Recent Blog Posts

File a Coachella Valley Personal Injury Lawsuit and Lose Privacy

Barry Regar — Fri, 18 May 2012 02:44:00 GMT

Car accident victims who file personal injury lawsuits against a negligent driver must realize that they open up much of their medical history to the adverse insurance company lawyer. I advise my Coachella Valley auto accident clients who want me to file a personal injury lawsuit for them, in the Indio branch of the Riverside Superior Court, that once I do, the insurance company for the negligent driver defendant can subpoena many of their present and past medical records to discover facts that relate to the injuries that we are claiming were caused by the automobile crash which brought them to the Law Offices of Barry Regar.

Our clients often ask why their past medical history is relevant to the current lawsuit. The answer is related to the concept of, "impeachment", which means in lay terms that there could be evidence in old medical records that show that the neck complaints that my client may be claiming were caused by a recent auto accident in Indio, were very similar to neck complaints that the client had a year before the most recent accident, relating to a prior car accident in Palm Springs a year before.

So, if during the deposition of a plaintiff, the injured person, the plaintiff testifies that he or she never had prior neck complaints, the old medical records impeach that testimony, showing that they may not be telling the truth on that issue. When the personal injury lawyer at the law offices of Barry Regar A Professional Law Corporation interviews new clients, he asks the new potential client to be very careful to reveal all prior injuries and accidents which may have a bearing on the current injuries which caused the Palm Springs, Palm Desert, or Indio auto accident victim to seek our services. Contact an Indio auto accident attorney at this law firm for a free review of your auto accident and any injuries you or a family member suffered as the result of the accident.

Coachella Valley Personal Injury Litigation Costs May Increase

Barry Regar — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:54:00 GMT

There is possible bad news for Coachella Valley auto accident victims in the foreseeable future. The California budget crisis has finally had its effect on the legal system. The Los Angeles Superior Court recently announced plans for the most significant cutback of services in its history.

As of June 30, 2012 the Court will decrease its staff by almost 350 workers while closing 56 courtrooms. It will also reduce the use of court reporters in the courtrooms. As of May 15, 2012, the Los Angeles Superior Court will no longer provide court reporters for civil trials. Palm Springs auto accidents causing personal injuries to an innocent driver who finds it necessary to take their case to a jury trial because the insurance company adjuster for the at fault driver offered a ridiculously low settlement offer, already has to pay for the court reporter and jury fees during the actual jury trial. If Riverside County follows the lead of Los Angeles in eliminating court reporters for Law and Motion matters in Civil cases, the cost of litigating a Palm Desert personal injury case will increase. At the present time Riverside County Superior Courts provide court reporters for all Civil Court proceedings that occur before the Civil Jury trial starts for the typical auto accident personal injury case.

If our County feels the financial crunch as did Los Angeles we can expect to see the budget crisis hit our Riverside County Superior Court services. Although the firm of Barry Regar A Professional Law Corporation as the Palm Desert and Indio personal Injury lawyer advances the costs of litigating cases for our vehicle accident clients, when our efforts result in winning money for our accident clients by settling their cases out of court or by a successful jury verdict, the money we spend in litigating is ultimately paid back to us by the client. Therefore any additional costs our firm has to pay the Riverside Superior Court for court reporter fees effects our client's bottom line. Contact the Barry Regar Lawyer firm for all personal injury questions. If we accept your case, you pay us nothing in fees or costs up front. All fees and costs are on a contingent basis.

Minor Auto Accidents Are Not Always Minor Admits State Farm

Barry Regar — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:38:00 GMT

The hypocrisy of State Farm posting an article on their website on 2/12/12 entitled, "The Do's And Don'ts of A Minor Car Accident" is beyond belief. State Farm and other insurance companies school their adjusters in the techniques of convincing Coachella Valley auto accident victims who have been involved in so-called, "minor", motor vehicle collisions through no fault of their own that they cannot really be injured as a result of a low speed car crash. This insidious insurance adjuster practice is followed day after day in the Coachella Valley. Whether you have been injured in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, or Indio you can count on the negligent driver's insurance adjuster telling you that you will just have to accept their low-ball offer to settle your personal injury claim because the damage to your car is just too minor to cause any real lasting injury. Their assertions are just patently false. Low speed auto or truck accidents can cause lasting neck and back injuries. The Whiplash mechanism of injury results in the driver or passenger having their heads move violently forward and backward in a rear-end type car crash if you are in the car that was rear ended. This head movement can cause tearing and stretching of the soft tissues such as the ligaments and muscles of the cervical spine. These accidents can cause injury to the discs located between the vertebrae. Yet despite the above stated insurance industry deceptive claims practices State Farm has the gall to post the following article. The article starts as follows, "The fender bender you were just in appears to be minor. No one looks injured and there is minor damage to the vehicles…..Don't assume there aren't injuries….Even low-impact car crashes can cause injuries, some not appearing until days after the accident".. I can assure you the reader that you will never hear a State Farm or Allsnake adjuster tell you what was posted on their website supposedly by a State Farm employee. If you or a family member have been injured in a Coachella Valley vehicle accident and are currently not represented by an experience personal injury lawyer you should contact the Palm Springs auto accident lawyer at the Barry Regar Law Firm for a free consultation. You will learn your legal rights and be able to decide for yourself if you want buy the deceptive information being handed out by insurance adjusters. Drive safe and stay off the cell.

Coachella Valley Fatal Accident. Bicyclist vs Truck

Barry Regar — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:26:00 GMT

Another deadly auto/bicyclist accident occurred Wednesday April 18^th in the Coachella Valley. This crash occurred at the intersection of Da Vall Road and Ramon Road in Rancho Mirage at approximately 12:12p.m. The negligent driver of a van ran a red light and was struck by a pick-up truck driven by an alleged drunk driver. The police investigating the accident in Rancho Mirage do not think the driver of the pick-up truck caused the accident even though he may have been driving under the influence of an intoxicating beverage. Unfortunately for the bicyclist, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. So many of my auto accident clients in the Coachella Valley were just innocently driving their cars, bicycles, or motorcycles when their lives changed for the worse because of the negligent actions of careless drivers. The heirs of the deceased bicyclist have the legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the van who caused the accident. As the Palm Springs auto accident Lawyer, I would also join the alleged drunk driver of the pick-up as a defendant in the lawsuit on the theory that had he not been impaired by the alcohol he might have been able to avoid hitting the van that ran the red light and thus the accident would not have occurred and the bicyclist would still be alive. The law for personal injury accidents such as described above would also allow the driver of the van who ran the red light to sue the driver of the pick-up truck for negligence and punitive damages for driving under the influence on the theory that the accident could have been avoided had the pick-up driver stopped or swerved away from the van before the crash occurred. The circumstances of this kind of tragic truck accident demonstrate that victims of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and Indio vehicle accidents should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer before trying to sort out the facts of a serious accident while trying to deal with insurance adjusters that have an agenda that doesn't favor accident victims. You can consult with attorney Barry Regar at this firm without a charge or obligation for any questions you may have about the law of personal injury or any accident claims arising in the Coachella Valley.

Female Auto Accident Victims Need A Female Dummy Crash Tested

Barry Regar — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:34:00 GMT

In a Coachella Valley car crash in which the right front seat female passenger was more seriously injured than the vehicle's crash testing score would have predicted was probably a result of the use of male size crash dummies in auto manufacturers crash testing. Prior to 2011 the federal government allowed auto manufacturers and airbag manufacturers to use an average size male dummy for their crash tests. Starting with the 2011 model vehicles the Fed forced the manufacturers to replace the average size male dummy with a smaller female dummy for some of the crash testing. Consumer advocates say that the female dummy's subpar performance in some vehicles shows a need to better study women and smaller people in auto accidents. In general, some experts say that the smaller the person, the fewer crash forces the body can tolerate. Women's less muscular necks also make them more susceptible to whiplash type injuries. Prior to 2011 only male sized dummies were used during the 30 years of government testing focused at helping the public choose which vehicle to purchase based on the crash test star rating. In other words a car with a 5 star front end crash rating may be safe for males and not necessarily for females and children. The female Palm Springs auto accident victim who recently contacted me about her serious injuries caused by a front end collision in which she was a right front seat passenger using her seat belt and with airbag deployment can possibly be explained by the dummy testing done by the auto industry prior to 2011. After investigating the facts of this Palm Springs car crash, we may decide to file a lawsuit for this lady based on the other driver's negligence and the car manufacturer's liability for selling a defective product. Contact the Palm Springs auto accident lawyer at the Barry Regar Law Firm now for any questions about a personal injury claim. The consultation is free.

Indio Auto Accident Question

Barry Regar — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:39:00 GMT

A gentleman who was involved in an Indio auto accident recently called me because he heard that I was an Indio auto accident lawyer and wanted to know if he really needed a lawyer to handle his personal injury claim. I have had many such inquiries over the years since I have been handling Coachella Valley personal injury claims for more than 40 years. I always give the same answer. Of course any accident victim can choose to deal with an insurance adjuster without the aid of an experienced car crash lawyer representing said victim. The real problem is that the victim of another driver's negligent driving and resulting injuries is really not equipped to deal with experienced insurance adjusters who earn their income taking advantage of unrepresented accident victims when it comes to settling their claims. Some of these callers seem to have the opinion that auto accident insurance claims are valued by adjusters using a multiplier of 3 times the medical bills for the pain and suffering part of the personal injury claim. I have blogged repeatedly in answers to similar questions from people involved in Palm Springs and Palm Desert auto accidents that a jury verdict or out of court settlement for pain and suffering is based on many factors other than the amount of the medical billings for the post accident medical treatment. A prime example of this proposition is that a person can lose an eye in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent truck driver and have medical bills of less than $10,000.00 for the emergency room visit and follow up medical care. I would never settle the pain and suffering part of the accident claim for $30,000.00. The value of that part of the case is potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the age and occupation of the injured person. Insurance adjusters will never offer the accident victim without legal representation the full value of their personal injury case. There is absolutely no incentive for the adjuster to do that. Adjusters are rewarded for paying off accident claims as cheaply as possible. If you or a family member has been injured anywhere in the Coachella Valley in any kind of accident caused by the fault of another person or business entity you should call the Indio and Palm Desert personal injury lawyer at the Barry Regar Law Firm for a free consultation.

Indio Defective Product Lawyer's Opinion About Recalls

Barry Regar — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 05:44:00 GMT

As a personal injury lawyer in the Coachella Valley who handles defective products lawsuits I have recently been asked if the manufacturer of a product that voluntarily recalls the product can still be liable for injuries caused by the recalled product before and after the recall. The answer is yes. The recall may prevent future harm from the defective product's use; but any injury caused by the product still in possession of a consumer who didn't learn of the recall subjects the manufacturer to possible liability if it can be proven that an injury was caused by the anticipated use of the product. Not all consumers learn of recalls despite the dissemination of the news of the recall by media and notices by manufacturers and retailers. The recall campaign may protect the manufacturer from lawsuits seeking punitive damages against the company after the recall which can be evidence that after a certain date the manufacturer was not acting with a willful disregard of the safety of consumers by continuing to sell a knowingly defective and dangerous product. As the Indio personal injury lawyer I pay close attention to recall campaigns to learn of any recalled products that may have been responsible for injuries to persons seeking my defective products legal knowledge and experience. Westinghouse Lighting has just recalled ceiling fans due to possible shock and fire hazards. 7000 ceiling fans have been recalled because the two 60 watt light bulbs packaged with the fans apparently exceed the fan's maximum wattage which may result in the fans overheating or failing. These events could pose a fire and shock hazard to consumers. Readers of this blog should check the serial number of any Westinghouse ceiling fan they have against the recall information found on the Westinghouse website. If you or a loved one has been involved in an injury from a suspected defective product or you have a personal injury question that has not been answered call, Cochella Valley defective product attorney Barry Regar now for a free consultation.

Do Airbags Really Help Indio Auto Accident Victims?

Barry Regar — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:49:00 GMT

Do airbags really help automobile accident victims or do they sometimes do more harm than good? I was recently contacted by an older gentleman who was involved in an Indio auto accident with a small pickup truck. The potential client who came to the Indio auto accident Lawyer at Barry Regar A Professional Law Corporation told me that he had been involved in a low speed head on collision with a pickup truck. The truck driver was at fault for drifting over the center line into the oncoming lane. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts and both vehicles' airbags deployed. The gentleman who came to our Indian Wells Personal Injury Law office suffered a shoulder injury caused by the airbag inflating as he was holding his injured arm/shoulder in a vulnerable position during the car crash scenario. It was my opinion that had he just been wearing his lap and shoulder belts properly attached and the airbag had not inflated he would have probably only suffered a soft tissue injury to his neck and back. I am not suggesting that this Indio car accident and the resulting injuries would have justified a defective products lawsuit against the car manufacturer. Air bags do save lives and prevent certain kinds of injuries during certain kinds of automobile accidents. But there is another side to the story. The NHTSA reported that 238 people were killed from 1990 to 2002 because of airbag deployment. These were low speed car crashes that should not have resulted in deaths; but for the crushing power of the airbag inflation. NHTSA also opines that by 2004, airbags probably saved 10,000 lives. However a recent study by the University of Georgia challenges NHTSA's conclusions and presents statistical evidence that airbags may do more harm than good. The Georgia report and study was published in Chance magazine Volume 18 No. 2 pp. 3-16 a publication of the American Statistical Association. Drivers should adjust their seat positions so that they are not sitting too close to the steering wheel and passengers should also be mindful of their seat position. If you or a family member has been injured in an Indio auto accident or in any kind of personal injury accident in the Coachella Valley for which you want a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer, you should contact a lawyer at Barry Regar A Professional Law Corporation for immediate answers to your legal questions.

Indio Car Accidents Increase And Insurance Protection

Barry Regar — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 05:44:00 GMT

The CHP opened all the eastbound lanes of I-10 today, Monday after a lane closure caused by an Indio auto accident. The lanes had been closed because of an auto accident east of Indio. The accident involved several vehicles which included a big rig. During this same time period the CHP was working on another Indio I-10 single car accident. As an IndioAuto Accident Lawyer I am constantly asked by casual acquaintances how they can protect themselves from becoming an Indiopersonal injury accident victim as the roads seem more dangerous with this increase intruck accidents and auto accidents. My advice is no different than that given by the CHP. One should buckle up and stay off the cell phones when driving the highways and roadways in the Coachella Valley. Another form of protection is the purchase ofuninsured motorist's insurance limits that are at least as high as their liability limits. Since I represent many Indio car accident clients that have been involved in car crashes with drivers who had no liability insurance or very low insurance limits, I can state how devastating it is to be seriously injured by a negligent driver that didn't have adequate insurance coverage nor any coverage. Because of the high unemployment in the Coachella Valley and especially the East end of the valley in Indio, Coachella, and Thermal, people find it hard to afford car insurance when the price of gas has gone crazy and rent and utility bills seem to be more important than insurance premiums. So as drivers, although we can't cure the economic problems of Indio and the Coachella Valley, we can at least if possible protect ourselves with adequate uninsured motorists insurance. And of course it is a violation of the California Vehicle Code to drive without automobile liability insurance. Contact the Indio Auto Accident Lawyer at the firm of Barry Regar A Professional Law Corporation for any questions about Indio car crashes or uninsured insurance claims.

The Black Box In Your Car And Auto Accident Lawsuits

Barry Regar — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:01:00 GMT

Data obtained from the microprocessor in your cars, "black box", can help to win or lose a personal injury auto accident case that resulted from a car crash here in the Coachella Valley. Event data recorders, (EDRs) installed in your car's safety systems can record the details of the accident itself so that it can be determined exactly what happened before the car crash and during the accident scenario. The EDR data recorded can include the vehicle and engine speeds, throttle position, velocity changes, seat belt and airbag events, and the time that passed from the actual crash to the airbag inflation. The recorded information can assist lawyers handling personal injury cases arising out of auto accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents. As a Coachella Valley Personal Injury Lawyer I have used the EDR data in investigating an Indio Truck accident causing a wrongful death to reject the case because the vehicle data information established that the accident was not caused by the truck driver and was instead caused by the deceased driver. I am often contacted by injured potential clients who during the free consultation describe the events of an auto accident that upon our investigation reveal that the potential client was the at fault driver. Naturally we won't accept those cases since the Law Firm of Barry Regar A Professional Law Corporation only represents accident victims who were injured because another driver was primarily at fault for the accident. There are certain kinds of car accidents where our clients were partially at fault for the accident. We can help these people and represent them. However the potential money value of their cases will be decreased by their share of negligence in causing the accident. The EDR data can help prove that an airbag or seatbelt didn't function properly during an accident which can result in a potential defective products lawsuit against the car manufacturer and their suppliers. Knowing that the, "black box", is available for inspection, it is very important in serious injury cases caused by vehicle accidents where the question of who was at fault is in question to preserve the evidence in the EDR by storing the accident vehicles if at all possible. This fact is another reason for Palm Springs auto accidents victims who have been seriously injured to contact the Coachella Valley Auto Accident Lawyer at this firm for a free consultation.

Coachella Valley Medical Malpractice And Protecting Yourself

Barry Regar — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 04:29:00 GMT

As a Palm Springs personal injury lawyer I also handle Coachella Valley medical malpractice cases. Not every accident lawyer has experience with medical malpractice cases. For reasons unknown to me I have seen a dramatic uptick in the number of potential clients calling about horror stories that have occurred to them or family members resulting from hospitalizations. As reported recently in an AARP publication based on a United States Health and Human Services study one in seven Medicare patients suffered serious or long-term injuries or death as a result of hospital care. Researchers concluded that almost 44% of the problems were preventable. Medical errors take many forms. A surgeon nicks a healthy blood vessel; a nurse mistakenly gives a toxic dose of medicine; the hospital staff fails to properly disinfect a room and the poor patients contracts MRSA, C-diff, or another superbug. Last year the Obama administration said they would spend one billion dollars to fund safely measures by hospitals. As a Palm Desert medical malpractice lawyer I have noticed many people call me because of poor results from certain medical treatment which was not caused by medical negligence. There is a big difference between a patient having a medical procedure resulting in a poor result but was done properly and a medical procedure done in a careless and negligent manner that caused injuries beyond the medical condition necessating that procedure. The concept of negligence as it applies to auto accidents, construction accidents, or slip and fall accidents is much easier to prove than medical negligence. One obvious reason is the reluctance of doctors willing to testify against other doctors. Another reason is that the jury instructions that govern how jurors must decide issues of medical negligence are slanted against the malpractice victim, and in favor of the accused doctor or hospital. Of course I am probably biased because I am a personal injury trial lawyer who only represents persons who have been injured by the negligence of a medical provider. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; The Consumer's Union; and the Connecticut Center for Patient Safety recommend the following things that patients who intend to enter a hospital for inpatient care should do: 1. bring an advocate, friend or family member for check in and discharge. 2. Bring a notebook. Write down all your medications, why you take them and who prescribed them. 3. Bring a big bottle of hand sanitizer. Put it by your bed and remind yourself and the staff to keep hands clean. 4. If you are able, always make certain that the medication you are given is actually prescribed for you. Stay healthy. Contact the Palm Springs medical malpractice Lawyer at this firm for any injuries or illnesses you suspect were caused by medical negligence occurring in Indio, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, or any other cities in the Coachella Valley.

Beware Of Social Media Postings

Barry Regar — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:44:00 GMT

Automobile accident victims who have pending insurance claims against the negligent driver's insurance company should be very careful about what they post on Social Media sites. Let us assume that one of my Palm Springs personal injury clients has been involved in a serious car crash and has suffered personal injuries. Now consider that my client has testified in a deposition that he or she has been unable to engage in any recreational activities since the accident. In fact they have repeatedly told me that they were mostly confined to their house. What they didn't tell me was that they took a trip to Mexico and decided to go hand gliding and bungee jumping. To make matters worse they had photos of their vacation exploits posted on their Face book page. The insurance investigators found the posting on Facebook and now the client has been impeached about the extent of their injuries. Clients should always be honest with their lawyers. We can't properly represent persons who have been dishonest about the facts of their case. But even innocent photos and postings on Social Media sites can be misinterpreted to the accident victim's detriment. Some courts in California and other jurisdictions have upheld the rights of insurance companies to subpoena records of Social Media sites for certain purposes involved in litigation. I think that most of the insurance company lawyers who try and get Social Media information about accident victims are merely going on a fishing expedition to try and find dirt on a litigant. Having said that as a Palm Springs personal injury Lawyer I don't want my car, truck, or automobile accident clients to post anything about their Coachella Valley Car Accident cases on Social Media sites. Call the attorney at the Barry Regar Personal Injury Law Firm now for any questions about motor vehicle accident claims and the law that applies to such claims.

You Can't Win With Insurance Adjusters

Barry Regar — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:25:00 GMT

Insurance adjusters always blame the personal injury accident victim for something. Why do they do that? Because it is the basis of their business model. The insurance company's game plan has always been and still is to try and convince the injured person that they don't have a good case. Unfortunately victims of negligent drivers who cause automobile accidents in the Coachella Valley who try and negotiate their personal injury claims directly with the insurance adjuster will soon discover that the adjuster's tactics of delay and deceive will confuse and frustrate them. The adjuster will argue that the personal injury victim is having unnecessary medical or chiropractic care. The adjuster will accuse the injured person of trying to build up the medical bills in order to get a larger settlement. Of course if the injured person doesn't have the money or insurance coverage to visit doctors and therapists as often as is needed, the adjuster will hold that against the injured person by arguing that the lack of frequent medical care is evidence of little or no real injury? The poor victim can't win in the litigation game if they choose to play against the insurance companies without an experienced personal injury lawyer on their team. As the Palm Springs Personal Injury Lawyer I take an aggressive stance with insurance company adjusters and their lawyers. At the firm of Barry Regar A Professional Law Corporation we know what evidence we must preserve and gather to convince the insurance company of the merits of our automobile accident client's cases. Adjusters take notice of consistent and timely medical treatment and evaluations. They want to see real documentation of income loss. And finally they must be convinced that their insured was at fault for the accident. We highly recommend that any Palm Springs, Palm Desert, or Indio motor vehicle accident victim who had been injured in an automobile accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident contact a personal injury lawyer at this firm to find out how to protect themselves from unscrupulous insurance adjusters.

Bicycle Accident Cases And Auto Accidents

Barry Regar — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:40:00 GMT

Drivers of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, have to share the roadway with bicyclists as they all compete for space on the streets of the Coachella Valley. I have noticed more auto accidents in Palm Springs and Palm Desert involving bicyclists than in Indio and the East end of the Coachella Valley. Since bikes are no match for cars, trucks, or motorcycles, the bicyclists are often seriously injured nationally by the thousand, and hundreds perish each year resulting in wrongful death insurance claims. As a Palm Springs and Palm Desert personal injury attorney litigating insurance claims for the injured bicyclists I have noticed that jurors seem to be prejudiced against the bicyclists. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2009 630 bicyclists were killed and more than 51,000 were injured in crashes with motor vehicles. For various reasons it seems that many jurors come to court with opinions that bicyclists who are injured in car crashes and do not use helmets are simply reckless. They are correct in my opinion even though I am a Palm Springs personal injury lawyer who has represented bicyclists injured in accidents because the driver of a car involved in the accident was negligent. If the bicyclist suffered a serious head injury in the crash and was not wearing a helmet, the jury could easily reduce the damage award to the injured Plaintiff if it was proved that the helmet would have prevented the serious head injury. This concept of apportioning fault to the cyclist without a helmet is called comparative negligence. This means that the driver of the car who was negligent may have caused the accident; but the cyclist without a helmet was negligent in not wearing a helmet. Also jurors in cities probably have had negative experiences with bicyclists weaving in and out of traffic or riding at very slow speeds in traffic lanes. So I advise bicyclists to wear helmets and to be extremely careful when they are riding on the roadways in the Coachella Valley because juries are tough on bicyclists. Call Barry Regar the Coachella Valley personal injury lawyer right now if you have any Personal Injury questions. The consultation is free and I can help you.

Seat Belts Can Fail

Barry Regar — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:22:00 GMT

Seat belts are designed to protect people inautomobile accidents and truck accidents; but they may not always function as intended by the manufacturer. A seat belt that fails to properly function in an accident can result in the injured accident victim contacting the Palm Springs defective products Lawyer at this firm to file a lawsuit against a car manufacturer and seat belt manufacturer for personal injuries caused by a defective seat belt. These cases are difficult because they go against the juror's common perception that car crash litigation is always about who or what caused the accident. As a Coachella Valley personal injury lawyer litigating a defective seat belt case I would have to direct the juror's focus on who or what caused the injuries and whether those injuries should have been prevented by a proper functioning seat belt. If a driver or passenger in a car is rear-ended by a high speed vehicle and is thrown through the front windshield because their seat belt failed, the accident victim can sue the driver of the car who rear-ended their vehicle and the car and seatbelt manufacturer of their car in the same lawsuit. In such a case the jury will be instructed that they must apportion the cause of the accident victim's injuries between the negligent driver causing the accident and the manufactures that are responsible for the seat belt failure. The negligent driver is able to lay off some of the blame for the Plaintiff's injuries on the car and or the seat belt manufacturer if they can prove that the Plaintiff, the injured victim, would have only suffered a soft tissue neck injury if the seat belt had not failed causing the accident victim to be propelled through the front windshield and suffering a more serious injury. Contact the Palm Springs and Palm Desert auto accident lawyer at this firm for a free consultation relating to any bodily injury claim.