Auto Accident
Your Fall Leaves Viewing Guide
| October 9th, 2019
As September gives way to October, we are excited to see the spectacular burst of color found in autumn leaves. But as lovely as the trees on our streets are, there’s nothing quite like seeing an entire forest come to life with brilliant color. If you’ve ever been tempted to hit the road to get a better view of the leaves changing, you’re not alone. Fall foliage is a major tourist attraction across the U.S., beginning in late September and continuing on through November. Areas will often see “peak” color for just a week or two out of the year, making timing very important, but even if you miss peak color, the sight can still be marvelous. If you are considering using up some of those saved vacation days this fall, there’s nothing better than a road trip to take in the amazing forests and scenic highways this country has to offer. We’ve picked some of our favorite locations, depending on where you’d like to go.
Safety Tips for Roadtripping
Road trips can be a lot of fun, but when you are spending many hours a day in the car, there’s a lot that can go wrong, whether it’s running into debris in the road, hitting an animal, or encountering a careless driver. You can’t prepare for everything, but there’s some things you can. Use this checklist to determine what you may need before heading out to see the leaves this year.- Get the right car for the job. Maybe that’s your own car, but maybe it’s not. If you know you are going somewhere with hiking, consider renting a vehicle with four-wheel drive. If you know you are sticking with scenic byways, maybe you’ll want to rent a convertible to better enjoy the sights.
- Get Your Vehicle Inspected. If you are taking your own car, take it to a mechanic a few days beforehand for an inspection. This will find any malfunctioning parts or parts that may be near to malfunctioning before they cause a problem hundreds of miles from home.
- Prepare for a roadside emergency. You should also have a spare tire, a jack, and a jumper kit in your trunk.
- Prepare for all other emergencies. If you get stranded, injured, or something else goes wrong, an emergency kit is good to have on hand. We suggest including items like sunblock, bug spray, bottled water and granola bars, a flashlight with batteries, a phone charger and battery pack, a Swiss Army knife or other multipurpose tool, a first aid kit, and a blanket or towel.
- Carry Cash. Between toll stations, state or national park entry fees, and remote small towns along your route, using your credit card may not always be an option.
- Plan your music ahead of time. Remote areas like state parks may cause you to lose cell phone service, which means streaming may not be possible. Plan ahead and visit the library to get CDs or download your playlists to your MP3 player ahead of time. This also means less time fiddling with the entertainment system and potentially losing control of the car.
- Have a backup map. If you use the GPS on your cell phone, you may lose your turn-by-turn directions if your cell phone signal cuts out.
- Get a good night’s sleep beforehand. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous or more dangerous than driving drunk.
After a Road Trip Accident, Call Berg Injury Lawyers
At Berg Injury Lawyers, we know car accidents. When you’re involved in an accident because another driver was behaving recklessly, it’s more than an inconvenience, it can cause serious disruption to your life! If you or a loved one were injured, whether it was on a road trip or just a trip down the street, we want to help you get compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact the California car accident attorneys at Berg Injury Lawyers today. Your consultation is always free, and if you don’t win, you pay nothing.It’s Child Passenger Safety Week
| September 16th, 2019
Car accidents can be scary and stressful, but when a child is the car, they have even more potential to be devastating. The best way to protect your child in an accident is by making sure they are securely buckled into their car seat every time you get in a car, but when kids are growing and seat designs are changing, it can be difficult to know which to use or how to use it. Join us September 15-21 for National Child Passenger Safety Week 2019 by accessing the guide below for key information you need to know to keep your children safe in your vehicle.
How Music May Affect Your Driving Behavior
| August 7th, 2019
Car accidents occur every day when drivers get distracted by the radio dial or while flipping through a playlist, but is music itself a cause of traffic accidents? Music and driving have been an inseparable pair since radios were first added to vehicles, but now researchers are becoming interested in whether that relationship is helpful or harmful.The Case for Music while Driving
In driving situations when you are locked in traffic, listening to music can boost your mood and reduce your stress levels. In turn, this can reduce aggressive driving and road rage. In highway driving, listening to music has been connected with improved concentration, decreased lane drifting, and more accuracy in matching speed to flow of traffic. It also increases heartrate, making it easier for drivers to stay awake and aware.The Case Against Music while Driving
Loud music, or any music played over 85 decibels (dB), has been shown to reduce reaction time. Likewise, fast music, or any music with more than 120 beats per minute (BPM), may cause overexcitement, and cause a driver to subconsciously speed. When you really love a song, that may be another reason to take it off your road trip playlist. It becomes too easy to become distracted and begin making errors such as forgetting to signal or check blind spots. In studies comparing driving performance when listening to personal music vs music provided by researchers, tailgating also increased when drivers listened to their own music.How to Build Your Playlist
In general, music with a tempo of 60-80 BPM is the safest to drive to, because it mimics the average human heart rate. Most music among today’s hits falls around 100 BPM, but anything over 120 BPM may encourage dangerous driving habits. Based on what we know about the safest and most dangerous tempos, we’ve found five of the most dangerous songs to listen to while driving and five safe alternatives, all pulled from the Billboard Hot 100. Today’s Hits – Top 5 Most Dangerous Songs to Drive To- bad guy by Billie Eilish – 135 BPM
- Talk by Khalid – 136 BPM
- Sucker by Jonas Brothers – 138 BPM
- If I Can’t Have You by Shawn Mendes – 124 BPM
- Sweet But Psycho by Ava Max – 133 BPM
- Old Town Road by Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – 67 BPM
- Suge by DaBaby – 75 BPM
- Beer Never Broke My Heart by Luke Combs – 77 BPM
- Earfquake by Tyler, The Creator – 80 BPM
- 7 Rings by Ariana Grande – 70 BPM
When You’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident, Call Berg Injury Lawyers
If you’ve missed work and incurred huge medical bills after a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you don’t deserve to have to pay out of pocket. We have experience helping car accident victims get compensation for their injuries, and we want to help you, too. Call our firm today for a free consultation.What to Expect: Auto Accident Claims
| June 12th, 2019
After a car accident, the most important thing you can do to protect your health and your rights to compensation is get medical attention. Even if you have no visible injuries or immediate pain, it’s important to get evaluated by a medical professional. Whether you see a first responder at the scene or visit your doctor in the days following your accident, getting medical attention can rule out or address any internal injuries, as well as create a medical record linking your injuries to the crash. But once you’ve received the medical treatment you need, you may be wondering what to do next—especially if the accident was caused by another driver’s negligence. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we believe you should be compensated for what you’ve gone through, and we want to help. Read on to find out what happens when you file an auto accident injury claim in California.What Happens If We Take Your Case
When you call Berg Injury Lawyers after an accident, we’ll ask questions to learn more about your claim. If we determine that you have a case, we can collect and analyze evidence such as witness testimonies, crash scene debris, and police reports to support your claim and determine who can be held liable. We can also assess your injury-related expenses, including your current and future medical bills, current and future lost wages, and pain and suffering, to determine a fair settlement amount. Then, we’ll negotiate with the responsible party’s insurance company on your behalf to help you get the compensation you deserve. If the insurance company refuses to give you a fair settlement, we won’t hesitate to take your case to court.After a Car Accident, Get Berg!
If you or your loved one suffered injuries in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact the California car crash attorneys at Berg Injury Lawyers today. We have more than 40 years of experience fighting for injury victims in the Bay Area and throughout California, and we know what it takes to build strong claims. Let us get to work for you and your family today. You can contact us 24/7, and with our No Fee Guarantee®, if you don’t win, you pay nothing.Settlement Offer After a Crash? Don’t Accept It Without Talking to a Lawyer.
| April 24th, 2019
If you were recently injured in an auto accident, there’s a good chance the other driver’s insurance company knows about it. Insurance companies are always looking for ways to increase their profits, and that means paying victims like you as little as possible after crashes. Because auto accident victims often face expensive medical bills and a prolonged time away from work, they know that getting money fast is one of their top priorities. Unfortunately, insurance companies take advantage of that fact by offering victims settlements that aren’t nearly enough to cover all of their injury-related expenses. At Berg Injury Lawyers, our California auto accident attorneys are here to protect you from the insurance company’s tricks and tactics. We can calculate how much your claim is worth, and it’s our goal to help you get every dollar that you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation.3 Reasons to Not Immediately Accept the Insurance Company’s Initial Offer
If the insurance company offers you a settlement soon after your crash, you shouldn’t accept it without consulting a lawyer first for the following reasons:- It may not cover your expenses—The insurance company knows you need money now, but it may not factor in your future injury-related expenses.
- You may be unable to pursue additional compensation—If you accept the insurance company’s offer, you may be locked out from filing a claim for more money down the road.
- It’s important to get a second opinion—Even if the amount the insurance company is offering seems fair, it’s essential to have an experienced attorney look over it to make sure that accepting it is in your best interests.
What Should You Do if You Were Hurt in a Crash Caused by Someone You Know?
| April 23rd, 2019
Filing injury claims against negligent drivers is common for people who are hurt in crashes that weren’t their fault. But when those negligent drivers are their friends or family members, they’re often much less likely to pursue compensation. If you were recently hurt in a crash that was caused by a friend or loved one, it’s important to speak to a California auto accident lawyer about your options. You’re likely facing significant accident-related expenses, including medical bills and lost wages, but you may be hesitant to move forward. Our lawyers want to help you make the right decisions during this difficult time. It’s our goal to help you review your options and decide on the best course of action to make sure you’re fairly compensated. Contact Berg Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation.3 Steps to Take After a Crash
It’s important to act fast after a crash, even if it was caused by a friend or family member. Three vital steps to your recovery and your rights to compensation include:- Call 911—Calling 911 dispatches police officers and emergency responders to your location. The responding officers will create an official report of the crash, while the paramedics will provide aid to anyone who is injured.
- Get medical attention—Regardless of whether you get treated at the scene or you don’t think you are seriously injured, it’s still important to see a doctor soon after the crash. In addition to creating a medical report, it will also help rule out internal injuries.
- Call a lawyer—Evidence quickly disappears after crashes, making it more difficult for victims to get the compensation they need. The sooner you contact us after your accident, the better.
3 Reasons Auto Accident Claims Get Denied
| April 17th, 2019
Car crashes result in serious injuries and big medical bills. Many victims are unable to go back to work for long periods of time, and when they’re not working, they’re not earning the paychecks they need for their day-to-day living expenses. Auto insurance providers are supposed to step in and provide compensation for victims after accidents that weren’t their fault, but that doesn’t always happen. In fact, insurance companies are often more concerned with their own profits than giving fair settlements to innocent victims. That means valid claims frequently get reduced or even denied. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we believe that victims should get the money they deserve when they get injured by negligent drivers. If you were hurt in a crash that wasn’t your fault, don’t leave your financial recovery up to the insurance company’s whims. Contact our California auto accident attorneys today for a free consultation.Insurance Companies Often Look for These Mistakes and Oversights
Insurance companies and the adjusters who work for them are always on the lookout for reasons to deny claims, including:- Discrepancies or changes in injury reports—Victims should always be honest about their injuries. Exaggerating the severity of their injuries or changing their stories later can result in their claims being denied by insurance companies.
- Waiting too long to get medical treatment—Insurance companies assume that injured victims will seek immediate medical attention. When victims wait too long to get treated, adjusters may believe that their injuries aren’t serious or are pre-existing.
- Lack of evidence—Evidence can help prove that victims are innocent and that other drivers were negligent in the moments leading up to crashes. When evidence is lacking or non-existent, insurance companies are less likely to give victims compensation.
Not Sure If You Should Hire a Lawyer? Take It From Those Who Did.
| March 27th, 2019
If you were hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, getting compensation is one of your biggest priorities. That’s because your medical bills are piling up, and your injuries may prevent you from working and earning the paychecks you need to keep up with your family’s day-to-day expenses. Hiring a lawyer can help you maximize your chances of getting full compensation for your accident-related expenses, but you may be hesitant to make the call. Getting a lawyer after an accident can be an intimidating process for some people, especially if they’ve never needed to use the legal system in the past. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we do everything we can to help clients feel comfortable and confident in us and our track record of success.How Can a Lawyer Help After an Accident?
A 2014 study by the Insurance Research Council found that 93 percent of people who hired lawyers after their accidents said they would do it again. Here are a couple reasons why so many people may have been glad that they contacted law firms:- A lawyer deals with the insurance company on your behalf—Insurance adjusters have one job—reducing or denying payments to victims like you. They accomplish that by trying to get victims to make incriminating statements or by getting them to accept lowball settlements. You shouldn’t have to deal with that when you’re recovering, and when you get a lawyer, you won’t have to. All phone calls, letters, and emails will go through your attorney.
- A lawyer negotiates to get you maximum compensation—The expenses associated with injuries can continue adding up as months or years go by. With a lawyer on your side, you’ll know that your settlement won’t just cover your current expenses—it will also cover expenses you may incur down the road.
Steps to Take After an Auto Accident
| February 27th, 2019
The aftermath of a car accident can be scary, disorienting, and painful, and your main concern after a crash should be making sure you and your loved ones get the medical attention you need. At Berg Injury Lawyers, we’re here for you after an auto accident in California. We know how devastating car accidents can be, but we also know that there are steps you can take to start protecting your rights right away:- Document the crash scene if you’re able to do so—Taking pictures of your vehicle and its location on the road, getting contact information from the other driver(s) and witnesses, and writing down what happened are all steps that can create valuable evidence for your claim.
- Go to your doctor or a hospital—Even if you were evaluated by emergency responders at the crash scene, it’s still important to get a more thorough examination. A full check-up will reveal internal injuries, begin the recovery process, and create an official record of your accident-related injuries.
- Report the accident to your insurance provider—If you decide to file an auto accident claim, you’ll likely be pursuing damages from the other driver’s insurance company. But your own insurance company still requires notification of the crash—often within a day or two of it occurring.
- Call a California car accident lawyer—Personal injury claims are subject to short statutes of limitations in California. In addition, evidence can quickly disappear, and the other driver’s insurance company may begin building its defense against you. We’re ready to investigate the crash, calculate your current and future medical expenses, and help you get maximum compensation.
Let Us Fight for You
After a car accident, our California auto accident attorneys want to help you get compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You don’t have to go it alone. Call Berg Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation, and get the experienced legal representation you deserve.Settlement Offer From the Insurance Company? Let a Lawyer Review It.
| December 24th, 2018
If you were recently hurt in an auto accident that wasn’t your fault, you may have received or will soon receive a settlement offer from the insurance company. And while the money it’s offering you may seem substantial, there’s a good chance the offer is for significantly less money than what you truly deserve. Insurance companies know that victims are often in shock after crashes and need compensation for their medical bills, especially if they’re too hurt to go to work. That’s why they take advantage of victims when they’re at their most desperate. Unfortunately, victims who accept settlement offers in the days or weeks after their crashes rarely get enough money to cover their long-term expenses, and they’re often unable to pursue additional compensation. At Berg Injury Lawyers, our California auto accident lawyers know that insurance companies rarely treat victims fairly, and their priority is to find ways to protect their profits—not pay fair settlements. If you accept the insurance company’s initial offer, you may lose out on a significant amount of money that could have covered your medical bills and lost wages for months or even years to come. Our legal team knows what fair settlements look like, and we know how to calculate your expenses to determine how much money you’re owed. If the insurance company’s offer isn’t fair, we’re ready to negotiate to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation.
