Blog - Schaar & Silva LLP

30Mar 2020 by Pat Geddie

What Will Happen to Your Injury Claim During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

If you sustained serious injuries in an accident in the previous months, you might have lost income and are likely staring at a pile of medical bills. If you have a pending injury claim, it is natural to wonder what its fate might be due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. While the pandemic has definitely halted many businesses and industries, it is important to ensure that your case is moving forward as much as possible during this time. With today’s technology, many insurance companies have switched to telework to stay running. Many law firms have done the same, using paperless technology, teleconferencing, and video conferencing to keep advocating for their injured clients. This all can mean that your injury claim can continue to progress in this uncertain time. Experienced injury…

25Feb 2020 by Pat Geddie

Auto Defects Can Result in Injuries

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Drivers can take every precaution to operate their vehicles defensively and in accordance with the law. However, even the safest driver can lose control of their car if a defect causes the vehicle to malfunction. In addition, some vehicle defects cause additional injuries to motorists, even though they were supposed to protect them. Some common auto defects that have resulted in accidents and injuries include: Defective tires that blow out Ignition switches that turn off when the car is moving Steering systems that fail Brakes that fail Airbags that fail to deploy or that explode when deployed When a tire blows out or brakes fail, it is not the driver’s fault that they crash. When a driver expects an airbag to protect them, but it instead causes them injuries, they…

22Jan 2020 by Pat Geddie

How a Truck Driver’s Health Can Put You at Risk

Personal Injury

When you think of common causes of commercial truck accidents, you might immediately think of truck drivers speeding, falling asleep at the wheel, driving while intoxicated, and other driver errors. You likely do not consider how the health of a truck driver might put you at risk of an accident and injuries, though it can do so in different ways. CDL Requirements The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and state laws set out many requirements for individuals to obtain their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). One requirement is to undergo a thorough health examination and have a designated medical professional sign off that you are in good health. Drivers must undergo additional health exams to renew their CDLs. Some health issues that might disqualify a driver - especially if they…

20Dec 2019 by Pat Geddie

What to Do if a Drunk Driver Hits You

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It is important to recognize when a driver might be intoxicated and stay away from the driver on the road to protect yourself. However, some drunk driving accidents cannot be avoided, and you should always know what to do in the event you get hit by a driver who seems to be impaired. Call 911 Calling the authorities is critical after a drunk driving accident for several reasons. First, you will get immediate medical attention at the scene of the crash. Next, it is important for police officers to identify when a driver who caused an accident has been drinking. If the officer has probable cause to believe the driver is in violation of the law, they can place the driver under arrest, and the driver might face criminal charges,…

11Nov 2019 by Pat Geddie

Keep Yourself Safe During the Holidays

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As the end of the year quickly approaches, most of us are thinking about our busy holiday schedules, travel and family gatherings, buying gifts, baking cookies, and more. In this busy time of the year, it is easy to let your guard down when it comes to safety. The following are some risks of the holidays and how to stay safe whenever possible. Traffic Crashes There are more drunk drivers on the road during the holidays, and the most important thing is to ensure that you never drive while impaired. Watch out for drivers who are driving erratically or showing other signs of intoxication, and give them plenty of space on the road. Call the authorities to report the driver if needed. If you are planning a road trip, make…

09Oct 2019 by Pat Geddie

Braking Systems Might Not Detect Pedestrians

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Many people purchase vehicles based on the safety features provided by the manufacturer. A common safety feature in recent years is automatic braking systems that are supposed to hit the brakes on your vehicle when it approaches an obstacle. One important purpose of this technology is to prevent pedestrian accidents. However, AAA recently conducted research on four different 2019 vehicle models sold by Tesla, Chevrolet, Toyota, and Honda. The research involved a dummy walking in front of a moving car and seeing whether the automatic sensory and braking systems would safely stop the car before hitting the dummy. The results indicate that you cannot always trust braking systems to protect pedestrians from collisions. Specifically, the braking system tended to fail under the following circumstances: At night When pedestrians were of…

16Sep 2019 by Pat Geddie

Your Rights after a Multiple-Vehicle Crash

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In August 2019, a multi-vehicle crash closed U.S. Highway 101 in San Jose. The crash involved a 2011 BMW, a 2015 Ford, a 2017 Subaru, a 2017 Toyota, and a 2019 Toyota. While reports did not state exactly how the crash occurred, they did indicate that one man did not survive, and two men needed to be transported to the emergency room by ambulance due to their injuries. The unfortunate reality is that crashes involving numerous vehicles happen on a regular basis in California and across the United States. Injury claims following such crashes can often be more complicated than claims resulting from a two-vehicle collision. This is often because determining liability for the crash can be significantly more challenging. An Example To illustrate liability issues in a multi-car crash,…

19Aug 2019 by Pat Geddie

Where Can Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?

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Everyone has slipped on something in their lives, and sometimes, people can slip or trip over nothing at all. However, many slip and fall accidents happen because a business or property owner allowed a dangerous hazard to exist, which led a customer or visitor to suffer injuries in an accident. Liability for a slip and fall accident depends on what caused the accident and where the accident occurred. The following are some common locations for slip and fall accidents. Grocery Stores - Grocery stores are a hotbed for slip-and-fall risks. With many types of food and beverages in nearly every aisle, there are many opportunities for something to spill and cause the floor to be slippery. Even if the grocery store cleans up a spill, they may fail to warn…

14Jul 2019 by Pat Geddie

Did a Stoned Driver Cause Your Injuries?

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More and more states, including California, are legalizing the possession and use of recreational cannabis. Many cannabis products contain THC, which is a psychoactive component that makes users feel “high” or “stoned.” For this reason, marijuana can impair a person’s ability to drive, just like alcohol or other drugs. As it becomes easier to purchase legal marijuana, there is the risk that more and more drivers are operating their vehicles while they are stoned. This is a criminal offense just like drunk driving because of the serious risks of accidents and injuries caused by stoned drivers. Holding a Stoned Driver Liable After a car accident, you and the other drivers involved should pull over to exchange information. If you notice that the driver may be under the influence of marijuana…

06Jun 2019 by Pat Geddie

Civil Rights Violations FAQ

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Federal and state law provide many rights for people in the United States. Unfortunately, many authorities and other parties engage in conduct that violates your rights and causes you harm. If you believe someone violated your rights, you should consult with a civil rights violations lawyer in Campbell as soon as possible. Here are some common questions about civil rights violations that you may have. What are some common civil rights violations? You have many civil rights that can be violated, including the right to free speech, the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, and many more. Some types of conduct that commonly violate the civil rights of citizens include: The warrantless search of your property A warrantless arrest without another justification Police brutality and the use…