Avoid Personal Injury on the Roads this New Year's Eve

Now that Christmas has passed, we begin to focus on our plans for New Year's Eve and New Year’s Day. This time next week, 2013 will be underway. The personal injury attorneys at Burg & Brock would like to take the opportunity to remind the community to be extra watchful while on the road the night of December 31st. AAA sent out a notification this week that New Year's Eve is the deadliest night for highway fatalities. Many Southern Californians are all too aware of the perils of the road during this time of year. While you can't control the choices of others, you can take the proper roadway precautions to avoid inflicting a personal injury.

Do not accept a ride from anyone who has alcohol in his or her system. If you cannot find a designated driver, pool some money with friends and call a cab for drop-off/pickup at the party, bar, etc. In the case that you are involved in even a minor auto accident, hone in on the situation. Pay close attention to what the offender says, such as admitting fault. Take the statements of any witnesses and call your insurance company at your first opportunity. If you suffer personal damages as a result of the accident, put in a call to Burg & Brock. A successful vehicle accident lawyer must be obtained so the injured party has the best chance of claiming reparations. Needing a personal injury law firm might not seem like the ideal way to start the New Year, but the unpredictable does happen. In the case that you suffer a personal injury from an auto accident, make sure there is someone in your corner who will work aggressively in your best interests.

Let's Say Some Nice Things About All the Lawyers

This may be a shocker to some of you -- no, actually it won't shock anyone -- but you might have noticed that we personal injury lawyers are not terribly popular in certain quarters. Oddly enough, most of those quarters tends to be allied with the most wealthy and powerful members of society. Now, we have lawyers and clients at the Law Offices at Burg and Brock that are across the political spectrum, so this is not a left-right issue in our view. However, right now the old "tort reform" drum is being banged around the issue of asbestos.

While we understand that there's no more tempting target for a Wall Street Journal editorial than a personal injury law firm, we can't help but point out that the reason for the high settlements around asbestos is not because lawyers are greedy; it's because asbestos really is very dangerous and its worst effects can take decades to become apparent. As blogger Sergio Munoz puts it, the allegations of "double dipping" are unfair and the allegations of a "scam" are outrageous because it is entirely within the law to sue multiple parties if, in fact, more than one party is responsible for the injury. It's not some nefarious act of legal legerdemain, it's plain common sense.

The constant bashing of the personal injury lawyer is, in our view, nothing more or less than a simple attempt at saving money by large companies. All companies make mistakes and, inevitably, sometimes those mistakes can cause people very real injury. Instead of simply accepting their responsibilities as good corporate citizens and compensating the victims of their mistake, they prefer to hold on to their cash and avoid responsibility. So, tell me again why personal injury lawyers have worse reputations than corporate CEOs who refuse to pay for the injuries they cause?

Motorcycle Accidents: The Open Road is Not Always Paved with Good Intentions

Living in Los Angeles or the San Fernando Valley, Southern Californians forget that there are rural parts of the Sunshine State that are absolutely beautiful. Some city-dwelling Californians choose to take a break from the urban areas by way of a motorcycle, experiencing the natural beauty of California as they ride. State law requires that the biker take the necessary steps for safe riding. This includes wearing a protective helmet and utilizing a bike that meets certain standards. A motorcyclist with proper experience can confidently operate the vehicle, proceeding with caution as he takes to the road. However, there are certain aspects the motorcyclist has no control over. When the biker suffers an accident as a result of poor conditions that should be seen to by an outside party, the injured should speak with a competent personal injury attorney at Burg & Brock.

Poor road design does not allow the motorcyclist the reaction time to safely proceed. Inhibiting factors may include landscaping that obstructs the rider's sight, insufficient lighting, uncovered drainage pits, or a lack of signs that would provide fair warning. These are not suggestions, but requirements for various areas such as roads surrounding construction sites. When certain settings lack these provisions, the damage to the motorcyclist's bike and person can be critical. In these cases, there are certain local municipalities at fault. The personal injury lawyers at Burg & Brock will suss out the responsible entities and work to compensate you for the fallout of your motorbike accident.

If you have suffered damages from a motorcycle accident that occurred on a dangerous roadway,  contact trusted personal injury lawyer Cameron Yadidi Brock at the Law Offices of Burg & Brock. The practice has a 97% success rate and will aggressively work for you to reach settlement.