What to do if Injured
In all cases you should get medical treatment immediately if you experience symptoms of pain. Describe your pain accurately to the doctors.

AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
Car accident cases involve claims of common law negligence, and numerous other issues, including minimum coverage requirements, rights of subrogation, medical payment coverage, workers' compensation benefits, comparative negligence, and uninsured and under-insured motorists coverage.

If you are in a car accident, you should do the following as soon as possible:
  • Call the police to investigate the accident.
  • Get the name, address and insurance company of the person responsible for the accident.
  • Take a picture of your vehicle before it gets fixed. Also, if possible, take a picture of the other driver's car.
  • Get the names and addresses of all witnesses to the accident.

SLIP/TRIP & FALL
According to California law, landowners must keep their land reasonably safe for intended users. As a result, hotels, restaurants, homeowners and other landowners or occupiers have a duty to warn of and repair dangerous conditions within a reasonable time frame.

If you are involved in a slip/trip and fall accident, you should:
  • Take a picture (or request from the property owner that he/she take a picture) of the substance you slipped in, or of the condition that caused you to trip.
  • Get the names and addresses of anyone who saw the substance you slipped in, or the condition that caused you to trip.
  • Be sure to get the name and address of any employee of the property owner who admits to you that the slippery substance or condition that caused you to trip existed before you fell.

ATTACKED OR BITTEN BY A DOG
If you are attacked or bitten by a dog:
  • Seek medical attention immediately to clean out wounds and to prevent potential infection.
  • Get the name and addresses of all witnesses.
  • Find out who owns the dog and where the owner lives.
  • If possible, find out if the dog has attacked or bitten anyone previously.

WRONGFUL DEATH
Any person who wrongfully causes the death of another through malice, recklessness, or negligence may be liable to the victim's survivors for damages. These actions are governed in part by specific statutes, which permit survivors or beneficiaries to recover damages for grief, loss of probable support, companionship, and society. These cases are often the most bitterly contested cases. If you believe that a friend or loved one died because of the negligence of another, call immediately and we can discuss exactly what needs to be done.

DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS
Manufacturers, distributors and product retailers may be liable to users for damages or injuries suffered because of defective products. These cases are often complicated, and require the assistance of experts who can identify the defect involved, and testify about it at the time of trial.

NOTE:
Laws vary from state to state. The legal discussions contained herein are general in nature, but some of the concepts apply only to California law. The law in your state may be different. This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Neither your sending of e-mail nor the reading or such e-mail to anyone at the Law Offices of Huber & Takasugi creates an attorney-client relationship. You should always consult an attorney immediately if you believe you may have a legal problem.