Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Driving through neighborhood streets in the evenings during this time of year it is easy to get into the holiday spirit. Homes are lit up with lights, inflatable displays, and moving lawn decorations. Many Arizonans have braved ladders and roofs in honor of this special time of year. However, despite having such good intentions, there are some very dangerous risks that could pose serious injury, electrocution, or even death if proper procedures are ignored while decorating the house, both inside and out.

Here are some questions to ask before you start putting up the lights and other decorations this holiday season to stay safe and prevent serious injury, as compiled by professional decorators, Mission Landscaping.

• Who’s your spotter? Often decorators must use ladders to secure displays appropriately—a spotter should always be used to hold the ladder against the building.
• Is your ladder tall enough? Most homeowners only have 6 foot ladders, but the roofline is at least 8 feet high. Using a ladder that is too short means you will be leaning and stretching to reach above your head, which may cause you to lose your balance and risk a serious fall injury.
• Staples or hooks? There are many different ways to adhere lights and decorations to your house, and some people make them so secure that they leave them up all year round! The pros discourage the use of staples because they may puncture the wire and risk causing a fire or electrocution. Hooks are much safer, and less permanent usually.
• Where’s the power? If you are using extension cords, make sure they are rated to work in the outdoors, which means they are weather-resistant and usually tougher than household cords. Don’t pull cords too tight or leave them exposed in high traffic areas as they could pose a tripping hazard.

Continue reading "Holiday Displays Pose Serious Electrocution or Falling Hazard" »

Just because the temperatures are finally cooling down in Arizona doesn’t mean water activities come to a halt; even though water temps drop there are still many who enjoy a good swim outdoors. However, even the most experienced swimmer is at risk of a drowning accident if water temperatures are low enough.

Tempe Town Lake opened a few weeks ago to the public after the dam was repaired and the lake was refilled with water. Rental boats are available to the public and for the elite athlete, the water is now open for training (KPHO 11/4/10). Athletes will be able to swim in the lake as training for the Ironman distance open water swim that will be taking place on Saturday. No swimming is allowed by the general public at this time.

When enjoying your time by the lake make sure to be safe around the water. The percent of drowning in natural water settings increases with age. Most drowning accidents among those over 15 years of age occur in natural water settings like lakes. (CDC 11/5/10). If you decide to take a rental boat just remember to be safe and always wear a life jacket. In 2008, 3,330 people were injured, and more than 700 died, in boating incidents. Of those who drowned, 9 out of 10 were not wearing life jackets (CDC). To get more information on this subject or to understand the risks of boating you can go to www.cdc.gov/features/boatingactivities.

Continue reading "Water Safety Tips to Remember as Tempe Town Lake Re-Opens for Athlete Training" »

Did you know that you could possibly have two cases after a worker’s compensation accident? As Arizona personal injury attorneys, we want to make sure you understand your rights after being in an accident.

Worker’s compensation is awarded for injuries sustained on a worksite. There are very strict statutes surrounding worker’s compensation. You can not sue your employer or co-worker if you receive worker’s compensation.

However, even if you receive worker’s compensation, you could possibly have a second suit to file depending on who was negligent in your accident. If a third party was responsible for your accident, you could pursue them for negligence.

For example, if you work in a production plant and you were hit with a forklift driven by a distribution company that had came to pick up an order, you could be awarded both worker’s compensation and then follow up with a suit against the distribution company. Worker’s compensation would be awarded because the accident occurred while you were clocked in and working. A secondary suit could follow because it was actually the fault of the distribution company, a third party, who has caused your accident.

Continue reading "Dual Suits in Worker’s Compensation" »

As Phoenix auto accident attorneys, just a reminder that we are offering our Arizona Accident Book for a limited time. The book details the 13 Biggest Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Accident Claim.

Also check out our new website. We have live chat and are available 24/7 to help you.

To talk to Phoenix Car Accident lawyers now, just give us a call.

Mesa auto accident attorneys deal with insurance claims on a very frequent basis. As attorneys in Mesa and throughout the Valley, we see Mesa car accident victims all of the time. When you are involved in a Mesa car accident, the first thing that you should do is file a claim with the adverse party as well as your own insurance company. Of course, when you are injured or the family member of someone who has been killed by the negligence of another individual this is not the first thing that is on your mind. As Mesa car accident lawyers, we handle filing the claim against the adverse party, the property damage (free of charge with handling the injury claim) and filing against your own insurance company as well.

The insurance companies are in business to make a profit. The adjuster is not your friend. The insurance companies want to deny as many claims as possible and this includes the adverse as well as your own insurance company. In order for insurance companies to make the most profit they need to minimize injury payments. Many victims think that they can negotiate with the adverse insurance company or their own and obtain a fair settlement, however, in keeping in mind the insurance company’s goal to make the most in profits, remember the adjuster is not going to have fairness in mind. Why would they?

Important to know as well is that filing a claim is not the same as filing a lawsuit. There are specific steps that must take place and the rules that apply for an injury claim are different than those rules that apply for filing a lawsuit. The deadlines for each are different. The rules of evidence in Court for example do not apply when dealing with an insurance company prior to litigation but they do apply after you file a lawsuit against a negligent party.

It is important to consult with a Mesa car accident lawyer before speaking to anyone who represents the insurance company. At Breyer Law Offices, as “The Husband And Wife Law Team” we welcome your calls and offer free consultations. We also offer a no fee guarantee which means if we can accept your case we will accept it on a contingent fee basis, which means we will not be paid until we obtain a settlement on your case. By calling our office, you will learn the deadlines on your case and get the advice that you need so you can make the best decisions that is necessary for your family, whether it be filing a lawsuit, filing a claim, or not pursuing the claim at all.