Safety Tips

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.

Safety Tips to Review Before Your Child Gets on an ATV

If your kids got an ATV for the holidays, you want to be sure they are able to ride safely and responsibly. Here are a few tips to help protect your child from injury on an ATV.

• Always use the proper safety equipment – Don’t stop at the bare minimum required by law. This goes for adults too. If you are in an accident, the proper safety gear gives you the best chance of avoiding serious harm.
• Don’t ride double unless the ATV is meant for that – Some ATVs are made for two riders, but most are one-seaters.
• Always provide supervision – If your child is not old enough to drive a car, they shouldn’t be riding around on an ATV with you or another responsible adult present.
• Get your child an ATV riding course – You wouldn’t let your child drive a car without providing some guidance and direction. Be sure they get some instruction on how to ride.
• Encourage safe practices – Explain the dangers of riding too fast.
• Make sure the ATV is appropriate for use by a child – ATVs vary wildly in power. A child should not be riding an ATV intended for adults until they are at least 16 years old.

When You or a Loved One Is in an ATV Accident

If you or a loved one has been injured riding an ATV, contact Petrov Law Firm. Our personal injury attorneys can help you to learn if you deserve compensation, and we can help negotiate a suitable settlement with an insurance company. Call 619.344.0360 to get started.

Who Is Responsible for Damages Due to Road Hazards?

There are many factors that can lead to an accident when no other vehicle is involved but your own. If you are injured in such an accident, you may wonder where to turn for proper compensation. Much has to do with who was at fault. Consider the following scenarios.

• Debris falling off the back of a truck – Let’s say a driver failed to properly secure debris or equipment in the back of his truck. On the road, it flies off the truck and causes you injury. The driver’s insurance would be on the hook for medical bills and other damages since the driver failed to take the proper precautions.
• Construction debris – If the company is privately owned, the contractor’s liability insurance should cover the damages. If the construction was federal, state, or local government-run, then you would need to seek compensation from a public entity. Remember that the statute of limitations is often short when suing the government, so don’t wait to begin the process of seeking compensation.
• The weather causes dangerous road conditions – If you fail to take proper precautions when driving in dangerous conditions, it may be deemed as your fault that the damages occurred. Even in this case, you might be able to seek compensation from your own insurance company.

Getting Help After a Road Hazzard Accident

Of course, these are just some examples, and your case may be different. That is why you should contact a personal injury attorney to get assistance. Petrov Law Firm can help if you were injured in an accident in southern California. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to learn more and to maximize your compensation.

How a Lawyer Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, your first priority should be getting the medical care you need. Your next step should be hiring a personal injury attorney. Why? Here are a few things that a lawyer can do to help maximize your settlement.

• File necessary documents before the statute of limitations ends – Once the statute of limitations is up, you are unlikely to get anything, so this is an essential step.
• Assist you in gathering necessary proof – You will need to provide proof of the damages. This may mean collecting relevant medical records, acquiring a copy of the police report, compiling photos or videos of the scene of the accident, and more.
• Acting as a go-between with the insurance company – The insurance company is going to want you to admit to some degree of blame, especially if you live in a tort state like California. This would significantly reduce the compensation you are due. It is better to let your lawyer be the only one who speaks with the insurance company.
• Interview witnesses – If there are witnesses to the accident, your lawyer may decide to interview them to see if their testimony is relevant.
• Provide you with peace of mind – Your attorney will help you understand your rights and provide you with confidence that you will receive the best possible settlement.

Hire the Right Personal Injury Attorney in Southern California

Petrov Law Firm in San Diego has attorneys who are experienced with motorcycle accident cases. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to ensure your case gets the attention that it deserves.

5 Motorcycle Riding Tips That Can Save a Life

Riding a motorcycle is a great way to get around Californian cities, especially when there is a lot of traffic. Here are a few tips to help you get where you are going as safely as possible.

• Beware of drivers – Many drivers are not good at sharing the road with motorcycles. There are also a lot of distracted drivers. It’s not fair for the burden to be on you, but the fact is that when a car and a motorcycle get into an accident, it doesn’t matter who is right or wrong. The consequences will be far worse for the cyclist.
• Wear the proper protective equipment – In a minor accident, the right helmet and clothing can protect you from serious harm or even save your life.
• Be modest – If you are a new rider, don’t go beyond your limitations. Always follow traffic laws and don’t try to do anything you are not 100% sure you are able to handle.
• Stay visible – Whether it is keeping the lights on your vehicle in good order or wearing something reflective on your clothes/helmet, anything you can do to increase your visibility could be lifesaving.
• Never ride if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs (including prescription medications that could affect your ability to ride safely).

Getting Help After a Motorcycle Accident in California

Petrov Law Firm in San Diego can help you to get what you deserve from the insurance company. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to learn what we can do for you.

How Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen?

Knowing what causes the most pedestrian accidents can help you to stay safer while walking. While not all of these factors are preventable on your part, some provide insights into precautions pedestrians should take.

• Low visibility conditions – Most pedestrian accidents happen at night, when the weather is bad, or during times of the day when visibility is reduced (dawn and dusk). Use extra caution when crossing roads in these conditions, even if you are using the crosswalk. Hi-vis or reflective clothing can also help drivers to see you.
• Poor city infrastructure – If there are few crosswalks and no pedestrian lights in the area, this makes crossing the roadway even more dangerous. This can happen both on the street and in parking lots that don’t have proper crossing locations.
• Electric and hybrid cars – Many vehicles are quieter than they used to be. You can’t walk out into the street while looking down at your phone and trust your ears to tell you a vehicle is coming. Some electric and hybrid vehicles produce little more than a whirring sound while coasting.

Regardless of the cause of the accident, the driver’s insurance should be helping with medical bills and other losses incurred.

Help for Injured Pedestrians in Southern California

Petrov Law Firm has the experienced personal injury attorneys that you want in your corner when dealing with an insurance company to get a settlement. Contact us today at 619.344.0360 to get the help you need to recoup your medical bills and other losses.

Protecting Yourself from Common Cycling Accidents

What are some of the common ways that cyclists are injured in motor vehicle accidents? Let’s consider some of the most dangerous scenarios so you can potentially avoid serious harm.

• When drivers are making a left-hand turn – When a driver turns left, they cross through oncoming traffic. Drivers are often focused on other motor vehicles. Therefore, they may fail to notice a bicycle. This is especially true if you are riding on the sidewalk instead of on the road. Remember that the sidewalk is for pedestrians, and watch out for drivers making left-hand turns in front of you when you cross an intersection.
• When drivers are making a right-hand turn – If a car passes you on the left as you approach an intersection, always be wary of them making a sudden right turn, even if they are not using their signal light. It is also essential to be cautious if you are going straight at a stoplight after waiting for it to turn green. If the car sitting next to you was also waiting and wants to make a right turn, let them go first in case they don’t see you.
• When a car door suddenly opens – This usually happens when you are riding past a row of vehicles that are parked. The driver is probably looking for oncoming cars before they swing the door open but may miss a bicycle. Try to give parked cars a little extra space.

If You Have Been Injured in a Cycling Accident in San Diego

Petrov Law Firm has the experienced personal injury attorneys that you want on your side when trying to get a fair settlement from an insurance company. Contact us today at 619.344.0360 to learn what we can do for you.

4 Tips to Keep You from Getting Sleepy Behind the Wheel

Whether you are taking a summer road trip or you just have a long commute back and forth to work each day, spending a lot of time behind the wheel is never fun. However, if you are tired while driving, it can become downright dangerous. Here are a few tips to ensure you don’t fall into the dangers of being a drowsy driver.

• Avoid getting behind the wheel during your usual bedtime hours – If you consistently sleep the same hours every night (as we should), then your body is trained to sleep at that time. Driving during your sleep hours is dangerous.
• Take a break if you start to feel tired – If you do start to feel tired while driving, find a place to pull over rather than trying to make it.
• Carpool – If you have someone else in the car with you, switch drivers when one of you becomes sleepy.
• Be careful with medications – Especially if you are starting a new prescription and don’t know how it will affect you yet, it is important to be cautious when driving. However, any prescription that comes with a warning about drowsiness can make it dangerous (or perhaps even illegal, depending on the medication and its effect on you) to drive.

When Another Driver Is to Blame for Your Injuries

If you have been in an accident, whether the other driver was drowsy or at fault for some other reason, you deserve compensation for medical bills and other related expenses. Contact Petrov Law Firm today to get the help you need when dealing with an insurance company. Call 619.344.0360 to get your case started.

Tips for Kids Before They Ride Their First ATV

It is summertime, and that means many will be out riding ATVs. It is a fun hobby, and parents with adventurous children may decide to get their kids into riding at an early age. However, ATVs are not a toy, and so it is essential to understand how to keep your child safe, even when they are having fun on one of these vehicles. Here are some tips before their first ride.

• Make sure your child has the proper gear – That includes compliant headwear and clothing that covers the majority of the skin (including gloves).
• Check local laws before riding an ATV on a paved road. Remember that the purpose of ATVs is for off-road use, so drivers won’t be looking for an ATV on the road.
• Adults should never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and that is even more true for kids.
• Don’t put two people on an ATV designed for one.
• Make sure the ATV is the right model for your child’s age.
• If your child is under 16, you should be there to supervise.
• Teach your child to use a safe speed.
• Start out with an ATV riding course before letting your child ride on their own.

If You Experience an ATV Injury in Southern California

Petrov Law Firm has experienced personal injury attorneys to help if you have been injured in an ATV accident. Depending on whose fault the accident was, you may be eligible to recuperate your medical expenses and receive compensation for other losses. Call our San Diego law office today at 619.344.0360 to get your case started.

Don’t Be Duped By Myths Related to Bicycle Accidents

If you have been struck and injured by a car while riding your bike, you may be eligible for compensation from the driver’s insurance. Since California is a tort state, the amount of compensation you are due is related to who was at fault. With that in mind, don’t fall for these myths regarding bicycle accidents.

• Myth: Bicycle accidents are usually the cyclist’s fault – This is not necessarily true. Each accident has its own facts, and many car accidents involving bicycles are related to driver distraction rather than an indiscretion on the part of the cyclist.
• Myth: If you are partially to blame, you get nothing – In California, fault can be apportioned to each driver or cyclist in the accident. A percentage is assigned to determine who should be held accountable. So even if you bear some of the fault for the accident, you should still receive compensation for a percentage of your losses.
• Myth: Bicycles belong on the sidewalk – Not only is this not true, but it is also dangerous to ride on the sidewalk. You would be at fault if you were to injure a pedestrian. When there is no bicycle lane, you should be riding on the street and following normal traffic laws.

San Diego’s Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Petrov Law Firm has the experienced personal injury attorneys to assist you after a bicycle accident injury. Get in touch today by giving us a call at 619.344.0360, and find out how we can help you to maximize your settlement.