Logging off of Social Media to Protect Your Claim
These days it seems that everyone lives on their social media accounts. From pictures of lunch to news about vacation plans, we all like to share our day-to-day activities with our friends and family. When it comes to filing a personal injury claim, however, that love of sharing can come back to bite us. Insurance companies do whatever they can to avoid paying proper compensation to injured claimants, as that hurts their bottom line. Tactics to avoid proper compensation can be as low as stalking your social media posts to find any shred of evidence that you may not be as hurt as you claim to be.
The Hidden Complication of Accidents: CRPS
If you have been injured in an auto accident, the injuries are often quite visible, with most long-term effects known and predictable. However, a little-known complication that can arise after physical trauma is called “complex regional pain syndrome,” or CRPS.
CRPS is an injury to your peripheral and central nervous systems that causes your brain to believe that your limb or body part is damaged and painful long after an injury is healed – leading to worsening pain and disability. Those who suffer from CRPS are often unaware of the underlying causes of their pain and try to “live with it,” assuming the injury is still healing.
Families Sue Encino-Based Company of Singing Star Killed in Plane Crash
Fans of singing star Jenni Rivera were shocked when they heard the news that the Lear Jet she and her entourage was traveling in plunged 28,000 feet to the ground in Mexico, killing all aboard. Now, the wrongful death attorneys at the Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand have learned that four families of members of the entourage killed in the tragic accident are suing Rivera’s Encino-based company and the owners of the jet.
The lawsuit claims that the owners of the Lear Jet 25, Starwood Management Group and Rodatz, “negligently and carelessly” leased a plane that was in a defective and dangerous condition. The suit claims that the jet that Rivera and her entourage had been traveling in had been damaged in a previous 2005 accident.
The attorney for the four families contends that the pilot of the chartered jet was not qualified to fly over 18,000 feet and that the co-pilot was not qualified to fly a Lear Jet 25 at all. The suit goes on to allege that neither of the pilots was permitted to fly passengers for hire. Both pilots died in the crash.
Rivera Enterprises, was also named in the lawsuit because it is believed that the company played a role in chartering the jet.
The attorney for the four families told the Daily News, “The plane literally fell out of the sky in a nose dive. This is intended to punish the actors for what occurred here.”
Rivera was an extremely popular banda singer in Mexico and the United States. She had sold more than 15 million albums before her death. Members of the Rivera family have not commented on the lawsuit.
If you believe you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another party or parties, you have a legal right to file a wrongful death suit. These kinds of suits can be complicated, so having an experienced law firm like the The Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand in your corner is a wise move when you are seeking fair and full compensation for your family.
If you believe you have a case, call our office in Encino at (818) 981-3530 or contact us online to discuss your legal options.
Santa Barbara Man Struck and Killed by Motorist
http://www.independent.com/news/2010/may/17/homeless-man-killed-traffic-accident/?print
A Santa Barbara man was struck by a car and killed on Saturday evening, the Santa Barbara Independent reports. The accident occurred at State and Islay Streets around 8:30 pm. The victim, who was homeless and whose identity has yet to be released, was crossing the intersection of State and Islay Streets as Javier Castillo, 23, proceeded northbound on State Street in a 2004 Mazda RX-8. Castillo told investigators he believed the man was going to make it across the intersection on foot before he reached it by vehicle; however, he miscalculated and struck the victim.
The victim sustained a broken leg and chest wounds before passing away from his injuries at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
According to police, witnesses have substantiated Castillo’s account of how the incident occurred, and to date no criminal charges have been filed against him. The investigation is still ongoing, however, and any witnesses to the accident should contact Officer Mark Hunt at (805) 897-3719.
If you’ve been forced to cope with sudden loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, we at the Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand understand your concerns and want to help. Our resources, experience, and depth of legal knowledge consistently result in successful settlements for families who have experienced tremendous loss. Contact Los Angeles and Santa Barbara wrongful death attorneys today for a free consultation.
Dana Point Girl In Critical Condition Following Hit and Run Incident
http://www.ocregister.com/news/girl-248396-year-old.html
Seven-year-old Tabatha Cope remains in critical condition today after she was struck by a hit and run driver while skateboarding with friends on Monday evening, the Orange County Register reports.
Tabatha, of Dana Point, was playing in a group of fifteen to twenty children on Silver Lantern Street and La Paz Avenue at approximately 6:30 pm on Monday, when she was struck by a light-colored raised pick up truck. The truck’s driver did not stop following the collision and has not contacted authorities.
Tabatha sustained serious injuries in the incident, including a broken collarbone, broken ribs, the loss of most of her teeth, and a lacerated liver. Tabatha’s father, Joseph Cope, urged the hit and run driver to come forward.
Our thoughts and best wishes are with this Tabatha as she recovers from her injuries.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a hit and run driver, please contact experienced accident attorneys today to learn about your legal rights to monetary compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and future care and treatment. At the Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand, you pay no attorney fees until we win your case.
Motorcyclist in Critical Condition Following Crash
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/may/09/simi-valley-man-critically-injured-in-motorcycle/?print=1
Bill Williams, of Simi Valley sustained serious injuries in a motorcycle crash on Sunday, the Ventura County Start reports. Williams, age 35, was operating an off-road motorcycle on the 2500 block of Angela Street when he collided with a parked car and injured his head, leg, and arm.
Witnesses state that Williams was attempting a wheel stand when the accident occurred. He was not wearing a helmet.
According to the NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008, “5,290 motorcyclists were killed—an increase of 2 percent over the 5,174 motorcyclists killed in 2007. There were 96,000 motorcyclists injured during 2008”. Further, “NHTSA estimates that helmets saved 1,829 motorcyclists’ lives in 2008, and that 823 more could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.” These staggering statistics substantiate the need for helmets to protect motorcyclists during accidents.
May 2010 is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and we at the Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand urge both motorcyclists and vehicle drivers to be aware of motorcycle safety during this time. For example, motorcyclists may benefit from taking rider-training programs dedicated to lowering crash rates. Vehicle drivers and the general public can prepare for the summer months where the number of motorcycle riders will increase on busy highways and roads, necessitating an attitude of all drivers and riders to be willing to share the road.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact experienced motorcycle attorneys today for a free consultation.
Garden Grove Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Car
http://www.ocregister.com/news/hit-247500-street-car.html
A man was killed Wednesday afternoon following a pedestrian to car accident on Ward Street in Garden Grove, the Orange County Register reports.
According to the article, the pedestrian was crossing a marked crosswalk at approximately 4 pm when a car traveling northbound on Ward Street failed to stop at the cross walk and struck the unidentified pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident.
Police state that drugs and alcohol were not a factor in causing the accident, however, gave few additional details as to how the incident occurred.
If you have been the victim in a pedestrian to car accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for lost earnings, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Contact skilled personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation and to learn how Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand will fight for your legal rights.
Los Angeles Police Office Seeks to Crack Down on Distracted Drivers’ Destruction
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-lopezcolumn-20100503,0,4276097,full.column
Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez teamed up with Los Angeles Police Officer Kamaron Sardar this week on a mission to catch distracted drivers. Lopez’s editorial, which appeared in the Times on Monday, highlighted four of the many citations issued during his traffic observation with Sardar at Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz.
According to Lopez, it took only five minutes for the duo to spot their first distracted driver, who was talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device. Sardar went on to write four citations within a one-hour time period.
According to distraction.gov, a US Department of Transportation website, there are three primary types of distracted driving: Visual (taking one’s eyes off the road), Manual (taking one’s hands of the wheel), and Cognitive (taking one’s mind off of what one is doing). Distracted driving activities include talking or texting on a cell phone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading maps, changing the radio station, or using a navigational device. According to the website, there were nearly 6,000 deaths in accidents related to distracted driving in 2008, with an additional 515,000 injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident due to a distracted driver’s negligence, please contact experienced and aggressive personal injury attorneys today to learn about your legal options. At Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand, we offer free consultations and no fees until we win your case.
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Man Struck and Killed by Train in San Diego
http://www.latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/04/a-coaster-commuter-train-struck
The Los Angeles Times reports today that a man died Tuesday night after being struck by a train in the 1600 block of Coast Boulevard in Del Mar. The victim, whose name was not disclosed, was from the state of Washington and had been dog sitting in Del Mar.
According to the train’s engineer, the man continued to walk slowly across the train tracks even after he had sounded the horn. Although the engineer applied the brakes, the train, which extended four feet beyond the tracks on either side, clipped the man after he made it across the tracks.
At the Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand, we work aggressively to find answers and to recover maximum compensation for clients injured in train accidents. We understand that an accident can disrupt the lives of the injured and all those involved. Although we can’t undo the pain and suffering caused by an accident, we can work towards easing the financial burden associated with it.
Contact experienced train accident attorneys today for a free consultation.
Santa Ana Employees Hospitalized After Inhaling Unknown Substance at Work
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/santa-colon-odor-2595337-building-called
Seven people were taken to area hospitals this morning after complaining of respiratory problems at a Federal Building in Santa Ana, the Orange County Register reports. All of those hospitalized had inhaled an undisclosed substance on an elevator in the Federal Building.
Building employees were evacuated as investigators attempt to determine what the substance is and why it caused respiratory problems. In addition, the ventilation system in the building has been shut down.
As the substance in the elevator has yet to be disclosed while the investigation is ongoing, many questions remain unanswered. How did the substance get into the elevator? Is this a toxic substance with the potential for long term illness? In the midst of many lingering questions, we wish a safe and full recovery to all of those who experienced respiratory problems or other illnesses today.
The inhalation of toxic substances can cause serious health problems, such as asthma, respiratory disorders, neurological problems, brain damage, cancer, and, in some cases, death. If you or someone you know has suffered a serious illness due to toxic substance inhalation, experienced personal injury attorneys can help.