Personal Injury

Potential Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Southern California

When you know what to watch out for, you can be safer when walking. Of course, no one wants to be hit by a car while walking, but it does happen. Here are some of the reasons:

• Poor conditions for visibility – There are certain conditions that make things more dangerous for pedestrians because they increase the chances of a driver not seeing you. For example, rain, fog, and other weather conditions can decrease visibility for drivers. It is also more dangerous to walk after dark, especially in poorly lit areas. Be sure to wear something reflective or hi-vis if you have to be out walking in conditions that impact visibility for drivers.
• Hybrid and electric vehicles – These vehicles can be virtually silent, so you may step out in front of one if you are not paying attention. Be sure to avoid looking down at your phone while walking so you can pay attention. And don’t walk with headphones in. While you can’t rely on your hearing 100% due to quieter cars, it is still a useful sense for keeping you safe.
• City infrastructure issues – If you live in a town with few crosswalks or lights for pedestrians, you are at an increased risk. This can also be an issue in a parking lot that doesn’t have sufficient signage or crosswalks for pedestrians.

If You Have Been Injured in a Pedestrian Accident

Petrov Law Firm has the experienced attorneys you want in your corner when negotiating a settlement with a car insurance company. Call 619.344.0360 today to get your case started.

4 Factors That Influence Your Personal Injury Settlement

If you experience a personal injury – a slip and fall, for example – what factors go into determining your settlement from the individual or company’s insurance company? Here are four of the primary things to consider.

• Medical bills – The more extensive the injuries, the larger the settlement. You need to be compensated for the medical bills you incurred, and that will include bills that occurred due to seeing a doctor who was not in your network.
• Lost wages – Did you have to use vacation or sick days? Did you miss other days of work that were unpaid? You should be compensated, not just for current lost wages but also future lost wages (for example, if you can no longer work due to the extent of your injuries).
• Personal losses – If you experience ongoing hardship due to the extent of your injuries, you should be compensated. This includes both emotional and physical damages.
• Other Intangible losses – Not everything you lose will have a set value. Personal losses are included as intangible losses. However, you may also experience intangible losses, such as loss of trust, safety, fertility, expectations. There are all sorts of things that could be lost due to an injury that doesn’t have a specific dollar value.

Get Help from Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California

Sadly, if you try to work with the insurance company alone, they may try to only pay for medical bills or just add in a little extra to get you to go away. To get what you truly deserve, call Petrov Law Firm in San Diego at 619.344.0360. Our experienced attorneys will help you to maximize your settlement.

Teens Need to Speak Up About Distracted Driving

Whether they view it as a part of their culture or just simply feel they are invincible and “able to handle it,” teens still seem the most prone to try to use their smartphones while driving. Even though this is a problem regarding all age groups, California does have additional laws that target younger teen drivers. For example, teens under the age of eighteen are not even allowed to use hands-free solutions for their tech while driving. The idea is to create the least distractions for someone who is still just getting used to driving.

If you are a teen yourself, how can you help your peers to drive safely and avoid the serious injuries that occur every year due to distracted drivers?

• Don’t get in a car with someone whose driving habits make you feel uncomfortable.
• Speak up if you believe the driver is taking dangerous, illegal, or unnecessary risks.

Keep in mind that about half of the deaths caused by distracted teen drivers are their own passengers, so advocating for yourself may save your life or a friend’s.

If You Have Been Injured by a Distracted Driver

Approximately 400,000 injuries occur every year due to distracted teen drivers, and other distracted drivers add many more injuries to that statistic. Petrov Law Firm is here to help if you have been injured in a car accident in southern California. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360, and let our experienced attorneys deal with the insurance company to ensure that you get what you truly deserve.

What You Need to Know About Compensation After a Dog Attack

In California, dog attack cases are pretty open and shut. The owner is just about always liable for the damages caused. And most homeowners or renters insurance policies will cover the injuries under general liability. But here are a few things you should know:

• You can’t be a trespasser – If you are on someone’s property illegally and their dog defends the property, the homeowner is not at fault. You shouldn’t have been there. If you were invited onto the property or have another legal reason to be there, you have a right to your personal safety.
• The owner is responsible for anything that happens in public – Once the owner leaves home with their dog, they are now responsible for the dog’s behavior. The only exception would be if someone was behaving in a way that seems to be intentionally trying to taunt the dog into attacking.
• You only have a case if you get injured – Sometimes, a dog attacks just to scare someone, and they don’t bite or do any serious damage. If you don’t have medical bills resulting from the injury or other losses, then there is no case.

California’s Dog Bite Attorneys in San Diego

Petrov Law Firm has the experienced attorneys that you want in your corner when dealing with an insurance company to try and receive compensation after a dog attack. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to schedule a consultation and let our team help you get the compensation you deserve.

When Your Personal Injury Case Involves a Public Entity

When a person is injured due to the negligence of an individual or organization, there are laws in place to ensure they receive proper compensation for medical bills and other losses of both a tangible and intangible nature. But what if you are injured on government property? Here are some things you need to know about filing a claim against a public entity.

• It differs from state to state – Every state has its own laws regarding personal injury cases, so be sure to hire a lawyer in the state where the incident occurred. Not only will they be the most familiar with the state laws, but they will also be in the best position to negotiate with an insurance company on your behalf.
• Be careful with the statute of limitations – There is often less time when it comes to a public entity than any business or individual you may need to file a case against. For example, in California, you only have six months to file a claim against a public entity, whereas most personal injury cases allow up to two years.
• You need to show negligence – Either a government employee must be the one who is negligent, or there must be proof that the public entity had enough time and warning to learn of the issue that led to the injury and failed to take action in a reasonable amount of time.

Legal Assistance in Southern California

If you have been injured in southern California, Petrov Law Firm can help. Call 619.344.0360 to have one of our experienced attorneys handle your case.

Tips for Delivering a Package to a House with a Dog

The stereotype of the dog running off a delivery person is a stereotype for a reason. Dogs don’t like strangers coming onto their turf. How can you do your job safely when the house you are supposed to deliver to has a dog? Here are a few quick tips.

• Don’t wear earbuds – Music can make a day of delivering packages go faster. But you’ll want to be able to hear if you encounter a dog (and without the sudden move of taking your earbuds out). Plus, if a dog comes at you from behind, you want to hear the growl or barking, so you don’t jump when you see it. That’s another sudden movement you want to avoid.
• Don’t try to befriend a strange dog – Your first inclination may be to try and pet the dog. Maybe you even have had good experiences encountering new dogs in the past. However, you shouldn’t approach a strange dog. Even if this is your regular route, don’t try to pet a dog in these circumstances. You don’t know the present situation. The dog may just not want to be approached that day.
• Don’t assume the owner being present makes the dog safer – In fact, a dog may get upset if you approach their owner rapidly and thrust something toward them. So take your time and hand the package to the owner gently. In fact, it may be better to put it down and let the owner come to the package (especially now since social distancing is also a good idea).

Support for San Diego Dog Bite Victims

Petrov Law Firm can help you get the compensation that you deserve from the owner’s insurance. Contact us today at 619.344.0360 to learn more.

How to Handle a Slip and Fall Injury in a Store

If you are injured in a store, there are certain steps you must take to ensure you receive the proper compensation for your medical bills and other losses, such as missed workdays. Here are a few of the things you want to be sure to do as soon as possible.

• Get needed medical assistance – After a slip and fall injury, it may be best to call an ambulance. Even if you think you are okay, you should still see a doctor for an examination to make sure there are no hidden injuries such as a concussion, whiplash, or fracture.
• Let the business know about the fall – Most stores will have an accident report for you to fill out. Of course, if you need immediate medical attention, ask for the report and tell them you will fill it out when you can. Get a copy for your case.
• Gather visual proof from the site – You can use your smartphone to take pictures or videos of the circumstances that led to the fall. If there were witnesses, see if any are willing to provide you with contact info.
• Hire a personal injury attorney to help you deal with the insurance company – This isn’t something you can do alone if you want the proper compensation.

San Diego’s Personal Injury Attorneys

Petrov Law firm has the experience you need in your corner if you have been injured in a slip and fall accident in a store. Give us a call at 619.344.0360 to get your case started today.

Important Safety Tips for Cyclists

When a cyclist is in an accident with a motor vehicle, injuries can be severe, even if the accident happens at just a few miles per hour. Here are some tips to help you protect yourself.

• Make sure your equipment is working properly – Lights, a horn, and protective gear are essential, but they only help if you make sure they are in good working order, so be sure to check regularly.
• Keep yourself as visible as possible – You can do this through lighting and reflectors on the bike itself as well as through reflective clothing. Of course, it is always safer to ride during daylight hours.
• Follow the rules for cyclists – Often, these are the same as traffic laws for drivers. Be sure to use the bike lane when there is one and know-how and when it is safe and legal to leave the bike lane.
• Watch out for distracted drivers – Yes, the accident will be their fault, but your safety is more important than who is right or wrong. A districted driver could make a quick righthand turn at a light without seeing a bike in the lane next to them, or they may miss your hand signals and not realize you are turning. Defensive riding is a must.

Help for Those Injured in Cycling Accidents

Petrov Law Firm is here for injured cyclists in the San Diego area. Let our personal injury attorneys help you to get what you deserve from the insurance company. Just call 619.344.0360 to get started today.

The Difference Between Compensatory and Punitive Damages

There are two different types of damages that are awarded in liability cases. Do you know the difference between punitive damages and compensatory damages? Let’s take a closer look at the two types and discuss which one will help you to determine how much you should receive if you are able to settle out of court (as happens with most cases).

Compensatory Damages

As you can tell from the name, this type of damage is in place to reimburse you for your losses. For example, you may have medical bills piling up, missed workdays, or other tangible expenses. There are also intangible expenses that are included in compensatory damages. For example, if you are paralyzed in an automobile accident, there is no tangible dollar amount for how inconvenient everyday activities would now become. However, there should still be financial compensation for this.

Punitive Damages

Again, these damages are just what they sound like – a punishment. If you end up going to court and winning, the court may impose punitive damages on the defendant. While the money is awarded to you as the plaintiff, the point is not to compensate you. That’s why you receive compensatory damages. Punitive damages are intended to teach the offending party a lesson. Imagine if a pharmaceutical company falsified information to get a dangerous drug approved by the FDA. Besides some company members going to jail, there would also likely be massive punitive damages, so no other pharmaceutical company would even think of trying the same thing in the future.

Help Receiving a Fair Settlement

Most cases end in a settlement. A company isn’t going to punish itself, so you can only expect to be compensated for tangible and intangible damages. Petrov Law Firm can help to ensure you get a fair settlement. Call 619.344.0360 today to get your case started.

3 Ways to Reduce Smartphone Distractions While Behind the Wheel

Smartphones are not the only distraction for drivers, but they are the one that gets the most attention. Perhaps this is because nearly every person has one, and we seem to find it difficult to stop looking at them over and over throughout the day. Have you ever taken your phone out of your pocket to check the time and then put it away a few minutes later and then realized you still don’t know what time it is? Then you understand what we mean.

But when driving, smartphone distractions can become deadly, so here are a few ways to stay focused:

• Use Bluetooth – Making a hands-free call or having your phone read a text over the car stereo system is still distracting, but at least you don’t have to take your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel. If you absolutely need to make calls while driving, this is the best way to do it.
• Use DND mode – Most phones have a do not disturb, focus, or driving mode. Use these settings to limit what your phone will notify you about while driving. Some settings even allow you to reply with an autoresponder that lets the person know you are driving and will check their message when you arrive.
• Turn it off – This is the safest and most effective method of avoiding distraction.

If You Have Been Injured by a Distracted Driver in CA

California is a tort state which means the at-fault driver is on the hook for all damages caused. Petrov Law Firm can help you to get the best settlement from a car insurance company to cover your medical bills and other expenses. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to get started.