All-terrain vehicles are found all over California, especially in desert and mountain areas in Riverside County. People die every year from ATV-related accidents in California. There are laws that can prevent unnecessary injuries and deaths – if followed.
The most important rule to follow: Do not allow children to ride an ATV designed for an adult. According to the ATV Safety Institute, anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to drive an ATV on public land unless he or she has a safety certificate.
Do I have to remind you that an adult should not ride an ATV after drinking alcoholic beverages? California law requires anyone driving an ATV on public land to wear a helmet. The only way a passenger is allowed to ride on an ATV is if the ATV is designed to carry an additional passenger.
Driving an ATV on a highway is illegal in California; however, it is legal to cross a California highway while riding an ATV. Finally, drinking or even holding an opened alcoholic beverage is illegal. This includes roads and public lands in parks.
Read the laws of the road; learn them and abide by them. Keep yourself and others around you safe. If you are seriously injured in an accident while on an ATV, contact an experienced Riverside Personal Injury attorney. He or she will review every detail of your case to ensure that your rights are not trampled on.
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\\ tags: adults, alcohol, All-terrain vehicles (ATV), attorney, California, children, DUI, fatal accidents, Personal Injury, serious injuries
In most cases when an individual is involved in an auto accident, he or she panics and doesn’t know what to do first. The following is a list of things to remember if you are involved in a collision. Keep it in your wallet or car.
- Call 911 immediately – check condition of others involved
- Exchange information with the other person – name, address, telephone number, license number and insurance information
- Keep a camera in the car or use cell phone to take pictures of damages and injuries
- If there are witnesses, get their names and phone number
- Do not give any statement to the other person’s insurance company without your attorney present – cooperate with your insurance company
- Get medical attention – an injury can always show up later on
Call an experienced Personal Injury attorney as soon as possible. California law requires that if you plan on filing a lawsuit to do so within two years from the date of the accident. If you are involved with a city or county vehicle, you have 180 days to file.
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\\ tags: 911, Auto Accidents, California, injuries, insurance company, insurance information, Personal Injury, witnesses
Did you know that Californians can automatically register to donate their organs when renewing their driver’s license? Another way is to draw up a Living Will or give a friend or family member the Power of Attorney for health care, which allows them to make this decision if you cannot.
In California, a Living Will is also known as an Advanced Health Care Directive. A Living Will details the type of care you want or do not want in case you become incapacitated. A Power of Attorney for Health Care allows a person that you choose to make the necessary health-care decisions for you if you cannot. They also have the responsibility of making sure your Living Will instructions are carried out by your health care provider.
If you want to become an organ donor, it is important to document your wishes in your Living Will so your family will know what to do in the event you become eligible. Contact an experienced Riverside County Estate Planning attorney who can help you draft a Living Will and a Power of Attorney for Health Care to make sure your wishes are honored.
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\\ tags: Advanced Health Carre Directive, attorney, California, Estate Planning, living will, Organ donors, Power of Attorney for health care
A 21-year old man who had been involved in a minor, non-injury car accident on the westbound side of the 10 Freeway in Banning the other morning was killed. After the car accident, he pulled off the road and walked to the side of the freeway.
Moments later, a Toyota Tundra, driven by a 23-year old, went out of control, spun around and hit the young man. He sustained fatal head injuries.
The police are investigating what caused the Toyota driver to lose control.
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\\ tags: 10 Freeway, attorney, Auto Accidents, Banning, California, Drivers, fatal head injuries, lost control, Personal Injury
An estate tax is a tax imposed by a state or the Federal government on the right to transfer property to an individual’s heirs after he or she dies. California has not collected an estate tax or an inheritance tax since 2005 when the ‘pick-up tax’ was officially phased out due to the provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act. Because of this, it is estimated that the State of California will lose over $5 billion in the next few years.
There is speculation that under current Federal law, the ‘pick-up tax’ will be reinstated on January 1, 2011.
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\\ tags: "pick-up taxes", attorney, California, Estate Planning, estate taxes, Federal government, heirs, property
I am asked often if a Will is enough for the future. I tell my clients that a Will is just a starting point to state where your property and assets should go; however, a Will does not avoid probate proceedings.
It is better than nothing at all because without a will your estate will go through probate. The State of California could decide where your property will go based on “Intestate Succession” laws.
When it comes time to plan your estate, it would be wise to contact an experienced Estate Planning attorney who will advise what is best for you. In some cases, having a Will plus powers of attorney, may be all you need.
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\\ tags: assets, attorney, California, Estate Planning, Intestate Succession laws, Probate, property, Will
A 70-year old man riding a bicycle against the flow of traffic in Cathedral City was hit by a minivan and then dragged under it for a distance the other morning. Police removed the man from under the minivan when they arrived. Witnesses told police that the minivan may have run a stop sign.
The bicyclist was taken to a nearby hospital in Palm Springs where it was determined he sustained a head injury, cuts to his arm, knees, shoulders and head – along with other bruises and bumps. Because of his age, his injuries were considered serious. No one else was injured.
The police impounded the minivan and cited the driver for suspicion of driving without a license. The accident is under investigation at this time. It would be wise for the bicyclist to seek the advice of an experienced Personal Injury attorney to determine if he can be compensated for his medical expenses.
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\\ tags: attorney, bicyclist, California, Cathedral City, minivan, Personal Injury, traffic violations, victim
Motorists on Interstate 10 near Desert Center found themselves stuck in traffic on Saturday morning. A vehicle traveling east suddenly crossed into the westbound lanes and crashed into a car head-on.
Four people sustained injuries – 3 were airlifted to local hospitals while the fourth was taken by ambulance.
The accident is under investigation to determine what caused the eastbound driver to lose control of the vehicle. No arrests have been made at this time.
I urge the four victims to contact an experienced Personal Injury Attorney so they can be compensated for their injuries and expenses.
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\\ tags: attorney, California, car accident, Interstate 10, Personal Injury, traffic violations
You can be charged with drug dealing in California if you are found to be contributing to the production, packaging, distribution or the sale of narcotics. The penalty for this crime is usually prison. It is a felony crime regardless of what drug you sold. Drug dealers are seldom given probation even if it is a first-time offense.
Your sentence will be determined by the drugs in your possession and the amount you have. If you were caught with any type of illegal drug, you would be wise to contact a competent Criminal Law Attorney who has experience in handling drug-dealing cases in California and can advise you of your civil rights under the United States Constitution.
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\\ tags: attorney, California, Criminal Law, drug dealers, Illegal drugs, narcotics, prison
I cannot tell my family, friends and clients enough that Estate Planning is so important to handle. By planning your estate, you are taking care of your family later on – they can avoid the nightmare of the probate process.
If you do not plan your estate, the State will handle your assets for you and your heirs. An estate plan has many advantages, which include the reduction or elimination of estate taxes and protecting your heirs from potential lawsuits with creditors.
In addition, it allows you, not the State of California, to designate a guardian for your children and to plan for possibility of you becoming incapacitated. An important advantage is that is maximizes the privacy of your financial situation.
Why wait? Contact an experienced Estate Planning attorney now and discuss estate and who you want listed as your heirs.
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\\ tags: assets, attorney, California, Estate Planning, family member, guardian
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