Estate Planning

3 Steps You Can Take Today to Get Started with Estate Planning

Estate planning is something that always seems to get pushed off until tomorrow. However, you never know when tomorrow may be the day your family needs that estate plan in place. Therefore, we’ve come up with a list of three things you can do today to get your estate plan rolling.

#1 Take Inventory of Your Assets

Even if you don’t think there is enough to your estate to justify planning ahead, a tangible inventory will convince most people otherwise. Think about your home, property, vehicles, collectibles, and other personal possessions. Then add in bank accounts, investment or retirement accounts, and insurance policies. Do you own a business? You may realize you have a lot more to leave behind than you thought.

#2 Think of What Your Family Will Need

Are you the primary breadwinner in the household? Do you have minor children who will need a first car and tuition for college? How much does a proper funeral and burial cost in your area? Once you think about things your family will need when you are not there anymore, it becomes clear that you need to plan ahead and that there are specific events you should be planning for.

#3 Contact an Estate Planning Attorney in Your State

Estate planning law varies from state to state, so you need an attorney who is experienced in local law. In southern California, you can trust the experienced estate planning attorneys at Petrov Law Firm. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to schedule a consultation.

Owners Are Almost Always Liable for Dog Bites in California

If you have been injured by a dog in the state of California, you are likely to receive compensation. This should be covered by the owner’s home or rental insurance. Either way, there are only a few requirements that you have to meet in order to seek compensation for your losses.

• A dog bite caused the damages
• And you were bitten while in public
• Or you were bitten on private property, but you were there legally

Really, the only time an owner would not be liable for the damages caused by their dog biting a person would be for an unlawful trespasser. Whether you are a welcome guest, a delivery person, or just someone passing by on the street, it is up to the owner to have their dog under control.

What recourse do you have if you have been injured by a dog and the expenses are piling up? If you live in southern California, we can help!

Southern California’s Dog Bite Attorneys

At Petrov Law Firm in San Diego, we specialize in helping dog bite victims to receive just compensation. Don’t let the insurance company tell you what you deserve. They are just trying to run a business – they don’t care about your losses. We are here to help ensure you are compensated for medical bills, missed days of work, and other damages like these. Just call 619.344.0360 today and speak with a personal injury lawyer to get your case started.

Ensuring Your Estate Transitions to Your Desired Beneficiaries

Estate planning plays a crucial role in making sure that your beneficiaries get the assets you wish to transfer to them when you pass on. There are two vital factors that play a role in making sure that your wishes are carried out.

1. Have an estate plan – You may assume that the state will distribute your assets to the family members you want them to go to, especially if you want to leave everything to a spouse or your children. However, things are not always so cut and dry, and without proper estate planning, your assets may be tied up in probate court for months or years, with much of the estate being drained in the process.
2. Review your plan annually – At least once per year, you want to review your plan to ensure that your current wishes are documented properly. This is also essential when you experience a change in life such as a birth in the family, death of a beneficiary, divorce, new assets, loss of an asset, marriage, moving to a new state, etc.

When you take the time to have a plan in place, this shows loving concern for those who will have to deal with the court system in order to receive their inheritance from you.

California Estate Planning Attorneys in San Diego

Since estate planning laws vary from state to state, you want a local attorney to help. Petrov Law Firm can help your family to be prepared for the future. Call 619.344.0360 to begin or revise your estate plan now.

Filing a Claim When Another Dog Bites Your Dog

If a dog attacks you, a personal injury claim can allow you to receive compensation for your medical bills and other losses. However, what if it is your dog that is attacked by someone else’s dog? Now the claim changes from personal injury to property damage. Even though your dog feels like part of the family, it is property for legal purposes.

That does mean that you may still be entitled to damages. For example, there may be expensive medical bills for your beloved pet. According to California, you need to be compensated for all damages that result from dog attacks.

Unfortunately, property damage claims do not include pain and suffering as a personal injury case would. For example, if your dog is permanently injured, you may receive compensation for future medical care. However, you won’t be compensated for the hardship your pet may face if it should experience lasting harm (for example, the loss of a limb).

Dog Bite Injury Attorneys in Southern California

If you or a family member has been injured by someone else’s dog, Petrov Law Firm is here to help. And while we specialize in personal injury cases, if your family pet stepped in to try and save and the day and experienced harm, you should receive compensation for veterinary bills as well.

Give us a call today at 619.344.0360, so we can discuss the particulars of your case. Our experienced attorneys are just who you want in your corner when seeking compensation from an insurance company.

Dog Bite Prevention for Delivery Persons

Delivery persons have always been a target for dog attacks, and with more deliveries than ever before, thanks to the pandemic, you need to know how to stay safe. Whether you are a long-time delivery person or starting a new job, here are some tips to help.

• Don’t make deliveries with headphones on – We understand that music can help the day go faster, but stick to listening while in the truck. When you are approaching a door, you need to be aware of your surroundings.
• Be wary of interactions with the owner – Handing a package to the owner in the presence of a dog may be seen as an aggressive act. Be careful not to make any sudden moves toward a pet owner in the presence of the animal. Plus, during the pandemic, you want to keep your distance anyway.
• Don’t try to interact with the dog – Even if a dog seems friendly, that may change when you make an approach. Even if you really like dogs, it is best not to try and pet dogs you meet on your route.
• Back away – If a dog seems threatened, don’t turn your back on it. It is always best to back away. If you feel it is not safe to make a delivery, you can report it.

Help for Victims of Dog Bites in California

If you do end up experiencing a dog bite, medical bills, missed workdays, and other expenses can add up quickly. Petrov Law Firm can help you to receive the settlement you deserve from the owner’s insurance. Contact us today at 619.344.0360 to learn more.

6-Year-Old Boy Recovers After Saving His Sister from a Dog

You may have heard the reports last summer of a 6-year-old boy in Cheyenne, Wyoming, who became a hero when he protected his sister from a German shepherd. In the boy’s own words, he just put himself between the dog and his sister and kept moving to keep himself in between. Unfortunately, the dog eventually attacked, biting the young boy’s face.

Fortunately, Bridger is recovering well and recently thanked doctors and nurses in a heart-warming video on the news. Just a word of caution before you go and try to find the video – Bridger’s injuries from the attack were extensive, and seeing the before and after (including 90 stitches) will be disturbing for most people.

The fact is that dog attacks occur every day, and many children don’t have a hero like young Bridger to take the bite for them. Since a child’s face is often at bite level for dogs, injuries are far more severe than when a dog attacks an adult. This leads to extensive medical bills. If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, you may wonder how you will be able to pay for the mounting medical expenses. If you live in California, Petrov Law Firm can help.

Dog Bite Attorneys in San Diego

If you are in need of an attorney to help your family maximize your dog bite settlement in California, Petrov Law Firm is here for you. Get in touch with an experienced attorney today by calling 619.344.0360.

Are Dog Bites Covered By Rental Insurance?

If you are bit by someone else’s dog, your medical expenses and other losses should be covered by that person’s homeowner’s insurance (unless you were trespassing or provoking the attack). However, more and more people are renting instead of owning the place in which they live. So if the owner of the dog has renter’s insurance, will that cover your losses? Here is what you need to know.

According to the CDC, there are more than four million dog bites that occur each year in the United States. The Insurance Information Institute provides another revealing fact. When the attack is covered by insurance, the average payout is more than $40,000. It is important to realize that only about 20% of people who are attacked by a dog require medical care. So most of the time, there are no significant losses incurred.

As far as renter’s insurance is concerned, it should cover a dog bite, just as homeowner’s insurance would. However, it is up to the owner to know what the policy covers. Some policies do not cover larger dogs (which are likely to do more damage), or they may exclude certain breeds.

Getting the Help You Need Following a Dog Attack

If the owner of the dog is liable for the attack, you may be due compensation for medical bills, missed workdays, emotional distress, and more. However, whether the owner is insured or not, you need the help of a personal injury attorney. If you live in southern California, then Petrov Law Firm can help. Call us today at 619.344.0360 to get your case started.

Updates to Your Estate Plan When You Become a Parent

If you already have an estate plan in place before becoming a first-time parent, you are ahead of many other families. However, adding a family member is a major life change that requires an update to your estate plan. Especially when you become a first-time parent, whether the child is newborn or adopted, you need to think about the following scenarios:

• Planning ahead for legal guardianship – As long as your child is still a minor, you need to have plans in place for legal guardianship should an untimely accident befall you and your mate simultaneously.
• Setting up a trust – If something does happen to both parents of a child, just having a will is not sufficient. You want a trust in place that will protect the estate until your child reaches legal age. Be sure to choose a trustworthy successor trustee who will protect the estate for your child.
• Review life insurance policies – You may decide that you now need to carry more life insurance. This will ensure that your mate and child do not experience hardship if something should happen to you, especially if you are the family’s primary breadwinner.

Updating Your California Estate Plan

Any major change in life circumstances should result in a review of your estate plan. If you are now living in southern California, Petrov Law Firm can help you to update your plan in accord with state regulations. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to get started with an experienced estate planning attorney.

Why Don’t Dogs Like Me?

Are you the type of person who would love to pet every dog you pass on the sidewalk, but you can’t because they always seem to get aggressive with you on sight? Here are a few things that may be at the root of the problem if most dogs are immediately on guard in your presence.

• Your voice – Dogs care more about the tone of your voice than the actual words you are using. They interpret high-pitched voices as happy but may have a negative reaction to a deeper voice, which comes across as angry.
• Your actions – Dogs feel threatened when you hold their gaze for too long or when you lean in over them.
• Your interaction with the owner – Dogs seem to be able to recognize if you have a pleasant interaction with their owner or if you are perceived as rude. The dog is always going to side with their owner, so start by greeting them with a big smile.
• Your scent – If you smell like a dog they don’t know (perhaps because you have a dog at home or were just petting another dog), that can put a canine on edge.
• The dog’s history – If a dog has been abused, anyone who reminds them of the abuser will cause instant anxiety. If the abuser was a male, the dog might be wary around any unknown man.

If You Have Been Injured By a Dog Bite

Sometimes a dog will become so agitated that it attacks despite being unprovoked. If this has happened to you, the owner’s insurance should cover your medical expenses or other losses. Contact Petrov Law Firm today to get the assistance that you need by calling 619.344.0360.

Don’t Make These Mistakes When It Comes to Your Estate Planning

When it comes to estate planning, there are many dos and don’ts. Here are three of the don’ts so that you can avoid the mistakes that people commonly make with this essential preparation.

• Mistake 1: Doing it yourself – Estate planning should not be a DIY project. Since the laws vary from state to state, you need an estate planning attorney in your state to help you draft documents accurately.
• Mistake 2: Delaying – People in their 20s, 30s, or even 40s will often put off estate planning. Unfortunately, we always think we have more time to make these vital decisions, but this is not always the case. Plan now for the unexpected, and don’t leave the future of your family up to chance.
• Mistake 3: Not doing it at all – Some people think that estate planning is unnecessary just because they don’t have a lot of money. That actually makes leaving things to your family the right way even more essential. You also can use estate planning to make medical decisions in advance and to appoint someone to handle financial or medical matters for you if you ever become incapacitated. Estate planning isn’t all about money.

Southern California’s Estate Planning Attorneys

When it comes to planning for your California estate, you want the professionals at Petrov Law Firm in your corner. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to learn more about what our estate planning attorneys can do to help you protect your family.