Category: Motor vehicle accidents

You may be able to sue the company if you have been injured in an Uber or Lyft vehicle. Whether or not you can sue and who you can sue depend on the circumstances of the accident. Normally, in order to pursue an automobile accident claim in any situation, you must be able to prove who was at fault, and that you were injured.

If the Uber or Lyft driver caused the accident, you may be able to sue the driver. However, if the driver only has a personal insurance policy, it may not be possible to collect any damages from the driver. Those policies typically do not apply if a driver is engaged in a commercial operation. Fortunately, California has a law that requires rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft to carry a $1 million insurance policy for damages caused by their drivers. If the Uber or Lyft driver does not have that type of policy, you may be able to sue the company directly.

If the Uber or Lyft driver is not at fault for the accident, you may be able to sue the other driver who caused the accident. Under California law, drivers are required to carry car insurance. If a driver fails to carry insurance and you are injured in an accident while riding with Uber or Lyft, you can make a claim against the company’s underinsured and uninsured policy.

The bottom line is if you were harmed in an accident while riding in an Uber or a Lyft vehicle, you are entitled to compensation. 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 on your case.

Motorcycle helmets are critical to avoid serious head injuries in a motorcycle accident. Unfortunately, many people have suffered serious head and brain injuries because of defective helmet designs. If a motorcycle helmet is defectively designed or manufactured, that defect can contribute to death or serious injury when an accident occurs.

There are a number of private and public regulatory agencies that set safety standards for motorcycle helmets, as well as test them for effectiveness. The Consumer Product & Safety Commission is the agency with the ultimate authority over helmets. The CPSC can order a recall if helmets are not effective, and they can impose fines on manufacturers.

Despite all the rules and regulations, defective helmets are on the market regularly. If that occurs, and a person in involved in a motorcycle accident with a defective helmet, the accident victim can file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer or retailer. The lawsuit can ask for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, and you believe your defective helmet contributed to your injuries, call me, Conal Doyle, southern California product liability attorney, at 310-385-0567. My team can help you with your case. Call us today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

Los Angeles has some of the worst traffic in the country. When you combine bad traffic and hot tempers, disaster can ensue. Aggressive driving, also known as road rage, is dangerous and against the law.

Drivers with road rage may speed, dart in and out of traffic and around other cars, run red lights, make frequent and unnecessary lane changes, follow too closely, and engage in a number of other aggressive and dangerous behaviors. When these behaviors are combined, the risks of an accident are increased exponentially. Driving that is too aggressive is against California driving laws.

Drivers with road rage can be punished, both criminally and civilly. Aggressive drivers may receive a ticket, or could even be arrested if their behavior is serious enough. If another individual is injured as a result of the road rage, the driver could face additional criminal charges, and may also be sued for monetary damages. Potential damages could include compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

If you have been the victim of a driver with road rage in the Los Angeles area, you should speak with an attorney. You may have the legal right to compensation for your injuries. 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.

I’m sorry to hear about your accident. There are laws that regulate when and how automobiles must yield for bicycles. In general, automobiles must giver bicyclists the same consideration as other vehicles on the roads. Bicyclists are also expected to obey the rules of the road as well.

It’s been estimated that in over half of the accidents that occur between automobiles and bicycles, automobile drivers are to blame. One of the most common causes of accidents between automobiles and bicycles is a failure to yield to bicyclists. This can happen for several reasons. The automobile driver may be unaware of the rules regarding bicyclists or the need to yield. The automobile driver may be distracted and fail to see the bicyclist.

In most accidents between an automobile and a bicyclist, the bicyclist is severely injured. Automobiles drive much faster and are much heavier than bicycles. In addition, the bicyclist typically has very little protection, and may only have a helmet and some safety padding. It’s common for bicyclists to suffer very serious injuries in accidents even at slow speeds. Those injuries can include broken bones, serious brain injuries, cuts and bruises, and internal injuries.

If you have been injured in the Los Angeles area as a bicyclist, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney, at 310-385-0567. I can help. I have experience in obtaining large awards for clients who have been injured through the negligence of another party. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

School zones exist to alert drivers of the presence of children near their schools. School zones have lower speed limits and are there to promote a safe environment for children. Unfortunately, some drivers choose to drive recklessly through school zones, and fail to take steps to keep children safe. It’s been estimated that roughly 30,000 children suffer injuries in school zones each year.

Many drivers who drive through school zones are distracted by text messages or phone calls. Distracted driving is very dangerous, and some studies have shown that it is worse than drinking and driving. Drivers who drive through school zones while they are distracted may not be aware of speed limits and may fail to see children or other vehicles.

If you have school-age children, it’s important to educate them about traffic safety. They should know how to cross the street in a safe manner. This includes waiting until vehicles come to a stop before walking out into the street. Children should also pay careful attention to their surroundings as pedestrians. Providing education to your children proactively is the best way to ensure that they will stay safe as pedestrians.

If your child has been injured by an automobile while in a school zone, you should speak with an attorney. You and your child have legal rights, and an attorney can help protect those rights. If you are in the Los Angeles area, call me, Conal Doyle, California personal injury attorney at 310-385-0567. We can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

Charter buses are a common way to transport participants in group activities and organizations. The buses can be a fun way to travel, and enjoy the trip as well as the ultimate destination. In general, charter buses are a safe method of transportation. However, accidents involving charter buses do occur.

When a passenger is injured in a charter bus accident, there may be several parties that could be held responsible for the injury. The charter bus company is in charge of maintaining the bus, hiring drivers, and meeting regulations. The bus driver may have been driving recklessly or may not be licensed to operate a charter bus. The bus’s equipment may have been defective. Tire blowouts are common for large buses, and a blowout can result in an accident.

In recent years, there have been a number of charter bus accidents. Victims of those accidents are entitled to compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. However, accident cases involving charter buses can be complex. There are typically multiple parties involved, all of whom will most likely try to deny responsibility. Often, a detailed investigation into the accident must be performed, and a great deal of evidence gathered.

If you have been involved in a charter bus accident, you should speak with an attorney. You may be entitled to compensation. If you are in southern California, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles automobile accident attorney at 310-385-0567. I have experience in helping victims of automobile collision receive large awards to help compensate them for their injuries. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

Motorcyclists can be highly susceptible to being rear-ended on their motorcycles. An automobile driver may not be paying attention and may fail to see the motorcycle because of its smaller size. Motorcycle riders face much larger dangers in becoming injured from rear-end motorcycle accidents.

There are a number of reasons motorcycle accidents occur in California. In many rear-end accidents, the driver is not paying attention because of texting, talking on the phone or surfing the internet. The driver may be speeding and may fail to stop in time for a red light.

Motorcycle drivers can take steps to help prevent being rear-ended. The best thing to do is to pay attention. If a motorcycle driver is alert, he or she can anticipate changing traffic lights, drivers making abrupt stops, or drivers approaching too quickly from behind. Unfortunately, many motorcycle riders who are rear-ended by an automobile end up suffering very serious injuries, because the motorcycle lacks the protections that automobiles have. Many motorcyclists suffer brain injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, permanent disabilities, or even death.

If you or a loved one has been rear-ended while on a motorcycle, call me, Conal Doyle, California motorcycle accident attorney at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

I’m sorry to hear about your accident. Despite all the education that has occurred over the past decade, texting and driving is still very prevalent. In addition, about 46 states have laws against texting and driving, and 94 percent of drivers support that ban. Even so, about 1.6 million accidents are linked to texting and driving each year, resulting in about 330,000 injuries.

Although most drivers would never consider drinking and driving, about 10 percent of adults admit to texting and driving. For teens, the percentage is much higher. Statistics have shown that texting and driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than driving while intoxicated. On average, sending a text takes a driver’s attention off the road for about five seconds, which if traveling at 55 miles per hour, means a driver could travel the length of a football field without looking at the road.

If you have been the victim of a texting driver, you have legal rights. If you can prove the driver was texting at the time of the accident, you can prove liability, which means the driver can be held responsible for your damages. Your damages may include compensation for medical expenses, damage to your vehicle, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Your attorney may be able to subpoena the other driver’s cell phone records, which can help prove negligence.

If you have been involved in an automobile accident which occurred in southern California because of a distracted driver, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles automobile accident attorney at 310-385-0567. My firm can help. Call us today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation on your case.

I’m very sorry to hear about your spinal cord injury. Some spinal cord injuries can be recovered from using surgery and therapy, and in other cases the victim may have lifelong injuries. Typically, the severity of the impact as well as the force on the spinal cord will impact the type of injury and whether or not the victim can recover. The most common cause of spinal cord injuries is vehicular accidents. Some other common causes include falls, sports injuries, and violence.

Normally, the closer the spinal cord injury is to the brain, the more serious the injury. If a spinal cord injury occurs in the neck area, it can result in the loss of the use of arms, legs, and torso. If the spinal cord injury occurs in the back, typically the use of the legs is affected. Most spinal cord injuries are classified as complete or incomplete, which refers to whether or not there is feeling below the injury. Some common side effects that spinal cord injuries face besides paralysis include pain, respiratory issues, bowel and bladder issues, fertility and sexual function issues, and more.

Spinal cord injury victims can face astronomical medical expenses for the remainder of their lives, in addition to other expenses. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury due to the negligence of another driver, it’s important that you seek legal help. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but time limits do apply.

Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles automobile accident attorney at 310-385-0567. My team may be able to help with your situation. Call us today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

I’m sorry to hear about your automobile accident and spinal cord injury. Automobile accidents are one of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries in California. Every year in California people are injured in car accidents that leave them with serious spinal cord injuries. Many of those injuries are considered mild and can be fixed with surgery. More serious injuries may result in partial or complete paralysis to the accident victim.

Generally speaking, there are two types of spinal cord injuries – complete and incomplete. There are many variations of spinal cord injuries between those two types, including:

– Injuries to individual nerve cells

– Anterior cord syndrome

– Complete paraplegia

– Complete tetraplegia

– Spinal contusions

– Brown-Sequard syndrome

– Cervical spinal cord injury C1-C8

– Lumbar spinal cord injury L1-L5

– Thoracic spinal cord injury T1-T12

– Sacral spinal cord injury S1-S5

– Posterior cord syndrome

– Anterior cord syndrome

– Central cord syndrome

Fortunately, there are a number of treatments for spinal cord injuries now that didn’t exist in decades past. They include surgery, rehabilitation, respiratory assistance, nerve stimulation, and methylprednisolone. Many of these treatments are extremely expensive, and in some cases the victim may require lifelong medical care.

If you have been injured in an automobile accident in southern California and have suffered a spinal cord injury, call Southern California automobile accident attorney Conal Doyle of Doyle Law at 310-385-0567. He will help you with your case. Call to learn more.