There is no one “correct” way to handle a personal injury claim. Some individuals who file claims opt to settle if a settlement offer is fair. Others must vigorously litigate their claims in order to obtain the justice they deserve. And some individuals opt for an alternative dispute resolution approach. This approach allows plaintiffs and their attorneys to mediate or otherwise negotiate a claim outside of a courtroom setting. Mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution may be embraced without the aid and guidance of an attorney. However, it is important to think very, very carefully before moving forward without professional legal assistance. The other [...]

St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching and festivities will be in full swing this weekend and on Tuesday around the Westlake Village area. While considered a religious holiday in Ireland, in the U.S. St. Patrick’s Day is often celebrated with anything and everything green, including lots of green beer. Since 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that a total of 276 people have been killed in drunk driving crashes on St. Patrick’s Day. Many more have suffered injuries that resulted in painful and debilitating conditions. The devastating personal and financial implications suffered by victims of drunk driving accidents and their family members, can forever [...]

There are many different things a person can do to try to keep themselves safe out on the roads. However, as scary of a thought as it may be, a person’s safety out on the roads is not something that they have sole control over. How safe of a place the roads are for them is also dependent on how the drivers around them act. Thus, it can be quite terrifying to encounter unsafe drivers out on the roads. […]

Last week, we began a discussion about aggressive driving. We noted that aggressive driving behaviors are considered to be any behaviors which are unsafe and are committed both deliberately and with a disregard for safety. It is important to note that this disregard for safety may be unintentional. Many Americans are familiar with the concept of road rage, in which an individual intentionally tries to commit bodily harm by engaging in dangerous driving behaviors. Most motorists would never engage in road rage. However, a surprising number of American motorists engage in aggressive driving behaviors on a regular basis. It is imperative to understand the distinction between [...]

According to a survey compiled by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 90 percent of respondents consider aggressive motorists to be either a somewhat or a very serious threat to personal safety. This overwhelming statistic seems to indicate that a clear majority of Americans believes that aggressive driving behaviors are dangerous. Yet, according to the same survey, a majority of motorists also admit to engaging in potentially aggressive driving behaviors personally. How does one reconcile these two pieces of data? While most individuals believe that aggressive driving is dangerous, most individuals choose to engage in aggressive driving behaviors. It is possible that many motorists are unaware [...]