Category Archives: Damages

Man killed in highway crash with big rig Truck.

Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez Personal Injury NewsYERMO – California

A passenger died Monday night after the pickup truck he was riding in crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer on Interstate 15 near Yermo, according to a report from the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner’s Department.

County coroners have not yet released the man’s name pending notification of his family. He and the car’s driver were in a red pickup truck on northbound Interstate 15 at the First Street overcrossing near Yermo when it slammed into the back of a big rig at 9:23 p.m., the report stated.

The driver was airlifted to Loma Linda University Hospital where he is being treated for major injuries. Both men were from San Fernando, according to a California Highway Patrol report.

The California Highway Patrol is investigation the collision.

San Bernardino Truck Accident Attorney

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Ventura, California Woman Impaled During Car Accident Dies

Ventura California Car Accident LawyerVENTURA, California —

The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s office says a Ventura woman impaled by a metal pole after a dramatic car accident died from her injuries.

Armando Chavez, a senior deputy with the Medical Examiner’s office, says Louise Nemerson was rushed to Ventura County Medical Center where she died during surgery on Thursday.

Police say Nemerson’s sports utility vehicle collided with another vehicle, went over the center median into opposing lanes of traffic. Nemerson went down an embankment and crashed through a chain-link fence where she was impaled by a metal pole.

Nemerson worked part time at Ventura College at the student health center.

We send out thoughts and prayers out to the family of Louise Nemerson.

If you or your family have lost a loved one in a car accident, or other fatal motor vehicle accident, you have in most cases, the right to recover compensatory damages for wrongful death, so long as your loved one was not at fault in the accident.

If you or your family have lost a loved one in a car accident, or other fatal motor vehicle accident, you may call our firm now for a free consultation at 800-816-1529, extension 1, or check out our main personal injury website at http://thepersonalinjury.com.

Ventura Car Accident Attorney

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Man Arrested in Fatal Car Crash in La Puente, California

California Fatal Car Accident Attorney and LawyerLos Angeles, California

A Duarte, California man, 22 years old, is being held after allegedly running a red light and smashing into another car, killing its occupant.

A 22-year-old Duarte California man was arrested after allegedly running a red light and broadsiding another car in La Puente, California last night, killing the 61-year-old driver, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

Elliott M. Imm was driving south on Valinda Avenue with a female passenger around 11:20 last night when he failed to stop at a red light at Temple Avenue and crashed into the driver’s side of a 2003 Chrysler, CHP Officer Anthony Martin said.

The driver of the Chrysler, a resident of Valinda, California, was pronounced dead at the scene, Martin said. Officials did not immediately release his name, saying his family had not been notified.

The impact also pushed the Chrysler into a 2003 Ford that was traveling parallel to the Chrysler but caused no serious injuries to the driver of the Ford.

Both Imm and his passenger were taken to Queen of the Valley hospital to be treated for their injuries. Martin said he did not know whether alcohol or drugs may have been factors in the accident. The officer said Imm was driving between 35 and 40 miles per hour.

Imm was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.

In this particular accident, the family of the man killed in the accident has a cause of action for wrongful death against the driver of the car who was at fault.

Furthermore, the passenger in the car the caused the fatal car accident also has a cause of action against the driver who was at fault.

If you or your family have suffered through a fatal car accident such as the one described in this article, or you were a passenger in a car that was involved in an accident such as this, you will want to retain an attorney as quickly as possible to receive just compensation, and to protect your legal rights.

You may call our law firm 7 days a week, 24 hours per day for a free consultation at 800-816-1529, extension 1, or visit our main personal injury website at www.thepersonalinjury.com.

California Fatal Car Accident Attorney and Lawyer

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Metro Bus and Metro Train Collide in Los Angeles, 15 injured so far!

Metro Train and Metro Bus Collide in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLOS ANGELES, California — A metro train and a bus collided Friday, injuring at least 15 people near downtown Los Angeles, officials said.

The crash happened a week after a deadly collision involving a commuter train in a Los Angeles suburb called Chatsworth, California.

Passengers on the Metro Blue Line train were hurt in Friday’s accident but the injuries were minor, said D’Lisa Davies, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The driver of the bus, which was not carrying any passengers, was among those injured, she said.

There were 230 to 250 passengers on the train, said Metro spokesman Jose Ubaldo. It was heading east to downtown Long Beach.

Chris Romero, 31, told The Associated Press the sound of screeching metal woke him and he ran from his apartment to the tracks.

“With everything that’s going on, it’s scary to go on the Metro,” he said in Spanish through an interpreter. He told AP he would not take the train “right now.”

The cause of the crash was under investigation.

If you were injured in this crash you may call our firm for a free consultation 7 days a week, 24 hours a day at 800-816-1529, extension 1.

Our law Firm has successfully handled many cases against the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority.

If you were injured you have only 6 months from the date of accident to file a claim with the governmental entity otherwise you will lose your right to sue. It is critical that you retain an attorney as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.

Los Angeles Metro Bus Accident Attorney and Los Angeles Metro Train Accident Attorney

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Chatsworth California Metrolink train crash kills 25, injures hundreds, and wreaks havoc on my neighborhood.

Chatsworth Train Accident Attorney Norman Gregory Fernandez discusses Metrolink Train Accident in Chatsworth, CaliforniaWhile driving home on the Ronald Reagan Freeway Friday night to pick up my gal, I observed many helicopters hovering over the area where I live. I decided to turn on KFWB News Radio to find out what was going on. I heard on the news that there had been a horrendous train accident within 1 mile of my home. Apparently a Metrolink commuter train collided head-on with a commercial freight train. It was further announced that the commuter Metrolink train had approximately 225 persons on board.

I grew up in Chatsworth California. I have left the area only a few times throughout my life when I went in the Air Force, lived in San Francisco, and in Hollywood California, but I have always come back home to Chatsworth California.

I not only live in Chatsworth California, but I work as an attorney in Chatsworth California as well. Chatsworth California is my home base for practicing law, and living.

Suffices to say on Friday night the authorities had Desoto Avenue closed, as well as Topanga Canyon Blvd.

As I was traveling west on the Ronald Reagan Freeway, heading towards home, I heard chilling eyewitness accounts of the carnage that took place during and after the train wreck, by way of accounts eyewitnesses on KFWB News Radio.

I was unable to get off of the freeway at my normal exit, and had to double back in Simi Valley, and exit at Tampa Avenue, to try to get home. I eventually had to call the Los Angeles police department Devonshire division to find out how I could get home in my car. There were literally hundreds of firefighters and police officers all over my neighborhood. I felt extreme grief for the victims of the train accident; however I also needed to get home as well. I was finally able to get home at approximately 10:00 PM Friday night.

Once at home, I watched the live local news accounts of the carnage that ensued in the Metrolink train accident. It made me sick to hear of all the people that died in the train accident, and all the people that were injured in the train accident. You must understand, as a child growing up in Chatsworth California, my friends and I used to play on the train tracks precisely where the Metrolink train accident happened. Furthermore, we used to walk through the tunnel close to where the accident occurred all the time. It is all part of the famous Chatsworth Park area where I live.

As a lifelong resident of Chatsworth California, I would like to send my prayers and condolences to the family members of all the victims of the Chatsworth Metrolink train crash, as well as to all of those were injured in the train accident.

On a more disturbing note, I have read numerous stories about the Chatsworth Metrolink train accident, on what I will call “bottom dweller” personal injury attorney blogs. Some of these stories were literally posted on the evening of the train accident. On the bottom of these blog entries, these bottom dwellers have the nerve to sign their story with “Chatsworth train accident attorney.” Not one of these attorneys lives or works in Chatsworth California. One of them is from downtown Los Angeles. It appears that the only reason they wrote their story, or plagiarized it from a reputable news source, is to try to get some of the victims of the Chatsworth train accident to sign up with their law firm. Maybe they were hoping that their name would come up in some kind of Internet search, I don’t know. I feel that this kind of behavior is unethical, immoral, and despicable. Heck, if given the chance, some of these attorneys would have probably been illegally passing out business cards at the scene of the train accident.

If you are a family member of one of the persons who died in the train accident, or were injured in the Chatsworth Metrolink train accident, do not under any circumstances retain one of the bottom dweller attorneys that call themselves Chatsworth train accident attorneys, or would write a story, or “have their marketing company” write a story on the evening of the accident. It is disgraceful.

Because this accident occurred so close to where I live, and in an area where I played as a kid growing up, and where I personally practice law, my law firm will hereby make the following offer to any family member of one of the deceased victims of the Chatsworth Metrolink train accident, or persons injured in the Chatsworth Metrolink train accident: the law offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez and Associates will reduce our contingency fee rate to 25% for all claims that are settled in pre-litigation. This offer only applies to family members and victims of the Chatsworth Metrolink train accident.

You may call my law firm at 800-816-1529 extension #1 for a free consultation, or go to my personal injury website at www.thepersonalinjury.com to read more about my firm.

If you or your family were a victim of the Chatsworth Metrolink train accident, and retain our firm at the reduced rate of 25% contingency fee for all claims that are settled in pre-litigation, we will immediately send our investigator out to you to sign you up to make things more convenient for you.

I must stress one thing that is very important; you have only six months from the date of the accident, September 12, 2008, to file a claim against Metrolink. I have handled many cases against the Los Angeles County Metropolitan transit Authority. Trust me, you must act fast. If your claim is not filed within six months, you most probably will lose your right to recover compensatory damages in this case.

God be with you.

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., a real Chatsworth California train accident attorney, © 2008

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What Do You Do When Your Motel or Hotel Has Bed Bugs? Don’t the let Bed Bugs Bite!

California Personal Injury Lawyer Norman Gregory Fernandez discusses an inkeepers duty not to allow bed bug infestations in hotel rooms, or motel rooms.Imagine you and your spouse have been traveling for many hours on a major interstate highway on your motorcycle or in your car, truck or other motor vehicle.

You and your spouse are very tired, sleepy, and decide to get a hotel or motel for the evening. You stop at what you think is big name, trustworthy, reputable motel chain to get a room for the night.

As you are sleeping you start to feel itchy, and that something is wrong. Imagine waking up to find out that you have been bitten hundreds of time by bed bugs or other blood eating insects! You have got that right bed bugs! Imagine the bites becoming infected; for weeks you suffer not only with the infection, but when it goes away, you have permanent scarring. Here is a link to the Harvard School of Public Health which explains what bed bugs are in great detail.

What do you do?

Well the first thing that you should do under the circumstances is seek medical treatment as soon as possible. A few bites are one thing, but hundreds are a whole different matter. You could have an allergic reaction, they could become infected, you could suffer scarring, etc. Prompt medical treatment will most likely give you a better prognosis.

The next thing you should do is take pictures of your bites. If you do not have a digital camera, buy a disposable camera and take pictures.

You should then notify the hotel / motel owner or manager of what happened as soon as reasonably possible, preferably before you check out. Obviously you do not want to go back into the room unless you have to, and anything taken out of the room by you needs to be washed, scrubbed, thrown out, etc., or you risk taking the bed bugs with you.

You should then immediately call a California Personal Injury Attorney such as me if your incident occurred anywhere in the State of California or another personal injury attorney if your incident occurred outside of California. You should call a personal injury attorney within 24 to 48 hours of your incident because of all the things that need to be done in your case, and because of all of the things you can do to screw your case up on your own.

Motel / Hotel (“Innkeepers”) owners have a higher duty of due care than normal to ensure that their rooms are safe and habitable for paying guest. If they allow bedbug infestations, or other insect infestations to cause injuries to their guests, they are liable for all damages proximately caused for their failure to prevent such infestations.

Check out my California Personal Injury Website Here for valuable information about personal injury cases. Remember, only a fool has himself or herself for a client.

If you have been the victim of bed bugs in a hotel / motel, a car accident, a truck accident, a motorcycle accident, a dog bite, a slip and fall, or any other personal injury, anywhere in the State of California that you think may have been caused by someone else, or where you think someone else may be responsible for your injuries, give us a call 7 days a week, 24 hours a day at 800-816-1529, extension 1. We will give you a free consultation over the phone, and tell you what we think about your case.

If we believe that we can help you, you may retain our firm on a contingency basis (in most cases) which means that you will not have to pay any money out of your pocket, unless we recover for you.

If you do not feel like calling you can click here to submit your California case to us online. If we feel that we can help you, we will respond to you. Either way, you have nothing to lose, and potentially everything to gain.

Take care all and remember; don’t let the bed bugs bite!

By California Personal Injury Attorney Norman Gregory Fernandez, © 2008

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Highway 101 reopened after Big Rig Truck Crash in Redwood City, California

Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez Personal Injury NewsFour people were injured in a crash that closed all but one lane of northbound Highway 101 in Redwood City for about two hours this morning, causing traffic to back up for miles.

The accident involved a big-rig and six cars, according to CHP Officer Grace Castillo. She said those hurt were taken to Stanford Hospital with minor injuries.

The CHP said the crash occurred when the truck, traveling in the far right lane, cut across all five lanes of traffic and crashed at 9:54 a.m. between Marsh Road and Woodside Road.

As it sped across the lanes, the truck hit a gray van traveling in the far left lane. The van was then rear-ended by a Nissan Sentra, Castillo said.

At the same time, a brown Audi A4 in the next lane over rear-ended a gray pick-up truck that had slowed down to avoid the truck, Castillo said. A red Honda sedan that was also in the far left lane was rear-ended by a gold Mazda as the cars tried to avoid the wreck ahead, she said.

The collision left the cab of the truck facing northbound traffic; its two empty trailers sprawled across all but one lane of traffic and the other smashed cars littering the roadway.

About 30 gallons of diesel fuel spilled out of the truck but was cleaned up by Caltrans, Castillo said. The truck was towed away at about 11:45 p.m.

Traffic inched by in one northbound lane until about noon, when all lanes were re-opened. Northbound traffic was backed up as far as Mountain View and southbound rubber-neckers kept traffic slow through San Carlos.

Redwood City Car Accident Lawyer

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2 Are Killed In A Multi-Car Crash Near Campbell California

Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez Personal Injury NewsCAMPBELL, California ― A motorist crashed into several other vehicles in unincorporated Santa Clara County near Campbell on Monday, killing himself and his passenger and seriously injuring a third person, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The accident happened shortly after 1 p.m. Monday when a 51-year-old San Jose man driving a Kia Amanti north on Camden Avenue failed to stop for a red light at Curtner Avenue and sideswiped a northbound 2000 BMW that was stopped at the intersection, CHP Officer Todd Thibodeau said.

The same driver then continued north and ran a red light at the Highway 17 off-ramp, striking the rear of a 1998 Mazda and broadsiding a silver Audi station wagon, both of which had just exited the highway, Thibodeau said.

The driver of the Kia was taken to Valley Medical Center, where he later died. His passenger, an 81-year-old San Jose woman, was pronounced dead at the scene, Thibodeau said.

The county medical examiner’s office has not yet released their names.
The driver of the Audi, a 50-year-old San Jose woman, was taken to Valley Medical Center with major injuries. She was listed in critical condition.

The occupants of the two other cars were not injured, nor was the driver of a fifth vehicle who claimed his car had been hit by flying debris, Thibodeau said.

There was no immediate evidence that alcohol played a role in the crash and a coroner’s report may help determine whether the driver of the Kia suffered from a medical condition, Thibodeau said.

If your family has suffered through the wrongful death of a loved one in California, or you have been the victim of car crash in California you may call us now for a free consultation at 800-816-1529.

Campbell California Car Accident Lawyer

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A 21 Year Old East Bay man has been killed in three-car crash in Berkeley, California

Law Office of Norman Gregory Fernandez Personal Injury NewsBerkley, California-

An Emeryville man died early this morning after he was in a three-car crash on Interstate 80 early, the Alameda County Coroner’s Office said.

Eric Fernandez, 21, was involved in a three-car collision on eastbound I-80 near Ashby Avenue around 12:05 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash involved a van, sedan and an undisclosed vehicle, the CHP said.

CHP reports say that Fernandez was initially trapped after the accident, and once he was freed by emergency personnel he was taken to a local hospital, where he died.

If you or a loved one has been in a car accident in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Berkeley and the East Bay, you will want to talk to an expert car accident lawyer about your car accident case. You may give us a call at 800-816-1529 7 days a week, 24 hours a day for a free legal consultation or check out the California Personal Injury Center by clicking here now.

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California Products Liability Law; “The Sophisticated User Doctrine;” is now the Law of California.

California Personal Injury LawyerThe California Supreme Court has given additional protections to manufacturers who have been sued for defective products or failure to warn in products liability.

Following the lead of other state and federal courts, California courts will now apply the “sophisticated user” doctrine.
Under this doctrine, a manufacturer cannot be held liable when it fails to warn specialists about a product’s dangers when those dangers should be well known to such sophisticated users.

William Johnson is a certified HVAC technician who had received extensive training in the field of air conditioning repair. In particular, he had been certified by the EPA to work on large commercial air conditioning systems. Johnson filed suit against American Standard, air conditioner manufacturers, and various chemical manufacturers and suppliers after he developed pulmonary fibrosis. Johnson contended that the disease resulted from his exposure to phosgene gas. Large air conditioning systems commonly use R-22, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerant that, when exposed to light or flame, can decompose into phosgene gas. Johnson claimed that while maintaining and repairing air conditioning systems, he brazed refrigerant lines and was thereby exposed to phosgene gas. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the manufacturer, and the court of appeal affirmed, holding that the manufacturer did not have a duty to warn a sophisticated user like Johnson of such dangers which were well known in the industry.

In Johnson v. American Standard, Inc., 179 P.3d 905 (Cal. 2008), the California Supreme Court agreed. The court adopted the sophisticated user doctrine, concluding that normally, there is no duty to warn professionals about commonly known hazards. This doctrine is an exception to the general duty a manufacturer has to warn consumers about potential risks and dangers. According to the court, “just as a manufacturer need not warn ordinary consumers about generally known dangers, a manufacturer need not warn members of a trade or profession (sophisticated users) about dangers generally known to that trade or profession.” In reaching this determination, the court cited decisions by other state courts, as well as federal cases, adopting the doctrine. The court also made it plain that the sophisticated user doctrine applies equally in strict liability and negligent failure to warn cases.

The court also rejected Johnson’s contention that even though he received training and held certifications, he did not remember hearing or reading about the dangers of phosgene. According to the court, “even if a user was truly unaware of a product’s hazards, that fact is irrelevant if the danger was objectively obvious.” The decision in American Standard will certainly make it more difficult for sophisticated consumers to hold manufacturers liable under a failure to warn theory.

Full opinion text: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S139184.PDF

I can say without a doubt that I do not agree with this opinion, and that the Sophisticated User Doctrine will probably be used and/or applied to many legitimate products liability cases here in California.

As it stands right now, I have observed the Courts use the doctrine of Primary Assumption to bar meritorious and legitimate cases that do not or should not fall within that doctrine to get rid of cases, I am sure the sophisticated user’s doctrine will be used the same way.

Will drivers of cars be considered sophisticated users simply because they have been driving a long time? Would such a doctrine be used to get rid of cases such as the Ford rollover cases?
Time will tell!

California Products Liability Center

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Politicizing the Cost of Health Care by Blaming Trial Lawyers; What a Load of Crap!

California Medical Malpractice Lawyer Norman Gregory Fernandez Discusses Medical MalpracticeYou have heard President Bush blame trial attorneys for the cost of health care being so high; you have heard a certain political party blame trial attorneys for the cost of health care being so high, and now another article is circulating on the Internet blaming trial attorneys for the cost of health care being so high. What you are hearing folks is flat out crap. It is time to air out the truth and call the B.S. for what it is; B.S.

We trial lawyers help personal injury victims including victims of medical malpractice, when nobody else will. We are usually the last and only recourse for persons who have been harmed. Do you think that a doctor, hospital, or other health care institution is going to just volunteer to compensate you for your losses?

What is Medical Malpractice? Medical Malpractice in a nutshell is a person suffering injuries or damages, as a result of a doctor or health care institutions failing to act as an ordinary professional in the community would. In other words, the doctor, hospital, or provider, causes you injuries by screwing up, usually with devastating results!

As we all know or should know, human beings are not perfect, and will sometimes make mistakes. Just like most commuters buy car insurance to protect themselves in case they screw up, doctors do the same thing.

It is not the fault of personal injury trial lawyers for a doctor or hospitals, screw-up, and it certainly is not the victims fault. We personal injury lawyers are the ones that go to bat for people who have been injured as a result of a doctor or hospital screw-up. It is our jobs and it is what we do. We help the victims to obtain compensation for their loss.

How could we be the ones who are responsible the high cost of medical care? In fact it is the insurance companies who are responsible for the high cost of medical malpractice insurance. I would like to think that the cost of malpractice insurance is based upon risk, but we all know the insurance companies exist to make a profit and that is it.

Now I like doctors, we all like doctors. They are the ones we turn to when we are sick. They make mistakes just like the rest of us, and they should be made to pay if lets say they cut off the wrong leg, fail to diagnose a serious condition, or leave tools in a patient after surgery. You get the picture.

With that being said, maybe doctors should adopt more stringent guidelines to discipline and police themselves, so that the bad doctors are weeded out. Maybe that will decrease their malpractice insurance rates.

California has had a cap of $250,000.00 on general damages for medical malpractice cases since the 1970’s. General Damages are damages such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, etc. Imagine only being able to get a maximum of $250,000 if a doctor cuts off the wrong leg, or fails to diagnose a cancer that would have been curable it caught in time, etc. Victims are still entitled to out of pocket losses.

So there it is. The cost of health care is through the roof. If anything it is greed that is driving up the cost. If universal health care was adopted, then maybe our nation would see some relief.

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © 2008

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Where My Law Firm Handles Personal Injury Cases In California.

California Personal Injury Lawyer, Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq.My firm handles personal injury cases in the following cities and counties thoughout California.

Southern California, Central California, Northern California, 29 Palms, Adelanto, Agoura Hills. Alameda, Albany, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Alturas, Amador City, American Canyon, Anaheim, Anderson, Angels Camp, Antioch, Apple Valley, Arcadia, Arcata, Arroyo Grande, Artesia, Arvin, Atascadero, Atherton, Atwater, Auburn, Avalon, Avenal, Azusa, Bakersfield, Baldwin Park, Banning, Barstow, Beaumont, Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Belmont, Belvedere, Benicia, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Big Bear Lake, Biggs, Bishop, Blue Lake, Blythe, Bradbury, Brawley, Brea, Brentwood, Brisbane, Buellton, Buena Park, Burbank, Burlingame, Calabasas, Calexico, California City, Calimesa, Calipatria, Calistoga, Camarillo, Canoga Park, Canyon Lake, Capitola, Carlsbad, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carpinteria, Carson, Cathedral City, Century City, Ceres, Cerritos, Chatsworth, Chico, Chino, Chino Hills, Chowchilla, Chula Vista, Citrus Heights, Claremont, Clayton, Clearlake, Cloverdale, Clovis, Coachella, Coalinga, Colfax, Colma, Colton, Colusa, City of Commerce, Commerce, City of Industry, Compton, Concord, Corcoran, Corning, Corona, Corona Del Mar, Coronado, Corte Madera, Costa Mesa, Cotati, Covina, Crescent City, Cudahy, Culver City, Cupertino, Cypress, Daly City, Dana Point, Danville, Davis, Del Mar, Del Rey Oaks, Delano, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Dinuba, Dixon, Dorris, Dos Palos, Downey, Duarte, Dublin, Dunsmuir, East Los Angeles, East Palo Alto, El Cajon, El Centro, El Cerrito, El Monte, El Segundo, Elk Grove, Emeryville, Encinitas, Escalon, Escondido, Etna, Eureka, Exeter, Fairfax, Fairfield, Farmersville, Ferndale, Fillmore, Firebaugh, Folsom, Fontana, Fort Bragg, Fort Jones, Fortuna, Foster City, Fountain Valley, Fowler, Fremont, Fresno, Fullerton, Galt, Garden Grove, Gardena, Gilroy, Glendale, Glendora, Goleta, Gonzales, Grand Terrace, Grass Valley, Greenfield, Gridley, Grover Beach, Guadalupe, Gustine, Half Moon Bay, Hanford, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hayward, Healdsburg, Hemet, Hercules, Hermosa Beach, Hesperia, Hidden Hills, Highland, Hillsborough, Hollister, Hollywood, Holtville, Hughson, Huntington Beach, Huntington Park, Huron, Imperial, Imperial Beach, Indian Wells, Indio, Industry, Inglewood, Ione, Irvine, Irwindale, Isleton, Jackson, Kerman, King City, Kingsburg, La Canada Flintridge, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mesa, La Mirada, La Palma, La Puente, La Quinta, La Verne, Lafayette, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Elsinore, Lake Forest, Lakeport, Lakewood, Lancaster, Larkspur, Lathrop, Lawndale, Lemon Grove, Lemoore, Lincoln, Lindsay, Live Oak, Livermore, Livingston, Lodi, Loma Linda, Lomita, Lompoc, Long Beach, Loomis, Los Alamitos, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Angeles, Los Banos, Los Gatos, Loyalton, Lynwood, Madera, Malibu, Mammoth Lakes, Manhattan Beach, Manteca, Maricopa, Marina, Martinez, Marysville, Maywood, McFarland, Mendota, Menlo Park, Menifee, Merced, Mill Valley, Millbrae, Milpitas, Mission Viejo, Modesto, Monrovia, Montague, Montclair, Monte Sereno, Montebello, Monterey, Monterey Park, Moorpark, Moraga, Moreno Valley, Morgan Hill, Morro Bay, Mount Shasta, Mountain View, Murrieta, Napa, National City, Needles, Nevada City, Newark, Newman, Newport Beach, North Hills, North Hollywood, Norco, Northridge, Norwalk, Novato, Oakdale, Oakland, Oakley, Oceanside, Ojai, Ontario, Orange, Orange Cove, Orinda, Orland, Oroville, Oxnard, Pacific Grove, Pacifica, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Palmdale, Palo Alto, Palos Verdes Estates, Paradise, Paramount, Parlier, Pasadena, Paso Robles, Patterson, Perris, Petaluma, Pico Rivera, Piedmont, Pinole, Pismo Beach, Pittsburg, Placentia, Placerville, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, Plymouth, Point Arena, Pomona, Port Hueneme, Porterville, Portola, Portola Valley, Poway, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Mirage, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Santa Margarita, Red Bluff, Redding, Redlands, Redondo Beach, Redwood City, Reedley, Reseda, Rialto, Richmond, Ridgecrest, Rio Dell, Rio Vista, Ripon, Riverbank, Riverside, Rocklin, Rohnert Park, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, Roseville, Ross, Sacramento, Salinas, San Anselmo, San Bernardino, San Bruno, San Buenaventura, San Carlos, San Clemente, San Diego, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Fernando Valley, San Francisco, San Gabriel, San Gabriel Valley, San Jacinto, San Joaquin, San Jose, San Juan Bautista, San Juan Capistrano, San Leandro, San Luis Obispo, San Marcos, San Marino, San Mateo, San Pablo, San Rafael, San Ramon, Sand City, Sanger, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Clarita, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Maria, Santa Monica, Santa Paula, Santa Rosa, Santee, Saratoga, Sausalito, Scotts Valley, Seal Beach, Seaside, Sebastopol, Selma, Shafter, Shasta Lake, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, Simi Valley, Solana Beach, Soledad, Solvang, Sonoma, Sonora, South El Monte, South Gate, South Lake Tahoe, South Los Angeles, South Pasadena, South San Francisco, St. Helena, Stanton, Stockton, Studio City, Suisun City, Sunnyvale, Susanville, Sutter Creek, Taft, Tarzana, Tehachapi, Tehama, Temecula, Temple City, Thousand Oaks, Tiburon, Torrance, Tracy, Trinidad, Truckee, Tulare, Tulelake, Toluca Lake, Turlock, Tustin, Twentynine Palms, Ukiah, Union City, Upland, Vallejo, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Ventura, Vernon, Victorville, Villa Park, Visalia, Vista, Walnut, Walnut Creek, Wasco, Waterford, Watsonville, Weed, West Covina, West Hills, West Hollywood, West Sacramento, West Carson, West Los Angeles, Westlake Village, Westminster, Westmorland, Wheatland, Whittier, Williams, Willits, Willows, Windsor, Winnetka, Winters, Woodlake, Woodland, Woodland Hills, Woodside, Yorba Linda, Yountville, Yreka, Yuba City, Yucaipa, Yucca Valley, Alameda County, Alpine County, Amador County, Butte County, Calaveras County, Colusa County, Contra Costa County, Del Norte County, El Dorado County, Fresno County, Glenn County, Humboldt County, Imperial County, Inyo County, Kern County, Kings County, Lake County, Lassen County, Los Angeles County, Madera County, Marin County, Mariposa County, Mendocino County, Merced County, Modoc County, Mono County, Monterey County, Napa County, Nevada County, Orange County, Placer County, Plumas County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Benito County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, San Francisco County, San Joaquin County, San Luis Obispo County, San Mateo County, Santa Barbara County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Shasta County, and Sierra County.

California is a very big State with many different cities and counties as you can see. If you have been the victim of a personal injury in any of the above cities or counties, give me a call at 800-816-1529 for a free consultation!

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © 2008

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Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle In California.

The Law Offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez handles many types of personal injury cases throughout CaliforniaMy law firm handles most types of personal injury cases throughout the State of California.

We have offices in Southern California and Northern California, and can come to you to sign you up for most personal injury cases, so that you do not have to waste gas driving to our office.

We like to make things convenient for our clients.

If you have had a California Personal Injury including but not limited to: Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Dog Bites, Wrongful Death, Product Liability, Truck Accident, Brain Injury Lawyers in California, CA Motorcycle Accident Law Firm, California Seat Belt Injury Attorneys, California Food borne Illness Lawyers, Truck Accident in California, 15 Passenger Van Rollover in California, CA Auto Product Liability Law, Auto Accidents in California, California Bus Accidents, California Train Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents in California, Seatback Failure, Roof Crush, Dog Bites, Nursing Home Abuse, On-the-job Injuries in CA, California Swimming Pool Accidents, California Slip, Trip and Fall, Wrongful Death, CA Aviation Accidents, Watercraft Injury in California, Toxic Chemicals, Asbestos Poisoning, California Premises Liability, Products Liability in California, CA Failure to Warn of Dangers, California Amusement Park Accidents, California Medical Malpractice, Legal Malpractice in California, California Child Car Seat Injury, Construction Accidents, Catastrophic Injuries, Funeral Home Abuse, California Wrongful Death, give us a call now.

We are aggressive personal injury lawyers located in California. We will see to it that you get quality medical care, and work aggressively to get you the highest possible monetary compensation via settlement or by judgment at trial.
Call us 7 days per week, 24 hours per day at 800-816-1529 ext. 1.

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © 2008

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How Much Money is Your Personal Injury Case Worth?

California Personal Injury Lawyer Norman Gregory Fernandez discusses case valuations.As a personal Injury Lawyer the number one question I get from every prospective or existing client is; how much money will I get for my personal injury case?

The actual answer to the question is that no personal injury lawyer can honestly tell you the answer to the question unless they have E.S.P. or are clairvoyant.

Not only is each case is different, but an attorney would have to be a clairvoyant to be able to predict the outcome of your case. If you do find a personal injury lawyer who promises he will get you a million dollars in a rear ender soft tissue injury case, ask him to put it in writing and then sign up with him or her! They would be contractually obligated to get you what they promised if they put their promise in writing! I know of NO Reputable Personal Injury Lawyer who would make such promises, or put such promises in writing! All we as personal injury lawyers can promise to do is our best to get you what you are entitled to. Anyway…………..

I have heard stories of some shysters out there promising the world to potential new personal injury clients, just to get them to sign up with their office. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! A good and reputable personal injury lawyer cannot, and will not predict the outcome of a case during an initial consultation where the damages that have been incurred are not even known yet.

With that being said a good personal injury lawyer can look at the many factors that come into play in your particular personal injury case to determine what a case may be worth with regards to settlement value. There is a huge difference between a lawyer telling you what you case may be worth without knowing your damages, and a lawyer telling you what the settlement value of your case may be after a through examination of the facts and damages in your case once they are ascertained.

Did you pick up on how I talk about settlement value? You see there is a huge difference between the settlement value of a case, and a potential jury verdict! Once a case goes before a jury, all bets are off. The value of your case is what they jury decides it is worth no matter what is argued. They can decide to not give you anything at all. Jury awards in California depend on 9 out of 12 jurors reaching a consensus on your case. Some courthouses and counties are known to be more liberal or conservative than others which is also a factor in what a jury may do. It is therefore impossible for any personal injury lawyer to predict what a jury will do with a case once they get it.

Experienced personal injury lawyers such as myself, have formulas that we use to determine what a good settlement value of a case may be both before and/or during litigation. After doing so many cases for so many years, I have a very good idea of what the settlement value of a particular case may be.

Personal injury case valuations depend on many things such as; nature and extent of injuries; medical bills; future medical bills; permanent bodily damage; out of pocket expenses, etc. Obviously a person who tries to work their own personal injury case without a lawyer has no clue what they are entitled to, and will end up getting little or nothing if they go at it on their own.

So going back to the original question; what is your personal injury case worth? The answer is that it all depends! Your first step should be to retain a competent personal injury lawyer and then go from there.

If you, your family, or your friends have been injured anywhere in the State of California, you may call my office for a free consultation at 800-816-1529.

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © 2007

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California is Cracking Down on Uninsured Motorist! How Being Uninsured Hurts your Personal Injury Case.

California Car Accident Lawyer Norman Gregory Fernandez discusses the harsh penalties in California for driving with no insuranceBig brother is not playing games anymore. The State of California has implemented a system whereby as of October 1, 2006, the DMV begin a systematic review of the 22.4 million private cars, light trucks and motorcycles registered in the state.

If your motorcycle, car, truck or other motor vehicle is found to be uninsured you will get a 30 day warning letter. If you fail to get insurance after that the State will suspend you registration. If you are found to be driving without a proper registration, your car can be seized by the State, and you can face fines of up to $1,000.00.

This is no joke folks. If you are driving around without insurance you will eventually be dinged.

Furthermore, insurance providers are now required by the State to notify the DMV if your insurance is cancelled or expired.

What does this mean to you? It means if you are driving around with no insurance you are screwed. The State will eventually catch up to you. The days of buying insurance to get your registration and plates, only to cancel one month later are over.

If you get into a motorcycle, car or other motor vehicle accident and have no insurance, you face losing your drivers license for up to a year, fines of up to $2,000.00, and the possibility of being hit with a civil judgment which requires you to pay for the damage you have caused.

The minimum liability insurance requirements in the State are presently $10,000.00 for property damage, $15,000.00 per person, and $30,000.00 per occurrence.

The purpose of the law is to supposedly make it fair to the people that do pay for insurance, and to drive down insurance rates. I agree that it is not fair that law abiding citizens pay for insurance while 15% of the people in the State do not, however, and as usual, the insurance companies will make out like bandits with this new law. I doubt seriously that insurance rates will go down.

As a personal injury lawyer I can tell you that it pains me to see someone get hit by an uninsured motorist so it is good that the State is cracking down on this issue. However to be really fair the State should force the insurance companies to lower their rates in return for this law.

There is one other thing to note; if you are uninsured and you get into an accident that is not your fault, no will only be able to recover out of pocket losses and that is it! You will legally not be able to get compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress, otherwise known as General Damages!

To add insult to injury you could lose your drivers license for 1 year and have to pay up to $2,000.00 in fines for driving without insurance.

The bottom line; get liability insurance. The cost of not having insurance is much greater than the cost of getting insurance. If you cannot afford liability insurance; do not drive!

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq. © 2007

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