Law Offices of Howard Kitay
A pothole is a common roadway defect that occurs when the groundwater beneath the road contracts and expands in different seasons. Over time, this natural phenomenon can cause the pavement to crack, break and crumble – forming holes in the road that can be dangerous to drivers. Striking a pothole with a car, motorcycle or…
A dog bite can cause injuries such as lacerations, deep puncture wounds, and trauma to the face and head. When dogs attack, the damages can be severe and life threatening. It is up to a dog’s owner to reasonably prevent attacks. Holding a pet owner responsible after a dog bite could provide important compensation to…
Child safety seats are critical pieces of equipment that save thousands of young lives each year. Car accidents are a leading cause of childhood death in the U.S. It is against the law in all 50 states to transport a child in a vehicle without using the proper safety restraint system. Car seats can increase…
Utility work comes with dozens of inherent hazards. Working from heights, working near electricity, using power tools and working near the road can all expose a utility worker to significant health and safety risks. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recorded 4,674 worker deaths in the U.S. in 2017. The construction industry was the…
A slip-and-fall accident in San Diego could cause injuries such as a broken hip, sprained wrist or serious head injury. Recovering from these injuries could take weeks of rehabilitation and thousands of dollars in medical bills – not to mention lost wages from missing work. If you suffered injuries in a slip-and-fall accident at work,…
Certain abilities naturally decline over time. The skills required to drive, for example, can deteriorate with age. A person’s vision, hearing, strength, reflexes, and reaction times could diminish in old age, leading to a driver that may need certain accommodations to drive safely – or perhaps should no longer be on the road at all.…
You may know about the dangers of distracted driving, but did you know a driver does not have to be visually or manually distracted to cause a related car accident? Cognitive distractions can be enough to impair the driver’s ability to make sound judgments and react to changing roadway situations. Driving while angry, sad, stressed,…
Accidents are rarely clear-cut. Oftentimes, several factors at play that dictate the trajectory of an accident that neither driver is truly aware of. Though filing a claim through your insurance is not rocket science, different situational factors associated with accidents might call for the help of an attorney. Especially when an accident requires some level…
Scooter riding has boomed in popularity in the state of California since state lawmakers allowed scooter rideshare companies to debut their rentable dockless electric scooters. Companies such as Bird, Lime, and Spin have released thousands of electric scooters in different cities across California for riders to rent. The increase in scooters in California have led…
Riding a bicycle safely in California takes complying with all applicable rules, laws, and regulations. It is up to all bikers to understand and obey traffic rules that apply to them before hitting the road. It is up to motor vehicle drivers to respect bicyclists and to operate safely around them according to state laws.…
In California, it is against the law to leave the scene of a car accident without fulfilling a driver’s duties of care. These duties include stopping at the scene, swapping information with the other driver, and calling the police to report the accident, if applicable. To breach these duties is to commit the crime of…
Though there are many accidents that are straightforward in who caused the incident, there are just as many situations that fall under a gray area. Accidents are messy – sometimes both parties are at fault in creating the conditions that caused it. Some drivers might worry that their potential involvement in an accident diminishes their…
Wrongful death occurs when someone’s neglect or wrongful act causes another person’s death, according to the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60. As in a personal injury case, it will be the claimant’s responsibility to prove wrongful death through a preponderance of evidence in a civil claim. Proving wrongful death in California will take presenting…
Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries are common in many different accidents, including car crashes, falls, and workplace incidents. A serious back injury can cause chronic pain and permanent disability. A back injury could prevent an individual from returning to his or her place of work. It can also cause intangible losses such as being…
A personal injury settlement is a financial award you may be able to receive after another person or entity negligently or intentionally causes harm. A settlement is an agreement you and the defendant (and often the defendant’s insurer) come to, without needing to take the case to court. As a claimant, it is up to…
Mopeds are an interesting blend between motorized bikes and motorcycles. Though their appearance might convey an almost whimsical, child-like quality to consumers, they are certainly not toys. Riding a moped comes with several benefits, notably fuel efficiency that ultimately benefits the environment when compared to cars. Mopeds can also carry up to one passenger, giving…
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental condition that can have debilitating symptoms. Someone may develop PTSD after living through or witnessing a traumatic accident, such as a catastrophic car accident. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of pain and suffering damage under California law. It may be possible to hold someone else responsible…
Car accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injury claims in California, with tens of thousands of drivers filing insurance claims and taking legal action for accidents every year. If you expect to file an insurance claim or lawsuit for a recent car accident, you should have some idea of what to…
A car accident can be a stressful and traumatic experience, and many people who walk away from car accidents seemingly unscathed find themselves unable to get out of bed the next day. Even when a car accident does not cause acute, traumatic injuries, victims can still experience a wide range of possible medical complications in…
It is possible, although difficult, to handle some legal matters on your own without hiring a personal injury attorney in El Cajon. The vast majority of car accident claims are relatively small, and these small accident claims rarely proceed to trial. It is generally in the best interest of everyone involved to settle the matter…
When one party causes injuries and economic damages to another party, the injured party typically has the option of taking legal action against the responsible party. In most injury claims, the damages are tangible, physical injuries. These injuries may result in emotional distress, and the plaintiff would likely receive compensation for non-physical damages like emotional…
“Bodily injury” is a commonly seen term in insurance documents and legal proceedings, but the definition is quite specific. A bodily injury refers to any physical illness or injury sustained by a person, including death if the death resulted from a physical illness or injury. Most commercial liability policies include verbiage referring to bodily injury,…
Whenever an American citizen receives any kind of substantial windfall there is a high probability that individual will incur a sizeable tax burden on the proceeds he or she earned. This includes lottery winnings, some types of inheritances, and even legal settlements and cash awards. However, federal and state laws exist that prevent excessive taxation…
Losing a lawsuit is a challenging issue for clients and attorneys alike; a lost cause is not only demoralizing but may also lead to financial hardships for both parties. The vast majority of personal injury attorneys face an especially high risk due to their contingency fee policies; if a client loses, the attorney may not…
The assumed high cost of legal fees very often deters some people from seeking legal counsel when they need it the most. Legal representation can be very expensive, especially for difficult cases requiring lots of time and attention. When attorneys use traditional billing methods and charge clients for time spent working on their cases, those…
The vast majority of Americans will eventually need the legal services of a personal injury attorney in 2019. When one party injures another due to negligence, the injured party has the right to seek recovery for the damages. A personal injury attorney can be a fantastic asset for handling any type of civil claim for damages…
Personal injury lawsuits allow injured people to recover their losses resulting from other parties’ negligence. Each state upholds unique laws pertaining to personal injury lawsuits, and most aim to limit the number of frivolous lawsuits eating up court system time and resources while at the same time ensuring parties with legitimate claims have open avenues…
If you have reached the end of your personal injury claims process, you are likely anticipating the arrival of your personal injury settlement check. While the amount of time it will take for you to receive your check will vary, your check will have to undergo a structured process to make sure everything is in…
If you suffered injuries in a car accident, you will likely have to receive ongoing medical treatment until you recover. As a result, you will have to pay for thousands of dollars in medical expenses. These costs may include doctor’s visit fees, hospitalization costs, medications, surgeries, physical therapy, and mobility equipment, just to name a…
If you suffer from a personal injury in California, you may wonder what your legal options are, especially if you do not have the funds to pay expensive legal fees. In fact, many people refrain from pursuing legal action because they believe they cannot possibly afford an attorney out of pocket. However, many law firms…