San Diego Car Accident Lawyer Blog

George Washington once said:

Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.

Letter of Instructions to the Captains of the Virginia Regiments [July 29, 1759]. The advocates of consumer rights, viewing the resources of defense firms and corporate defendants, can relate to the trepidation felt by the out-numbered and out-gunned Continental Army. Because of that disparity in resources, Consumer Attorneys of California ("CAOC") consolidates the voices of consumer attorneys throughout the state to (1) preserve and protect the constitutional right to trial by jury for all consumers, (2) champion the cause of those who deserve redress for injury to person or property, (3) encourage and promote changes to California law by legislative, initiative or court action, (4) oppose injustice in existing or contemplated legislation, (5) correct harsh, unjust and oppressive legislation or judicial decisions, (6) advance the common law and promote the public good through the civil justice system and concerted efforts to secure safe products, a safe workplace, a clean environment, and quality health care, (7) uphold the honor, integrity and dignity of the legal profession by encouraging mutual support and cooperation among members, (8) promote the highest standards of professional conduct, and (9) inspire excellence in advocacy. This post is a multi-blog effort to inform consumer attorneys about CAOC's value and encourage participation in CAOC through membership.

CAOC works tirelessly to protect or advance those causes of import to consumers and their attorneys in California. Often those efforts, though valuable, receive little fanfare. For example, CAOC recently sponsored SB 510, which affects the re-sale of what are known as "structured settlements," in which victims receive financial compensation over a period of time for medical expenses and basic living needs, as determined by a jury. Before SB 510 was signed by the Governor, Courts expressed frustration at their inability to prevent the sale of structured settlements on terms that might ultimately lead to long-term financial hardship for the victim. Now, SB 510 gives judges the information they need to make a reasoned decision about the propriety of a structured settlement sale.

Measures like CAOC-sponsored SB 510 help protect the most vulnerable members of our society and ask for nothing in return. They exemplify the spirit of CAOC. However, CAOC is only as effective in its mission as its membership allows it to be. When consumer attorneys join the ranks of CAOC, its voice gains in power and clarity. But if consumer advocates sit on the sidelines, hoping to benefit from the work of others, CAOC is stretched thin, and we are all at risk as a result.

Now, consumer advocate bloggers from across the state are combining their voices to call upon each and every lawyer and firm that regularly represents plaintiffs to join CAOC, thereby strengthening the consumer's first line of defense. The blogs participating in this unified call to action are:

• The Complex Litigator (H. Scott Leviant)
• The UCL Practitioner (Kimberly Kralowec)
• Bailey Class Action Daily (Matt Bailey)
• California Employee Rights Blog (James J. Peters)
• An Appeal to Reason (Donna Bader)
• California Personal Injury and Insurance Blog (Jonathan G. Stein)
• California Debt Blog (Jonathan G. Stein)
• TrialLawyerTips.com (Mitch Jackson and Lisa Wilson)
• California Injury Blog (John Bisnar)
• San Diego Injury Lawyer Blog (Ross A. Jurewitz)
• San Diego Car Accident Lawyer Blog (Ross Jurewitz
• San Diego Injury Accident Lawyer Blog (Ross A. Jurewitz)
• California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog (Walton Law Firm LLP)
• San Diego Injury Law Blog (Walton Law Firm LLP)
• California Personal Injury Law Blog (Norman Gregory Fernandez)
• Biker Lawyer Blog (Norman Gregory Fernandez)
• California Credit Law (Mark F. Anderson, Carol Brewer & Andy Ogilvie)
• Lemon Law Blog (Mark F. Anderson, Carol Brewer & Andy Ogilvie)

Show your support of consumers' rights by joining and supporting CAOC. Together we can make an impact that we cannot make alone.

Times are tough in San Diego and those tough times are affecting drivers and their ability to purchase insurance.

Even in good times, drivers often try to save as much money as they can by buying cheap insurance. We have all seen the commercials. "Call our insurance brokerage and we'll get you the best price for insurance. We'll save you money!" However, policy price is only one factor that drivers should consider when buying insurance.

A second factor, and really the reason why you buy insurance, is to protect you and your family. Car insurance does that in two ways. First, the insurance policy protects you in the event that you are at fault and cause a car accident. This is called "third party coverage" because the injured person is not part of the insurance contract between with you and your insurance company. Third party coverage by law MUST include coverage for "bodily injury" claims, i.e., claims of physical injury, and property damage claims to pay for car repairs.

Under California law, all drivers must carry car insurance with limits of at least $15,000 bodily injury coverage per person, $30,000 bodily injury coverage per accident, and $5,000 property damage. These limits have been on the books for years and have not adjusted for inflation.

As you can imagine, these limits are not sufficient to pay for all but the most minor car accidents. With the cost of medical care today, it is very easy for medical treatment alone to exceed $15,000--let alone the compensation necessary to pay for pain and suffering or for lost earnings while the injured person recovers. And any significant auto body repair can easily exceed $5,000.

Needless to say, possessing a minimum car insurance policy doesn't do anyone much good.

Continue reading "San Diego: What You Need to Know About Buying Car Insurance" »

Dozens of car accidents happen in San Diego every day. Fortunately, most are minor and don't cause injury. However, a large percentage of these accidents do cause some injury and leave victims wondering what they must do to protect themselves.

Without specific knowledge of what to do after a car accident, most accident victims are left at the mercy of insurance adjustors who are looking to exploit their lack of knowledge and the fact that they have not hired an experienced injury lawyer.

Here are some things insurance companies don't want you to know:

Continue reading "What Car Insurance Companies Don't Want You to Know, Part One" »

Welcome, readers.

Building upon our success publishing the San Diego Injury Lawyer Blog, the Jurewitz Law Group has launched the San Diego Car Accident Attorney Blog to educate and inform car accident injury victims in San Diego of their rights, the pitfalls after being in a car crash, and how to avoid being abused by insurance companies looking to protect their bottom lines.

We will also report upon recent accidents. However, the point will not be to simply make you aware of a recent accident but to use the specific facts of an accident as a jumping off point to help you if, or when, you are ever involved in a car accident.

Please add our blog to your RSS feed to receive our updates automatically on your homepage or your reader program.

Enjoy.