Posts Tagged ‘Pre-litigation Services’

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Safety warning regarding Lexus & Toyota sudden acceleration recalls

Monday, February 28th, 2011
Toyota will conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 20,000 2006 and early 2007 Model Year GS 300 and GS 350 vehicles to modify the shape of the plastic pad embedded in the driver’s side floor carpet due to the potential for interference with the accelerator pedal.   Warning:  The accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position.
 
Owners of the involved GS 300 and GS 350 will receive a notification by mail beginning in early March 2011.
 
Toyota will also recall approximately 372,000 2004 through 2006 and early 2007 RX 330, RX 350, and RX 400h vehicles, and approximately 397,000 2004 through 2006 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles to replace the driver’s side floor carpet cover and its two retention clips. 
If the forward retention clip used to secure the floor carpet cover, which is located in front of the center console, is not installed properly, the cover may lean toward the accelerator pedal and interfere with the accelerator pedal arm.  If this occurs, the accelerator pedal may become temporarily stuck in a partially depressed position rather than returning to the idle position.
 
Separately, Toyota has amended its recall from November 2009, adding three models to address the potential for unsecured or incompatible floor mat entrapment of the accelerator pedal.  The models added include:
 
• Approximately 603,000 2003 through 2009 4Runner
• Approximately 17,000 2008 through 2011 Lexus LX 570; and
• Approximately 761,000 2006 through 2010 RAV4
 
 If you own one of these vehicles you likely want to remove the floor mats until you have a fix from Toyota. 
Be careful out there, but if you or a loved on is injured due to an unfortunate defect in your vehicle or that of another person, please contact us to see how we can help.  We can be reached at 310-348-8106 or Click Here.
 
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Distracted Driving Kills or Injures Thousands Each Year!

Friday, February 11th, 2011

The Hundley Law Firm is here to help if you or a loved one has injured in an auto accident caused by another’s negligence.   Unfortunately distracted driving is leading to more and more accidents, injuries, and deaths each year.  We all need to be aware of the risks and do what we can to avoid driving while distracted.  If you or a loved one have been injured because of distracted driver, we are here to help!    Call today — 310-348-8106

There are three main types of distraction:

  • Visual — taking your eyes off the road
  • Manual — taking your hands off the wheel
  • Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing

Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing.

While all distractions can endanger drivers’ safety, texting is the most alarming because it involves all three types of distraction.

Other distracting activities include:

  • Using a cell phone
  • Eating and drinking
  • Talking to passengers
  • Grooming
  • Reading, including maps
  • Using a PDA or navigation system
  • Watching a video
  • Changing the radio station, CD, or Mp3 player.

Distracted driving  — surprising facts:

  • 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving.
  • Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashed, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes).
  • In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving.
  • The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving.
  • Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. 
  • Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.

The message is clear, distracted driving injures and kills, so we all need to do our part to minimize it.  Again, call or email us if you have been injured by a distracted driver.  We are here to help.

 

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Protect your children – learn about TBI

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

TBI is a Traumatic Brain Injury

TBI is a serious public health concern in the United States.  Surprizingly, data shows that, on average, approximately 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury annually.

TBI is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of a TBI may range from “mild,” i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness to “severe,” i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. The majority of TBIs that occur each year are concussions or other forms of mild TBI.

Each year, of the 1.7 million people that sustain a TBI:    

  • 52,000 die,
  • 275,000 are hospitalized, and
  • 1.365 million, nearly 80%, are treated and released from an emergency department.
  • TBI is a contributing factor to a third (30.5%) of all injury-related deaths in the United States.
  • Children aged 0 to 4 years, older adolescents aged 15 to 19 years, and adults aged 65 years and older are most likely to sustain a TBI. 
  • Almost half a million (473,947) emergency department visits for TBI are made annually by children aged 0 to 14 years.
  • Males aged 0 to 4 years have the highest rates of TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths.
  • More than 75,000 children sustain TBI each year by participating in sports
  • - More than 11,000 TBIs each year in basketball
  • - More than 11,000 TBIs each year in baseball/softball
  • - More than 10,000 TBIs each year in soccer/skateboarding
  • - More than 15,000 TBIs each year in football
  • - More than 30,000 TBIs each year related to cycling 

The clear message is kids are being injured and they should always wear protective gear, including helmets while riding their bikes and skating.  

There is information that parents should know about TBI and we ask that you please look at the CDC information sheets that are listed below.  You owe it to your children to be armed with the information you need to protect them and get them help if they sustain a brain injury.  

Please click on the government links below to get more information.  

www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/TBI_factsheets_PARENTS-508-a.pdf)

www.cdc.gov/concussion/headsup/pdf/Heads_Up_factsheet_spanish-a.pdf   (Spanish – TBI Fact Sheet)

We at The Hundley Law Firm hope your family never has to deal with a TBI, but if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident and suffered at TBI and need assistance, we are here to help.  Call us at 310-348-8106 and we will provide you with a free consultation to discuss how we can help.

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Avoid steering overcorrection and save lives

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

One of the most common driving errors that get people hurt or killed is steering overcorrection. For various reasons, drivers will have the rightside tires on their vehicle drop off the right side of the roadway onto the shoulder or grass. When this happens the driver will panic and yank the steering wheel back to the left, causing the car to go out of control and into other lanes of traffic. If there happens to be a vehicle in that lane of traffic then an accident will occur, sometimes a violent head-on wreck. Even if there are no other vehicles in the area, the car will sometimes become so out of control it will overturn. None of these situations are good.

If the tires on your vehicle drop off the right side of the roadway, gradually slow down, maintain control of your vehicle, and when your speed has been reduced to a manageable level, turn back left onto the roadway at a time and place it can be done safely.

The life you save may just be your own.

We are here to help if you or a loved one has been injured an accident.  Call us at 310-348-8106 for a free consultation.

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Beware — Nissan is recalling Frontier Pickups, Xterra SUVs due to steering issues and Sentras because of battery cable issues

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Nissan Motors is recalling more than 600,000 vehicles due to steering or battery cable problems.   The steering recall affects 303,000 Frontier pickup trucks and 283,000 Xterra sport utility vehicles.   It appears that the steering column joint can corrode and limit steering movement.  Nissan also is recalling 18,500 Sentra sedans because of a battery cable terminal connector problem that can make the cars difficult to start or stall at low speeds.  Both of these problems could lead to accidents, but the company says no injuries or accidents have been reported.   It is reported that about 240,000 Frontiers, 261,000 Xterras and 14,000 Sentras are affected in the U.S and owners will be getting notifications in December.  

If you or a loved one was injured because of defective product, call us at 310-348-8106 for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights.

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Trick or Treater injured in hit and run accident

Monday, November 1st, 2010

A 14-year-old trick or treater was truck by a silver pickup truck on Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of  Jamestown and Lincoln avenues in Riverside, California.  The young girl was crossing the street when hit and  the pickup didn’t slow down before or after the crash.   If you have any information regarding the accident, please contact:  Riverside Police Department 4102 Orange Street, Riverside, California 92501 (951) 787-7911 . 

If you or a loved one is injured in an accident caused by another’s negligence, please call us and see how we can help.  Call us at 310-348-8106.

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We all must do our part to protect the children

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

Tragically, according to news reports, an increasing number of children are dying from abuse or neglect after coming under the supervision of the Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services.   The number of deaths rose from 18 in 2008 to 26 in 2009 and there have been 21 deaths so far in 2010.  It has been reported that the majority of these deaths occurred while county social workers were “actively overseeing” the child’s welfare or shortly after cases where closed.  This department obviously has to do better.   

The death of any child due to abuse or neglect is unacceptable.   Our children are the future and they must be loved, nutured, and most importantly kept safe.  We all have to do what we can to stop such abuse and protect the children.  The Department of Children and Family Services is far from perfect, but failing to report suspected or actual child abuse because the system is imperfect would be  much worse.  The Hundley Law Firm therefore asks that if you suspect or know a child is being abused that you report it immediately.  

To report child abuse in Los Angeles County, California, contact the Child Protection Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

  • Toll-free within California, phone (800) 540-4000

  • From outside of California, phone (213) 639 4500 

  • TDD [Hearing Impaired], phone  (800) 272-6699

If you have lost a loved one or your child has been injured due to the negligence of another, we are here to help.  Click on the brochure below to see our services or contact us at 310-348-8106.  We are here to help! 

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Warning – 200,000 luxury vehicles may have braking system problems

Friday, October 1st, 2010

 BMW of North America will recall nearly 200,000 luxury vehicles to fix leaks that could develop in the power braking system, leading to a vacuum loss and the reduction of power braking assistance.  BMW says that mechanical braking is still available to slow and stop their vehicles  If you own one of the recalled vehicles be very careful and take your car in as soon as possible, but BWM said there have been no reports of accidents or injuries.

 The following vehicles with V8 and V12 engines are being recalled:

2002-2008 BMW 745i/Li, 750i/Li and 760i/Li

2007-2008 BMW Alpina B7

2004-2010 BMW 645i and 650i

2004-2010 BMW 545i and 550i

BMW owners will be notified by mail to schedule an appointment to check their vehicle.  

If you have been injured in an accident and suspect that a defect in your vehicle caused or contributed to your accident,  please call us and see how we can help.  We can be reached anytime at 310-348-8106. 

 

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Accident Response Fees

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Some local governments seeking to deal with budgetary concerns have turned to or are considering  a controversial way to raise money:  charging accident victims for municipal services related to responding to the accident scene.   

The revenue-raising plans generally work like this: 

Every time a local public safety service (police, fire, ambulance, hazmat) responds to an emergency call, a bill gets sent to the person who receives aid.  In most places, only non-residents get a bill; but in others, everyone does.   In a few places, only those found to be at fault are billed.

Thus, many times these plans wind up adding to the grief of accident victims by charging for municipal services provided  at the accident scene.

The bills can be huge.   A simple response to an accident is usually billed at about $500, but  charges can soar.   If you are involved in an accident in Sacramento and need the jaws of life to get out of your vehicle — cost $1,875.  In Chico, Calififornia  going into a ditch will cost $2,000 an hour, plus $50 per hour for each rescue worker.    If there is gas or oil to clean up, the hazmat team will bill another $100 per hour per team member.   In San Francisco an ambulance ride will cost $1,642 under a new proposal.   

Though variations of the plan have been around for a long time, the recession has given it new life.  More than 40 towns and cities in California are currently considering adopting crash tax measures.   Furthermore, many insurance companies refuse to pay the bills, claiming the charges aren’t a covered expense.   That means the bill many times winds up in an accident victims hands.   

Accident victims do not realize that they almost never have to pay the bills because most ordinances that create these programs do not provide for the collection of fees from drivers. The ordinances provide for billing the insurance companies only — but collection agencies, after getting rejection letters from insurance companies, pursue the drivers anyway.   They are allowed to ask, but drivers generally do not have to pay.   If you get such a bill, ask to see the ordinance and see if you are actually required to pay the bill.   

If you have been injured in an accident and need professional assistance The Hundley Law Firm stands ready to assist you. 

We can be reached at 213-348-8106.

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Protect Yourself, Family, and Assests – Know Your Insurance Limits

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

In these tough economic times, a number of people are dropping their auto insurance to save money.  This is illegal an unwise, but a recent study by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) estimated that approximately 16.3% of motorists will go without liability insurance this year.  Thus, our roadways are more dangerous than ever because if you or a family member is injured in an accident caused by another, there is a 1 in 6 chance of that the other person has no insurance to compensate you for your injuries.  Furthermore, because of the low limits of insurance required in California, if you or a loved one is seriously injured there is a strong possibility that you will never receive the compensation you need to put you back where you where prior to the accident.   Thus, you should review your limits of liability insurance and make sure you have uninsured motorist coverage.

It is likely that you only have the minimum liability insurance coverage required by California, but you will see that those limits are too low for most people and they will not fully protect you, your loved ones, or your assets if you are involved in anything but a minor injury accident.  Thus, The Hundley Law Firm  recommends you purchase more than the minimum coverage, unless you are driving a very inexpensive car, have no assets to protect, and have excellent health insurance that would cover you and your loved ones for injuries that could result from and accident.  Even then you should increase your limits of insurance and have uninsured motorist coverage if you can afford it.

California requires that you have minimum liability insurance as follows: 

  • Bodily injury liability for one person in an accident  — $15,000;
  •  Bodily injury liability for all people injured in an accident  — $30,000;
  • Property damage liability for one accident – $5,000

We believe these limits are too low for most people and note that in Alabama, the minimum requirements are $25,000/$50,000/$25,000.  If you are at fault for an accident and someone else is injured, $15,000 may not cover his/her medical expenses or if you injure several people, $30,000 may not be enough to pay for all of their medical bills.   If this happens then your assets are at risk to pay the medical bills and to pay for the pain and suffering of the injured people.  It is also easy to see how running into a Mercedes, Lexus, or BMW could result in more than $5,000 in damage even in a rather small accident.     

We believe the minimum insurance limits that most people should have are $100,000/$300,000 limits of bodily injury liability and $50,000 for property damage.   The additional cost is usually worth it and you should always ask your insurance agent to quote you the cost for such coverage so you can make an informed decision.   You also should have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage at these same levels or more, so should you be unlucky enough to be injured in an accident caused by the 1 and 6 people that is driving without insurance, you can turn to your insurance company to pay for your medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering damages.  You also need to have such coverage if you are injured in a hit and run accident or if you are seriously injured by a motorist that only has a $15,000 limit of insurance.  Again ask your insurance agent to quote the costs for the various levels of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage so you can make an informed decision.  Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is even a wise decision if you have full medical coverage, as it can pay for your pain and suffering damages and lost earning damages that would not be covered and you won’t have to deal with co-pays or deductibles.

It’s easy to dislike the money you spend on insurance, but insurance is usually needed at some point and the additional costs of increasing your limits of coverage are usually worthwhile.   It is important for you to know what coverage you now have and determine if you can afford to increase your limits.   Then if trouble strikes, you’ll be ready and know you did everything you could to protect yourself , your family, and your assests.  

Stay safe and if you have been injured in an accident and need help, please feel free to contact us at info@hundleylawfirm.com or 310-348-8106.  We are here to help!

The Hundley Law Firm – Litigation in Partnership with clients!

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