Being injured is never something to take lightly. Even if you are minding your own business, your life can be permanently changed in an instant. You would like to think that the party responsible for your injury would be willing to make things right, but sadly, you’ll find that most of the time you would be wrong.

If you’re injured by an individual, as in an auto accident, he will turn the matter over to his insurance company to handle. If your injury is the result of an error or carelessness on the part of a company, corporation, or other public or private entity, they will not only have an insurance carrier on their side, but may also employ legal counsel whose mission will be to diminish or deny responsibility altogether, and find legal grounds on which to contest your claim.

In this two-part series you will learn:

• What constitutes personal injury
• After your injury – what to do and what not to do
• Why you should hire a personal injury attorney
• Finding the right attorney
• What you may be entitled to recover

What Constitutes Personal Injury

By definition, personal injury means that you have become injured as a result of the actions of another person or an entity. These actions can be intentional or unintentional. If the action was unintentional, then the burden of proof rests on you to prove that the other party is responsible for your injury. Proof must be by a majority, which means at least 51 percent of the blame can be placed on the offending party.

If you are injured due to the intentional act of someone, for example in a robbery, you are still able to pursue the individual separately from the criminal act. Even if they are not convicted of a crime, they can still be held liable for the injuries that they inflicted upon you.

Although automobile accidents are the leading cause of personal injury in the United States, there are many other categories where personal injury law will apply. For example, the injury can be due to a defective product, a contamination, an accident at work, or even a medical mishap or error.

Each state has its own statute of limitations that gives the victim a window of opportunity to file a claim against a responsible party. These time periods vary and can be as short as one year and as long as six. The clock starts either from the date that the injury occurred, or the point at which the origin of the injury could be determined. But just because there is a statue of limitations in place does not mean that these time frames are always set in stone. In some instances, extenuating circumstances can increase these limits. A personal injury attorney will recognize if these circumstances apply to your case.

After Your Injury: Dos And Don’ts

The time immediately following an injury is very traumatic. You’re focused on the seriousness of your injuries and you often can’t work. Will you be able to return to your job? Will your health ever return to normal? There may also be a pressing worry over money. How much will this injury cost? Will insurance cover it? How long will you be out of work? How will you pay your bills? The list goes on and on…

The first thing to remember is not to panic. Even though you have been placed in this predicament, you do not have to deal with this alone. You need to hire the services of a personal injury attorney. They specialize in these matters and they know how to work their way through the system in order to get you fairly compensated. You should never attempt to take on this kind of responsibility by yourself. There is simply too much riding on the outcome.

Never talk to an insurance company, a representative of the defendant, the defendant, or anyone else about your claim. Any information that you release has the potential to be used against you in your case. And never, ever sign anything. In part two we’ll begin with why you would be wise to consult a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your injury.

In the Meantime …

If you’re considering a claim for injury resulting from accident or negligence, it’s important to work with a personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable and experienced in this field, and who has demonstrated a determination to fight for his or her clients.To arrange a free consultation, contact Robert Mandell at The Mandell Law Firm in Northridge. 818.886.6600.

Are you a Southern California resident who has been involved in an accident with a large truck? Have you experienced personal injury that has not only interrupted your job, but has left you with substantial medical debt and possibly even a restricted outlook on life? Then you need to talk to a California personal injury lawyer. They are there to help you secure the compensation you deserve as well as recover your life.

Each year, thousands of people in Southern California are involved in collisions involving large trucks. A significant percentage of the occupants of these automobiles are either killed or see a drastic reduction in their quality of life as a result. It’s hard to imagine anyone coming into contact with such a mass of moving steel and not being seriously injured. These are the situations when personal injury law can provide protection.

Devastation and Serious Injury

These types of accidents are almost always devastating, even at slow speeds. When you compare the size of an automobile to a large truck, especially a tractor trailer, the automobile just doesn’t stand a chance. The car’s occupants can be seriously injured, even in what normally might be considered a minor accident.

Generally speaking, companies that dispatch large trucks onto the open road are heavily insured in the event of an accident. Their insurance carriers will do whatever it takes to see to it that their customer isn’t stuck with a large settlement. Meanwhile, anyone who is unfortunate enough to be in a collision with them can quickly lose everything. This is why having the right auto accident attorney in your corner is imperative.

Don’t Contribute to Your Own Disadvantage

Some will argue that an attorney isn’t necessary. After all, if the accident is the fault of the large truck, they have to pay damages, right? Not always. And even if they do, they will try to limit these damages as much as possible. This is one instance when you definitely need to be represented. These insurance carriers will try everything to get you to settle out of court, from fear tactics to intimidation. They will also drag out the proceedings, filing motion after motion to force you to settle out of sheer desperation, just so you can obtain some kind of restitution. This will rarely work out in your favor.

When you consider what you have to lose in one of these collisions, you have many factors to take into account:

• Medical bills – current and ongoing
• Surgeries – immediate and future
• Lost wages – present and future loss of earnings
• Pain and suffering – both physical and emotional

Whether you need a Chatsworth personal injury attorney, a Northridge personal injury lawyer, or one from some other area of California, it will be well worth your time to seek out the right professional to represent you. The playing field is not level. Insurance companies have in-house teams of specialists who will fight to protect the best interests of the insurance carrier. You need to have a professional in your corner, too.

Call Aslin Tutuyan for a Free Consultation

Aslin Tutuyan is a personal injury attorney with The Mandell Law Firm in Northridge. Mandell Law is an aggressive personal injury and wrongful death law firm serving clients throughout the San Fernando Valley, the Greater Los Angeles area, and Southern California. Experienced and reputable, our attorneys provide hands-on care and sincere commitment to victims of accidents of all kinds. Contact Aslin Tutuyan for a free consultation at 818.866.6600.

Personal injury cases are based on the premise that someone was injured by the act of another person or entity. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, you should seek out a top personal injury attorney who can fight for you and your rights. Since these cases are not necessarily clear cut, it is rarely advisable for you to go this alone.

When pursuing your personal injury case, the first thing on your list should be finding a good attorney. Even after you have narrowed down your choices, you still need to do a little research in order to make sure that he or she will be the right fit for you. This means looking for reviews from other clients, complaints, and even pending lawsuits that may have been filed. The Better Business Bureau is a great place to find this kind of information.

The Face to Face Meeting

You will next want to set a meeting with your attorney. Here, you will discuss the details of your case to determine if you do, in fact, have a viable claim. This is when your attorney will instruct you on what can be expected through each step of the process. This is also the time that your attorney will instruct you as to what will be expected of you. This will include any information you may have, the facts of your case, contacts who can help to verify your case, and any other information pertinent to your claim. The defendant’s attorney will also be contacting your attorney to swap information material to the case.

It is quite possible that your case will never go to trial. Many cases are settled out of court. Motions are filed to end the proceeding before it ever makes it to a judge or jury. This can be good news for you since settlements are often reached during this time. If your case does go to trial, the process can be quite lengthy depending on how much testimony takes place and how aggressive the defense becomes.

Even if you win the case and are awarded a settlement, it doesn’t always mean that all the work is behind you. Being awarded compensation and actually collecting it are often two different things. Defendants will sometimes go to great lengths to keep from paying out. One such tactic is to file an appeal. This is where your attorney will need to step in to speed up the process.

The Time Factor

One thing to keep in mind is the statute of limitations on such cases, which can differ from state to state. In California, the statute of limitations for a personal injury case runs for a period of two years, either from the date of the injury or when the origin of the injury is established. But the two-year rule is not set in stone. There are sometimes extenuating circumstances that can allow a case to proceed even after the two-year time limit has expired. Do not endanger your case by putting off initiating your claim. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your injury.

Anyone who has been injured through no fault of their own deserves the right to proper legal representation. It is in your best interest, and that of your family, to hire the right California personal injury lawyer who can get you the compensation that you are entitled to. This will afford you the best opportunity for a full recovery and the ability to restore your life.

Give Us the Opportunity to Help

The Mandell Law Firm, in Northridge, is an aggressive personal injury and wrongful death law firm serving clients throughout the San Fernando Valley, the Greater Los Angeles area, and Southern California. Experienced and reputable, our attorneys provide hands-on care and sincere commitment to victims of accidents. Contact Mara Burnett for a free consultation at 818.866.6600.

Anyone who has ever been behind the wheel of an automobile will eventually come across an auto accident. A majority of the time, these are the result of not paying close attention to the road. With the advent of mobile phones with texting and email capabilities, the dangers of “distracted driving” are more apparent than ever. The combination of driving and constant communication has created a recipe for disaster.

In 2010 alone, about 1.6 million traffic accidents in the U.S. were caused by the use of mobile phones while driving. That figure represents more than 28 percent of all traffic accidents. While the culprit used to be talking on mobile phones, now the problem has evolved into texting, sending and receiving emails, photos, and browsing the internet while behind the wheel.

Need to Text? Pull Over.

Now, technology allows us to remain in constant touch with others. While this is intended to be a matter of convenience, it can quickly place others in a danger. Consider the fact that in 2009, the number of text messages sent totaled 1.5 trillion. By 2010, that number had increased by four-fold, to 6.1 trillion. With more and more individuals getting mobile phones with text and email capability, that number will continue to climb rapidly.

Cases involving texting and mobile phone calls are easy to prosecute. Any personal injury lawyer will tell you that if you cause a car crash because you were using a mobile phone while driving, you will not be able to place the blame on anyone else. Mobile phone records are easy to obtain and provide clear proof of guilt. Even using one of the widely accepted hands-free devices is more dangerous than generally believed. The setup might be labeled as hands-free, but it still requires diverting your attention from the road. All it takes is a second to change your life, or someone else’s life, forever.

A Bigger Risk Than Alcohol

Think texting is harmless? Research has proven that texting while driving has an even more dramatic effect on reaction time than alcohol. This means, if you have one person drinking and driving and another texting and driving, the person texting is more likely to become involved in an accident. While increased enforcement has had a significant effect on the number of alcohol related accidents, mobile phone and texting related collisions have proved a more elusive target. As a result, the number of accidents caused under these conditions is increasing at an alarming rate.

If you’re one of these unfortunate statistics, and have been injured by someone who was talking or texting while driving, then you should consult a personal injury attorney for advice. Don’t settle with an insurance company on your own without seeking a professional legal opinion on your case. Chances are you’ll only receive a fraction of what you’re entitled to.

Texting or talking on a mobile phone while operating an automobile is dangerous. The good news is that it’s becoming illegal in more and more states. No matter how careful one is, sooner or later, their luck will run out. Don’t let another’s negligence cost you for the rest of your life. A personal injury law firm can seek the compensation you deserve to get your life back so that you, and your family, don’t have to suffer needlessly.

Call Us for a Free Consultation

The Mandell Law Firm, in Northridge, is an aggressive personal injury and wrongful death law firm serving clients throughout the San Fernando Valley, the Greater Los Angeles area, and Southern California. Experienced and reputable, our attorneys provide hands-on care and sincere commitment to victims of accidents. Contact Laurence Mandell for a free consultation at 818.866.6600.

New Year’s resolutions. Many of us make them, but not many of us manage to keep them. They generally have to do with things we feel, if accomplished, would make us a better, or healthier, or more prosperous person. We resolve to lose weight, or stop smoking, or to start working out or running, or to simply try to be a nicer human being.

These are all laudable and worthwhile objectives, and we encourage everyone to do your best to achieve whatever goals you’ve resolved to reach in 2012. But, we have a couple of items we’d like to suggest that you add to your list. They’re not traditional New Year’s resolutions, but we think they would be worth your time and effort, and might save you, or a loved one, or even a total stranger from harm and/or liability in the coming months and years.

Make a List … or Several

• Have all your vehicles checked thoroughly for potential safety issues. This means your cars, motorcycles, motor homes, watercraft, camping trailers, bicycles, even your skateboard. Check them all to be sure that wheels, brakes, lights – anything that could cause an accident, should it malfunction – are in good working order.
• Take a tour around your home and surrounding property with a clipboard and a pen. Make note of any potential safety hazard that should be removed, repaired, replaced, cleaned up, or thrown away – inside and outside your home. Loose bricks, rotten trees, exposed electrical, plumbing, or pool equipment that might cause a fall or other injury. Be sure to check water heaters, pool heaters, and other gas appliances. See to it that your pets are secured and cannot leave your property. Don’t worry about fixing everything. Just make a complete list.
• If you’re a business owner, and work from an office or storefront, take the same tour and make the same list of items that need attention at your place of business. This should be done not only with an eye to potential customers and visitors, but with employees in mind as well. The people who work for you, and are in your office or store every day, are the ones most likely to be injured by any unattended hazard.
• Review your auto, home, and business property and liability insurance policies. Be sure they have been kept up to date with inflation and the changing value of your home or business. Make adjustments when you find something lacking. Even if your home or office offers little apparent opportunity for personal injury, you can never foresee every potential risk. Protect yourself.
• And finally, even if you’re a renter at home or at work, you are not relieved of responsibility should injury occur on your rented property. So, after you’ve taken a good look at all the above, and have made your lists, present them to the person who is responsible for their maintenance and repair. This might be the property owner, a management agency, or an on-site property manager. Document, in some way, that you have relayed your concerns and your list to the proper entity. You can use registered or certified mail with a signature receipt to accomplish this. Then, follow up on your concerns until they are addressed.

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

Now, we realize that this is a big resolution. But remember, it doesn’t all have to be disposed of immediately. Start by making your list. You might be surprised at how many things you find to include on it. Then, prioritize your list and start addressing the most important and potentially dangerous items first. Hack away at it regularly. And before you know it, you’ll have them all cleared up in plenty of time to start a new list in January of 2013. We never suggested it would be a one-time thing.

All of us at The Mandell Law Firm wish you and your loved ones a happy, safe, and prosperous New Year. And, while you’re at it, it never hurts to stop smoking.

We’re Here to Help

When considering a claim for injury resulting from accident or negligence, it’s important to work with a personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable and experienced in this field, and who has demonstrated a determination to fight for his or her clients.To arrange a free consultation, contact Robert Mandell at The Mandell Law Firm in Northridge. 818.886.6600.

Personal injury law encompasses a broad array of circumstances. These may include, but are not limited to, injury in an auto accident or some mode of public transportation, slip and fall on property owned by someone else, injury from dog bite or other animal that does not belong to you. These, and more, all fall under the umbrella of personal injury and the severity of your injury may have a big impact on exactly how your claim is processed. There may be occasions when you could handle a claim on your own, either through an insurance company or small claims court. In other situations, you would be well advised to seek the counsel of a qualified legal professional. This will depend on the seriousness of your injury, and your comfort level in dealing with bureaucratic red tape.

When Is It Smart To Do It Yourself?

Auto accidents are by far one of the most common causes of personal injury, even for good, careful drivers. If you’re rear-ended by another driver and injuries to you and your passengers are slight, and the damage to your car is minor, you may feel comfortable simply filing a claim with your insurance, or the other driver’s insurance. If you feel that compensation is sufficient to cover repairs to your vehicle and any medical treatment received, and you are satisfied with the timeliness and professionalism of the service, then this would constitute a good outcome for you.

If, on the other hand, you’re not comfortable or not willing to negotiate with insurance adjusters to reach what you consider to be fair compensation for your loss, then you should turn this task over to someone who is skilled and professional and who can represent your best interests. Waiting until you’ve tried and failed to arrive at a fair settlement, and then seeking the advice of a personal injury lawyer can complicate your claim process. If you’re unsure about how to handle your personal injury claim, contact an attorney immediately and explain the details of your case. Most will offer a free consultation, and most will inform you if their services are not really required for your particular situation.

Resist The Temptation to Become an Instant Expert

The internet is brimming with information on every topic, including the law. The problem is, not all of if is accurate and some of it can even be damaging to your case. Don’t try to become a legal expert through the internet. Insurance companies all have teams of lawyers who fight for them. Their only job is to protect the financial interests of the insurance company by keeping settlement payments low. If your claim is not moving forward, and especially if it seems you may have to go to small claims court, rest assured that the other side will be represented by legal counsel.

The “Upside” to Engaging Legal Counsel

Based on a study by the Insurance Research Council, the average settlement is over three times larger with legal counsel than without. This can mean a huge difference in your personal injury claim. The law, as it applies to your case, may not be as simple as you suppose. Don’t settle for less than you’re rightfully entitled to. Don’t disadvantage yourself by standing alone. Be armed with a professional who understands the complexities of the law and the details of your particular case.

If your injury was caused by someone who refuses to take responsibility, or if their insurance company uses delay and intimidation, or simply refuses to settle with you, do not hesitate to engage professional legal counsel to take over for you. Negotiating with difficult people is what they’re trained for and ready to do on your behalf. And they will see to it that your legal rights are protected.

Schedule a Consultation with Aslin Tutuyan

Aslin Tutuyan is a personal injury attorney with The Mandell Law Firm in Northridge. Mandell Law is an aggressive personal injury and wrongful death law firm serving clients throughout the San Fernando Valley, the Greater Los Angeles area, and Southern California. Experienced and reputable, our attorneys provide hands-on care and sincere commitment to victims of accidents of all kinds. Contact Aslin Tutuyan for a free consultation at 818.866.6600.

Are you one of those people who starts to get anxious, even angry, at the very thought of flying to be with family during the holiday season? Holiday flight doesn’t always have to be a nightmare. In our last post, we offered a few tips to make driving to your holiday destination a little less stressful, and maybe even a little safer. In this post, we’re going to look at holiday air travel with the same eye to lowering stress, and getting you to Grandma’s house in a mood to celebrate.

Winter Still Counts

Just as it does when traveling by auto, winter weather can have a huge influence on how well your trip by air will go. When you add cold, unpleasant, even extreme weather conditions to the fact that hundreds of thousands of extra travelers are competing for available airline seats, some bad things are bound to happen. But if you begin your journey with the expectation of delays, cancellations, and missed connections, you could well be one of the few people in the airport who is relatively calm and stress free. It just takes a little pre-planning, and the right frame of mind.

Here’s Your Air Travel Checklist

The Mandell Law family hopes your holiday air travel will be as pleasant as possible, and that you to get there and back without suffering undue stress. With that goal, we offer the following tips to help you make the best of it.

Make your plans early. Leaving flight arrangements to the last minute only diminishes your options. Book your flight as soon as you know your schedule. This gives you more choices of day, time, and airline, as well as direct and non-stop flights.

Give yourself at least one extra hour to get to your boarding gate. Plan for delays and disruptions. Take a book, magazines, and your music player to pass the time in the airport, should you find yourself there longer than anticipated. Also take snacks and bottled water in your carry-on for the same reason. You can stake out a warm cozy corner and be self-sufficient while you wait for your flight to be called.

Pack light. The fewer bags you take, and the lighter they are, the less likely you are to incur extra expense. It will also make getting around the airport easier and faster if your not attached to multiple pieces of luggage. Consider sending gifts ahead of time, or shopping online and having them delivered. Less luggage. Less weight. Less chance of losing Aunt Betty’s Christmas gift enroute.

Protect your health. You’re going to be in close proximity to a LOT of people. Some of them will be sick. Be sure to get your flu shot before traveling. Wash your hands as frequently as possible, and take a small bottle of hand sanitizer and use it often.

Don’t sit in one position for long periods of time. Whether waiting in air terminals, or trying to get comfortable in your airline passenger seat, you need to be sure to get up and walk around for a few minutes every hour or so to stretch your arms and legs. This is necessary to avoid the formation of blood clots, known as Deep Vein Thrombosis, which can have serious consequences.

Be Mentally and Emotionally Prepared

Finally, and maybe most importantly, try to begin your trip with a positive mindset. Get plenty of sleep the night before your departure, leave nothing to chance that is within your control, and try to let go of the things that are out of your control; weather, airline schedules, rude human beings, and screaming children to name just a few. And wear comfortable shoes. You’ll survive.

Have a Happy New Year

The Mandell Law Firm, in Northridge, is an aggressive personal injury and wrongful death law firm serving clients throughout the San Fernando Valley, the Greater Los Angeles area, and Southern California. Experienced and reputable, our attorneys provide hands-on care and sincere commitment to victims of accidents. Contact Mara Burnett for a free consultation at 818.866.6600.

The holiday season is upon us, and for many Southern California families holiday tradition sometimes means travel, whether driving to a nearby city to visit parents and grandparents, or flying across the country to participate in a large family gathering. In either case, there are potential stresses and hazards that can be mitigated, or even avoided altogether, with a little careful planning beforehand.

The Winter Roadtrip

If you’re planning to drive to your holiday destination keep in mind that winter driving conditions, even in parts of California, are the most dangerous. Auto accidents related to driving in snow and ice result in 6000 deaths each year in this country. Another half million Americans are injured, according to The National Center for Atmospheric Research.

A Holiday Travel Checklist

The Mandell Law family wants your holiday trip to be as safe, happy, and stress-free as possible, so here are a few tips that can help you enjoy a warm and joyous holiday trip.

Let your mechanic give your car a safety check before you depart. Tires, brakes, hoses, belts, and fluids are all sources of potential breakdown on a road trip. Have your mechanic check them and replace or replenish anything that’s not correct. Tires should be properly inflated. Oil, coolant, brake and transmission fluids should all be topped off. And hoses, belts, and pulleys should be checked for signs of cracks and stress.

Take a reasonably well-stocked road safety kit along. Always include a first-aid kit, a flashlight, matches, and candles. Take your mobile phone and a car charger, as well as a portable radio. If you expect to encounter ice or snow, take a windshield scraper, tire chains, and a blanket or two. And jumper cables are always a good idea.

Stop frequently along the way to rest and stretch your legs. Take a container of hot tea or coffee, and if you’re alone, listen to music or talk radio while you drive. Also, drink plenty of water while on your trip. Dehydration contributes to fatigue and loss of focus.

Always have a current roadmap, even if your car has a GPS system for navigation, and always be prepared to change your route if necessary due to dangerous or changing road and traffic conditions.

Plan your route in advance, and share it with someone before you leave. Stick to popular highways, and avoid lonely backroads. If you have to change plans during your trip, keep someone at your destination apprised of your location and your estimated arrival time.

Be a Smarter, Happier Traveler

There’s no doubt that road travel can be an annoyance, particularly in winter. But, if you plan ahead, make smart choices, try to stay flexible and be prepared for anything, your holiday trip doesn’t have to be something to dread. Who knows, you might even enjoy it.

Our next post will give you a few tips that can make your holiday air travel smarter, safer, and happier.

Happy Holidays

The Mandell Law Firm, in Northridge, is an aggressive personal injury and wrongful death law firm serving clients throughout the San Fernando Valley, the Greater Los Angeles area, and Southern California. Experienced and reputable, our attorneys provide hands-on care and sincere commitment to victims of accidents. Contact Laurence Mandell for a free consultation at 818.866.6600.

When a physician deviates from the applicable standards of care that other physicians would exercise under the same circumstances, this is potentially a case of medical malpractice. To succeed with such a claim in court, a plaintiff must prove breach of the standard of care (a mistake that a prudent and reasonable doctor wouldn’t have made under the same circumstances), causation (proof that the injury wouldn’t have occurred or have been as serious if it wasn’t for the doctor’s mistake), and damages (in the form of lost wages, medical bills, agony, mental suffering or death).

Demonstrating proof of malpractice almost always requires the testimony of an expert witness in the same field of practice as the alleged negligent health care worker. In addition to bringing action against a negligent doctor in such a case, through the doctrine of vicarious liability, claims can also be brought against hospitals, nurses, and any other health care professionals who may have had a part in the negligence.

Pharmaceutical Injury

Annually, thousands of patients are injured, and even die, due to complications and negligence that result from errors in treatment.These may include medication errors, surgical malpractice, bacterial infections, birth injury, dental malpractice, errors in diagnosis, wrong site surgery, gastric bypass errors, breast implant complications, emergency room mistakes, elder abuse, nursing home neglect, and a variety of consequences resulting from pharmaceutical mishap.

Pharmaceutical injury falls under a type of product liability in which a person is injured as a result of using or ingesting a medication. This might be an unfavorable or even tragic outcome resulting from proper and prescribed use of a medication, or from improper or negligent application of a medication. Prescription drugs can be defective, tainted, improperly labeled, or improperly prescribed. If negligence or errors result in personal injury or damage to a user, those parties who conducted themselves in a negligent manner may be found legally liable and financially responsible for the injuries or damages incurred.

Know Your Options

If suspicion exists that you or a loved one was injured because a health care professional deviated from established standards of care, you may have grounds for legal action. In order to prove this occurred, an expert witness, with the proper education and knowledge to prove this element, may be needed. The testimony of an expert witness can make or break a case. Regulations vary from state to state. In California, the statute of limitations requires that a claim must be brought within three years from the date of the alleged malpractice.

The state’s medical review commission must first review any claim of medical malpractice. A claim that wins will typically receive compensation for pain and suffering, payment of medical expenses for treating the injury which was caused as a result of the malpractice, and reimbursement for past, current and future financial losses that were incurred as a result. Compensatory damages include financial, emotional, and psychological harm, such as loss of vision, limb, or organ, and/or the reduced enjoyment of life due to disability. You may also bring action for loss of a loved one as well as severe pain and emotional distress. A malpractice claim is not applicable if an injury results even though the doctor followed the standard of care. The burden of proof lies with the plaintiff and his attorney.

We’re Here to Help

When considering a claim for injury resulting from the use of a drug, or from malpractice on the part of health care professionals and facilities, It’s important to work with a personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable and experienced in this field, and who has demonstrated a determination to fight for his or her clients.To learn more about your legal rights pertaining to a pharmaceutical or malpractice claim, contact Robert Mandell at The Mandell Law Firm in Northridge. 818.886.6600.

Some days just don’t turn out exactly as we expected. But, sometimes, the surprises can turn out to be just what we needed. As most of us begin looking forward to the season of holidays, whether we celebrate for religious, or secular, or personal reasons, we make more of an effort to find the good in others as well as in ourselves, and we reflect on what we’ve been most thankful for over the past year. I decided to share a recent day from my life, and my daughter’s, that I found humorous, heartwarming, and that included one of those surprises that made my day. I hope you enjoy it.

At our house, mornings aren’t always a time of peace and tranquility. More often than not, it’s chaos and disorder. Trying to juggle professional and personal lives can be challenging. On this particular morning, I was running late, and realized I would not be able to get my 3-year-old daughter, Vanessa, to preschool and still make it to court in time for my scheduled appearance. After some internal debate, I decided the only solution was to take Vanessa to court with me. “I guess it’s never too early to start training her to be a lawyer,” I thought.

An Unexpected Day in Court

As we rushed into the courtroom, I reminded Vanessa that this is where Mommy works, and tried to impress on her how important it was to stay quiet while court was in session.

“Good Morning, your Honor,” I said. “I’m representing the Plaintiff.”

“Good morning, Ms. Tutuyan,” said the Judge. “Who’s the little one back there?”

“That’s my daughter, your Honor,” I responded. “I’m so sorry I had to bring her into the courtroom this morning, but we were running late and …”

Smiling, the Judge said, “Have her come up here.”

“Oh, no,” I said. “She’s quite okay, your Honor. She’ll be fine.”

“She’s very cute.” Looking directly at Vanessa, the Judge said, “You want to come up by your Mommy?”

Very excited, Vanessa shook her head up and down in response. She joined me at the table.

The Judge looked at her and asked, “What’s your name?”

“Vanessa” she replied, with a smile.

“How old are you, Vanessa?” asked the Judge.

Holding up three fingers, Vanessa responded, “Three.”

“When you grow up, Vanessa, would you like to be a Lawyer?” asked the Judge.

Vanessa looked up at me, confused, then responded, “Naw.” Everyone in the courtroom laughed.

Surprise Number Two

Later, as we were getting into the car, Vanessa asked, “Mommy, why did the king ask me if I wanted to be a liar?”

The next time I returned to court, I told the judge that Vanessa had thought he was the king. I didn’t bother to tell him the part about being “a liar.”

Most of the time, the courtroom is a serious place, as it should be. We go there to conduct serious business. But even in the course of conducting serious business in a serious place, we can still find the time to see a little humor and to share a moment of warmth. This turned out to be one day that I was glad to have been running late.

This holiday season, remember what you are most grateful for … your family, your colleagues, your friends, your work … and be sure to take the time to share a good laugh.

Schedule a Meeting with Aslin Tutuyan

Aslin Tutuyan is a personal injury attorney with The Mandell Law Firm in Northridge. Mandell Law is an aggressive personal injury and wrongful death law firm serving clients throughout the San Fernando Valley, the Greater Los Angeles area, and Southern California. Experienced and reputable, our attorneys provide hands-on care and sincere commitment to victims of accidents of all kinds. Contact Aslin Tutuyan for a free consultation at 818.866.6600.