Pasadena Personal Injury Blog

Police chase leads to 4 crashes, 1 with injuries

On behalf of Ball & Bonholtzer posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, April 11, 2019.

Police pursuits don't always end well, and they can often lead to injuries. Since the police know that pursuing a suspect can lead to collisions, they often stop their pursuits when they're in populated areas. Doing this helps protect the public from injuries caused by accidents due to reckless or dangerous driving behaviors by a suspect.

Sadly, this halt in police activity doesn't always come in time. Take, for instance, this case in which a driver was hurt when her SUV was struck by a driver who was fleeing in a stolen work truck. The vehicle struck hers at around 5:20 p.m., at Orange Grove Boulevard at Holly Street.

The packaging--not the product--might be what is defective

On behalf of Ball & Bonholtzer posted in Injuries on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

When you hear the phrase "product defect," you may think of cell phones exploding or toys coated with lead paint. Most consumers might not expect the package that the product comes in to be potentially dangerous. But boxes, bottles and o ther forms of packaging can prove harmful as well.

Reduce your risk of brain injury before you get on the road

On behalf of Ball & Bonholtzer on Monday, April 8, 2019.

Sometimes you hear a story of someone whose life changed in a split second due to a traffic accident. While previously they may have been athletic and vibrant, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) might have altered their physical abilities and emotional state.

Although there are various ways a person might suffer a TBI, the effects can be permanently life-altering. And since more than 50 percent of all reported TBIs are caused by motor vehicle accidents, you might want to understand what you can do to protect yourself.

Preventing bicycle accidents

On behalf of Ball & Bonholtzer on Friday, March 29, 2019.

While a bicycling is a great way to see California on a beautiful day, safety should remain everyone’s top focus. 2016 was a deadly year for bicyclists nationwide with 840 motor vehicle-related cyclist fatalities. That number comes despite legislation designed to protect both drivers and cyclists.

When cyclists are most at-risk

Worker dies while working alone at construction site

On behalf of Ball & Bonholtzer posted in Construction Accidents on Wednesday, March 27, 2019.

When you're on the job, you know that there are risks. However, it's your hope that those risks can be mitigated and that you have a great chance of completing your work for the day without injuries.

Unfortunately, that's not what happened for a worker who was killed in a construction accident in Sacramento County. The worker had been performing his duties at an apartment complex when he became trapped in a small Bobcat tractor's parts. He had been working on a swimming pool project at the time.

What should you know about spinal injuries?

On behalf of Ball & Bonholtzer posted in catastrophic injuries on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

Spinal injuries are among the worst. They can lead to debilitating pain and threaten your ability to walk, use your arms or even control your own vital organs. When the spinal cord is damaged, time is of the essence. The sooner you receive care, the better the outlook will be.

Spinal cord injuries do normally change a person's strength, sensation or other body functions permanently. The extent of the injury can often be lessened if there is immediate medical care provided. For example, if you are in a car crash and suffer a spinal injury to your lower back, it will worsen with swelling. If you reach the hospital quickly, your medical provider can give you medications to reduce the inflammation and hopefully prevent further damage.

When isn’t it legal malpractice?

On behalf of Ball & Bonholtzer on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.

There’s nothing more frustrating than hiring an attorney and then questioning his or her approach to your legal needs.

It may be tempting to take the attorney to court and sue. Unfortunately, in many cases, you may not have a case for a legal malpractice claim. Here are some behaviors that don’t qualify for legal malpractice, as infuriating as they are:

Who pays when you borrow a car and crash?

On behalf of Ball & Bonholtzer posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on Thursday, February 28, 2019.

If you borrow a loved one's vehicle, you may think that their insurance will cover you and anything that you do wrong. You're probably right. Car insurance does not follow the driver in the United States. Instead, it follows the vehicle.

That means that a vehicle is insured, sometimes regardless of the driver. The owner's car insurance is the primary coverage for the accident, while the driver's car insurance may work as backup, or secondary, insurance if it's needed.

Do GPS devices cause accidents?

On behalf of Ball & Bonholtzer on Friday, February 15, 2019.

Have you ever been driving and trying to follow your GPS directions at the same time? The GPS device is a great way to get from point “A” to point “B”. It has made travel much easier in so many ways for commuters and drivers of all kinds.

However, the GPS device may have some downsides. Despite its many advantages, some drivers find it difficult to pay attention to both the road and the instructions at the same time. Whenever there are distractions of any type, an accident is more likely to occur.

Should you take your personal injury claim to court?

On behalf of Ball & Bonholtzer posted in personal injury on Friday, February 15, 2019.

There are many reasons why settling a personal injury case is a good idea for some people. In some cases, the insurance company may have offered a fair settlement. Another good reason to accept a settlement offer would be to reduce the time it takes to get your money, since trials can be lengthy.

However, settling isn't always in your best interests, especially when the offer isn't fair. When a settlement is created, it has to reflect many things, including: