By Robert Mandell on March 5, 2012 -
Dealing With the Aftemath
Auto accidents can occur anywhere, at anytime, and under any conditions – even when there are perfect driving conditions, the sun is shining, and traffic is light. That’s why you should always be prepared for the unexpected which, when you think about it, sounds almost ridiculous. Whether you’re in a San Fernando Valley auto accident or one that takes place somewhere else, you need to know your rights and how to protect them from the moment something goes wrong. An attorney can help you sort through the confusion and guide you through the process.
Well over a half-million automobile accidents take place in California each year. That means there are plenty of opportunities for you to become involved in just one of them. Will you be prepared in the event that your luck runs out? Will you know what to do to negotiate a fair settlement? How will you know if you’ve gotten everything you’re entitled to? If someone else is at fault, will it cause your insurance rates to go up?
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By Aslin Tutuyan on February 27, 2012 -
Dealing With a Wrongful Death in California
A wrongful death occurs when a person dies due to the negligence or reckless act of another individual or entity. California wrongful death can be attributed to a person, a company, or a product. The wrongful death charge is not only material to the individual who lost his or her life, but also to anyone who relied on that individual for support, or who would stand to inherit property or belongings as a result of the individual’s passing.
Some people confuse wrongful death with medical malpractice, or even murder. The main difference between them is that wrongful death is determined through a civil suit while murder must be determined through a criminal proceeding. Wrongful death is more about damages while malpractice is focused negligence. You can, however, have medical malpractice without a wrongful death, and vice versa.
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By Mara Burnett on February 20, 2012 -
Have You Been in a Woodland Hills Bicycle Accident?
Or anywhere else for that matter. Although we are kids when we first learn how to navigate our neighborhoods on a bicycle, mastering that simple task provides us with an accomplishment that we can enjoy throughout the rest of our lives. Even as we age, we are never too old to appreciate this simple pleasure.
But every year bicycle riders put their lives on the line while riding. As a result, they often become injured by automobile drivers who aren’t paying attention. If you’ve been involved in a Woodland Hills bicycle accident, or anywhere else, you should talk to an attorney about the legal remedies that are available to you.
Bicycles Are Invisible
The dangers are the same for bicycle riders as for those who ride motorcycles. Automobile drivers are looking out for other automobiles, not two-wheeled vehicles. A bicycle doesn’t provide much of a visible presence on the road, and therefore can easily become involved in an accident – usually due to no fault of the rider. Since bicycles are required to share the same roads as automobiles, there are bound to be unfortunate incidents where the two come together.
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By Laurence Mandell on February 13, 2012 -
Today We Congratulate One of Our Own
All of us at The Mandell Law Firm are proud to announce that one of our partners, and our lead litigator, Robert J. Mandell has been selected as among The Top 1% Trial Counsel for Medical Malpractice Plaintiff Attorney’s for 2012 in California.
This designation is a very prestigious award where candidates are selected from the top professionals in the state based on MedicalMalpracticeLawyers.org’s stringent six-point scoring system. To make it even more impressive, Robert was selected based on individual medical malpractice trial performance in the previous 24 months as well as peer reviews.
This award is reserved for the most elite medical malpractice professionals in the state of California as it only applies to less than 1% of practicing attorneys.
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By Robert Mandell on February 6, 2012 -
Part Two of a Two-Part Series
You might reasonably ask yourself, “Why should I hire a personal injury attorney?” There are a lot of good reasons, but for one – insurance companies love to see plaintiffs who are not legally represented. This means that, not only can they utilize their own expert legal staff against you, but they can drag out the proceedings to the point that you may well settle out of court simply in sheer desperation.
If you are forced to hold out long enough, you may have to take whatever they offer just to recover something, and get on with your life. But you should also know that an insurance company is under no obligation to settle with you.
Another reason why you should never represent yourself is the complexity of the process. You will be required to answer every request for information and documents and you must be able to do so in a timely manner. Insurance companies are well-versed in the law. You’re not. They know this, and they use it to their advantage.
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By Robert Mandell on January 30, 2012 -
Part One of a Two-Part Series
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
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By Aslin Tutuyan on January 23, 2012 -
Southern California Truck Accidents
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.
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By Mara Burnett on January 16, 2012 -
You’ve Been Injured. What Next?
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.
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By Laurence Mandell on January 9, 2012 -
Mobile Phones Behind the Wheel – An Evolving Danger
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.
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By Robert Mandell on January 3, 2012 -
I Resolve to …
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.
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