Auto Injury

Safety Tips to Help You Avoid Drowsy Driving

More people are taking road trips rather than flying to their destination during the pandemic. Driving back and forth on a daily commute can also lead to drowsy driving, especially if you drive off-hours to try and beat the traffic. Here are a few tips to help keep you safe at the wheel.

• Don’t drive during your normal sleep hours – If you stick to a sleep schedule, don’t change it up and get behind the wheel. You’ve trained your body to be asleep during those hours.
• Take needed breaks – If you are driving for longer than two hours or more than 100 miles, schedule breaks.
• Have a second driver – On long trips, it helps to have a second driver who can take over if you get tired.
• Check medication labels – This is especially vital if you are starting a new medication. If the label says that it may cause drowsiness, you need to see how your body responds before you get behind the wheel. Talk to your doctor if you think a prescription medication is making you drowsy during times you have to drive.

What If You Have Been Injured by a Drowsy Driver?

If you have been injured in a car accident by a drowsy driver, or if the other driver is at fault for any other reason, then you deserve compensation. Contact Petrov Law Firm today at 619.344.0360 to get our experienced personal injury attorneys on your side. We have the know-how you want when dealing with an insurance company to get the settlement you deserve.

Most Car Accident Causes Are Avoidable

California is a tort state when it comes to auto accidents. The driver who is at fault for the accident is on the hook for the damages. So avoiding car accidents where the blame is you is a must. Otherwise, your insurance company will have to pay out, and your rates will go up.

Since most car accidents are avoidable, you may be due compensation if the accident was the other driver’s fault. Here are some things that would make it clear that the other driver is to blame for the accident.

• Driving distracted – Whether they were on the phone, eating, reading, or applying makeup, a distracted driver is at fault in most auto accidents.
• Speeding – Car accidents that involve a driver who is speeding often end up doing more damage, both to property and to passengers. There’s no excuse for breaking the speed limit.
• Drunk driving – This one should be obvious. If someone is in a car accident and it turns out they are drunk, the blame is going on them. They should never have been behind the wheel.
• Reckless driving – When you see a car weaving in and out of traffic on the highway, it is best to let them go by. If they cause an accident, they will be to blame, but it’s just better to avoid the accident if possible.

If You Have Been Injured By a Driver in California…

These are just a few of the many behaviors that would make an auto accident a driver’s fault. If you have been injured by a driver involved in such a dangerous activity in southern California, contact Petrov Law Firm in San Diego. Our personal injury lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 619.344.0360 to get started right away.

Determining Liability in Truck Accidents

When the driver of a tractor-trailer makes a mistake, the effects can be disastrous for other nearby drivers. What are some of the most common ways that a truck driver loses control over their haul?

• Wide turns – A semi needs a much wider turning radius than smaller vehicles. If the truck driver tries to make the turn but crosses a double yellow line and strikes your vehicle, this is the fault of the trailer driver.
• Jackknifing – You may have heard this term, but outside of the world of transport, few people know what it means. Jackknifing is when the trailer swings out to the left or right of the cab that is pulling it. It usually occurs when a driver is traveling at unsafe speeds, makes a sudden motion with the wheel, brakes at the wrong time, or hasn’t adjusted their driving to what road conditions call for. The quick swing of the trailer can result in striking a vehicle, even forcing it off the road.
• Rolls – When a cab is pulling a heavy load and takes a turn at high speeds, there is a risk of tipping over. While a truck rolling will normally only affect the driver in the cab, if you happen to be alongside a trailer when this happens, it can cause severe damage or injuries.

Support for Your Personal Injury Case Involving a Truck

These are just a few of the things that can cause a truck driver to be at fault for an auto accident. When you need help maximizing your settlement from the insurance company, Petrov Law Firm is here for you. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to get your case into the hands of one of our experienced truck accident attorneys.

Pro Tips for Receiving a Fair Car Accident Settlement

In order to optimize the settlement that you receive in the wake of a San Diego car accident injury, you will want the assistance of a California personal injury attorney. Here are a few more tips to ensure that you receive a fair offer from the insurance company.

• Report the accident to the police and get a copy of the police report. Be sure never to admit any amount of liability.
• Document the accident scene if possible. If you can take pictures or even record a video of the scene and the surroundings, this is all helpful. Get pictures of the vehicle positions, damage, street signage, and the like. If any eyewitnesses pulled over, get their names and contact information.
• Don’t wait to see a doctor. Being in shock may cause you not to feel pain or injury. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to connect your injury to the accident.
• Don’t go on the record with either a written or verbal statement. The only person you should be speaking about your accident with is your personal injury attorney. This includes social media! Don’t Tweet or in any other way post information about the accident.
• Keep track of the damages. This includes your medical bills, missed days of work, and any other losses that directly or indirectly relate to the accident and injury.

Call Petrov Law Firm Today to Maximize Your Settlement

Petrov Law Firm in San Diego has the experienced attorneys that you want on your side when dealing with an insurance company. Don’t sign anything before you have the chance to discuss your case. Call 619.344.0360 to get started.

Don’t Fall for These Myths Regarding Pedestrian Accidents and Injuries

When a pedestrian is involved in an accident and is injured because of a driver, the injuries may be very serious. Today, we will debunk a few myths regarding pedestrian injuries so that you don’t end up accepting a settlement that is too low.

• Myth 1: The vehicle has to make contact to get compensation. This one isn’t true at all. If you get hurt diving out of the way of a driver, you are not penalized for your quick reflexes. The driver is still on the hook for forcing you to dive and hurt yourself, and the insurance company should know this. Don’t let them cheat you.
• Myth 2: Only high-speed collisions cause serious injury. The driver is in a car, and you are not. The driver may not experience serious injuries at speeds of 5 mph, but you could have broken bones, a concussion, or other injuries. Be sure to get checked by a doctor, even if you can get up and walk away from the incident. Not all injuries are visible immediately.
• Myth 3: You can’t afford an attorney. It’s more like you can’t afford not to have one! A personal injury lawyer is the only one on your side when an accident like this occurs. The insurance company is going to want to pay out as little as possible, or nothing at all if they can get away with it.

Get the Help You Need as an Injured Pedestrian in Southern California

The personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm in San Diego can help you to maximize your settlement. Let us help you get what you deserve from a greedy insurance company. Call 619.344.0360 and start your case now.

The Most Crucial Information to Share with Your Personal Injury Attorney

A personal injury case involves damages due to negligence or intent of an individual, property owner, dog owner, or the like. You may experience a car accident, a slip and fall, a bite, or some other type of injury that leads to material loss. Here are some crucial pieces of information that your personal injury attorney will need in order to maximize your settlement.

• How it happened – If the injury was your own fault, it is unlikely you are due any compensation. However, if an individual, business, or public entity was responsible, then you should be able to receive compensation.
• Proof of the damages – Did you fill out an accident report, take pictures of the scene, or are there any eyewitnesses to the event? The more evidence you have, the more likely it is that an appropriate settlement can be reached.
• Direct and indirect losses – You can’t sue if you didn’t lose anything. Losses include medical bills, missed days of work, lack of ability to work, emotional turmoil, and the like. Be sure to track all of your medical expenses, regardless of whether something was covered by insurance or not.

Finding the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Diego

Petrov Law Firm is here to help you with your California personal injury case. Contact us right away to get your settlement as soon as possible. Just call 619.344.0360 today and schedule a consultation to see if you are eligible to receive compensation.

Common But Dangerous Things People Do While Driving

When we talk about dangerous things that drivers do, we often focus on using smartphones, being too tired, or operating a vehicle under the influence. However, there are many other common things that people do behind the wheel that are also dangerous. Here are a few other things to avoid.

• Speeding – This is at the heart of most car accidents, especially when there is a fatality involved. The faster that vehicles are moving, the more damage that will result from a collision.
• Tailgating – This term means that the driver is too close to the vehicle in front of them. As a result, if the car in front needs to stop short, the tailgating driver is likely to rear-end them. A good rule of thumb is to leave a car length between you and the vehicle in front of you for every 10 miles per hour that you are driving.
• Eating – Keep your hands on the wheel! Eating while driving is distracting, and you simply don’t have time to drop a burger and grab the wheel when a crisis arises.
• Road rage – Driving angry causes people to do dangerous things behind the wheel. A normally safe driver may take reckless risks out of sheer frustration with other drivers. If you can’t get your rage under control, it’s time to pull over and walk it off.

If You Have Been Injured By a Dangerous Driver

Whether the other driver was involved in any of these activities or something else that is dangerous, you may be able to get your losses covered by his or her car insurance. The personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm can help to ensure that the insurance company includes everything that you deserve in the settlement. Call us today at 619.344.0360 to get started.

What If I’m Injured in a Car Accident While Traveling?

Many people will be traveling this holiday season. Of course, safety will be the priority, particularly because of the pandemic. However, what if you end up injured in a car accident while you are in another state? Here are a few things to know.

• The laws of the state where the accident takes place are the regulations that will apply – For example, if you are injured while driving in California, you should know that it is a tort state. If you come from a no-fault state, you may not know what this means. Tort means that the insurance company of the driver who is at fault for the accident will be on the hook for all the damages.
• The personal injury suit will have to be filed in the state the accident occurred in – This also means that the statute of limitations of that state will apply. In California, the statute of limitations on cases that involve injury to a person is two years.
• You want a lawyer in the state you were injured – This will ensure that your lawyer knows the state regulations and can help you to maximize your settlement from the insurance company.

California Personal Injury Attorneys in San Diego

We hope everyone has a safe holiday. However, if you end up in a car accident in Southern California, Petrov Law Firm is here to help. Contact us today at 619.344.0360 to get started on your personal injury case right away.

The First Three Things to Think About After Experiencing an Injury

Injuries happen every day. If you have been injured in southern California, what are the first three things to consider?

1. Get the medical assistance you require – In the wake of an injury, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately. The doctors may notice damage that otherwise would not come to the surface until later on, but early treatment could be crucial to avoiding long-term damage. So even when the injuries do not seem life-threatening, you should still call your doctor right away for an exam.
2. Determine who was at fault – How did the injury occur? Whether it was a car accident, a dog bite, or a slip and fall, there is usually a negligent party who needs to be held responsible for any losses that you experience as a result of the injury. Hopefully, you can get some photographic evidence at the scene, but if you were seriously injured, this might not have been possible. In this case, you will want to look for eyewitnesses or other forms of evidence of what happened.
3. Get an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side – In most cases, an insurance company pays for a personal injury claim. So it is you against a big greedy corporation to get what you deserve. Therefore, you should get the help of a personal injury attorney so that you have someone fighting for you.

Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in San Diego

Petrov Law Firm has the personal injury attorneys that can help you maximize your settlement. Get the compensation that you deserve from the insurance company. Call 619.344.0360 today to get started!

Personal Injury Attorney Expertise to Look for When Hiring in California

When you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence or intent, you deserve full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses due to the injury. Because the laws regarding personal injuries are so specific, the best way to maximize your settlement is to find an attorney with experience in the precise type of personal injury case you are pursuing.

Here are some examples of personal injury cases so you can hire the right attorney to meet your personal circumstances.

• Motor Vehicle Accidents – This doesn’t always mean that you were a driver or a passenger. You may be a pedestrian or a cyclist injured by a driver. Plus, a motor vehicle accident is not the same thing as just saying “car accident.” You could also be involved with a tractor-trailer or a motorcycle. There are many ways that motor vehicle accidents can lead to injuries.
• Animal attacks – Dog bites, in particular, are common in California. Each state has its own laws regarding animal attacks when a pet is involved.
• Slip and fall accidents – Whether the accident occurred in a private home, at a business, or at a public entity (for example, a government building), you need an experienced attorney to help you build a case.

San Diego’s Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys

If you have been injured in any of these ways in southern California, Petrov Law Firm has the experienced attorneys that you want on your side. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to get your case started immediately.