Posted on June 22, 2023 in Truck Accidents

Truck accidents during the summer tend to rise partly because more people hit the road to go on vacation. The peak months are August and September partly because more teen drivers are on the roads during summer break and recreational vehicles are also sharing the highways. Add to the mix the increased number of construction projects during the summer that tend to disrupt traffic. With so many folks on the road, it’s only a matter of time before a collision occurs. At Tahmazian Law Firm, P.C. we understand just how devastating truck accidents can be, resulting in death and severe injuries.

Top Reasons for a Spike in Truck Crashes

Here are the top three reasons for more summertime truck accidents:

• Road construction – Many highways undergo construction in the summer, creating hazards and traffic backups. When truckers and other drivers do not properly anticipate changes ahead in traffic patterns, accidents are likely to happen.

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 Posted on June 13, 2023 in Personal Injury

You may have seen the headlines in California about electric vehicles suddenly catching on fire. By 2025 one in ten cars will be electric. But firefighters are finding it harder to extinguish fires created by electric car batteries. That is because some 25,000 gallons of water are needed to extinguish a car when it erupts into flames compared to 300 gallons of water for a gas-powered vehicle. While this is not a common occurrence, if it happens to you or a loved one, you may be wondering, who should be held accountable for your personal injuries?

Defective Batteries

When safety measures fail you, you and your loved ones deserve legal representation to attain adequate compensation. If you are injured in an electric car fire, you may have a claim against the car makers and battery manufacturers.

Nowadays, lithium-ion batteries are the most commonly used and they are not the same as the traditional lead batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are stronger and can be charged faster. The battery is made up of thousands of cells so when the energy cells are damaged, the battery’s temperature rises to extremely high levels, causing the battery to catch on fire. Most firefighters are not well equipped to carry 25 thousand gallons of water to extinguish the resilient fires created by electric cars.

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 Posted on May 19, 2023 in Car Accidents

New technology is causing drivers to become more distracted behind the wheel than ever before. The top distraction is a cell phone and regrettably because of this cell phone addiction highway fatalities are on the rise up 22 percent. Not all distracted driving accidents are fatal, however. Distracted driving injury accidents are actually greater in number. In 2020, nearly 325,000 people were injured in a distracted driving crash. If you are injured in a distracted driving accident you have the right to receive compensation for your injuries.

Multitasking Can Lead to Injury Accidents

An accident can have a devastating impact on the injured person and their family. Some injuries are more severe and require costly medical treatment and families run into financial difficulties if there is a loss of income while treatment and recovery are taking place. There are also other matters involving emotional trauma and enjoyment of life. Under most circumstances, however, collisions are preventable because they often occur when one or more drivers act negligently.

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 Posted on May 09, 2023 in Personal Injury

Sports activities are important to keep kids healthy and for them to learn about teamwork. However, sports injuries are a reality. In California, when you play sports you are required to sign a waiver thereby assuming the risk of harm. So, if your child is injured while playing soccer you cannot sue the company or the player responsible. But what if the soccer field has gopher holes that can easily twist a player’s ankle or snap a knee? A recent study found that a top reason for soccer player injuries is inadequate sports facilities with soccer athletes suffering the highest rate of injuries. If you have suffered a personal injury due to an improperly maintained field you may have a premises liability case and Tahmazian Law Firm, P.C. can help.

School Fields

A school has a duty of care to provide athletes with well-maintained facilities. If a soccer field has any holes in the field that could cause an athlete to trip or worse, break an ankle, it is the obligation of the school to quickly fill those holes. Premises liability laws apply to property owners, business owners, and public parks. The laws are in place so that owners adhere to a legal duty of care and ensure that the premises are safe.

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 Posted on April 17, 2023 in Car Accidents

A hit-and-run-driver remains at large in Los Angeles County after striking a teenager who ended up losing his right leg. Unfortunately, in the past ten years, the same mile-long stretch of road where the accident occurred has seen more than 225 crashes that have caused nearly 600 injuries or deaths. Just like this teen, many people will face a long recovery, or they may be permanently disabled. As you may imagine, getting used to a new life following an amputation is not easy and the mounting hospital bills can be overwhelming after a pedestrian accident when there is no one to hold accountable. If you have been injured in a hit-and-run accident you have some options to pursue compensation depending on the circumstances.

Hit-and-Run Driver Cannot Be found

In California, you may still be able to seek compensation even when the driver remains unidentified. If the driver is not located you could file a claim against your car insurance policy. You can claim your uninsured or underinsured coverage for bodily injury from a hit-and-run. However, you may not claim property damage if you are unaware of the other driver’s identity.

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 Posted on April 11, 2023 in Car Accidents

You may have seen the video of a vehicle as it flies into the air on Interstate 118 in Los Angeles County after being hit by a loose tire from a pickup truck. Research shows that road debris in the United States is a factor in nearly 200,000 car accidents. Each year, road debris results in about 40,000 car accident injuries. With tens of thousands of vehicles on the roads and highways of LA County, accidents are inevitable. But if you have suffered serious injuries you need to know who is liable.

Road Hazards can lead to Damaged Tires

In the recent incident in LA County, the CHP determined that the lug nuts holding the tire in place, sheared off, and led to the tire’s sudden detachment.

Various things could lead to a collision as a result of road hazards including potholes that may puncture a tire. When a tire ruptures, it can cause the driver to lose control of his or her vehicle. Here are the other common reasons why that may occur:

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 Posted on March 27, 2023 in Serious Injuries

March is brain injury awareness month calling attention to the effects of a traumatic brain injury or TBI. More than five million people in the United States are living with permanent brain injury. That is one in every 60 people. Nearly three million Americans sustain these catastrophic injuries every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that traffic-related crashes are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries.

What Constitutes a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury or TBI is caused by an external force or trauma. A strong impact on the head during a car accident can damage brain tissue which can lead to temporary or permanent problems. Sometimes, the effects of a brain injury do not manifest themselves until weeks or months later. However, someone may feel there is something wrong if they experience chronic headaches, sleeping problems, memory loss, and sensitivity to lights and sounds. Depending on the severity of the initial impact, a person could appear to be fine but have a delayed trauma in which the brain becomes swollen.

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 Posted on March 10, 2023 in Car Accidents

Being in a car accident is not only scary but it can be downright chaotic, especially if it happens on a California freeway. With so many vehicles rushing by it can be difficult to stay composed and impossible if you suffer severe injuries. But an accident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is a key document you will need if you want to file a personal injury claim.

CHP Accident Report

In any car accident, it is very important to determine the cause and identify the responsible parties. Vehicle accidents end up leaving people with expensive medical bills, the inability to work, and in some cases psychological trauma. Under California law, drivers are required to report car accidents involving injuries or death within 24 hours of an accident, to the CHP or their local police department. The easiest way to do this is by calling 911.

Under the law, you must report a car accident involving injuries to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within ten days of the crash. Failure to do so could result in losing your driver’s license. The DMV will suspend your license until you file an accident report. Depending on the circumstances, you may face fines and jail time for not reporting an accident.

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 Posted on February 16, 2023 in Serious Injuries

Nursing home residents are the most vulnerable to developing sepsis. This medical condition is all too common in nursing homes due to negligence or abuse. At least 1.7 million adults in America develop sepsis. It is unfortunate because nursing homes are meant to provide medical care and assistance for those who are not able to fully care for themselves. If you or a loved one has suffered nursing home abuse and developed sepsis you may be able to seek compensation.

What is Sepsis?

Virtually any infection, including COVID-19, can lead to sepsis but the elderly are especially susceptible. Sepsis is a life-threatening medical condition that is common among people with a weak immune system. This is a relentless condition that begins as a bacterial infection in the blood and worsens quickly because the body is unable to fend off infections.

The body usually tries to protect itself by releasing chemicals into the bloodstream but when someone has sepsis, there is widespread inflammation, which restricts blood flow. That can result in blood clots and severe organ damage. If it is not treated quickly, the lungs, kidneys, and liver can shut down, leading to septic shock, and in many cases, wrongful death.

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 Posted on February 08, 2023 in Serious Injuries

The financial costs after suffering a severe spinal cord injury in a crash are life-altering. Often people lose wages as they work to recover. In severe cases, you may require extensive medical treatment which can cost tens of thousands of dollars in addition to the physical and emotional pain. Spinal cord injuries cost the nation an estimated $9.7 billion each year. In the United States, some 450,000 people are living with a spinal cord injury and in most cases, the cause is a motor vehicle accident. At Tahmazian Law Firm, P.C., we can help you understand the options you have to receive compensation for your injuries.

Understanding Vertebral Column Trauma

Trauma to the vertebral column will impact the spinal cord's ability to send and receive messages from the brain to the rest of the body. That may affect sensory and motor skills. Often a strong jolt to the neck or back in a car accident can damage the vertebrae in the backbone and the nerves in the spinal cord. Blunt trauma can compress, pull, or push the spinal cord sideways causing life-altering damage. Unfortunately, in some instances, a severed spinal cord may not be repaired and the person is partially or completely paralyzed.

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