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More than $50 million collected on behalf of the injured. We are fierce advocates for our clients and we do not stop until justice is done. If you have been hurt in a collision in or around Orange County, your first call should be to the attorneys at Neale & Fhima.
When someone acts carelessly in the vicinity of others, there is always the possibility of an innocent victim’s getting hurt. But when the carelessness occurs at the controls of a motor vehicle, the threat is much greater. Why? Because vehicles magnify the consequences of human error. The weight of vehicles and the speed at which they travel mean that even momentary lapses in judgment can have deadly consequences.
Our law firm is prepared to go to work immediately to protect your rights as an accident victim. Contact us now to find out how we can help.
Negligence is the legal basis for most personal injury claims. It occurs when the responsible party fails to act reasonably, leading to an incident in which the victim suffers physical harm. Here is a description of the types of vehicle accidents that often result in negligence liability:
Ideally, drivers would always obey the speed limit, follow the rules of the road, and avoid distractions like talking on the phone. The reality of the situation is much different. More than 3,000 people per year are killed in automobile accidents in our state. With 60 percent of the state’s population living in Southern California, the majority of these tragedies happen right here on our streets. It’s at times like these that victims and their families often turn to experienced car accident attorneys for help and guidance.
A fully-loaded tractor trailer is 20 times heavier than the typical passenger vehicle. These two kinds of vehicles should not even share the same roadway from a safety perspective. Unfortunately, they do, and when collisions occur, the sheer size of commercial trucks makes passenger vehicles and the people inside them vulnerable. If you’ve been in such an incident, consulting with a truck accident lawyer can provide guidance on your rights and potential compensation.
Of all the excuses we hear from people who have caused accidents, the ones we find most objectionable usually come in motorcycle cases. Failing to “see” a motorcycle is not a defense to liability. There is also a popular misconception that motorcycle riders are reckless by nature. In our experience, the opposite is true – motorcyclists tend to be the most cautious and attentive motorists on the road. If you or a loved one have been involved in such an incident, consulting with a motorcycle accident lawyer can provide guidance and expertise.
Southern California is home to sand dunes, mountain trails, and desert roads. Not surprisingly, ATVs are extremely popular among the outdoor recreation crowd. Today’s ATVs are more stable than their 3-wheeled predecessors, but accidents are still frequent. Even if no other vehicles or riders are involved, our attorneys can investigate sources of compensation such as homeowners’ policies and manufacturer liability.
According to S. Coast Guard records for 2015, the top three causes of boating accidents are: 1) operator inattention; 2) operator inexperience; and 3) improper lookout. These factors often go hand in hand. Any one of them will give rise to negligence liability when someone gets hurt on the water. If you’ve been impacted by such an incident, consulting a boat accident lawyer can be a crucial step..
Did you know that California law allows people to drive an RV (up to 40 feet long) with a regular Class C license? No special training or education is required. Negligent RV drivers can cause accidents by misjudging a turn radius, failing to account for overhead objects, failing to perform maintenance, and more.
You have probably heard the adage claiming you are more likely to crash in a car on the way to the airport than you are on a plane. This is true of commercial jetliners, but it is certainly not true of small single-engine aircraft. We are prepared to handle personal and charter airplane accidents.
One of the most challenging aspects of a bus accident claim is identifying all responsible parties and bringing them to justice. As a plaintiff, you may be able to seek compensation from the bus driver, the driver’s employer, the bus line or charter service, a tour company, and/or the government.
Passenger trains play an important role in moving people into, out of, and around our community. In Orange County alone there are Amtrak and Metrolink, and the OC Streetcar light rail system is on its way. An incredible amount of freight is also transported by rail every day. Conductor negligence, mechanical problems, and dangerous infrastructure can all lead to accidents. For those unfortunate situations, a train accident lawyer can be instrumental in seeking justice and compensation.
Pedestrians are far more likely to be killed as the result of a collision compared to people inside a vehicle at the time of the crash. If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, it’s important to consult with a qualified pedestrian accident lawyer to protect your rights and seek the compensation you deserve. Consider the following CHP data for the Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego tri-county area in 2015:
Plenty of sunshine and little rain makes our part of the state perfect for bicycle riding. Whether you cycle for exercise, for the environment, or just for fun, a multitude of hazards exist all around you on the street. Our law firm can reconstruct bicycle accidents to determine who was at fault for your injury.
The plaintiff in a personal injury case has the burden of proving all the necessary elements of the claim. For example, the plaintiff must prove “fault” (the defendant is to blame for the accident) and “causation” (a direct link exists between the accident and the harm to the plaintiff). Of everything the plaintiff must prove, though, the extent of the plaintiff’s injuries is the only issue guaranteed to be contested in every case. That is to say, no matter how badly you are hurt, the defense will always try to downplay your suffering.
At Neale & Fhima, we work with accident victims and their doctors to gather evidence showing the full extent of every injury. Vehicle accident injuries typically fall into one of these five categories:
The purpose of awarding damages in a personal injury case is to put the victim back in the position he or she was in prior to the accident – to make the victim “whole again,” as the saying goes.
On one hand, this is an impossible task. There is nothing that can be included in a settlement or jury award to make victims forget the painful ordeal they endured. On the other hand, we can at least force wrongdoers to pay for all damages than can be calculated or estimated in financial terms.
In addition to property damage, compensation for vehicle accidents may include: medical bills (current and future), lost wages, reduced earning capacity, diminished quality of life, loss of consortium, and punitive damages.
Careless operation of a vehicle is sure to result in a collision sooner or later. By definition, however, accidents are unexpected events. They can happen anyplace in Southern California – from the PCH to the Angel Crest Highway – and under a variety of circumstances. Here are some common examples:
Some of the most devastating injuries that find their way into the emergency room come from auto accidents. And, unfortunately, they are far from uncommon. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 6,296,000 traffic crashes reported in the United States last year, 32,166 fatal.
While some by their nature — including head-on accidents and roll-overs — have a higher chance for damage and injuries, all accidents have the potential for catastrophe. For example, a sidesweep in most cases causes little more than a scratch; but under the right circumstances, it could contribute to driving a car off the road and into a ditch, causing major damage and serious injuries.
Serving California’s legal needs for over 35 years. We have a 99% success rate and have successfully obtained thousands of settlements and verdicts for our clients.
Winning a personal injury case requires a great deal of coordination between the client and attorney. With this in mind, we invite you to get acquainted with Matt Neale and Aaron Fhima. They have been in this business a long time,
and chances are they have handled a vehicle accident case similar to yours in the past. You can speak with them personally, ask questions, gain insight, and begin to forge a relationship that will help you through the difficult weeks and months ahead.