insurance | Dolan Law Firm

Out Of Tragedy Comes Change

This week’s article will focus on the trial and conviction of former Uber driver, Syed Abid Muzaffar, for the charge of vehicular manslaughter arising out of the December 31, 2013, death of 7-year-old Sophia Liu as she was walking home from her grandmother’s house with her mother Huan, and brother, Anthony. As they were lawfully crossing Polk while traveling east on Ellis, Muzaffar turned right crushing Sophia and catastrophically injuring Huan and Anthony. Huan testified that just before being run-down she saw Muzzafar looking down at his cell phone, presumably checking his Uber app. At the time of Sophia’s death Uber first claimed that Muzzafar was not acting as an Uber driver then, later, admitted that he had the app open but sought to continue to distance themselves from the tragedy by saying that he had no passenger onboard.

New Personal Insurance Coverage Suited To City Residents

Recently I was approached by a prospective client, who, while walking along a busy San Francisco Street, was hit by a car in the crosswalk. She was thrown to the ground and sustained a fracture to her wrist and tailbone. The car took off and there was/is no way to identify it or the driver. She wanted to know if there was any way she could bring a legal action to recover the costs of her medical bills, which were in the thousands of dollars. She did not have health insurance, she did not own a car, nor was she on any applicable policy of insurance held by a family member which would have given her coverage.

What Is Full Insurance Coverage?

car damage.jpg

This week’s question comes from Alex in San Bruno: “I want to buy a new car. What does ‘full insurance coverage’ mean?

Alex, thank you for your question. Buying automobile insurance unfortunately can be a time-consuming and confusing process. Minor traffic collisions are a financial drain and hassle. Major auto collisions can be financially and physically devastating. It’s vital that all drivers be fully insured. I am glad to help you understand what this means.

Questions Concerning Pre-Dispute Binding Arbitration

Binding Arbitration.jpg

After my article on arbitration that ran in the October 29, 2015, Examiner I was beseeched with a flurry of questions concerning pre-dispute binding arbitration. Unbeknownst to me, the topic was about to receive the best and most widespread coverage it has ever received thus revealing both the timeliness and importance of the topic. On October 31, 2015, the New York Times began a three part series on the peril to our system of justice that arbitration clauses present: I guess great minds think alike. Authors Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Michael Corkery undertook the most thorough and insightful analysis I have ever seen in revealing the national threat that compulsory pre-dispute arbitration presents. I have but 600 words a week to discuss a topic such as this: they had over 8 pages, over the course of 3 days, in the NYT to publish: Arbitration Everywhere Stacking the Deck of Justice (October 31); In arbitration a “privatization of the Justice System” (November 1); and In Religious Arbitration Scripture is the Law (November 2). If you care about your rights read these articles, NOW.

Personal Car Sharing: Revenue Stream or Liability Nightmare?

A new bill signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger last week and taking effect January 1st will permit Californians to share their personal cars in carsharing pools without risking the loss of their personal auto insurance coverage. The new law aims to make clear that personal vehicle sharing does not constitute a commercial use of the vehicle. The law also aims to make sure that the individual car owner is not held liable for losses that arise when the vehicle is used for personal vehicle sharing.