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.

As a cyclist, you are at an increased risk of injury than someone who is traveling in a motor vehicle. A bicycle is simply no match for an automobile weighing thousands of pounds. When you’re involved in a wreck caused by a negligent driver, you should be able to recover a portion of your losses from the at-fault party.

However, you can be sure that the defense is going to do everything they can to minimize the total amount they’ll be required to pay you. If you weren’t wearing a helmet, for example, your claim could be impacted dramatically, per California’s negligence laws. Continuing reading to learn more about how your claim can be affected by your lack of helmet use.

California Negligence Laws

The state of California practices comparative negligence in regards to personal injury claims. This essentially enables injury victims to file claims even when they are partially responsible for the cause of the accident. Now, you might be wondering how you contributed to the cause of the accident by not wearing a helmet.

The answer is: You didn’t. But, you did contribute to your injuries by making the decision to not put on a helmet. The defense will argue that this shows a disregard for your safety. You will still be able to file a claim, but your final award will be reduced based on the percentage of liability you are found to carry.

For example, if you were considered to be 10 percent culpable for your injuries and were awarded $250,000, your award will be deducted by 10 percent, or $25,000, and you’ll come away with a total sum of $225,000.

When you’re already at an increased risk when sharing the road with vehicles capable of causing catastrophic injuries, choosing not to wear a helmet simply isn’t worth the risk. If not for your personal safety, than for the risk of diminishing the value of your claim and leaving you with out-of-pocket expenses.

Obtain Full Compensation for Your Damages

The goal in pursuing a civil lawsuit is to obtain repayment for the damages you endured. Some of the different types of losses that could be considered when calculating the value of your bicycle injury claim include the following:

Property damages
Loss of enjoyment of life
Medical expenses
Pain and suffering
Lost wages
Damage to your earning potential
Loss of companionship and love
Inconvenience
Loss of household services

The amount that you’ll be awarded will largely depend on how significant your injuries were on your life. It stands to reasons that the more impactful your condition has been on your life, the more you can expect to be awarded. Your attorney will be responsible for quantifying your damages accordingly so that you can get the most out of your claim.

Contact an Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer

Are you ready to regain control of your life? If so, reach out to a qualified Orange County personal injury lawyer at Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys today. Our firm will work diligently to secure maximum compensation for your suffering.

We are pleased to offer prospective clients a complimentary case assessment where we can examine the details of your bike crash in greater depth. To take advantage of this opportunity, simply complete the quick contact form we’ve provided below or call our office at 1-844-404-2400.

Riverside County is home to some of the most dangerous intersections in all of California. People who suffer injuries after being involved in motor vehicle accidents in these areas are likely to endure serious damages that can be recovered when you file a claim in civil court with the help of a Riverside car accident lawyer.

If you’re interested in learning more about which intersections and streets you need to avoid or use extreme caution when traveling through, continue reading.

Ynez Road at Winchester in Temecula

This up-to-seven-lane intersection has been home to hundreds of crashes over the last ten years. With so many lanes of traffic, surrounding shopping centers, and sometimes-difficult-to-read street signs, it’s no wonder that Ynez Road and Winchester is one of the most dangerous intersections in Riverside County.

Additionally, crossing Ynez as a pedestrian can be particularly challenging, as there are only three pedestrian crosswalks available for use, and none available as you cross Ynez on the north side.

Gilman Springs and Bridge Street in Moreno Valley

Traveling along Gilman Springs Road, you’ll eventually see Bridge Street. This small intersection in a rural area in Moreno Valley is a one-lane road with a short left-turn-only lane as you turn onto Bridge Street. Unfortunately, there are no street or traffic lights in this area.

Where Bridge Street meets Gilman Springs, there is one lonely stop sign meant to direct and control traffic. There are no pedestrian crosswalks, and a speed limit of 55 mph is guaranteed to see plenty of speeding drivers, making this a particularly hazardous intersection in Riverside County.

Magnolia Avenue at Tyler Street in Riverside

Magnolia Avenue and Tyler Street in Riverside is one gargantuan intersection. With up to six lanes of traffic on one side and surrounded by shopping centers, banks, gas stations, and pedestrians, it’s not surprising that this intersection sees up to thirty accidents annually.

Though street signs are easily readable and there are pedestrian crosswalks on all four sides, there are no bike paths for bicyclists to utilize and the road turn signals are faded, making them difficult to decipher.

Arlington Avenue and Van Buren in Riverside

Take one look at Arlington and Van Buren, and you might find it hard to believe that it’s home to more than 200 crashes in the last ten years.

After all, there are pedestrian crosswalks on all four sides, lanes of traffic for bicyclists, and easy-to-read street signs, and there aren’t many surrounding shopping centers that might draw in additional traffic.

However, this intersection has enough traffic of its own without the dangers of coffee shops and other consumer interests. With a total of thirty-two lanes of traffic at this intersection, the large number of cars that travel throughout this intersection every day dramatically increases the number of individuals exposed to distracted driving, aggressive driving, and drunk driving, making it the most dangerous intersection in all of Riverside County.

Hurt in a Motor Vehicle Wreck? Get Help from a Riverside County Personal Injury Lawyer

Avoiding these intersections entirely is the only way to ensure you aren’t injured there, but that’s not a realistic choice, is it? If you suffer an injury in any of the previously mentioned intersections, or anywhere in Riverside County for that matter, get in touch with an experienced personal injury lawyer at Kohan & Bablove, Injury Attorneys.

You can schedule your free, no-obligation consultation by calling our office at 1-844-404-2400 or by filling out the convenient contact form we’ve included at the bottom of this page.