Category: Blog

After a serious injury, you need financial security that you may have struggled with since your accident. You may be unable to work, or you may have long-term, expensive surgeries. Your personal injury settlement should give you that security and peace of mind.

But tax season will roll around eventually. What will happen to your claim then? Will you have to pay taxes on your personal injury settlement?

The answer is complex, and it may depend in part on the types of compensation you’ve received. Because of this, you may need to discuss with a lawyer the effects of taxes on your personal injury settlement. Your lawyer can help you get the max settlement without losing it all to taxes.

Taxes on Your Financial Recovery

Generally, you don’t have to pay taxes on the funds given to you for the costs of your injuries and recovery. If you didn’t take a deduction for the expenses in the past, you may be able to keep the full amount.

For example, let’s say you slipped and fell in a store a year ago, and you suffered a severe concussion. You didn’t include the hospital bills on your taxes at the time for a deduction because your Orange County injury lawsuit was underway. When you receive compensation for the economic damages you suffered, you don’t have to pay taxes on that amount.

Similar rules are applied to your non-economic damages, or the mental and emotional losses you suffered because of the accident. As long as these non-economic damages happened because of your injury or illness, you can keep the full amount from your settlement without paying taxes on these losses.

Exceptions to the IRS’ Rule

But not every part of your personal injury settlement is definitely yours, without any taxes to be paid. The exceptions can be costly. For example, you may have received compensation for the loss of income you suffered while you were unable to work. Because this is a replacement for your missing income, this amount can be taxed.

Interest on your settlement can also count as a part of your income, and punitive damages are also usually taxable. All these exceptions can lead to serious losses due to the costs of your taxes.

But paying your taxes on a personal injury settlement shouldn’t bankrupt you. Your Orange County personal injury lawyer can help you understand what you’ll pay in taxes before your claim is settled. They can also help you maximize your settlement, even if you have to pay taxes on some parts of your claim.

Talk with a Personal Injury Lawyer About Your Settlement

When you’re injured, you need to know that you no longer have to worry about the costs of your accident. Hiring a lawyer from Kohan & Bablove Injury Attorneys can help you get the guidance and assurance you need about taxes on your personal injury settlement. If you’re worried about your financial recovery and you need help, reach out to a lawyer for guidance. Call 1-844-404-2400, or fill out the online contact form below.

Car accidents can impact a victim’s life in countless ways, but when you file an insurance claim and possibly bring your case to court, you need to be sure to include every single loss to maximize the amount of your injury settlement.

Below, we go into further detail about some of the various economic losses you shouldn’t forget to include in your claim, and the non-economic damages that can be sought after under California law.

Financial Losses You Can Recover in Your Orange County Car Accident Claim

Economic damages, also known as financially based losses, are the most commonly thought of type of loss a person experiences after being involved in a car accident in Orange County. The first thing that probably comes to your mind is:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages

The good news is that both of these economic damages are recoverable. But they may be worth more than you might think. When we take a closer look at medical expenses, this should encompass every single healthcare cost related to your injuries. This might include:

• Medical equipment, such as hospital beds or prosthetic limbs
• Costs of physical or occupational therapy
• Copays
• Costs of diagnostic imaging
• Fees associated with mental health counseling
• Costs of prescription medications

These are just a few of the different types of medical expenses you may be able to recover in your car accident claim.

Then, when we look more closely at your lost wages, we may also find that you are entitled to far more than the income you lost while out of work. Perhaps you are unable to continue working due to your injuries, which means you’re out of a job entirely. Such lost earning capacity could include compensation for:

• Lost contributions to your retirement savings plan
• Loss of salary increases and bonuses you may have earned
• Reasonable lost future earnings

In addition to your lost wages and medical expenses, you will also want to be sure that you don’t forget to seek restitution for other economic damages such as:

• Housekeeping expenses
• Property damage
• Unexpected childcare costs

What Are Non-Economic Damages in California?

Non-economic damages refer to the losses you have suffered that do not pertain to money. This might include your pain and suffering and emotional distress, for example.

These items do not have a set monetary value, but they are often equally, if not more, impactful. Some of the lesser known non-economic damages you may be able to include your Orange County car accident settlement include:

• Reputational damage
• Inconvenience
• Scarring
• Loss of companionship and love
• Disfigurement
• Diminished quality of life

Get Help from an Orange County Car Accident Lawyer

If you would like to get a better idea of what your car accident claim could be worth, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a respected Orange County car accident lawyer at Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys. We can be reached through the quick contact form below or by phone at 1-844-404-2400.

It is more common than you might think for accident survivors to be hesitant to file personal injury lawsuits against the individual or entity that is to blame for their injuries. Most often, this is due to the fact that they aren’t sure whether contacting an attorney is the right move.

With this in mind, we have provided more information below about the ways you can tell that contacting an Orange County personal injury lawyer may be the right move for you.

Is Someone Else at Fault for Your Injuries?

To outsiders, civil court is sometimes seen as a place for frivolous lawsuits. But people who take the time to file a claim after suffering a devastating injury are, more often than not, doing so because their lives have been seriously impacted by the accident they were involved in and/or their injuries.

If you are unsure whether you should pursue a personal injury claim, you can start by asking yourself if someone else is to blame for your injuries. This may not always be easily determined at first glance, so you may need to discuss your accident with a personal injury lawyer to find out. But you can review the table included below to see what party or parties are typically found liable for your type of accident.

Type of Accident	Liable Party
Car, Motorcycle, Bicycle, Pedestrian Accident	Another driver’s negligence, auto parts manufacturers, city/state/county department of transportation
Truck Accidents	Same as other motor vehicle accidents but also includes cargo loaders, truck owners, safety inspectors, and trucking companies
Dog Bites	Owner of the dog
Slip-and-Fall Accidents	Property owners
Defective Products	Product manufacturers and distributors

Have You Suffered Considerable Losses?

Another way you can tell that contacting a personal injury lawyer may be a good option for you is if you have suffered significant losses due to the accident.

Maybe you have exorbitant medical expenses that need to be paid, or maybe you’ve been struggling to deal with the emotional trauma that you’ve been through, for example. There are many other losses you may be able to recover if you move forward with a civil claim against the liable party, including:

• Lost quality of life
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages and earning capacity
• Loss of consortium
• Inconvenience
• Reputational damage
• Loss of household services

These are just a few of the various losses you may be able to recover in your lawsuit. Speaking with a lawyer about the extent of your damages doesn’t cost anything, and it could provide you with the opportunity to obtain the compensation you need to put this experience behind you.

Get Help from an Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer

To learn more about what legal options may be available to you after being involved in an accident caused by the negligence of another, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer at Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys.

You can reach our office by phone at 1-844-404-2400 or through the quick contact form we have included at the bottom of this page.

Being involved in a car accident is something simply you can’t prepare for. Unless you’ve been injured in an accident before, you probably have no idea what to expect going forward or what your next steps should be.

But, you probably are wondering how the accident will affect your license status, insurance premium, and whether you have to report the incident to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Continue reading to learn more about when the DMV requires you to report an accident and how you can protect your license.

When to Report an Accident to the DMV

The California DMV requires that any drivers involved in a collision must report the accident to the DMV under three circumstances:

• Someone is killed in the accident.
• Someone involved in the accident is injured in any way.
• There is more than $1,000 in property damage.

The DMV states that it does not matter who is to blame for the accident you were involved in, any parties who were involved in the accident is required by law to report the accident through a Traffic Accident Report SR 1 within 10 days of the accident.

To complete the form fully, you will need to provide information regarding how and when the accident occurred, where the accident happened, your name, drivers license number, vehicle information, and insurance information, as well as any information you have about any property damage that might have occurred.

It is important to note that reporting the accident to the DMV does not necessarily mean you will get points added to your driving record. The only time points will be added to your driving record after an accident is if you are found to be at fault for the accident.

Ways You Can Report Your Accident

The most common way to report your traffic accident to the DMV is to fill out the Traffic Accident Report SR 1 online, print it, and mail it in to the following address:

• Department of Motor Vehicles Financial Responsibility
  Mail Station J237
  P.O. Box 942884
  Sacramento, CA 94284-0884

Unfortunately, the California DMV does not allow individuals who have been involved in accidents to file Traffic Accident Report SR 1 online anymore.

Contact a California Car Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured in a car accident and are feeling overwhelmed or confused about what to do next, reach out to a respected California car accident lawyer at Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys. We are proud to offer complimentary consultations to injury victims across the state.

You can take advantage of this opportunity and schedule yours by giving our office a call at 1-844-404-2400 or filling out the quick contact form below.

When you are driving in Orange County and are suddenly involved in a car crash, you may be unsure of what to do next. No one is ever prepared for a collision, but the roads of Orange County can be particularly dangerous due to high levels of congestion and traffic, making it one of the more hazardous areas to drive in California.

With that being said, once you have been cleared medically, you may want to consider contacting an attorney to discuss the circumstances of your accident. Continue reading to learn more about why you should call a lawyer when you’ve been injured in an Orange County car accident.

Someone Else Is at Fault

If you notice right away that someone else was to blame for the car accident, calling an attorney should be at the top of your priority list. Even if you simply know that you are not responsible for causing the collision, it may be in your best interests to reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible. You should never be expected to cover the costs of your injuries if someone else was to blame.

Getting the liable party to compensate you without having to go to court may prove to be more of a challenge than you bargained for, but if you call a car accident lawyer in Orange County, you could be one step closer to collecting a sizable injury settlement.

Your Injuries Are Severe

Maybe you have no idea who is liable for the cause of the accident, but when you have suffered catastrophic injuries, contacting a lawyer can prove to be beneficial when the time comes to get justice for your losses.

You will more than likely start to accrue a mountain of medical expenses and other household debts due to such a serious accident, and if you wait to call a lawyer, these debts can quickly spiral out of control.

You Have Endured Significant Losses

One of the most important reasons to call a lawyer after an Orange County car accident is to obtain maximum repayment for everything you have been through. Losses often extend far beyond the financial impact of an injury.

Emotional trauma, difficult lifestyle changes, and physical pain are all likely influencing your life after the accident. For help obtaining the compensation you need to overcome these obstacles, contact an attorney and discuss your car accident insurance claim and possible personal injury lawsuit.

Get in Touch with an Orange County Car Accident Lawyer

Sometimes, working with an attorney is the best way you can go about protecting your right to financial repayment following a serious auto wreck.

Our team of respected attorneys at Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys will do everything possible to obtain the injury settlement you need if we are able to take on your case. You can learn more about how an Orange County car accident lawyer at our firm could help you by submitting the quick contact form below or calling our office at 1-844-404-2400.

A car accident can be a scary experience. If you’ve never been in a wreck, you’re likely unsure what steps are required of you when it comes to reporting the crash to police, medical professionals, and insurance companies. Collisions can range from minor fender benders to disastrous pileups. No matter how severe the incident may be, knowing how to report the wreck can be helpful.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, reporting the accident may only be the beginning of your concerns. Having the details of your wreck documented with the police is essential because, when you file a claim for compensation in the future, these records can serve as tangible evidence. At Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys, our car accident lawyers can help you hold the liable parties to account.

When Medical Treatment Is Required

It’s important to understand that, whenever injuries have occurred in a car crash—regardless of whether the injuries have been inflicted on you or another driver or passenger—911 should be called immediately. When you call emergency services, medical help will be sent to the scene of the accident and the local police department will also be contacted.

Local Police Departments in Orange County

Orange County consists of numerous cities such as Santa Ana, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, and Huntington Beach, to name a few. When a collision happens within the county that isn’t an emergency, the accident should be reported to the city’s local police department. Each city has its own police department headquarters where you can file in person. Many have online portals for filing, as well.

For example, if you get in a wreck in Santa Ana, you can use their online e-police reporting tool to report your car accident. When the crash occurs on a state freeway, however—even if it’s within city limits—it needs to be reported to the California Highway Patrol.

The California Highway Patrol in Santa Ana

There are California Highway Patrol locations throughout the state, and the Orange County location is in central Santa Ana. You can report your accident in person at the Santa Ana office, but it’s also easy to report a collision by calling 1-800-TELL-CHP (1-800-835-5247). The hotline is always active.

When a Police Report Is Required

Police reports are required to be filed within twenty-four hours of when the wreck occurred if any injuries resulted from the crash. When there are no injuries, both drivers can choose whether to file a report. However, it’s in your best interests to get the accident documented by police.

When the police have records of your accident, you can use these reports later when you go to court to seek compensation.

Reach Out to a California Car Accident Lawyer

Knowing when and how to file a car accident report can ease your worry when a collision occurs. It’s also helpful to understand the importance of filing, even if no injuries have occurred. When the time comes, a car accident attorney from Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys can assist you with gathering the proper evidence to prove negligence and maximize your settlement.

To speak with a lawyer about your claim, schedule a free consultation by calling 1-844-404-2400 or by filling out the contact form below.

One of the leading causes of car accident injuries is distracted driving. Texting and driving increases the risk of getting into a car crash threefold. Aside from texting and driving, there are multiple other forms of distracted driving, such as eating, talking to others, looking away from the road, or reaching for something in the backseat. Being distracted behind the wheel is far too common.

Although it’s often hard to tell what’s going on in another driver’s car before an accident occurs, there are ways to rule out other causes and pinpoint distracted driving as the cause of your collision. If you’ve been injured in a car accident and you think distracted driving was the reason, you have the right to sue the liable driver for compensation.

Suing another driver for distracted driving will require proof of negligence and a detailed calculation of what you think your claim is worth. A California car accident lawyer at Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys can assist you in gathering the appropriate documentation to file your claim. We’ll guide you through the legal process from start to finish and ensure every concern you have is put to rest.

Determining Fault

When determining fault in a distracted driving lawsuit, your attorney will investigate your accident by gathering all of the evidence available, which includes police reports, medical records, photographs, video footage, and witness testimonies. Using this evidence, your lawyer can build a case that proves the negligence of the opposing driver.

Once fault has been determined, your attorney will speak with your doctor to discuss your injury, the side effects you’re experiencing, and your expected recovery time. Each of these factors will play into your overall claim value.

Full Compensation for Your Claim

When seeking full compensation for the damages you’ve suffered, your car accident attorney will take into account more than just your medical expenses. Although medical bills will play a large role, other economic damages will also be examined, such as future expenses that can accumulate as a result of your injury, future lost income from being out of work, and any property damage to your vehicle.

Non-economic damages will be examined, as well, which are ways in which the injury has affected your lifestyle. These might include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, or scarring and disfigurement.

Reach out to a California Car Accident Lawyer

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident is never easy, especially when you’ve experienced injuries because of someone else’s negligence. At  Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys, our attorneys have years of experience dealing with distracted driving lawsuits and we have specific strategies for proving negligence in these cases. If you’re seeking compensation for a car accident claim, we’re here to help.

To speak with a car accident lawyer and discuss your case in further detail, you can schedule a no-obligation consultation today by calling us at 1-844-404-2400 or by filling out the contact form below.

Motor vehicle accidents are terrifying. They happen suddenly, without warning, and can cause serious injuries. But, many people are surprised to learn that the impact of a car accident often far exceeds physical trauma alone. In fact, it is not uncommon for injury survivors to suffer from psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Mental health conditions such as PTSD can be debilitating and feel impossible to overcome. When you’re dealing with the aftermath of a car accident, you shouldn’t have to worry about how you’ll pay for the care you need or provide for your family when you struggling just to function on a day-to-day basis.

An Orange County car accident lawyer can help you seek the compensation you’re entitled to so you have the best opportunity to recuperate.

Manifestations and Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Similar to many other mental health conditions, PTSD can range in severity, but the majority of people only discover that they have PTSD when it begins to affect their daily lives. Some of the most common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder include:

• Nightmares
• Irritability
• Social isolation
• Insomnia
• Substance abuse
• Self-harm
• Flashbacks
• Emotional detachment
• Anxiety

Fortunately, with the right treatment, individuals can manage their symptoms and find new and healthy coping mechanisms. Treatment options might include working with a cognitive behavioral therapist and clinical psychologist, as well as SSRI medications that help regulate the symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.

Losses You Can Recover in Your Claim

The impact that PTSD can have on your life is undeniable, and our goal will be to obtain maximum repayment for the losses you’ve endured as a result of your PTSD diagnosis. Your economic damages have negatively influence your finances and might include lost wages, out-of-pocket costs, medical treatment and care, and the damage to your earning capacity in certain cases.

But that’s not all you’re entitled to recover. Your non-economic damages are those that have had an impact on your life and emotional health. Some frequently sought-after non-economic damages include pain and suffering, lost quality of life, mental anguish, inconvenience, loss of companionship and love, and even a loss of household services.

Work with an Orange County Car Accident Lawyer

Retaining exceptional legal representation is critical to the success of your case. Your attorney will be responsible for conducting an investigation so fault can be established, gathering evidence to support your claim, and calculating the value of your claim so you come away with an award that can really make a difference in your life.

For assistance in pursuing a car crash claim that improves your quality of life, reach out to a qualified Orange County car accident lawyer at Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys.  We offer injury victims across Orange County a complimentary consultation so we can learn more about your case.

You can schedule yours by giving our office a call at 1-844-404-2400 or by submitting the quick contact form we have included at the bottom of this page.

It’s your worst fear: losing someone you love before it’s their time to go. No one wants to face this possibility, but sometimes we’re forced to deal with losing a family member too soon. Sometimes, the death of a loved one is caused by another’s careless or reckless behavior.

You certainly want justice if your loved one was lost in an accident that could have been prevented. What can you do? There are laws in California that allow you to seek justice and compensation from the party that caused the death of your loved one, if the death was caused by negligence or wrongful actions.

What Is a Wrongful Death Case?

A wrongful death case is when you file a lawsuit against the party that caused your family member’s death.

Filing a lawsuit can serve several purposes: It can hold the at-fault party accountable for what they’ve done; it can prevent other people from being hurt by the negligent party; it can give you and your family justice for the wrongful death; and, it can compensate you and your family for the damages the death has brought to your life.

Fatal accidents that often involve negligence include the following:

• Vehicle wrecks
• Dangerous products
• Exposure to hazardous fumes or chemicals
• Premises liability accidents
• Motorcycle crashes
• Medical negligence
• Trucking collisions
• Construction or workplace accidents

Benefits of Winning a Wrongful Death Case

Many people file wrongful death claims because they don’t want the person who caused the death of their loved one to harm others. Filing a case has the benefit of also compensating the family for the losses they’ve been forced to face.

No amount of money can ever replace your lost family member, and no amount of money will ever truly set things right. However, winning a case might be the only justice you can receive for the death of your beloved family member.

Monetary compensation can be helpful for you and your family. In some cases, you could even use the money from a successful case to honor your loved one’s memory. You could found a charity organization in your loved one’s name, for example, or put the money toward something your family member cared deeply about.

Below are some of the damages often awarded in successful fatal accident cases:

• Pain and suffering damages
• Lost income the deceased would have brought in, had they lived
• Trauma and anguish the family experienced due to the death
• Loss of consortium
• Funeral and burial costs
• Medical expenses related to the accident or injury that resulted in death

Secure Help with Your Wrongful Death Case

You and your family deserve to be compensated for the death of your loved one, and a negligent party must be held to account. Not only will you be protecting others from injury by one careless party, but your case could also change important elements of injury laws.

Get help with your wrongful death case by partnering with an attorney from Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys. Fill out the online form below and receive a free, confidential case review. You can also reach an attorney by dialing 1-844-404-2400.

As a passenger in a car accident, you have as much a right to fight for compensation as the driver of the car you were traveling in. In fact, depending on where you were sitting in the vehicle, you could have endured far worse injuries than the driver did.

But when you’re dealing with debilitating injuries, the last thing you’ll want to do is take on more than you can handle. What if we told you that you could seek the compensation you are entitled to without being overwhelmed by a greedy insurance company or a pile of personal injury paperwork? All you have to do is call an attorney at our firm.

Working with a lawyer can be the best choice when you need a legal professional on your side. Continue reading to learn more about recovering compensation as an injured passenger in an auto accident.

Who Should Cover Your Damages?

You may be thinking that the driver of the car that struck you should be responsible for compensating you. While this could certainly be the case, there are many instances in which the other driver could also be a victim.

First, let’s take a look at circumstances under which the driver who struck you would be at fault. If a person chose to drink or use drugs and drive, if they were distracted at the wheel, if they were being aggressive in their driving, or if they were too tired to safely operate their vehicle, then they should be expected to repay you for the damage they’ve caused.

Other times, a large pothole or another road hazard can cause an accident. Roadway dangers that cause a crash can sometimes be blamed on a government road safety authority.

Here’s another possible scenario: The driver of the car you were in could be at fault for the crash that injured you. If that’s the case, you may be able to sue that person.

To find out who will be financially liable for your damages, you may need to allow an attorney to investigate the cause of the wreck. Once this investigation is complete, we’ll know who should be brought to justice for their negligent actions.

How Much Compensation You Can Expect as an Injured Passenger

Car accident claim awards aren’t cookie-cutter, as each person who is affected by a crash will suffer different injuries and have their lives impacted in different ways. However, injury victims do tend to endure similar losses in car accidents, even as passengers. Some of those common car accident damages include the following:

• Lost income
• Physical and emotional distress
• Inconvenience
• Property damage
• Medical bills

You could be entitled to recover compensation for several other types of damages. You will need to be prepared to go into great detail with your lawyer as you discuss the ways your life has been influenced by your injuries. That way, each hardship can be factored into our calculations of how much we will seek as we pursue your claim.

Consult a Car Accident Attorney at Our Firm

Securing the compensation you deserve shouldn’t be an uphill battle, and working with a car accident lawyer in Riverside or Orange County can ensure that your case is settled as soon as possible. Schedule your free consultation with Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys today by picking up the phone and calling our office at 1-844-404-2400 or completing the brief contact form below.