Uncategorized Archives - Pyramid Legal

What Happens if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Car Insurance?

May 8, 2023

In the state of California, it is illegal to drive on public roadways and highways without car insurance. In fact, there are minimum mandatory requirements levied upon Californians. Some, carry harsh penalties and fines. Regardless of its illegality, many drivers do not meet the minimum coverage mandated by the state. It is estimated at 16.6 percent of all drivers in California continue to travel daily with no insurance at all, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

This is very distressing news for California’s insured motorists. An accident with an uninsured can result in financial losses, and in some cases, unrecoverable damages. However, there are steps you can take that can help protect you from having to cover the costs of the accident out of pocket.

This article will cover many issues surrounding uninsured motorists and what you can do to protect yourself if you have an accident with one of these drivers. It will also address the legal ramifications if you are the driver without insurance.

California’s Insurance Requirements

California is what is known as a “tort-law” state. Tort law is considered to be a restorative form of justice. This is because the laws of that state, such as California, seek to remedy losses in regard to monetary loss or injury with financial compensation. This is an important distinction because it helps to provide context and understanding when looking at insurance laws.

While California actually has some of the most lenient penalties for driving without insurance, costs can add up quickly. But the biggest gamble comes in the form of an auto accident. Without the required minimum coverage, uninsured drivers are held personally responsible for all costs they are found to be at fault for.

The minimum coverage required by the state of California is:

$15,000/per person
$30,000/per accident
$5,000/property damage

This is where tort law comes in. Since California applies tort law to auto accidents, Californians have the right to sue the other driver for losses and damages.

And this is where carrying the required minimum coverage comes in. Liability insurance protects you in the event you are found to be at fault and have to pay for damages and injuries.

However, in the event the other driver is at fault and does not carry the required minimum coverage, they are still liable for the amount owed – with or without auto insurance. This is why carrying car insurance is so important; you are still responsible for the costs either way.

Penalties and Fines for Driving Without Insurance in California

The first conviction of driving without auto insurance can result in a $100-$200 fine. However, your vehicle can be impounded – even with the first offense.

The court can also decide to levy additional penalty assessments, which can result in doubling, or tripling your fines, or more. Penalty assessments can really make a “driving with no insurance” fine much more costly.

The second offense and any subsequent offenses may result in fines between $200-$500 along with any additional assessments.

While some have viewed this as “cheaper” than paying for car insurance, the truth is, if you end up in an auto accident without insurance, it can ruin your life for quite some time.

According to Bank Rate, Penalty Assessments are:

Penal Code 1464: $10 for every $10 or part of $10 of your fine (so if your fine was $25, you could be hit with a $30 penalty assessment here)
Government Code 7600: $7 for every $10 of part of $10
Government Code 70372: $5 for every $10 or part of $10
Government Code 76104.6: $1 for every $10 or part of $10
Government Code 76104.7: $4 for every $10 or part of $10
Government Code 76000.5: $2 for every $10 or part of $10

What these penal codes mean is, if all of these penalty assessments is issued against you, every $10 of your fine gets an additional $29 added on. Therefore, a simple $100 fine turns into a $390 fine. And if you are charged with a $500 fine along with all of the penalty assessments, you will be paying $1,950 out of your own pocket.

What Do I Do If the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?

Get Uninsured Motorist Coverage – This is the number 1 step insured drivers can take to protect themselves from the uninsured. Without it, you could end up footing the bill for an accident that someone else caused. Uninsured Motorist Coverage is an optional piece of coverage you can add to your policy that essentially covers you in the event you are in an accident with an uninsured driver. It allows you to make a claim against your own insurance company to cover losses and medical expenses up to your cap if you are in an accident with someone that does not carry insurance. If they are insured, but do not carry the minimum required coverage, it can make up the difference.
Seek Medical Attention – Even if you do not feel as though you were injured, seek medical attention right away after an accident. This is an extremely important step because an accident can cause your adrenaline to spike. Adrenaline can mask the pain and symptoms of even serious injuries. Injuries can not only worsen the longer they are left undiagnosed and untreated but failing to get a proper diagnosis can result in forfeiting fair compensation for your injuries.
Never Admit Fault – An accident can stir a range of emotions, from anger and confusion to guilt and remorse – even if it was not your fault. With these emotions may come the urge to say how sorry you are this happened. Do not. Even if it’s clear the accident was the fault of the other driver, your apology may constitute another aspect of the accident that could result in you being denied compensation or the right to sue.
Call the Police – It’s important to document the accident. You want all the evidence and records possible to either fight a court case or file a lawsuit. In either case, evidence is crucial. The police play an important role in auto accidents as they file police reports. These reports are accessible to you and they contain important information, such as documenting the accident as a whole, the location where it occurred, injuries, and both parties’ statements.
Call a Lawyer Immediately – The longer you wait to contact an experienced car accident lawyer, such as Pyramid Legal, the harder it is to file an effective lawsuit. A qualified personal injury attorney will collect all of the evidence, have you begin medical treatment right away if needed, and begins filing the proper paperwork, and more. They will ensure your best interests come first and they typically only get paid after a settlement has been accepted – no upfront costs.

Failing to follow these steps can result in financial losses, undetected injuries worsening or possibly becoming permanent, being erroneously found at fault for the accident, or failing to file a lawsuit that yields fair and just compensation.

In Conclusion

Ultimately, an auto accident can be a traumatic event for anybody who experiences one. No one wants to find themselves in an accident, whether it is considered to be a simple “fender bender” or a serious car crash. Driving carries with it inherent risks; you should always be prepared. Being prepared means taking reasonable steps to protect yourself and your interests.

This includes having the proper amount of insurance coverage such as Uninsured Motorist coverage, collecting evidence, seeking medical care, making a police report, and contacting a personal injury lawyer right away. Contacting a personal injury attorney can help you navigate the legal aspects, give you legal advice, file paperwork on your behalf, and ensure you get the best settlement award available to you.

If you have been in an auto accident, contact Pyramid Legal today.

Southern California Dog Bite Injury Lawyers

April 2, 2022

Not all dogs are friendly. Unfortunately, dogs without the proper training or handling can end up injuring other people. In almost every case, responsibility for a dog bite falls on the dog’s owner.

Dog bite injuries can be serious. Even a small dog’s jaw can clamp down with great force. Larger breeds can cause major damage to tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones, especially around vulnerable joints like ankles, wrists, elbows, or hands. Victims could need extensive surgery or physical therapy to recover while some may never recover fully.

In addition to the possibility of lifelong injuries, dog bite incidents and attacks could lead to severe mental pain, suffering, anguish, and PTSD – especially for children.

Personal injury law gives dog bite victims the right to hold negligent or reckless dog owners responsible for injuries caused by their pets. Most pets are covered under homeowners’ insurance policies, which is why sometimes dog bites are treated like premises liability cases. If you get injured by a dog on someone else’s property, that could qualify as a dangerous condition that the property owner had a responsibility to fix or warn you about.

Dog bites often happen unexpectedly and in the blink of an eye, leaving you with catastrophic injuries that severely affect your daily life and even your ability to do your job. The Pyramid Legal team is here to help you get justice and compensation for the harm that you’ve suffered.

Compensation for Damages After a Dog Bite Injury

When you file a personal injury claim for a dog bite, you could get compensation for:

Your medical bills, both in the present and anticipated in the future
The cost of any surgeries or rehabilitative treatments you need to recover
The cost of psychological or trauma counseling after a dog bite incident
Any lost income or earning potential from becoming unable to work
Any permanent scarring, disfigurement, loss of function, or disability
Any pain, suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress you experience

If the dog owner’s insurance covers your claim, the insurance company may try to minimize your injuries. But dog bites can cause severe and complicated injuries that should not be discounted. You should speak to an attorney about your rights before agreeing to a settlement. An initial settlement offer is bound to be a lowball compared to what you really deserve. If you sign without talking to a lawyer first, you could be leaving thousands of dollars on the table.

If the dog owner is not covered by insurance, they can be held personally liable for your injuries.

In California, dog bite cases are handled on a strict liability basis. As long as you’re in a public place or lawfully on private property, dog owners are responsible for any bite injuries caused by their pets. This is true even if their dog has never shown aggression or bitten anyone before.

At Pyramid Law, we can help you get the justice you deserve and the compensation you need to recover from your injuries. Contact our experienced attorneys for a free consultation now.

Southern California Property Damage Lawyers

April 2, 2022

If someone else damages your property, you shouldn’t have to pay for their negligent or reckless actions. You might expect your insurance to pay for the damages, but insurance companies can give you the runaround even if you’ve always paid your premiums on time.

Property damage is often an issue in traffic accident cases. If you suffer injuries and your car gets totaled in a crash caused by another driver, you could have a personal injury claim and a property damage claim. Depending on the value of your damaged property, you could be entitled to thousands of dollars in compensation for your losses.

But compensation for property damage doesn’t just stop with your car. You could also recover for damage to anything inside the car during the crash, like laptops or other valuable items.

Unfortunately, if you’re the victim of property damage, you may soon find out that your insurance company is not actually on your side, no matter what their commercials may say. Ultimately, your insurance company’s loyalties lie with shareholders and company profits. From their point of view, the less they pay out for your claim, the better it is for their balance sheet.

When you work with Pyramid Legal, our experienced property damage lawyers are in your corner looking out for your best interests at all times. You don’t have to worry about dealing with your insurance company because we deal with them for you – and their intimidation tactics don’t work on us. We make sure you get the full amount you deserve for your claim.

Personal Property Damage from Fire or Water

Southern California homeowners have always had to deal with destructive natural elements like wildfires, flash floods, high winds, and storms. That’s on top of the usual homeowner concerns like water leaks or housefires. You may think you’re covered for these types of damages under your homeowner’s insurance policy until your insurance company starts giving you pushback.

At Pyramid Legal, we make sure that your insurance company covers you for the full amount you’re owed under your policy. We always advocate for your best interests and goes, whether that involves repairing your home or buying another property.

Business Property Damage From Vandalism

Businesses also face the risks of fire and water leaks. But storefronts are often targets for incidents of vandalism, burglary, and theft that cause thousands of dollars in damage. The team at Pyramid Legal can help you get the maximum amount under your insurance policy.

You could benefit from filing a property damage lawsuit if:

Your property damage was caused by someone else’s negligent actions,
Your insurance company denies your claims or delays your payments,
Your insurance company threatens to cancel your coverage,
Your claim is undervalued by your insurance company,
Your insurance representative misrepresents your policy, or
Your insurance company delays the investigation into your property damage claim.

Some of these cases involve insurance companies acting in bad faith – purposefully denying you your rights under the terms of your policy – which is also illegal.

When you work with Pyramid Legal, you don’t pay us until we recover compensation for your property damage. We’re just as invested in your case as you are.

Contact our experienced attorneys for a free consultation now.

Southern California Premises Liability Lawyers

April 2, 2022

Property owners, property management companies, and businesses have a legal duty to maintain their land and buildings with a certain standard of safety and care.

Local, state, and federal building and land regulations protect the public from neglected and dangerous conditions no matter whose property you’re on. After all, when you move about the world, you expect a level of basic safety. So when a property owner or tenant:

Fails to inspect their property for dangers,
Fails to fix the dangerous conditions on the premises, or
Fails to warn others about known dangers on the property,

People can get hurt. And depending on the type of hazards that exist on the property, the resulting injuries could be catastrophic, even deadly.

If you’ve suffered a slip and fall or another injury because of dangerous conditions on someone else’s property, you shouldn’t have to bear the cost of your recovery. Under personal injury laws, public visitors, guests, tenants, and even some trespassers can recover compensation for their injuries. Families of victims can also file a claim on their behalf.

At Pyramid Legal, we help you get the justice you deserve and the support you need to recover from your injuries and move forward with your life. A legal claim can hold the property manager responsible for your injuries accountable for their negligent or reckless behavior.

Common Premises Liability Accidents and Injuries

Unsafe property conditions can come in many forms. Some common examples include:

- Building code violations such as blocked fire exits, insufficient smoke alarms, lack of handrails, improper venting, or electrical or structural problems
- Poor engineering, construction, or building materials
- Missing guardrails, fencing, or other safety barriers
- Improperly maintained accessibility aids like wheelchair ramps
- Obstructed or poorly maintained walkways or stairways
- Swimming pool or amusement park accidents
- Dangerous conditions from snow and ice

Water leaks or flooding hazards

Premises liability injuries could include broken bones, burns, neck and spinal cord injuries, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), shock or electrocution, internal bleeding, or puncture wounds. Some injuries could be life-changing or even fatal.

California laws protect victims in premises liability cases. In California, landowners and property operators must take reasonable care to prevent harm to anyone on the premises. This includes the continuous duty to inspect the property for danger and hazards.

That means in a premises liability case, a landlord or property manager can’t simply plead ignorance to avoid responsibility. It’s their duty to check and know about dangerous conditions.

If you’ve been injured because of negligence on someone else’s property, you could recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. The experienced premises liability lawyers at Pyramid Legal can help.

Slip & Fall Injuries

Slip and fall injuries could happen anywhere – the sidewalk, the grocery store, a public park, a movie theater. Some areas are more prone to slips and falls, such as escalators, elevators, swimming pools, or construction sites. But any uneven or slippery surface could be a hazard.

Property managers should be especially conscious of slip and fall risks around:

Uneven floors, sidewalks, or stairs, especially if icy
Wet floors and other environmental conditions such as snow and wind
Unsafe stairs, ladders, deteriorating floors, or loose floorboards or rugs
Grease, oil, or other liquids on the floor that haven’t been cleaned up

Falls can be extremely unpredictable. Depending on the way you land, you could walk away with a minor injury or suffer major trauma – even death. A slip and fall victim could require extensive medical treatment or a lifetime of supportive care. You could become unable to work, losing your income and the ability to pay your mounting medical bills.

If the property owner, operator, or manager knew or should have known of the danger, they could be held liable for the harm that you suffer as a result. A personal injury lawsuit can help you put fault where it belongs and get the accountability you deserve.

The more severe your injuries, the more you could be owed in compensation.

Economic damages cover your monetary losses like medical bills and lost income.
Non-economic damages address the pain and suffering you’ve experienced.
Punitive damages punish bad actors for especially abhorrent behavior. This helps deter the guilty party from repeating their actions and sets an example for others. Punitive damages could come into play if a property manager blatantly ignores signs of danger despite multiple injuries that keep escalating over time.

When you work with the talented attorneys at Pyramid Legal, we put clients first. We go to battle against property management companies and their insurance companies on your behalf to make sure you and your family have the support you need to recover.

Contact our experienced attorneys for a free consultation now.

Southern California Products Liability Attorneys

April 2, 2022

You expect the products that you buy to be safe. Consumers rely on marketing and labels to use products the way they were intended. But dangerous product defects can turn even the most benign product into a hazard – one that you might use in your home every single day.

From exploding pressure cookers to faulty seatbelts and airbags, the consequences of defective products can be devastating to innocent buyers and their families. Besides everyday home goods, millions of people rely on medical devices and implants to work properly in order to live.

Products liability injuries can be as different as the products involved. Users of defective products may experience burns, illness, or other serious personal injuries like spinal cord trauma, traumatic brain injury (TBI), amputation, and even death. Some products may injure multiple people in similar ways, in which case a class action case may be the best strategy.

At Pyramid Legal, we’re here to hold the makers of defective products responsible for the harm they’ve caused. Companies who create defective products may try to sweep evidence of their wrongdoing under the rug but our attorneys can help you get the justice you deserve. That includes compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

3 Types of Dangerous Product Defects

According to the law, most product defects fall into three basic categories:

If a product has a defective design, it can be dangerous even if it’s manufactured perfectly. The product’s flaw lies in its very blueprint. A product can be classified as defective when the risk of using it outweighs any possible benefits.
A manufacturing defect involves a flaw in the manufacturing process. Even if the design is perfect, defective manufacturing can create dangerous products. Companies that don’t do proper quality checks could be negligent for manufacturing defects.
To avoid defective marketing, manufacturers have a duty to inform consumers of any risks that come with using the product as well as proper safety instructions. Failing to do either could make the manufacturer liable for any injuries that result.

Millions of Americans rely on all types of products to live their daily lives. A defective product could have major consequences for a victim’s health and even their career. A severe injury could require long-term or even lifelong medical treatment and supportive care.

Who Is Responsible for a Defective Product?

In most cases, a product goes through many hands before it reaches a consumer. In California, products liability cases are decided on a strict liability basis.

Strict liability means that anyone involved in the creation, sale, distribution, or marketing of a product can be held responsible for injuries caused by that product. This is true even if their actions did not directly cause the defect.

Depending on the type of defect, responsibility could lie with the product manufacturer, a part manufacturer, an independent testing lab, a distributor, a supplier, a sales representative, or a retailer. For example: a perfectly designed and manufacturing product could still be defective if the distributor failed to transport the product in the proper temperature conditions.

Strict liability cases work out in favor of victims, who must only show that a defective product caused their injury. As the victim, it’s not your responsibility to figure out who caused the defect. After all, no one could expect you to investigate major manufacturers and large corporations to figure out who failed to do their job. That would be outrageous.

Once you prove that a product was defective and caused your injuries, the manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and other responsible parties can hash out fault among themselves.

How a Products Liability Lawyer Can Help

When you file a personal injury claim based on products liability, you can hold the manufacturers responsible for damages to cover the losses you’ve experienced.

If you’ve lost a loved one because of a defective product, you could have a wrongful death claim on their behalf, to recover for their pain, suffering, and lost income.

If a court finds that a manufacturing company acted maliciously, willfully, or with extreme recklessness for the safety of others, they may even award the victim punitive damages.

While monetary compensation cannot undo your injury or a loved one’s death, a lawsuit can put responsibility where it belongs. The burden of shouldering your injury shouldn’t fall on you and your family when someone else is the actual cause of your suffering. A products liability settlement can help you get the medical treatment you need to recover and take a defective product off the market so that it won’t hurt anyone else.

The passionate team at Pyramid Legal fights to secure a brighter future for our clients. Contact our experienced attorneys for a free consultation now.

Southern California Construction Accident Lawyers

April 2, 2022

Los Angeles is constantly under development, with hundreds of construction sites in operation every single day. Construction workers are at the highest risk of injury at construction sites, but the general public is not immune. Pedestrians could be hurt just by walking near or through a construction site. Drivers could get in accidents caused by freeway and highway construction.

The most common construction injuries are caused by falls, electrocution, falling objects, getting caught in between objects, and fires. These incidents could cause broken bones, cuts, burns, eye injuries, loss of hearing, spine injuries, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

The construction industry is heavily regulated because the work can be so dangerous. Construction companies are responsible for complying with and maintaining proper safety standards at their worksites. If someone slips up or cuts corners, innocent people can get hurt.

That’s where Pyramid Legal comes in. We hold developers, construction companies, contractors, and construction site operators responsible for any harm they cause because of recklessness or negligence. A personal injury claim can help you recover for your damages – that could cover the cost of your medical treatment, any income you may lose from being unable to work, and any pain and suffering you experience because of your injury.

How a Construction Accident Attorney Can Help

Construction crews must abide by certain standards of care at all California construction sites. If they fail to do so, that negligence could cause injury to others.

Sometimes, accidents simply happen. Workers make mistakes. But personal injury law makes sure that innocent victims aren’t left paying for the consequences of these mistakes. Construction companies are responsible for the actions of their employees while they’re on the job. So even if a worker makes a mistake, you can hold the construction company liable.

Construction site injuries tend to be severe because of the danger involved. Not to mention – pedestrians, innocent bystanders, and third parties often don’t have hard hats and other important safety equipment that would lessen their injuries.

Dangerous scaffolding could fall onto unprotected pedestrians walking below.
Defective power tools or electrical wiring could cause electrocution or fire.
If a construction company pushes their workers to put in long hours or fails to give their workers the required breaks, those tired workers could make more mistakes.
Negligently or carelessly operated trucks, tractors, cranes, bulldozers, and other heavy machinery could cause dangerous or deadly collisions.
Lack of railings or unsecured elevator shafts could cause fatal falls.

Depending on the facts of your case, responsibility for your injury could fall on the construction site developer, any contractors or subcontractors, the architect or designer of the site, the engineer or engineering company, or the equipment manufacturer or distributor.

Going up against a construction company or their insurance company in court might sound intimidating, but you can even the playing field by working with Pyramid Legal. We’re ready to take on negligent companies and bad actors in court for our clients if necessary. When you’ve got us in your corner, you can rest assured that your case is in good hands.

Contact our experienced attorneys for a free consultation now.

Southern California Aviation Accident Attorneys

April 2, 2022

Statistically, flying might be safer than driving. But that doesn’t mean airplane accidents never happen. Commercial airlines tend to be safer than single-jet planes, private flights, and helicopters. When unexpected incidents happen in the air, the consequences are often catastrophic for passengers and even dangerous for people on the ground.

Injuries in aviation accidents could involve broken bones, burns, amputations, head injuries, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), internal organ injuries, and even death.

The team at Pyramid Legal can help you navigate your injuries and legal options after a plane crash. Flying is a complex area of law because of how many issues and actors are involved. You have federal aviation laws and regulations on top of local ordinances. Pilots must be licensed or operating under proper supervision. Flight paths can get congested. The aircraft may suffer from a defect or improper maintenance standards.

This is why it’s important to get a lawyer on your case as soon as possible after an aviation accident. Even if you get offered a settlement, you should speak to a lawyer before signing. You could be entitled to much more depending on how much you’ve lost.

How an Aviation Attorney Can Help

When you work with Pyramid Legal, we help you put responsibility for the crash where it belongs. Whether you survived an airplane crash personally or you’re grieving the loss of a loved one in an aircraft accident, you and your family deserve justice.

Aviation accidents could involve commercial airline accidents, charter plane crashes, helicopter accidents, mid-air collisions, air ambulance incidents, runway accidents, international plane crashes, sightseeing or tour accidents, skydiving plane accidents, small or single-engine plane crashes, in-flight injuries or turbulence incidents, building collisions, and even drone crashes. At Pyramid Legal, we handle them all.

When you file a legal claim, you could recover damages – usually in the form of monetary compensation. The person or company responsible for your injuries pays for the harm they’ve caused by covering your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. This can make all the difference in your recovery and your ability to move forward with your life.

Aviation accidents could be caused by human error, pilot misconduct, poor training, crew or corporate negligence, improper maintenance, or design or manufacturing defects.

If your crash was caused by pilot negligence or misconduct on the job, that usually means the pilot’s employer can be held responsible for their actions.
With defects, the manufacturer could be responsible for paying for your injuries.
Corporate negligence could look like failing to schedule required aircraft maintenance or pushing policies that make pilots work too many hours.
Repair crews could be held responsible if their work doesn’t meet a certain standard of care or they overlook issues that they should have caught.

When you work with Pyramid Legal, we help investigate and determine the cause of your crash then hold the guilty party accountable for the harm you’ve suffered. We work on a contingency fee basis so you don’t pay us until we recover compensation for you.

Contact our experienced attorneys for a free consultation now.

Southern California Traffic Accident Attorneys

April 1, 2022

Driving on Southern California’s roads is no stroll in the park. Los Angeles has some of the most dangerous freeways in the country. A traffic accident on your daily commute could change your life in an instant. Despite all of the safety features installed on cars today, the high-speed physics of traffic collisions means you could be facing catastrophic injuries.

If a traffic accident is not your fault, you should not have to pay for someone else’s negligence. You should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible after a traffic accident, especially if you’ve suffered injuries. The attorneys at Pyramid Legal can help you get the medical treatment you need to recover and hold the guilty party responsible for your losses.

The damages you recover in a personal injury claim could cover your medical bills, any income you lose from being unable to work, and any pain and suffering you’ve experienced.

If you’ve lost a loved one to a traffic accident in Southern California, you can file a claim for wrongful death or a survivor’s action. A lawyer can help you assess your options.

Car Accidents

You may be confused about what to do after a car crash. You must first determine who was at fault in the accident then file the proper legal claims. You may have to deal with you or another driver’s insurance company, neither of which are on your side.

It’s no wonder that many car accident victims settle for less than they’re fully owed after a crash. Most people just want to move on with their lives after something so stressful. But the law is here to help “make you whole” by compensating you for the harm you’ve suffered. Your lawyer is the one person who is truly in your corner to help you recover from your injury.

Distracted driving, driving under the influence, reckless driving, unsafe road conditions, and mechanical defects can all cause accidents on SoCal roads. The most common injuries in car accidents involve whiplash, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) such as concussions, broken bones, amputations, road rash or cuts, and emotional distress.

Not all injuries are obvious right away. Even if you “feel okay” after an accident, you should get checked out by a doctor. Many traffic accident injuries are latent – they may not show up until days, weeks, months, or even years down the line. You want to catch any injuries early on so that you can take care of your health and put responsibility where it belongs.

Medical bills can start to pile up quickly – but a personal injury claim can help cover these costs. A lawsuit can even cover you for any income you lose from taking time off work to recover.

Going against an auto insurance company may sound overwhelming, but that’s where the experienced attorneys at Pyramid Legal come in. We go toe-to-toe with the insurance companies for you, taking the stress of negotiation off your shoulders.

Truck Accidents

Because trucks tend to be so massive in comparison to passenger vehicles, they have a sizable advantage in accidents. Tractor-trailors, 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and big rigs usually weigh significantly more than other cars. As a result, truck accidents can be devastating.

Truck drivers, especially those driving commercial operations, must comply with industry regulations to keep the roads safe for all. But commercial truck driving operations want to maximize profits. If companies pressure their drivers into working longer hours or speeding to meet delivery deadlines, that puts other drivers on the road at risk.

Trucking companies are responsible for the actions of their drivers while they’re in the course of their job duties. Trucks can become hazards to other drivers when they take routes not approved for trucks, violate hours of service requirements, or exceed load and weight limits. Failing to take these standards of care can be evidence of negligence.

At Pyramid Legal, we take on the trucking companies to get you the justice you deserve. You can leave the legal issues to us while you focus on your recovery.

Bus Accidents

Bus drivers may be working long hours or driving tired, especially if there are staff shortages. While local city buses may travel at slower speeds, others can travel just as fast as regular traffic. In the event of a collision, buses have a clear size advantage over passenger cars. Even pedestrians and passengers getting on and off are at risk from poorly driven buses.

Bus accidents can get complicated, fast. If you’re a passenger in a bus crash, you may suffer severe injuries such as broken bones, cuts, whiplash, head injury, and spinal cord injury. This is especially true if you’re on a bus without passenger seatbelts.

Whether your traffic accident involves a public bus or private bus company, you deserve compensation for your injuries. The attorneys at Pyramid Law can help you determine who was at fault in your accident and hold them responsible for your damages.

Motorcycle Accidents

The dangers of motorcycles are well documented. Unfortunately, motorcyclists are naturally at a greater risk of injury because they are unprotected on the road. Motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles and can be difficult for other drivers to see in their blind spots.

You could do everything right on your motorcycle but another driver’s carelessness can still cause a crash. With no seatbelts or walls to protect you, you could suffer catastrophic injuries including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), amputation, or paralysis.

These types of injuries usually require long-term medical treatment and supportive care. You may even become unable to work. If someone else’s negligent driving caused your injuries, you should not be the one left to foot the bill. A personal injury claim can help you get the compensation you need to heal and move forward with your life.

Uber/Lyft Rideshare Accidents

We all hope for the best whenever we get into an Uber or Lyft. But with the number of rideshares on the road today, accidents are bound to happen.

Whether you’re a passenger inside a rideshare vehicle or a third party caught up in a collision with one, you may wonder how the rideshare companies affect your situation.

Both Lyft and Uber carry insurance to cover passengers who get injured in their vehicles. But drivers for both companies must also carry their own insurance. To make matters even more complicated, it can be hard to get anyone on the phone at either company to discuss your claims. If another driver was at fault in the crash, you may have to talk to their insurance.

At Pyramid Legal, you can leave this to us – we take care of this process for you. We talk to the right insurance companies on your behalf so you don’t have to deal with them.

Bicycle Accidents

Bicycling is an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint, get in your physical activity, and avoid a stop-and-go commute in a car. But despite the many projects around Los Angeles to make city roads more friendly to cyclists, bicycle accidents happen all over Southern California. And in a collision between a bicycle and a car, the car usually has the advantage.

Despite wearing a helmet and proper visibility gear, cyclists are often at the mercy of the drivers around them. Some drivers simply don’t give cyclists enough room or respect on the road. Others might not know the proper traffic and safety etiquette around cyclists. Still others could simply be distracted, texting, or careless about checking their blind spots.

Traffic accidents can be catastrophic for cyclists, who are no match for cars, SUVs, trucks, and other larger vehicles. An injury from a bicycle accident could leave you needing extensive medical treatment. Your injuries could make you unable to work. Your bicycle might also be destroyed in the accident, leaving you with no method of transportation.

The accident attorneys at Pyramid Legal are here to stand up for bicyclists and their rights. If you get hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t be the one who pays for it. A legal claim could help you recover compensation for your losses – including medical bills, lost income, and property damage so you can replace your bicycle.

Pedestrian Accidents

Recently, Los Angeles started implementing “Vision Zero” with a goal to reduce traffic-related deaths for pedestrians and bicyclists. Even with this initiative, a significant number of Californians still get injured and killed while traveling on foot throughout the region.

Southern California’s busy highways have always been dangerous for people on foot, with wide boulevards, congested intersections, and aggressive drivers. Any vehicle traveling over 20 miles per hour can cause catastrophic injury to unprotected pedestrians.

Broken or shattered bones, spinal injuries, internal organ injuries, head injuries, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are some of the most common injuries in pedestrian accidents. These conditions may require extensive medical treatment and even long-term care.

If you’re on a pedestrian walkway or crossing, you have the right-of-way and traffic must yield to you. Speeding, careless driving, failing to signal, and DUI can all cause accidents where drivers fail to notice or yield to pedestrians. Insurance companies may try to deny claims by blaming pedestrians for running out into traffic. But a lawyer can help you put fault where it belongs and get you the compensation you deserve for treatment and rehabilitation.

When it comes to traffic accidents, you should not fight for your rights alone. Your attorney is the one person who is in your corner throughout the entire process of getting justice. At Pyramid Law, we keep you in the loop and always proceed with your goals in mind. We work tirelessly to ensure that you get the maximum possible recovery for your case.

Your no-risk consultation is free and you don’t pay us until we recover compensation for you. Contact our team to schedule your consultation now.