Author Archives: Jay Butchko
If I Crossed the Street Against the Light, Do I Still Have a Case?
Probably so, although less compensation may be available. California is a pure comparative fault state. So, even if a victim was mostly at fault for an accident, compensation is still available. The court simply reduces the damages award based on the percentage of fault. If Sam’s damages were $100,000 and a jury finds that… Read More »
Legal Options in Elevator Accident Claims
Elevator safety is a serious issue in San Diego County. About half the area’s elevators are overdue for safety inspections. A significant number of these elevators haven’t been inspected in at least two years. Dozens of new, multi-floor buildings open their doors every day in San Diego County. Overworked inspectors cannot possibly keep up… Read More »
Formal and Informal Defenses in Motorcycle Wreck Claims
Legal defenses in motorcycle crash claims rarely succeed. The burden of proof in a civil claim is only a preponderance of the evidence, or more likely than not. That’s one of the lowest standards of proof in California courts. So, a little evidence goes a long way. Plus, in most cases, jurors sympathize with… Read More »
Five Common Causes of Electric Scooter Injuries
Mostly because electric scooter traffic has increased so dramatically, the number of electric scooter injuries has increased over 20 percent since 2022. These vehicles, which are usually regular scooters with small electric motors, are very common in dense, urban areas like Greater San Diego. They’re a good alternative for covering distances too far to… Read More »
“Routine” Pedestrian Accident in Pacific Beach
The media treated a near-fatal pedestrian accident as if it was nothing. But to the victim and the victim’s family, the crash was devastating. According to the San Diego Police Department, a 26-year-old man was driving a 2019 Toyota Corolla westbound in the 1500 block of Grand Avenue around 12:40 a.m. At that same… Read More »
Three Common Bicycle Accident-Related Head Injuries
Of all the bicycle helmet laws in the country, California has one of the most stringent ones. All bicyclists under 17 must wear protective headgear. Thin plastic or Styrofoam bicycle helmets, which somewhat resemble egg crates in terms of composition, offer some protection in very low-speed bicycle accidents, such as a rider hitting a… Read More »
CHP Investigating Possible Felony Hit-and-Run
Few details were available after a passing motorist on Interstate 8 told officials there was a body on the side of the road. Investigators, who offered no other details, shut down a portion of Interstate 5 in the Midway District while they collected evidence. High-Speed Car Crashes and Pedestrian Injuries At impact speeds of… Read More »
Non-Workers’ Comp Options for Job Injury Victims
The workplace injury rate in California is almost 50 percent higher than the nationwide workplace injury rate. Workers’ compensation, which replaces lost wages and pays reasonably necessary medical bills, covers most of these injuries. But, either due to the facts of the injury or the employer’s illegal activity, these benefits are often unavailable. These… Read More »
Five Kinds of Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving, mostly the first two categories of aggressive driving mentioned below, are responsible for about half of the car crashes in San Diego County. Most kinds of aggressive driving increase the risk of a wreck as well as the force in a collision. Nevertheless, most people drive aggressively, in at least one of… Read More »
Fatal Alcohol-Related Crash in Escondido
Few details were available after several people were injured and a 13-year-old boy was killed in what police are calling an alcohol-related crash. When they arrived at the intersection of North Broadway and Country Club Lane, officers found several people injured at the scene, and three of them — a man, a woman and… Read More »
