LOS ANGELES PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS

Marketed as the next environmentally friendly and convenient transportation mode for commuters navigating city streets, electric scooters are popping up in major cities all over the country. It seems this new trend has become more a point of contention than celebration in both Santa Monica and Los Angeles with pedestrian injuries on the rise as a result.

According to the Washington Post, in Santa Monica alone, electric scooter riders were involved in 281 traffic stops and issued 97 citations in the span of just a few weeks.  Additionally, the Santa Monica Fire Department responded to eight scooter related accidents with both riders and unsuspecting pedestrians sustaining serious injuries including head trauma and broken bones. 

Inherent Hazards of Electric Scooters

It seems scooter riders are both causing and becoming victims of injury associated with this new trend. Influencing factors include: 

• Electric scooters that are not mechanically sound or maintained causing crashes when brakes, tires, and handlebars malfunction.
• Riders that do not adhere to basic safety rules involving right-of-way with pedestrians. 
• Riders who neglect to wear safety equipment such as bike helmets while weaving through crowded streets.
• Riders who strike potholes, or crash because of unexpected hazards in the road. 
• Pedestrians tripping over abandoned scooters when docking stations are not provided. 

Clearly, electric scooter riders, pedestrians, and sidewalks do not mix.  Santa Monica officials continue to sound the alarm with the city's Deputy Manager stating: "It's very dangerous, and these are high-speed serious transportation devices."

Who will step up to take responsibility in the event that you or someone you care about is involved in a serious scooter related accident?  Will it be the scooter driver haphazardly operating the vehicle?  The city, responsible for hazards in the road or even the unsuspecting driver who clips a rider in traffic? We can help you sort through all of the complicated details. Contact us, the personal injury legal experts at Lederer & Nojima. We have a history of success and the resources necessary. We will stand by your side until your case is resolved.

One of the greatest tragedies in life is when people die before their time. What makes it worse, sometimes, is when the death is precipitated or not prevented by persons or organizations who could and should have done something to preserve the person's life. In these cases, survivors of the deceased person may bring what is called a wrongful death claim against the responsible party.

What is a wrongful death claim?

At its most basic, a wrongful death claim is a legal movement in response to the death of a person as a result of another person's negligence or wrongful act. This can include fatal motor vehicle accidents, on the job accidents due to failure to provide proper security, use of defective products, animal attacks, and more. 

Who can file a wrongful death claim?

In California, the law allows for only certain survivors to put forward wrongful death suits. By order of priority, the deceased person's surviving spouse, children, dependent minors living in the household for six months or more, and dependent parents are allowed by California law to pursue wrongful death claims.

In other areas, wrongful death claimants can include the domestic partner, anyone who is entitled to the person's property, or anyone who can prove that they were financially dependent on the deceased, including grandparents, parents, siblings, stepchildren, etc.

What kind of damages are usually awarded in a wrongful death claim?

Damages are usually given to compensate for losses associated with the death, or to compensate family members for the personal losses they suffered. These losses include income, funeral and medical expenses, anticipated financial support, value of household services, and more.

Even in wrongful death cases in which the deceased had no income, compensation can still be applied for on the basis of loss of love, society, companionship, parenting guidance, and moral support, emotional distress of survivors witnessing the fatal incident, or out of pocket expenses associated with the death.

How long is the statute of limitations on a wrongful death claim?

According to California law, wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the person's date of death, or the family will likely lose the right to file. So if you are trying to decide whether or not to file a wrongful death claim, remember to keep in mind that time is of the essence.

Filing a wrongful death claim is not merely a matter of revenge against the responsible party, or compensation for financial loss, but a way for survivors of the deceased person to receive psychological closure and much needed support following the loss of their loved one.

For more information about wrongful death attorneys in Los Angeles, please contact us.

If you've recently suffered a bite from a dog, you are not alone. Thousands of people suffer dog bite of many levels of severity every year in the United States, including right here in Los Angeles.

Not only are dog bites painful, they're mentally hard to cope with afterward, and often come with expensive health care costs to match. Anyone suffering from a dog bite should seek legal counsel immediately, both to seek recompense for suffering and to recoup costs associated with bite care.

First Thing's First: Take Care of Yourself!

Above all, seek immediate emergency care. If you haven't done that already, take that step immediately.

Once you've had your wound attended to by a medical professional, it's time to gather information on the bite. Get the dog owner's information (name, phone number, address, anything helps), as well as contact information for any witnesses.

If possible, ask for copies of the dog's registration information with the City of Los Angeles, as well as rabies vaccination documentation.

When you take a dog bite to a Los Angeles hospital, they'll ask you for any details on the animal and the owner, as they are required to automatically report the bite to Animal Control. This information will also be useful for your legal counsel.

If the owner does not have up-to-date rabies vaccinations, they will be compelled to place the dog under a 10-day quarantine for observation. The cost will be the owner's responsibility.

What to Know About California Dog Bite Law

While some states have various forms of leniency for dogs without a history of violence, California is comparatively strict. Dogs with no history of violence and no training or other circumstances that could be conceived as encouraging a dog to bite are given special consideration for a single bite.

With the help of legal counsel, you can leverage the benefits of the "One Bite Rule" even if the animal hasn't bitten anyone before. If you can prove that the owner had some knowledge of the dog's violent potential, the owner is held responsible for the dog's behavior.

With the right legal approach, this includes irresponsible behavior such as walking dogs off-leash outside of designated dog parks or other violations of animal handling laws in Los Angeles.

How to Find a Lawyer For Your Dog Bite

The best choice is a local lawyer, deeply familiar with California law as well as the ins and outs of Los Angeles County statutes. Contact us today for a consultation on your case, and guarantee every legal avenue possible is explored to get you the compensation you deserve.