Auto Injury

Car Accident Aftermath – Symptoms to Beware

If you have been in a car accident, you may be tempted to assume your injuries are not that bad and there is no reason to go to the doctor. However, there are a few things you should watch out for in the weeks and months following an accident that could indicate an injury occurred.

• Vertigo – Vertigo is a false sensation of movement. Most people say it feels like the room is spinning. This can be an indicator that you are suffering from post-concussion syndrome.
• Headaches or migraines – Another indicator of post-concussion syndrome, this symptom usually means that you suffered either head or neck trauma.
• Brain fog – Confusion, inability to focus, and short-term memory loss are all indicators of head or neck trauma.
• Insomnia – Difficulty sleeping can indicate post-concussion syndrome, although it may also be linked to post-traumatic stress, especially if you are also having nightmares about the accident.
• Irritability and mood swings – If may be your coworkers or family members who alert you to this symptom. Take it seriously because it can be yet another indicator that an injury has occurred.

Whether it is a few days, weeks, or even months after your car accident, be sure to head to your doctor if these symptoms arise.

Personal Injury Attorneys in San Diego, CA

If you have suffered an injury in a car accident, even if the symptoms didn’t display right away, you deserve compensation from the party at fault. To deal with car insurance companies that want to pay out as little as possible, you need the help of the experienced personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm. Contact us today at 619-344-0360 to schedule a consultation.

Road Debris and Accident Fault in California

In California, compensation for motor vehicle accidents depends on fault. In most cases, it is easy to determine who is at fault in an accident if one driver was distracted or breaking the law and the other was not. However, there are other times when assigning fault is a little more complicated. For example, what if the accident was caused by road debris?

Road Hazards that can Cause an Accident

Here are a few examples of road hazards or debris that can contribute to a collision:

• Potholes – A driver may not see the pothole and could hit it, thereby damaging a tire. Or a driver may end up in an accident while trying to avoid a dangerous pothole.
• Road work – When road work has been performed, traffic cones, signs, or other debris may be left behind accidentally by workers.
• Dropped items – When a truck is being used to haul items, something may fly off the back without the driver noticing.

What Determines Fault?

Here are a few things that can determine who’s fault the accident is:

• Where was the road hazard and who is responsible for it ending up there?
• Whose jurisdiction is the road? There are federal, state, and locally maintained roadways.
• Was negligence involved in leaving the debris, or did it get dropped as you arrived?
• Was the road hazard the cause of the damages?

San Diego, CA Personal Injury Attorneys

If you have been injured in an accident involving a road hazard or debris, contact Petrov Law Firm to determine if you deserve compensation. We can help you to calculate your damages and to determine where the blame lies. Call 619-344-0360 to get started today.

Arrive Alive by Following This Cycling Safety Tip

What is the number one factor when it comes to staying safe while riding your bike around San Diego and the surrounding neighborhoods? Visibility! If a driver doesn’t see you, things can get dangerous very quickly. Here is the safety tip that may save your life.

Lights – The Most Important Bicycle Safety Feature

There’s no law in California that says you have to have lights on your bike day and night. You do have to have a headlight for the front of your bike at night. A rear reflector is also required (and must be red). But since prevention is the best medicine, you may want to invest in more lights for your bike than just the minimum requirements.

If you can install headlights and tail lights on your bike, and have them running both day and night, you significantly increase the likelihood of a driver seeing you. Installing turn signals for drivers who are unfamiliar with hand signals is also a good idea.

Bicycle Accident Injuries in Southern California

If you have been injured while riding your bike in the San Diego area, let the personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm help you to get a fair settlement. Insurance companies may seek to reduce the payout by placing some of the blame on the cyclist. We can help you get the full compensation that you deserve.

Before you sign any sort of settlement, it is important to get help from a professional attorney. To learn more, call 619-344-0360 to schedule a consultation.

How Does California Being a Fault State Affect Personal Injury Claims?

California is a fault state. This means that when an accident occurs, a percentage of fault is assigned to each driver. How does this affect personal injury claims? It has to do with a term called pure comparative negligence.

How Pure Comparative Negligence Works

When someone is 100% at fault for an accident, the other party can receive compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, vehicle damages, lost wages, and more. But what if the drivers share responsibility for what happened? Consider this example.

Let’s say you are driving down the road when a driver who was distracted by texting slams into you. That seems pretty cut and dry. It is illegal to text and drive. The other driver was distracted and hit you. But what if you were speeding at the time? Now you may share a percentage of blame. If you were driving the speed limit, the distracted driver might have missed you. Therefore, you may only get compensation for 70% or 80% of your losses instead of 100%.

Car Accident Attorneys in Southern California

If you have been in an accident, you need the best car accident attorneys in order to maximize your settlement, especially if you bear some fault. Petrov Law Firm – located in San Diego, North County, and Chula Vista – can help. Our expert personal injury attorneys can assist you to determine what your real losses are and how much of the blame can be placed on the other driver. To learn more, call 619-344-0360 today.

Runner Safety Tips for Dealing with Drivers

One of the biggest dangers to runners are drivers who are distracted. We’re going to give you a few tips for sharing the road with people who may not be on the lookout for runners.

• Be alert – Don’t assume that a driver sees you. You can jog in place while you wait for a light to change or for a visibly distracted driver to make a turn in front of you.
• Find a safe route – You may be able to plan your route so that you can stay on the sidewalk and make minimal road crossings. Or you may choose to run on roads that are not as busy.
• Always try to make eye contact – If you do have to cross the street in front of a driver, always try to make eye contact so that you are confident the driver sees you, even if they are at a stop sign or light.
• Watch the weather – Wet or slick roads can make it tougher for drivers to stop, even if they see you. They can also lead to a slip and fall. If you were to fall in the middle of the road when crossing in front of a vehicle when you had plenty of time, the gap can be closed quickly.

Personal Injury Lawyers in San Diego and the Surrounding Neighborhoods

If you have been injured while running, whether it is by a driver, a dog, a trip on a damaged sidewalk or any other cause, Petrov Law Firm can help. To see if you can recover losses in a personal injury suit, contact us today at 619-344-0360. We may be able to help you get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, or other expenses.

California Drivers Need to Know These Smartphone Restrictions

California may not have the toughest smartphone laws for drivers, but there are definitely a few things you should know before you get on the road with a mobile device. Here are some tips for avoiding a traffic violation (and for general safety since these laws are in place to keep drivers from being distracted).

• For drivers under the age of 18, be sure to tuck your phone away and leave it there until you arrive at your destination. 18-year-olds are not even allowed to make hands-free calls while driving in California.
• For drivers over the age of 18, hands-free calls are okay. However, you still need to avoid sending or even reading texts while driving.
• For drivers over the age of 18, you are allowed to pick up your phone to make a call. Just be sure you have a headset, use the speakerphone option, or have the phone connected to your car via Bluetooth. The only thing you are allowed to hold your phone for is dialing.
• California’s smartphone laws only apply to drivers on public roadways. If you are in your own driveway or a private lot, you are allowed to use a phone. Just be cautious because if you hit another car in a private lot while talking on your phone. It may not be illegal, but it can still make the accident your fault for being distracted.

Car Accident Attorneys in San Diego, CA

If you have been injured by a distracted driver in California, you may be due additional compensation for medical bills, missed time from work, and other damages. To learn more, speak with the experienced personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm by calling 619-344-0260.

Walk Safely California: Top Pedestrian Tips

Whether you walk to the office or are just out for some exercise, walking is a great way to get around San Diego and much of southern California. However, there are also dangers due to distracted drivers who may not notice you, especially at night. Here are a few tips for pedestrian safety.

• Don’t walk under the influence. Drinking and walking can be just as dangerous as drinking and driving (at least for you). Call an Uber or a cab if you’ve had too many rather than trying to walk it off.
• Don’t use your phone while walking. If you need directions, use the voice feature rather than staring at the screen. You need to pay attention to your surroundings when walking to avoid potential dangers.
• Always use the crosswalk. Not only is J-walking illegal, but it is also dangerous because drivers won’t be expecting you to step out into the road.
• Wear bright colors during the day and something reflective at night. While you never want to assume that a driver sees you, you still want to do everything you can to increase visibility.
• Look both ways before crossing the street. Even if you have the light, it is always a good idea to look before you cross. Too many distracted drivers run red lights and do other things you wouldn’t expect, so you can’t presume on having the right of way.

Personal Injury Attorneys for California Pedestrians

Have you suffered an injury as a pedestrian? Petrov Law Firm has the experienced and compassionate personal injury attorneys to help you maximize a settlement in California. Give us a call today at 619- 344-0360 to get started on your case.

Sleepiness and Driving, a Deadly Combination

Whether you drive for a living, commute to work every day, or just drive when you need to, driving while drowsy is a problem that you have to pay attention to. Each year, there are more than 1 million car accidents in the US that are related to falling asleep while driving.

Even if you don’t fall asleep at the wheel, being tired while driving can still have major consequences. Consider the following three concerns that driving while drowsy causes according to the CDC:

• Reaction time is decreased – When something unexpected happens, your reaction time can make the difference between a near miss and an accident.
• Inhibited decision-making ability – Can you make that yellow light before it turns red? Is that driver moving slowly enough for you to pull out in front of him? While drowsy, you may make a wrong choice.
• Reduced attention – Distracted driving is enough of a problem without drowsiness making it tougher to focus.

As you can see, being tired behind the wheel can be a real danger to you and others. Therefore, if you are feeling sleepy, please pull over and take a nap rather than trying to push through. It is better to be an hour or two late than never to arrive at all.

Have You Been Injured in a Car Accident in California?

Unfortunately, despite repeated warnings, car accidents occur every day where one of the drivers was at fault due to something like being too tired to be at the wheel. If you have been hurt by a drowsy or otherwise incapacitated driver, call Petrov Law Firm today at 619-344-0360. We help accident victims in southern California to attain the best possible settlement.

California’s Most Common Personal Injury Causes

Not all causes of personal injury are actionable, but there may be times when you can seek compensation for your losses. Here are 5 of the more common reasons for personal injury suits in California.

• Slip and fall accidents – In order for you to be able to make a claim, you have to prove that the injury was the fault of the property owner. This means that the owner was negligent in caring for the circumstances that led to your slip and fall.
• Motor vehicle accidents – California is a fault state, so the amount of compensation will depend on whether or not you share some blame for the accident.
• Defective products – If you are injured while using a product properly, you may be able to receive compensation for damages, especially if the manufacturer should have known about the defect.
• Workplace injuries – Whether you perform manual labor or work in an office, accidents can happen. Unsafe work conditions can lead to a personal injury suit.
• Assault – Any time another human injures you on purpose, the results can be jail time for the assailant as well as compensation for the injury caused to you.

San Diego Personal Injury Attorneys You Can Rely On

If you have been injured in any of the ways mentioned above or in any other way where another person or business was responsible, contact Petrov Law Firm at 619-344-0360. Our personal injury attorneys are here to help you receive the compensation you deserve.

Avoid These Common Driving Distractions

Distracted drivers cause accidents that can lead to serious injury or even fatalities. How can you protect yourself and your passengers? While you can’t control other drivers, you can do your best to ensure that you are not distracted while operating your vehicle. Here are some common distractions to avoid.

• Phone – Whether a person is using a phone legally or illegally, it is still a distraction. The best thing to do is let a passenger hold your phone during the drive. If you are alone, any calls or texts can wait. If you are expecting an important call, be prepared to pull over.
• Dashboard dining – Eating at the wheel can be a big distraction, especially if it is something like a big messy burger, which is what most people stop for when on the road. Try to eat before you leave for a drive and plan time to stop and get out during long trips. It will be good to stretch your legs anyway, and it’s safer than eating and driving.
• Media – From books, magazines, and newspapers to music and video content, we are inundated with media on a daily basis. Music isn’t a bad form of media for a drive as long as you are not distracted playing with the radio dials. Reading and watching videos should wait until you arrive at your destination.

Car Accident Injury Attorneys in San Diego

If you have been injured by a distracted driver, you need the help of our California personal injury attorneys. Call Petrov Law Firm today at 619-344-0360 to learn how we can help to ensure that you receive a fair settlement.