The goal of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Why Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

• Motorcycle accidents killed 4,502 bikers
• This accounted for 14 percent of all fatalities
• About 42 percent of motorcyclists killed were helmetless
• About 51 percent of those riding as passengers were not wearing a helmet

You might be able to hold the driver who caused your accident liable

How common are dog bites?

• Nearly five million people are bitten each year in America
• About two percent of Americans are attacked
• Nearly 368,000 people are taken to the hospital

What are the most common types of dog bite injuries?

• Puncture wounds
• Infections
• Damage to nerves
• Scarring, including the face
• Emotional damages
• Post-traumatic stress

Can I hold the dog’s owner liable for my damages?

Common causes of slip-and-fall accidents

Slip-and-fall accidents happen every day. Some of the common places that a slip, trip, and falls occur include:

• Sidewalks and curbs
• Parking lots
• Swimming pools 
• Grocery stores 
• Workplaces
• Homes of friends and neighbors

Common injuries resulting from slip-and-fall accidents

Some of the most common types of slip-and-fall injuries include bumps and bruises. However, a slip-and-fall accident can result in a more serious type of injury, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Concussions
• Back and spinal injuries
• Broken bones
• Neck injuries
• Serious scars

The next step 

If you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, you will need to determine if your injury was the result of someone else’s negligence and if you can file an injury claim. The experienced team at Steinberg & Spencer Injury Lawyers can help you build your case and get you the compensation you deserve. 

If you would like to learn more about your accident case, order your free copy of our book, 7 Biggest Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Injury Case.

If you have been injured in a slip-and-fall accident, speak with one of our experienced Santa Monica slip and fall accident attorneys at Steinberg & Spencer Injury Lawyers at (800) 989-6385.

The benefits of amantadine

• Who are currently in a vegetative state
• With their ability to communicate quicker
• With their responsiveness to treatment

What the author has to say

Your car accident case

The alarming facts

• Double when there is a teen passenger in the car with them
• Are increased five times when there are two or more teen passengers riding with them

The differences between boys and girls

• Boys tend to crash due to reckless driving behaviors. The belief is that their peers are egging them on and their accidents are a result of showing off
• Girls tend to become distracted by carrying on conversations with their peer passengers

It starts with you

Explain what distracted driving is

Give your teen driver a list of safety tips to avoid distracted driving

• Talking on the cell phone
• Texting
• Adjusting radio dials
• Having the stereo volume too high
• Eating and drinking

Auto accidents and TBIs

• Steering wheel
• Dashboard
• Windshield 
• Side window

Your vehicle’s crashworthiness

If your vehicle is not crashworthy

This can be especially frustrating if you were involved in a Southern California car accident that was not your fault. It is difficult thinking about the wages you may be missing out on, and the time that it takes you to complete your physical therapy each week.

But what the experienced California injury lawyers at Steinberg and Spencer want you to remember is that it is imperative that you follow through with your doctor’s orders and complete the physical therapy all the way until the end. It can be easy to check out early, especially if you are feeling better, but there are two main reasons why quitting before the visits are up could end up being detrimental to your car accident injury claim.

• Completing physical therapy increases chances of making a full recovery. As with any recommendation from your doctor or pharmacist, following directions until completion is key. Whether it is physical therapy, medication, or simply following his or her advice on lifestyle changes, it goes without saying that doctors know best and have your best interest at heart. 
• Completing physical therapy shows the insurance company that you are taking your injury seriously. Insurance adjusters have one goal in mind – saving the insurance company money. And if this means paying out less on your claim, then the adjustor will do it. When an adjustor sees that a patient ends their physical therapy treatment before the recommended amount of visits has been met, then the adjustor could take that information and spin it around, making it look like you were either never really as hurt as you claimed to be, or uninterested in seeking the recovery you are trying to recoup money for. Either way, do not give the adjustor ammunition to kill your claim by failing to meet your therapy obligations.

For more tips on why medical treatment is so important when proving your injury claim, contact the experienced Southern California truck accident injury lawyers at Steinberg and Spencer today. You can call them toll-free at 800.989.6385 and request a complimentary case evaluation. Also, contact them to receive a free copy of their book, Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Injury Case.

It will most likely be an amount that would cover the cost of your initial emergency room visit, ambulance ride, and cost of a follow-up with your family physician. The settlement may or may not include additional funds for pain and suffering.

The offer may seem very tempting, especially if you have been unable to work because of your injury and if you’ve had difficulty covering the co-pays and prescription costs. But what many car accident victims do not realize is that once you accept the insurance company’s offer, that’s it. There will be no additional offers should you need medical care down the road, even if it is directly related to the injury that was caused by their insured’s negligent driver.

By waiting to accept settlement until after you are finished with your medical treatment and have calculated the cost of future medical bills, you will not only ensure that all of your injury-related debts will be covered, but you will also be able to afford any and all treatment that you may need later on down the road.

One of the easiest ways to make sure that your settlement offer is what it should be is to enlist the help of an experienced Santa Monica car accident injury lawyer. The attorneys at Steinberg Spencer not only deal with insurance adjustors on a day-to-day basis, but they are also practiced in obtaining all of the necessary paperwork needed for maximum settlement.

Contact them today at 800.989.6385 for your complimentary case evaluation and free copy of their book, The Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Injury Case.

Liability Coverage

California law only requires that each driver maintain liability insurance in the amount of $12,500. This is usually only enough to cover the smallest injury situation. The car accident lawyers in our office recommend that you carry a minimum of $100,000 in liability coverage. If you own property or have other assets that exceed $100,000 in value, you should seriously consider higher limits.

Uninsured/Underinsured

Many drivers are uninsured or underinsured. If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, you will be totally dependent on your own insurer to pay your medical bills, repair or replace your vehicle, and compensate you for your pain suffering, lost wages, and disability.

California law also requires that your insurance agent offer you uninsured/underinsured limits equal to your liability limits. You should always take this coverage.

Uninsured/underinsured (sometimes called "U") coverage protects you, your family, members of your household and your passengers for personal injuries sustained as a result of the negligence of an uninsured or underinsured driver.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Southern California, you need information. Contact the experienced Southern California car accident injury lawyers at 800.989.6385 or by filling out our online form.

But what happens if a serious truck accident does occur and you find yourself in the hospital due to an accident that wasn't your fault?

Some drivers don't think about this "what if," which is why the California truck accident lawyers at Steinberg Spencer want to remind drivers to document everything regarding the accident, and to not speak with the truck driver's insurance company without first speaking with a lawyer.

This means to not give a recorded statement or sign any paperwork that they may send you. Take your own photographs of the accident scene, and make sure to keep any paperwork related to the accident in one file - including any and all medical bills and records, correspondence from the insurance company, police reports, and witness statements.

Failing to do so could hurt your claim to compensation, as could missing strict deadlines mandated by the courts.

The best way to avoid these problems is to seek the help of an experienced lawyer like the ones at our office. We literally wrote the book on accidents in California and will provide you with a free copy when you call 800.350.8888. Request your free copy of the Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Injury Case or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.

Occurring when the brain swells, concussions often cause a temporary loss of consciousness, and are many times followed by a severe headache. While concussions can still happen without a person being knocked out completely, they can still be quite serious. The chances of suffering from a second or third concussion also increase after the first.

What many people also don't know is that a concussion is not always caused by a direct blow to the head. Car accident injury victims who have been struck in the face, neck, or chin are also prone to a concussion. Concussion victims do not always have bumps, bruising, or broken bones, which is why it is imperative to be checked out by a physician right away.

Serious concussion symptoms also include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, or irritability and should not be ignored. Make sure to follow your physician's instructions after a concussion, including those that involve avoiding bright lights, loud noises, and environments that could make you prone to another head injury. Protect your health and your rights after a car accident, and seek treatment immediately.

For more information on important steps to take after a Southern California car accident, call the personal injury lawyers at Steinberg and Spencer immediately for your free copy of their book, The Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Injury Case. They can be reached toll-free at 800.350.8888, or by filling out our online form.

In the same study, 18% of the drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel. The U.S. Department of Transportation also performed a study in the 1990s, predicting that 30% of all fatal accidents involved some sort of fatigue.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes that 56,000 sleep-related crashes occur each year in the United States, accounting for 40,000 injuries and 1,550 fatalities.

So as drivers who want to avoid a fatal California car accident, what can we do about it?

As drivers, the first step we can take is to refuse to drive while tired. It can be difficult to do, but might just save a life.

Another solution is to recognize drowsy truck and car driver behavior so we may avoid those vehicles all together.

Here are the common warning signs that a driver is either driving drowsy or driving under the influence:

• The driver brakes frequently, even though stop-and-go traffic is not present
• The truck is swerving in and out of the lane. 
• The driver speeds up and slows down at odd intervals
• The truck continuously veers towards the shoulder of the highway
• The driver appears to be nodding his head

If you see any of these things happening, call 911 right away and distance yourself from the truck before an accident is caused.

If an accident has occurred, make sure to order your free copy of Steinberg Spencer's book, The Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Injury Case by calling 800.350.8888. Or you can also fill out our online form to schedule your free consultation.

Most insurance companies with the intra-family exclusion argue that they shouldn't have to pay for the injuries, citing the purpose of medpay and health insurance.

However, one argument that can be made is that the children and spouse in the car have no control over the driver's actions, even if it is a trusted family member.

There is no reason a driver's children can't get their medical bills paid in excess of the medpay simply because the parent made a mistake. Most people buy "full coverage" thinking that they are getting "full" coverage - until something bad happens and they discover otherwise.

While the lawyers at Steinberg Spencer do not endorse one insurance company over another, we do know that companies who DO NOT have the Intra-family exclusion include Nationwide, State Farm, Travelers, and Grange.

Companies who DO have the exclusion include Progressive, Allstate, American Family, Geico, AIG, and Liberty Mututal.

It is worth talking with your insurance adjustor to make sure that your policy fits your needs and to ensure that you and your family will be covered in the event of a tragic accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Riverside, California car accident order your free copy of Steinberg Spencer's book, the Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Ruin Your California Injury Case by calling 800.350.8888. Or fill out our online form to set up a complimentary case evaluation.

• 1. Take extra precautions at intersections. Some kids may be accustomed to having crossing guards assist them while crossing the street, so if there is not one present, keep an extra eye out for little ones and approach intersections slowly. Kids have a tendency to walk first, think later - they might walk out into the intersection and then realize it was a bad idea, but be too afraid to make a move. 
• 2. Watch for kids around bus stops. Jumpy, anxious kids waiting in the early morning light can hop into the street without thinking, especially if they don't think that a car is coming. Heavy backpacks may also make quick movements difficult, as they may not be used to the extra weight on their backs. 
• 3. Always scan parked cars for children running between them. Sometimes kids think that just because they can see a car means that the driver can see them, and will dart out from behind a parked car. 
• 4. Obey school speed limit signs, even up to a half hour after the posted time. After school activities keep some kids on campuses later than normal, which is why it's always a good idea to drive slowly when around a school, even if the posted school speed limit sign may only require it until 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. 

• 1. While waiting for the bus, always make sure to stand at least four feet back from the street. A good way to demonstrate to kids how far four feet is, have them measure how long their "big steps" are. For example, you might say to your child, "Stay four big steps away from the street."
• 2. Always make sure that the bus driver sees you before you walk into the street. Sometimes children get the notion that just because they can see the bus driver, then the driver must be able to see them. Tell your child that a driver can't see you unless they wave back or make some other gesture like a nod of the head. 
• 3. On the bus, always face forward and sit in the seat, regardless of how the other kids are sitting. Peer pressure to be "cool" by doing what the other kids are doing can be tempting. But stress the dangers of not sitting in the seat properly - if the bus driver hits a pothole or must stop suddenly, the child can pitch forward in the aisle or hit their head on the side of the bus. 

• - Wear a helmet. We get it - during the hot summer months, motorcycle helmets can be hot and sweaty. But finding a helmet with well-placed air vents will not only allow your head to stay cool, it will also protect your brain the in event of an accident. 
• - Take extra caution when riding in a group. Organized rides are a great way to hang out with your buddies or raise money for a good cause. But the congestion of a large group of riders also increases your risk for an accident. Make sure to keep a safe distance from other bikes, and stick with riders of your same skill level. 
• - Steer clear of cars if possible. With summer vacation in full swing, there will be more cars out on the roads. Tacking on an additional 15 minutes of travel time in order to take a back road with less traffic could be worth it. 
• - Don't forgo protective gear because of the heat. Once again, we understand that gear can make you warm, especially in the California sun, but a little extra warmth is a lot less painful than road rash. 
• - Make sure your bike is in good working order. Summer is the perfect time to do any general maintenance and upkeep to your motorcycle, especially since the heat can contribute to malfunction. 

• The appropriate curfew based on new driver regulations;
• How to handle an emergency situation like a car accident or flat tire;
• Cell phone use while driving, including texting;
• The importance of teens letting parents know where they are at all times;
• The number of passengers that are allowed in the car;
• Removing distractions like loud music, headphones, food, and drinks;
• Areas to avoid driving at night;
• The right and wrong times to make stops-for example, no stopping for gas or food after dark, etc.