are using a turn signal properly. Always assume that the driver is going to punch it and make a right-hand turn in front of you when the light turns green. Better safe than sorry.

If You Have Been Injured in Bicycle Accident in California

If you are a cyclist who has been injured by a driver in California, seek the help of the experienced personal injury lawyers at Petrov Law Firm. We can help you get started on your case today. All you need to do is call 619-344-0360 to schedule an appointment.

This Bicycle Riding Tip May Save Your Life

If you regularly ride a bike on the roads of Southern California, there is something you should know. While it is not a law, the recommendation is to have lights on your bicycle at all times, both day and night. Why is this the recommended practice, and how may it save your life?

Visibility Is a Must for Cyclists

Drivers are evermore distracted, and while that isn’t your fault, making yourself as visible as possible to drivers may just save your life. Cyclists are required by law to have a front lamp lit while driving at night. A rear red reflector is also required by law. However, anything you can do to make yourself even more visible is a good idea because motor vehicle accidents involving cyclists never turn out well for the cyclist. It’s a matter of “better safe than sorry.”

What if the Accident Is the Driver’s Fault?

If you have been injured in a cycling accident, especially if the vehicle driver was at fault, contact the personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm. The lawyers at our San Diego and Chula Vista offices are experienced in auto accident cases.

If the vehicle driver was at fault, your settlement should include everything from medical costs and lost wages to pain and suffering costs. Before you sign anything from the insurance company, call 619-344-0360 to ensure you are being treated fairly and receiving what you deserve out of the settlement. We’re here to help!