The number of motorcycles on the road is rising. In 2017, close to 850,000 motorcycles traversed California roads. With an increase in motorcycles on the road, there’s also an increase in the risk of motorcycle accidents. If you are a motorcyclist in California, avoid high-risk factors to minimize the chances of a California motorcycle accident. High-Risk Factors to Avoid as a California Motorcyclist: There are a few common high-risk factors or dangers you should be aware of and take care to avoid if you are riding a motorcycle in California. 1. Blinds Spots: A lot of things are within your control as a California motorcyclist, but one thing you’ll never be able to control is other drivers on the road. Motorcycles, the smaller vehicle in almost any road altercation, tend to be overlooked by other drivers, particularly when a motorcycle is driving in another vehicle’s blind spot. Drivers who quickly glance back before changing lanes or…Read More
California law provides important protections for employees and applicants older than 40. Age discrimination in the workplace has been around as long as any other form of discrimination, but it's harder to prove. This particular type of discrimination is usually more subtle than other forms of discrimination. Additionally, older workers may hesitate to report what happened to them, not realize they're experiencing discrimination, or fear the repercussions of reporting the offense. However, these aren't the only difficulties associated with age discrimination claims; age discrimination can also be challenging to recognize. Employers are Prohibited from Engaging in Age Discrimination Age discrimination occurs when an employee or a job applicant is treated less favorably due to being 40 years of age or older. While not all forms of age discrimination are legally prohibited, in many cases, California employers are legally prohibited from engaging in age discrimination. Age Discrimination in California Workplaces Isn't Always Obvious: Age discrimination can…Read More
If you've been injured in a motorcycle accident, remember that California is a motorcycle-friendly state. The gorgeous weather combined with the outdoor mindset leads to many motorcycles on California roads. However, motorcyclists need to handle an accident differently than a car driver. If you've been injured in a California motorcycle accident, find out how to obtain compensation. How Much Compensation is One California Motorcycle Accident Worth? No hard and fast rules are used to determine the exact compensation for a motorcycle accident injury in California; instead, the process involves some intense calculations, some guesswork, and a big chunk of persuasion. Your motorcycle injury case will hinge on legal guidelines and precedents that can provide information regarding potential award amounts. But the actual value of each motorcycle injury case must be calculated based on the specific accident's details. The Open Road is a Dangerous Place: Especially for Motorcyclists California is a motorcycle-friendly state. But the open…Read More
California's Equal Pay Act was passed in 1949. California enacted the Fair Pay Act in 2015 to address issues left unchecked by the initial legislation. Do you know how California's Equal Pay Act impacts your paycheck? Does California's Equal Pay Act Impact Your Paycheck? If you live and work in California, you've probably heard of California's Equal Pay Act. The Equal Pay Act passed in 1949 aimed to close the wage gap between men and women. However, the original legislation included significant loopholes. What About California's Fair Pay Act? In 2015, California enacted the Fair Pay Act to strengthen the Equal Pay Act. California's Equal Pay Act (and other legislative changes that followed) significantly improved the chances of success when California's workers file wage and hour claims against their employers. If you need help deciding how California's Equal Pay Act and Fair Pay Act apply to your employment situation, contact an experienced employment law attorney…Read More
After experiencing a car accident, there are a lot of variables to consider. The overall experience is typically frustrating and scary. However, the situation can be even worse if the other party is a drunk driver. If you are in an accident with a drunk driver, know your options for obtaining financial compensation for your injuries. California Car Accidents: Potential Compensation Medical expenses (and future medical costs) Lost wages (and future lost earnings) Property damage Physical pain and suffering Loss of consortium Mental anguish Proving Liability After You are in an Accident with a Drunk Driver: When you are in a car accident with a drunk driver, you will need to prove negligence. In California, we have something called negligence per se. This legal doctrine states that when a person violates a particular provision of a statute, that action is presumed to be negligent. According to California’s negligence per se doctrine, the other driver is…Read More
Discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race, gender, religion, or sexuality is a labor law violation. If you experienced discrimination in the workplace, you might want to discuss filing a workplace discrimination lawsuit with an employment law attorney. Workplace Discrimination Lawsuits: On the Rise & Becoming More Common Did you know the number of workplace discrimination lawsuits in the United States is rising? And many expect the growth to continue. For years, a significant workforce pool didn't grasp what constituted workplace discrimination. Extreme cases served as examples, but more subtle forms of discrimination were mostly overlooked. In today's workplace, many companies implement training programs that include information about avoiding workplace discrimination and recognizing workplace discrimination, so employees are more likely to identify problems that violate labor law. And as the general workforce becomes more aware, more instances of workplace discrimination are not only recognized but resolved through appropriate legal action. If you need…Read More
The standards for determining fault or liability in a pedestrian accident case in California are the same as for any other personal injury case. If you are a pedestrian involved in an accident, you must prove three things to recover damages successfully. Pedestrians Involved in an Accident Need to Prove: that the driver of the involved vehicle owed the pedestrian a duty of care that the driver breached that duty of care due to negligence, and the driver's negligence caused the pedestrian's injury. When Do Drivers Owe Pedestrians a Duty of Care? All California residents (and visitors) owe a duty of care to the others around them. So, every driver on the road has a duty of care, a duty to be aware of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other cars on the road. When drivers aren't paying attention, they might be considered negligent and thus entirely at fault for any injuries resulting from an accident. Pedestrians are at Risk…Read More
If you are a California worker and you are terminated from your job, you should know a few things about wrongful termination and California labor law. California Labor Law Protects Workers Who Are Wrongfully Terminated: Wrongful termination occurs when an employer fires an employee for an illegal reason. If you are wrongfully terminated, you can sue your employer to recover damages. Sometimes, a California employer will have to pay significant extra penalties and costs for wrongfully terminating an employee in violation of labor law. Common Grounds for a California Wrongful Termination Lawsuit: Discrimination: The laws enforced by EEOC protect you from employment discrimination when it involves: unfair treatment because of your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age (age 40+), or genetic information. Whistleblower Activities: Whistleblowing refers to an employee reporting illegal or unsafe conduct at work to the appropriate authorities. For instance, a whistleblower could report…Read More
Did you know that electronic communications qualify as written material under California law? So any social media post, photo, check-in, or comment can be cited as evidence in a personal injury case. Why Would Someone Cite my Social Media as Evidence in My Personal Injury Case? If you are the injured party in a California personal injury case, the other party may seek to use your social media presence as evidence against you and your claim. Social media can cause a lot of damage to a California personal injury claim. Anything you post on social media (or someone else posts about you) is fair game for the other party’s legal representation or insurance company to use against you during settlement negotiations. Potential Consequences of Social Media Activity During a Personal Injury Claim: The other party involved in your personal injury case will seek any information they can use to: Reduce the amount of your compensation…Read More
When an employee discloses information about alleged wrongdoing in the workplace (or dangers to workers or others outside the company) that is not being appropriately handled, it's called "whistleblowing." Most of the time, whistleblowing scenarios relate to behavior or activities inside a company, but sometimes it can apply to outside vendors, customers, suppliers, etc. Why Do Whistleblowers Need Specific Protections? When an employee goes to their employer's human resources department and reports a problem, danger, or wrongdoing, they put their job, reputation, and in some cases, physical well-being on the line. They're putting themselves at risk to report criminal activity, violations of the law, fraud, environmental or public safety threats, etc. to stop the danger. Laws are in place to protect their rights and keep them safe from harm and retaliation to reduce the risk. Reduce the Risk: What Does a Whistleblower Need to Know? Rights of a Whistleblower: Get in touch with an experienced…Read More
