car accident | Dolan Law Firm

How Does Motorist Insurance Affect Rideshare Drivers?

This week’s question comes from a reader identified only as “Bob” in Los Angeles who asks, “I was reading your columns online and I see that you write a lot about Lyft and Uber. I drive for both. While driving recently late at night from LAX I was sideswiped by a pickup truck driver who changed lanes suddenly without looking. I slammed on my brakes to try and avoid colliding with the truck but it hit the front of my car forcing me into the concrete dividing wall. The front and left side of my car is wrecked. My airbag went off and both the passenger and I were injured. The police came and took a report but I don’t have the license plate of the pickup truck driver. I told the company and they told me to submit a claim with my insurance company. What should I do?”

What is the law in California on Texting, Calling & App Use while Driving?

distracted driving car crash lawyer

Sandra from the Upper Haight asks: “Chris, can you settle a matter for me? My best friend and I share a car. She is new to the City and constantly holds her phone while driving to check directions. When she is not doing that, she uses Spotify on her phone to listen to music through the car’s speakers. I love her dearly and don’t want her to cause or be in a crash. I have told her she can’t use the phone in her hand while driving. She claims it’s only illegal to hold the phone to talk or text. Is she right?”

Bicyclist Hit By Car Making Left Turn

San Francisco, CA (May 17, 2017) – A bicyclist was severely injured early Monday morning May 15th 2017, after colliding with a vehicle in the Mission district of San Francisco, California.

Gilroy Intersection Linked To Another Fatal Collision Five Days Before Latest Motorcycle Crash

Gilroy CA, (April 20, 2017) – David Flores, a 62 year old resident of Los Baños, was killed Wednesday night, April 19, 2017, when he collided with an oncoming car near the Gilroy Outlets.

Can The Insurance Agent For The Driver Who Hit You Deny Paying Because You Did Not Own Car Insurance?

Bao from Union City writes, “Chris, I got into a car accident last week and broke two ribs. My sister was with me and she suffered a concussion. The other driver ran a red light and hit us. I was driving my sister’s car which was totaled. I found out after the crash that my sister doesn’t have insurance. The agent for the driver who hit us says since the car was not insured he doesn’t have to pay for my injuries. I have my own car insurance policy. What should I do?”

What You Observed As A Witness At A Crash Scene Is Important

San Francisco Personal Injury Attorney Chris Dolan discusses the importance of serving as a witness when you observe an injury crash.

Johanna from the Mission recently told me: “I saw a lady in a crosswalk get hit by a car recently. There were other people there who helped her get up and out of the street. She seemed hurt, but it did not seem life threatening, so I left. Now I feel bad that I did not give the lady my name and number to be a witness.”

Pedestrian on Sidewalk in Milpitas Killed By Car

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Milpitas, CA (September 19, 2016) – A pedestrian that was standing on a sidewalk was hit and killed on Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 9:45 am by a Subaru. The incident took place on the corner of the northbound I-880 off-ramp and the eastbound state highway 237. The Subaru also hit a utility box at the location and caused a traffic light to malfunction.

Louis Schaefer Killed By Large Flying Metal Part

Menlo Park, CA (September 19, 2016) – New evidence has emerged in the tragic death of Louis Schaefer, who was struck in the neck and killed by a bolt the size of a baseball when it smashed through his car windshield.

Honda Strikes Pedestrian Just Outside of Woodside High School

Woodside, CA (September 16, 2016) – A woman suffered critical injuries when she was struck by a silver Honda Fit in Woodside at about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2016. The crash, reported by The Almanac, was just outside Woodside High School on Churchill Avenue. The Honda Fit was traveling east on Highway 84 when it struck another vehicle, proceeded onto the shoulder of the road and hit a woman in her mid-50s.

Motorcycle Law News: Lane Splitting By Motorcyclists Now Legal In California

motorcycle

This week’s question comes from Valentino in Sausalito, who asks, “I recently read that Gov. Brown signed a bill legalizing the practice of lane-splitting for motorcyclists. Hasn’t this always been legal?”

Yes and no. Lane-splitting refers to the practice in which a motorcyclist passes other vehicles by riding between them along the lane line. Typically, this maneuver is undertaken so that motorcycles can overtake slow-moving or stopped vehicles, but the maneuver is also frequently performed when traffic is moving at higher rates of speed.