I’ve Been Bitten!

Okay, we all know that, on occasion, dogs bite people. That is a normal fact of life and something dog owners should watch out for, especially since personal injury law states that the dog is always at fault in these cases. However, what if you are bitten by some other pet? Does the same law apply if you are attacked by a rooster, bitten by a bunny, or kicked by a horse?

Yes. Yes it does.

If you have been hurt by another person’s pet, then you are protected under the California State personal injury laws. Don’t worry about the fact that the pet isn’t a dog or a cat. Any pet is the responsibility of the owner and that owner should be held at-fault for your injuries.

Of course, you should always go to the owner first and try to settle things out of court. Often times, owners are devastated by the actions of their pet and will help you with medical expenses. However, if they fail to help you, your best option is to visit a personal injury attorney who specializes in dog bites and other animal attacks.

Computer Perverts

Did you hear about the case of the Orange County man who installed software on women’s computers in order to get naked photos of them? It’s true. As a Mac repairman, he had access to their computers and used that opportunity to take over their webcams and send them pop-up messages designed to get them to remove their clothes. We’re talking about one sick individual.

So what can you do to protect yourself from this invasion of privacy? Well, here are a few tips.

1. If possible, only use a computer repairman that you know and trust.
2. If you have to use a computer repair service for your Mac, go to an Apple store directly. Don’t use a third party service if you can avoid it.
3. If you start to notice anything out of the ordinary with your computer, call a different repair service and have them check your computer.
4. Don’t take chances. If your computer starts sending you strange messages, check online or with other users to see if those messages are normal or are the result of someone hacking into your system.
5. Never get naked in front of your webcam… just in case.

Surviving Your Yard Sale

Yard sales are full of liabilities and opportunities for others to sue you. While you might not have thought about that before, now is the time to do so, especially if you are planning on hosting a yard sale yourself. Possible liabilities include:

-       Holes in your lawn

-       Cracks in the sidewalk or driveway

-       Toys or other small items for sale that fall from tables

-       Narrow aisles that cause visitors to bump into each other

-       And many more

So what can you do to prevent any accidents? Well, here are a few tips:

1. Don’t put anything on the lawn
2. Create a wide open space with tables surrounding it for free-flowing movement
3. Keep everything on tables and place small objects in boxes
4. Clean up all debris and repair any cracks or bumps in your driveway and sidewalk before the sale starts
5. Have the sale on someone else’s property – with their permission of course

If You Hit Someone

Accidents happen, especially in the city where streets are congested and everyone seems to be in a hurry. So if you accidentally hit someone, there are a few things that you need to do.

1. Stop – Check and see if anyone was hurt and don’t just drive away. If you do, you will be on trial for two crimes instead of just one, especially if anyone was hurt.
2. Leave your information – A copy of your insurance card, your name, and your phone number. You should also get a copy of their information for your records.
3. Call your insurance company – Make sure your insurance knows that there is a case coming their way and be honest with them. They can only help if they know all of the information.
4. Be more careful in the future – if this accident was a result of distracted driving or even reckless driving, make sure it doesn’t happen again.

 

Losing Your Case

Sometimes, when you file a lawsuit, you lose. So here is a list of things NOT to do after a loss.

1. Yell at the judge in court – you’ll just be fined or held for contempt
2. Punch out your lawyer – Gaylord Tootsie Daney tried it and it didn’t go well for him
3. Rant to everyone you have ever met – you’ll just lose friends
4. Send hate mail to your lawyer, the judge, or the opposing party – you’ll just get sent to jail
5. Stay angry forever – it will only hurt you further

Don’t Be Fooled

Not all attorneys are angels, which is what the jokes tell us anyway. Well, it’s true. Of course, not all attorneys are snakes either. Just a few of them, which is why it pays to avoid the crazies and hire the good guys. So here is what you do:

-       Never trust an attorney that you haven’t fully researched

-       Never use an attorney whose name you’ve seen on the news, like Juan Dominguez or Steven B. Smith

-       Never hire the ambulance chaser who followed you to the hospital

-       Never pay up front for services that haven’t yet been rendered

Some attorneys are con men. Others are considered the best in their field. It’s up to you to find the cream of the crop and leave the chaff behind.

Personal Injury Options

If you have been injured in a personal injury accident, then chances are that you know your rights. In the state of California, the victims of personal injury accidents can file for compensation if another party’s intentional actions or negligence led to the accident itself. However, you might not know just how many areas of personal injury the law covers. Here are a few:

• Auto Accidents
• Dog Bites
• Slip and Fall Accidents
• Medical Malpractice
• Product Liability
• Wrongful Death
• Sexual Harassment
• Discrimination
• Defamation of Character
• Construction Accidents
• Denial of Insurance Benefits
• False Arrest
• Invasion of Privacy
• And many more

So look over the list above. Have you been injured emotionally, mentally, or physically by one of the afore mentioned things? Don’t you think its time you contacted a personal injury attorney and received compensation for your losses?