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Q: Can I get compensation as a witness to a traumatic car accident in CA?
I was on a scooter next to my friend who was on a bike when a car hit her in California. She was thrown 6 feet into the air, and it was a traumatic experience for me to witness. I wasn't injured, but I felt the impact. The driver stopped, and the police were called. I'm wondering if there... View More 
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Emery Brett Ledger
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answered on Oct 26, 2026
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answered on Oct 26, 2026
California draws a tight line around bystander emotional distress claims, and that line is drawn by family relationship, not by how close you were standing.
Under Thing v. La Chusa, a person who watches someone else get hurt can recover for emotional distress only if they are closely... View More
Q: Should we sign affidavits after accident demand letter?
My adult son was responsible for an auto accident. The vehicle is in my name under my insurance with Progressive. The injured party has sent a demand letter to Progressive for $50,000. Progressive has sent affidavits to both my son and me, stating it's up to us if we want to sign them. Neither... View More
Andrey Mangushev
answered on Oct 26, 2026
answered on Oct 26, 2026
A $50,000 demand involving your car can affect both you and your son, so the affidavit's exact wording matters more than who has prior claims. Fla. Stat. 627.4137(1) requires certain liability-insurance disclosures, including a sworn statement from the insurer's representative and... View More
Q: Can I get a refund for a car with wrong mileage information?
I recently purchased a 2004 Chevy SSR with an odometer reading of 63,700 miles from a dealership on 10/24/2026. The salesperson assured me that a Carfax report discrepancy was only by 300 miles due to a mistake by Pep Boys. However, once I got home and checked the Carfax myself, I found out the... View More
Andrey Mangushev
answered on Oct 26, 2026
answered on Oct 26, 2026
A reported difference between 63,700 and 215,000 miles is far more significant than the 300-mile discrepancy you were told about. Fla. Stat. 501.204(1) prohibits deceptive trade practices, so a materially false explanation used to obtain your agreement may support a claim even though you signed a... View More
Q: Condo association withdrawing fees from my account without authorization
I live in Florida and my condo association has been using autopay to withdraw fees from my bank account without my authorization. I plan to visit my bank to understand why checks are being sent from my account to the condo association. What steps should I take to address this unauthorized auto pay... View More
Andrey Mangushev
answered on Oct 26, 2026
answered on Oct 26, 2026
Repeated withdrawals you did not authorize deserve prompt attention, but first have the bank identify whether these are checks, bank bill payments, or electronic debits. Under Fla. Stat. 674.401(1), a check or other covered item is properly payable only if you authorized it and it complies with... View More
Q: Is it legal to fire a mentally disabled employee without understanding warnings?
My cousin, who has a visible mental disability, was recently fired from her job in Massachusetts where she had worked for 20 years. Her employer gave her warnings about missing work due to illness, but the warnings were only communicated directly to her, and she might not have understood them due... View More
Lidice Samper
answered on Oct 26, 2026
answered on Oct 26, 2026
Twenty years with the same employer and a firing tied to illness related absences raise real questions. Massachusetts law under Chapter 151B and the federal ADA prohibit firing someone because of a disability and require employers to provide reasonable accommodations, which can include adjusted... View More
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