TYPES OF CASES WE HANDLE
Truck Accidents
At G. Helena Philips Law Group, we also understand the unique aspects of commercial truck and bus accident cases. These vehicles take longer to stop than their passenger vehicle counterparts. That means drivers of the vehicles must drive slower and stay farther behind to avoid a rear-end collision. Careless truck or bus drivers may fail to check for blindspots before changing lanes.
The owners and operators of tractor trailers, commercial trucks and buses must follow regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You need an attorney who can understand and find violations such as:
• Inadequate or improper securing of loads or equipment
• Non-placement or incorrect placement of warning flags, signs and lights
• Not inspecting the vehicle before driving
• Defective tires, brakes or other safety devices
• Driving excessive hours, resulting in driver fatigue
The companies hiring the drivers may be liable to you for negligent hiring, negligent training or negligent supervision. To that end, we examine driving histories and criminal records for convictions such as impaired driving, speeding and reckless driving.
Premises Liability
At the foundation of any personal injury attorney, Los Angeles practice is identifying parties responsible for your losses. G. Helena Philips Law Group does not pursue only careless drivers.
Those who own or control properties with hazards and dangers can also face liability. Premises liability cases can arise from conditions such as:
• Broken handrails
• Lose or rotten steps or floors
• Liquid or loose objects on the floor
• Unstable columns or roofs that collapse
• Insufficient fire hydrants
• Malfunctioning fire or smoke alarms.
We also pursue claims for negligent security. The law holds property owners responsible for the foreseeable criminal acts of third parties. The evidence that a criminal act was reasonably anticipated includes records of similar criminal activity in the vicinity. Contact the Law Offices of G. Helena Philips if you have been injured by an attacker because the establishment, such as a hotel, motel or store lacked adequate lighting, locks on doors at night, security cameras or security guards.
Automobile Crashes
Motor vehicle crashes often arise from careless driving. These acts of negligence include:
• Speeding
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Driving too fast for the conditions, such as wet roads, fog or traffic congestion
• Failing to adequately look out for traffic
• Unsafe lane changes or turns
Our office sees distracted driving as a significant culprit in motor vehicle accidents. Drivers who text, view and send messages, call and surf the Internet are inattentive. Their recklessness can cause serious injuries and deaths. Nationally, 3,142 people died in 2019 at the hands of distracted driving.
Motorists who are impaired by alcohol or drugs pose serious risks to other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. With impaired driving comes a loss of judgment and ability to stop suddenly or in time to avoid a crash. In 2018, alcohol played a role in 2,810 deaths and injuries in Los Angeles.
Pedestrians
In 2019, more than half of the 236 people killed in Los Angeles car incidents were pedestrians. A reported 3,563 pedestrians in Los Angeles either died or suffered injuries from a motorist in 2018.
Accidents involving pedestrians often occur at intersections because the at-fault driver does not obey a traffic light or sign or fails to look for pedestrians. Negligent drivers may fail to observe those walking along the shoulder of a street or highway. As with many car and truck accidents, distractions by radios, smartphones and other passengers draw drivers’ attention away from the road and pedestrians.
Motorcycle Crashes
Distractions, impairment and inattention carry potentially serious consequences for motorcycle operators and passengers. The only protection in a collision for motorcyclists comes from a helmet. If you’re in a motorcycle crash, you will likely face serious injuries or even the risk of death. Our office pursues drivers who failed to observe a motorcycle before turning in front of or trying to pass the motorcycle.
TYPES OF INJURIES
Traumatic Brain Injuries
When your head strikes a steering wheel, dashboard or another type of object, you likely will suffer a traumatic brain injury. The sudden and often violent impact of these and other objects with your head can lead to concussions and perhaps even internal injuries. Leaving these injuries unattended can result in more serious health problems. You may also suffer memory or behavioral impairment as the result of a traumatic brain injury.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Strains, sprains and bruises do not sound as dramatic or traumatic as concussions or fractures. However, left untreated, soft tissue injuries create long-term pain and restriction of your movements. Within soft tissue injuries lie damages to ligaments, the skin, and muscles in tendons. These kinds of injuries can be the result of falls, car crashes and other acts of negligence.
Burns
Incidents such as car crashes or explosions cause fires that can burn your skin. The painful, disfiguring and debilitating effects of burns come via more than just fires. You may suffer burns from exposure to toxic chemicals, hot oil or excessively hot coffee spilled upon you by a careless worker. A waiter or waitress that negligently pours for you a cleaning solution thinking it might have been tea or water can cause severe internal burns to your throat and organs.
Mental and Psychological
The emotional and psychological toll a serious car accident or other personal injury event takes upon victims can be extensive. You are having to deal with the pain, stress regarding finances, and the inability to have the life you once led. Work, recreation and travel become limited if not eliminated.
Loss of Limbs
A sudden accident can immediately destroy a limb, eye or ear or leave members of your body beyond repair. In some cases, amputation becomes necessary to save your life. The loss of limbs can leave you permanently and in some cases completely disabled. You will likely also suffer considerable mental anguish and pain.
Fractures
Fractured legs, knees, arms and feet restrict your mobility and can impose tremendous pain. Immediate surgeries to repair on broken bones become essential to prevent more chronic or long-lasting problems. In some cases Physical therapy also comes with treatment of fractures.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Among injuries, damage to your spinal cord can prove among the most devastating. Victims may become paralyzed. A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will often point to the loss of body functioning and the associated need for long-term assistance and care. If you or a loved one suffers a spinal cord injury, you will likely face years of extensive rehabilitation.
Drivers and passengers involved in forceful vehicle accidents, motorcycle crashes and large commercial vehicle accidents, stand at an increased risk of spinal cord injuries. A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer often sees these injuries in cases where the victim falls from high places or is involved in a serious vehicle accident.
TYPES OF DAMAGES YOU CAN RECOVER
Medical Expenses
At G. Helena Philips Law Group, we understand that medical attention and treatments can leave you financially burdened. To reduce some of that load, we seek to recover for you the expenses of emergency room visits, ambulance trips, surgeries, doctor visits and rehabilitation. Your injuries may also result in seemingly never ending cost for prescriptions. Your medical expense damages may include the cost of hearing aids, prosthetics and other medical and dental devices.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Injuries that put you in the hospital and force you to stay at home keep you away from your job. You can recover not only these lost wages, but you may have lost earning capacity. Car accidents and other acts of negligence can leave you significantly disabled. Lost hearing, eyesight and ability to use your limbs can prevent you from holding many kinds of jobs. Depending upon your education, prior work experience and skills, a personal injury lawyer Los Angeles can pursue significant compensation for your lost earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering
Motor vehicle accidents, falls, burns and other incidents can generate constant pain, discomfort, depression and anguish. Your pain and suffering may manifest itself also in insomnia, anxiety, stress, humiliation, shock and other emotional trauma.
Loss of Consortium
Negligent actors not only diminish your well-being but can disrupt your relationships with your spouse and family. California law allows you or your spouse to recover loss of consortium damages for the removal of affection and companionship occasioned by a crash or other event.