Q1. Tell us about yourself and your practice.
A. I graduated from the University of San Diego Law School in 1978 and have been in practice in San Diego, since that time. I concentrate in personal injury cases including automobile accidents, construction accidents, falls, defective products, premises liability and wrongful death.
Q2. Do you offer free initial consultations?
A. I do offer a free, no obligation initial consultation.
Q3. What are the underlying principles behind your firm?
A. Serious injuries greatly affect all phases of peoples lives. My clients are in physical pain and have incurred significant financial losses. At the same time they are confronted with a complicated and often uncaring system. I take the pressure off the client. I offer answers and solutions to their problems and assist in getting their lives back on track. I work diligently to promptly collect fair compensation for all the damages suffered.
Q4. From a legal standpoint what is the meaning of pain and suffering?
A. " Pain and suffering" is really a misnomer for what are classified as general damages under the law. General damages are non-monetary losses suffered by an accident victim. The other type of losses suffered by an injured party are special damages. Special damages are monetary losses, including medical bills and lost wages. General damages on the other hand include physical pain, mental anguish, inconvenience, embarrassment, restriction and disfigurement. General damages are damages caused to the body or mind and typically form the largest part of a personal injury settlement or award.
Q5. How does a person decides if she/he needs professional help in a claim?
A.The best way to decide, if you need representation is to talk to an experienced lawyer about your case. Most qualified lawyers will explain your options and the benefits of hiring a lawyer and you can then make an informed decision. It is usually a mistake to let the insurance company for the party at fault to have much influence in this decision.
Q6. Does one need to hire a personal injury lawyer in their city or town?
A. Personal injury lawsuits must typically be filed in the county where you are injured. It is therefore usually more efficient for cases to be handled by an attorney with offices in this county. However, California lawyers can handle cases throughout the state and depending upon the nature of the case, your area of residence and the qualifications of the attorney you may be best served by an attorney, not from the county where you were injured.
Q7. What is covered under Personal Injury law?
A. Personal injury law covers all types of claims involving physical or emotional injury, including death. Personal injury cases include automobile accidents, slips and falls, assaults, worksite injuries (other than workers compensation) dangerous conditions on public property,premises liability, negligent supervision and dangerous products.
Q8. What happens if the person does not live in the state where his/her injury took place?
A. Typically an attorney should be hired from the state where the injury took place. An attorney from another state may assist in attempting to negotiate a settlement, but except in unusual cirumstances cannot file lawsuits in a state unless he/she is admitted to that state' s bar.
Q9. Can a person be liable for an injury that has occurred in her/his premises?
A. Yes. Generally all persons are required to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition and to eliminate or warn of safety risks that pose a foreseeable risk of injury to others. Such dangerous conditions are most often physical safety hazards, such as unsafe stairs, slippery conditions, trip hazards or unsafe walkways/roads. Premises liability can, however, also be based upon failure to protect against foreseeable unsafe or criminal acts of third parties.
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