Tag Archives: personal injury
What Factors Determine Noneconomic Damages in Personal Injury Cases?
Recently, I was asked by a reporter, “what factors determine noneconomic damages in personal injury cases?” Noneconomic damages are individualized and not subject to formula and standardization, especially for larger cases. Damages are dependent on the circumstances and apparent motivations of the individuals involved. The jury will evaluate these factors in developing their impressions… Read More »
RIGHT TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE
Regardless of your insurance status, you are eligible to receive emergency medical care within the State of California. You have the right to receive emergency care at any licensed facility with an emergency room. You have the right to be treated until your emergency medical condition is stabilized when you go to a hospital… Read More »
The Howell Decision: Is it Worse for Plaintiffs than MICRA?
The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) was passed in 1975 and limits non-economic damages (pain, suffering and death of a loved one) in California medical malpractice cases to $250,000.00. Prior to December 1975, juries were free to weigh all evidence and award an amount of non-economic damages appropriate for the injury to the… Read More »
It is GPS Monitoring, not GPS Tracking
“Wow…thank you. I didn’t realize GPS would be so interesting.” That was the most repeated comment by attendees at the last meeting of the Riverside County Barristers Association after Petra Fuhriman co-owner of GPS Monitoring Solutions explained the difference between tracking and real-time, 24/7 GPS monitoring. Although it was the second meeting of the… Read More »
Hazardous Recreational Activities
Imagine yourself on your day off, participating in your favorite recreational activity, on public property. Whether it’s mountain biking, kayaking, off-road motorcycling/four-wheeling, surfing, or water skiing, what is your recourse should you sustain an injury by participating in that activity? Generally speaking, the Government Code of the State of California provides that neither a… Read More »
WHO IS CHECKING YOUR STATUS?
The health info you post online could be used against you. Dislike! By Jessica Girdwain When you log on to Facebook, what do you post? Pics of you laughing with friends or frolicking on vacay? That’s what Nathalie Blanchard, a 30-year-old IBM technician from Granby, Quebec, did – and soon after, her disability insurance… Read More »
Are your kids safe at school if the school hires a pedophile?
According to the California Constitution, all students and staff of public schools have the inalienable right to attend campuses that are safe, secure, and peaceful. Cal. Const. Art. I, Section 28(c). All school districts must comply with this requirement, and are prohibited from taking official actions that violate or contravene its provisions. But is… Read More »
James Heiting cited by “Chicago Lawyer’s” Robert A. Clifford
I stood before 12 people, a cross-section of Miami-area residents who were to consider the case of a family who lost a loved one in a small plane that crashed off the coast as it attempted to take off. The cause of the crash was a defective part, manufactured by a local company whose… Read More »
What You May Not Know: 998 Offers
Something that is often encountered in personal injury litigation in California is what is commonly referred to as a “998 Offer.” Clients are constantly surprised by the 998 Offer as many have never heard of it. Code of Civil Procedure § 998 is quite lengthy; however, the part that relates most pertinently to plaintiff’s… Read More »
PROTECTING YOURSELF WITH UM/UIM COVERAGE
California requires all motor vehicle operators to maintain liability insurance with limits of at least $15,000. What happens if your injuries in an auto accident exceed that coverage? Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) policies may help. They provide coverage for you, in case you are in an accident caused by a driver with no… Read More »
