Category: Motor vehicle accidents

Busy drivers in Los Angeles who are driving to and from work, transporting children around, running errands, and going to appointments are usually dealing with loads of traffic and other frustrations. Although they may try their best to be safe, some accidents in L.A. can be difficult to avoid. Accidents that result from a vehicle’s blind spots are very common, particularly among new drivers, and those drivers who have vision problems.

Although many accidents involving blind spots involve large trucks with huge blind spots, there are others who are affected by blind spots, including automobile drivers, motorcyclists, and bicyclists. A failure to check a vehicle’s blind spots can have devastating consequences for the accident victims.

Drivers need to take steps to prevent themselves from becoming a victim of a blind spot collision. All drivers must drive very defensively. Other drivers may be distracted, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, inexperienced, or elderly, of all which can impact the driver’s ability to perceive blind spots. You should avoid driving in another vehicle’s blind spots for any length of time. You should check your own blind spots with your mirrors, as always keep aware of other drivers around you.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in Los Angeles because of another driver’s failure to check his or her blind spots, you should speak with an attorney. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles automobile accident attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

As more people move to big cities like Los Angeles, many of them choose to use other forms of transportation to get around, like bicycles. As a result, there has been an increase in bicycle accidents across the state. Accidents between a person on a bicycle and an automobile tend to be among the most serious, especially for the bicyclist. If you are injured in a bicycle accident, you may need compensation to pay your medical expenses, repair your bicycle, make up for time missed from work, and more.

In order to win a bicycle accident lawsuit, you must normally be able to prove that the driver who crashed into your bicycle was negligent. This means that the driver failed to act as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances. Commonly, the drivers may be speeding, fail to yield to bicyclists, changing lanes illegally, running red lights or stop signs, or other types of behavior. Regardless of the specific form of negligence, the bicyclist must be able to prove that the driver owed the bicyclist a duty, the driver breached that duty, the breach of that duty caused your injuries, and that you suffered damages as a result.

Many bicyclist clients who are injured in bicycle accidents immediately want to know how much their bicycle accident case is worth. Every case is different, and each settlement or verdict arises from its own particular facts and circumstances. Your settlement or verdict will depend on the insurance coverage that is available, how serious your injuries were, how much time you missed from work, and other factors.

If you want to learn more about your legal options following a bicycle accident case, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney at 310-385-0567. We will provide you with a free consultation on your case. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

No, if you have been injured in an automobile, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, or other type of accident in Los Angeles and you are asked to speak with an insurance adjuster, you do not have to give a statement. In fact, it may not be in your best interests to make a statement at all. You should consider speaking with an attorney before talking to anyone.
Normally, the way the process works is that after an accident, the insurance company will assign an adjuster to handle the case. The adjuster is responsible for interviewing people who have information on the accident, as well as the people involved directly in the accident. The insurance adjuster often records these statements.
While it may be understandable that an insurance adjuster would want to gather the facts of the accident afterwards, you should be aware that insurance adjusters are trained to get information that is favorable to the insurance company. They may ask you seemingly innocent questions with the ultimate goal of making sure that you do not get the fair amount of compensation to which you are entitled. Insurance companies make their money from taking in as many premiums as possible and paying out as little as possible.

Insurance adjusters often want to talk to accident victims immediately after the accident. While that may seem smart, so that they are getting the information while it’s fresh in the victim’s mind, often the victim may be focused on the pain and unable to make a good statement. Or, the victim may not be fully aware of all the injuries after an accident, which can make things difficult later.
If you have been injured in an accident in the Los Angeles area, you should speak to an attorney before speaking with any insurance adjuster. The attorney can help advise you on what is in your best interests. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

Not everyone who has been in an automobile accident needs an attorney. However, it is not always easy to recognize when you may need an attorney. Below are some ways to tell when you should hire a personal injury attorney.

First, if you had a very minor accident with very few or no damages to your car, and you did not suffer any injuries, you likely do not need an attorney. The insurance company for the other driver should cover your damages, and you can get your car fixed and that will be the end of it.

Obviously, if you had a major accident with medical expenses, you took time off work, you had major damage to your vehicle, etc., you should hire an attorney. It’s likely if you settled with the insurance company directly you would not receive all the compensation to which you are entitled.

Some cases fall in the middle – there may be minor injuries and a moderate amount of damage to your car. For those cases, there is no harm in speaking to a reputable attorney who will advise you on the best course of action. It may be to negotiate the case on your own, or in some cases there may be aspects of the case that you haven’t considered, that mean that you need an attorney.

If you are unsure about the best course of action and you are in the Los Angeles area, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney at 310-385-0567. I can advise you on whether you should engage an attorney or handle the case on your own. Call today to schedule a free consultation on your case.

A recent study found that one in five Americans who are taking prescription drugs are not aware that their medications are making safe driving more difficult. These findings are particularly disturbing, because other studies have found that there is a significant relationship between the use of traffic accidents and some prescription drugs.

There are many types of prescription drugs that can impair a person’s driving ability. Benzodiazepines are drugs that can treat anxiety, seizures, insomnia, and more. Benzodiazepines can also be used to sedate patients before dental procedures. Studies have shown that patients who are taking benzodiazepines while driving are up to seven times more likely to be involved in a car crash causing serious injury or death than drivers who are not taking benzodiazepines. There are also many other drugs that can affect a driver’s ability, including antidepressants, stimulants, sedatives, and opioids.

The recent study collected data anonymously from 7,000 drivers. Almost 20 percent reported taking at least one potentially impairing drug within the previous two days. Many of those drivers said that they were not aware that the medication could affect their driving ability. Some demographic groups were more knowledgeable of the dangers of using prescription drugs while driving than others.

The study was not able to determine why so many drivers were unaware that prescription drug use while driving can be dangerous. The findings suggest that increasing warnings may not be enough to get people to change their driving habits – penalties may need to be increased and roadside warnings performed.

If you have been involved in an accident with an individual that you suspect was impaired by prescription drug use, you should speak with an attorney. If you are in the Los Angeles area, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule your free consultation.

Head-on collisions are one of the most deadly types of automobile accidents. They can be so dangerous because of the force that is produced when two vehicles that are travelling in opposite directions collide. Thousands of drivers and passengers are either killed or seriously injured every year in head-on collisions.

The driver who leaves his or her lane and comes into another lane to hit another vehicle is virtually always liable for the accident. Drivers should never change lanes without making sure that the lane is clear and it is safe. Head-on collisions are often caused by fatigued drivers, drug or alcohol use, driving recklessly, or driving while distracted.

Any injured accident victim has the right to represent himself or herself in court. However, just because you can do something does not mean you should. If you had no injuries in the accident and there was minor damage to your vehicle, you may be fine just negotiating directly with the insurance company about compensation for your damages. However, normally in most head-on collisions, there are large damages, both to the vehicle and to the occupants of the vehicle. In that situation, you may wish to let an attorney handle the case. Insurance adjusters may pressure you to settle the case without fair compensation. It can be very tempting to do so in order to receive some money, as well as to avoid attorney’s fees.

While that is understandable, studies have shown that cases which have personal injury attorneys involved settle for more than cases without attorneys, even after the fees are deducted. If you have been injured in a head-on collision in Los Angeles, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney at 310-385-0567. I can help. Call today to schedule a free consultation on your case.

I’m very sorry to hear about your accident in a Los Angeles construction zone. In LA, road construction is a constant. Heavy traffic in the area, as well as weather conditions, mean that ongoing roadwork is necessary in order to keep the roads in good condition and safe for drivers. Since construction is a constant, drivers may become accustomed to seeing orange cones and road workers, and may no longer be on alert for them. Drivers must be aware that accidents in construction zones can pose a serious driver to both drivers as well as construction workers.
Accidents in construction zones in LA often involve multiple vehicles and very serious injuries. The two most common reasons that construction zone accidents occur are driver inattention and speeding. There are reduced speed limits in construction zones, and if drivers fail to abide by those, or are distracted and do not notice that the flow of traffic has changed, serious accidents may result.
According to experts, drivers in construction zones should carefully watch the traffic around them and be prepared to take action. Even if certain road projects are continuous, drivers should be alert and not become complacent. Traffic patterns can change on a daily basis. The sides of the roads where workers and equipment are located should be avoided. Even if workers are not seen, drivers should assume that workers are present.
If you have been injured in an accident in a road construction zone in Los Angeles, call me, Conal Doyle, at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a consultation on your case.

Hit and run accidents, in which the driver of a vehicle hits another vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist and then flees the scene, can be among the worst types of automobile accidents. Not only has the driver caused injuries and damaged the property of another person, but also left the scene, leaving the accident victims without taking any responsibility.

There are some legal options available for the victims of hit and run accidents. It is much easier now than ever before to find hit and run drivers using surveillance cameras, the internet, and other tools. Fortunately, even if the driver is never found, the victim may be able to recover damages through an uninsured motorist claim with his or her own automobile insurance company.

Under California law, no driver involved in an accident should leave the scene if an injury has occurred. Even so, it’s been estimated that about 10 percent of all car accidents involve hit and run drivers. There are a number of reasons those drivers may flee. The driver may have been intoxicated or driving without a driver’s license or insurance. They may not be in the country legally, or could have simply panicked.

If the responsible driver for a hit and run accident is never found, the victim can still pursue financial compensation through his or her own insurance policy, if the policy has uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage can pay for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and even pain and suffering, depending on the terms of the policy.

Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles automobile accident attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule your free consultation.

I’m sorry to hear that you were involved in an accident with a driver who was drunk or extremely reckless. You may be entitled to punitive damages after your accident. You should speak with an attorney who is experienced in handling personal injury matters about the legal options available to you.

When an automobile accident is caused by a driver’s negligence, the victims of the accident are entitled to receive compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and other considerations. If the driver was acting very irresponsibly, such as by driving while intoxicated or driving recklessly, under California law the accident victim may also be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages are damages which are designed to punish the wrongdoer.

Punitive damages can be awarded in addition to compensatory damages in order to punish the negligent driver. Some circumstances which could lead to an award of punitive damages include extreme speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving very recklessly, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, intentionally harassing or intimidating another driver while driving, crossing a barrier on a divided highway, and more.

If you believe that you may be entitled to punitive damages after your automobile accident, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles automobile accident attorney at 310-385-0567. My team is experienced at handling claims and can help evaluate your case to determine if you might be eligible for punitive damages. Cal today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

I’m sorry to hear of your rollover crash. In the 1990s and early 2000s, sports utility vehicles were notorious for rolling over during accidents. Fortunately, safety measures that have been introduced in recent years have greatly reduced the odds of an SUV rolling over during an accident. Rollovers do still occur – according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 10,000 people are killed each year in rollover accidents.

Because of their size, SUVs are much more prone to roll over in an accident than smaller passenger vehicles. SUVs have a higher center of gravity and a narrower body, which can lead to the vehicles becoming unstable in some turns.

Electronic stability control is one safety change that has been introduced in recent years in SUVs. It is a computer system that helps drivers maintain control over SUVs on wet roads and during sudden turns. Today, all SUVs sold in the U.S. have electronic stability control. SUVs now also have much more stable roofs, which can lower the risks of a roof being crushed during a rollover. SUVs made today also have much more stable designs than in years past, which have decreased death rates.

SUVs are now considered among the safest vehicles on the road. However, older SUVs without those safety features can still pose dangers to their occupants. In the newer SUVs, safety features can malfunction, which can contribute to a rollover crash.

If you have been the victim of an SUV rollover crash, you may have suffered horrific injuries, especially if you were not wearing a seatbelt. If you have been involved in a rollover crash, you may have the right to compensation for your injuries, including for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney, at 310-385-0567 if you have been injured in an accident involving an SUV that rolled over. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.