Archive for the ‘ Personal Injury’ Category

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Summer Vacations and Travel Bring More Accidents in Southern California

Monday, August 9th, 2010

With the arrival of summer comes the arrival of the summer travel and vacationing season. The nicer weather means more people are out on the roadways and waterways of Southern California. With this increase in numbers comes an increase in the number of accidents as well. It is important before heading out on either the road or the water to prepare yourself. Take a look at the weather forecasts and travel conditions. Look into road construction zones and make sure that your vehicle or boat is in proper traveling condition.

Accident attorneys in Southern California want everyone to have a fun and safe summer travel season, but they realize that accidents will occur. If you or a loved one is in an accident and needs legal assistance, it is important that you contact a trained and knowledgeable accident attorney in Los Angeles right away.

Working with a lawyer after an accident can help you in many ways. An attorney can help you recover damages resulting from the accident, as well as assist you with any cash advances or rental car needs. Another advantage to working with a Los Angeles accident lawyer is that he or she will be able to ensure that the process goes smoothly and swiftly.

With the nice weather and fun times, the last thing you want is an injury or accident to occur. So, be careful out there. If you are in an accident or for any reason need to seek legal counsel in the Los Angeles or Southern California area, contact the accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas as soon as possible for assistance and legal aid.

Please call 1.888.848.5084 to contact the Law Offices of Samer Habbas regarding any issues or questions you have dealing with personal injuries or accidents sustained during your summer travel and fun.

Small Victory for Clergy Abuse Victims

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Abuse in any form is reprehensible. It takes courage for a victim to be able to speak up and face his or her abuser in court. Knowing the abuser is behind bars does not erase the overwhelming sadness, confusion and anger that can follow a victim for life.

One of the most shocking types of sexual abuse is at the hands of members of the clergy. The role of a priest is supposed to include teaching, guiding and sanctifying. Priests are human, however, and commit cases of abuse and other crimes just like the rest of the population.

Priests have many opportunities to be alone with children including spending time with altar boys and girls, coaching sports teams, teaching religious education, organizing church activities, etc. These predators know just the right way to manipulate their victims into keeping the abuse secret. Sometimes the abuse goes on for years before the priest chooses another victim or the victim grows too old to be desirable to the abuser.

Years ago, if a priest molested a member of his congregation, the pastor and/or bishop would secretly transfer him to another parish. Although speculation among church members could suggest abuse, no one ever knew for sure. In most cases, the abuser then exhibited the same behavior in the new location.

Just last month, however, victims received a small victory for clergy abuse cases. The Supreme Court ruled not to dismiss an Oregon abuse case against the Roman Catholic Church brought by a sexual abuse victim. This ruling opens up opportunities for Southern California clergy abuse attorneys to empower their clients to fight for restitution and justice.

The clergy abuse attorneys at The Law Offices of Samer Habbas are following this case very closely. If a priest or member of a church abused you, call us in confidence at 888.848.5084. Getting help is the key to your recovery.

Is Facebook the New Smoking Gun in Personal Injury Cases?

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

A personal injury occurs when someone suffers injury through the negligence or misconduct of another person. The injury doesn’t have to be solely physical in nature; it could be a financial loss or damage to someone’s reputation.

A motor vehicle accident, slip and fall or the use of a defective product can cause common types of personal injuries that are physical in nature. A financial injury is one in which the action of another person harms you economically. For example, if your stockbroker mismanaged your account, you would have cause to sue for the financial loss. A personal injury that hurts your reputation could be due to someone spreading rumors about you or posting malicious information in the news or on the Internet.

The injured person can sue the person or entity responsible for any of these types of injuries. Since the burden of proof is on the injured person, it is best to seek the advice of a personal injury lawyer for advice.

We are seeing a new kind of proof that insurance companies are using to refute an injury claim. It’s using social media such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. These websites are popular social networking sites where people can post information about themselves. The Law Offices of Samer Habbas have seen an increase in clients whose postings cost them a settlement. Always remember that someone may be able to use what you post on the Internet against you in a lawsuit.

Therefore, the answer to the original question is, “Yes, Facebook is the new smoking gun in personal injury cases.” Insurance companies need to gather as much evidence as they can to decrease the amount of damages they will pay out. They are now using non-traditional methods to gather this information. Here’s an example: You are in a car accident in Los Angeles and claim you can’t work because of severe back pain. However, your Facebook page shows you skiing.

Monitor what you write and post on the Internet because it can affect you negatively in a personal injury lawsuit. Feel free to contact the Southern California attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas at 888.848.5084 if you have any questions about social media and personal injury cases.

Amputation Injury Statistics

Monday, June 21st, 2010

If you or a family member has suffered an amputation injury, you know that life is never the same again. An amputation affects every aspect of a victim’s life as well as the lives of his or her family who grieve and want to know how and why this happened. For many years, the California amputation injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas have been helping victims and their families by providing aggressive legal representation. Their Orange County amputation injury lawyers work hard to help victims seek damages to help defray the costs of medical bills, physical rehabilitation, lost wages and other injury-related expenses.

Some amputation injury statistics in the United States include the following:

Around 1.7 million Americans have had their lives changed forever by an amputation injury.

Approximately 135,000 people suffer an amputation injury every year.

Three in four amputations occur in people over 65 years of age.

Males are more likely than females to suffer an amputation injury, and people are most likely to lose a limb between the ages of 41 and 70.

Most people associate amputated limbs with an accident of some kind, and 22% of all amputations are trauma-related. But the leading cause of amputation injuries is vascular disease in which restricted blood flow prevents proper circulation.

According to the National Limb Loss Center, vascular disease causes 82% of all amputations.

As we age, the risks of amputation also rise for both men and women, with people aged 85 and over facing the highest risks of amputation.

If you or a close family member has suffered an amputation injury, it is very important to contact an experienced Los Angeles amputation injury lawyer before you sign any documents. Signing anything that you don’t fully understand could prevent you from seeking damages. To schedule a free consultation with our experienced California amputation injury lawyers, call us today at 888.848.5084.

Determining Fault in California Pedestrian Laws

Monday, June 14th, 2010

California pedestrian accident lawyer Samer Habbas makes client education a focus of his law practice, and dispelling myths about the law is a big part of his efforts. When we hear of a pedestrian accident, we usually assume that driver negligence such as running a red light or speeding caused it. But he and other Southern California pedestrian accident attorneys know that while we can blame most pedestrian accidents on negligent drivers, pedestrians acting negligently or both parties being negligent also cause a fair percentage of accidents.

For example, if a pedestrian is wearing dark clothing at night and crosses the street in the middle of a block, he or she could be found at fault or partly at fault if a vehicle strikes him or her. A jury could decide that because the pedestrian decided to cross where there was no crosswalk, was difficult to see and did not look in both directions, he or she could be at least partly responsible for causing his or her own injuries. In pedestrian accidents, there are many variables taken into consideration. Was the driver speeding and/or drinking? Was the pedestrian under the influence of alcohol or drugs? Did the vehicle involved in the accident have bad brakes or a missing headlight? Was the pedestrian crossing the street outside a marked crosswalk?

All of these factors and countless more are taken into consideration in pedestrian accident cases and no two cases are exactly alike. This is one of the many reasons why people choose to contact an experienced Anaheim pedestrian accident lawyer such as Mr. Habbas. He can explain the laws that apply, answer questions and provide a legal professional’s perspective on your situation. If you’ve been hurt or a family member has been killed in a pedestrian accident, call Mr. Habbas today at 888.848.5084 to schedule a free consultation.

Resource link: Determining Fault in California Pedestrian Laws

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