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Questions Answered by William John Light
3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents, Insurance Bad Faith, Personal Injury and Health Care Law for California on
Q: Can a car insurance company such as AAA call a hospital to request billing info without you signing anything/release?

I got into a car accident, the party who hit me insurance (AAA) accepted liability after sending them my dash cam footage. I had to go to the ER, I was hesitant because I lost my job 5 months ago and I thought I didn't have health insurance. Three days later I get a notification email saying... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Mar 14, 2024

There might be a violation, but there is no private lawsuit for a HIPAA violation. You might be able to pursue an invaion of privacy lawsuit, but since you gave AAA the hospital bill, it doesn't really seem like your privacy has been violated. You should probably focus on a personal injury... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Gov & Administrative Law and Municipal Law for California on
Q: If an escooter/bike is on a sidewalk do they have to abide by pedestrian rules?

I read that in California it is legal for a bike or e-scooter to enter a sidewalk when the bike lane is blocked or nonexistent, if they were to enter the sidewalk would they have to abide by pedestrian rules such as not crossing when the no walking sign is up? Also if they were to be hit by a car... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Mar 6, 2024

Who is at fault in a collision depends on a lot more than a pedestrian stop being on. Even if an e-scooter or pedestrian is violating the pedestrian stop, a motorist cannot just run them over. The real answer is, it depends. Did the motorist have a chance to react, slow or stop? Did the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for California on
Q: hit from behind spun 3 times and ended up nose to nose other car was on fire then ours chp wrote wrong info on report

how do i contest the report? it will change the outcome drastically

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Mar 6, 2024

You can write your correction to the CHP and ask that it correct, amend or supplement the report. You can gather your own witness statements and submit them to CHP and/or to the other insurer. You can simply get your car fixed through your own insurance and let it deal with trying to collect from... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for California on
Q: I only had liability insurance and red-light driver totaled my car. Do I have any rights or ability for reimbursement?
William John Light
William John Light
answered on Feb 29, 2024

You can recover your property damage, your cost of past and future medical care, past and future wage loss, and pain and suffering. The amount will vary depending on your injuries, the available insurance limits of the opposing party, and many other factors.

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4 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Insurance Bad Faith for California on
Q: I had an accident my insurance denied my coverage because I was at work now I'm being sued is there anything I can do

I was at work and hit someone from behind after they cut me off and slammed on there brakes. I was on break when it happened and never made it back the insurance didn't cover it because they said I was working. I signed a paper stating I don't work with Uber or a ride sharing company but... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Feb 20, 2024

Under Labor Code section 2802, your employer has to indemnify your expenses incurred while the course and scope of employment. Its insurer should be fixing your car. If you were driving for Uber or other ride share, you may not have been an employee, but an independent contractor. Whether that... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for California on
Q: My dog pee it was just 3 little drops on a piece of clothing at a pet store do we have to pay for it. No sign or contact
William John Light
William John Light
answered on Feb 16, 2024

You think that you need a sign to tell you that your dog can't pee on merchandise? You destroyed someone else's property through your negligence in controlling your dog. You should have made sure your dog had opportunity to do his business before you brought him into the store. Pay for... View More

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5 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury for California on
Q: What is the normal attorney Fees for personal injury. I was told 331/3 plus 1,000 for each deposition and paper request

Can I request to see the settled amount that in insurance company paid out on the law suit. Is it true that Medi-care needs to be re-embured once the award has been granted? How do I know if I have hired the right honest attorney for personal injury?

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Feb 16, 2024

The fees are what your retainer agreement says. 1/3 to 40%is pretty standard. Costs, like depositions, are not fees. Costs are reimbursed to the attorney. Medi-Cal has a lien on any recovery and must be paid back for any expenses it has paid due to your injuries.

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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Personal Injury and Legal Malpractice for California on
Q: Claim requires tolling provisions, fraud con. + mental disability. Denied rep. due to sol. Isnt that disab discr?

Hit-and-run left me with TBI. This injury has also prevented me from handling this case effectively, timely. On top of that, I was also denied access to police report until criminal sol expired. Report contained vital witness info/statements that identified driver. Keep being denied representation... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Feb 13, 2024

Nothing you have written indicates any of the criteria for tolling. You should have hired an attorney early in the process. Mental incapacity to qualify for tollingis more than a TBI . Unless you were a minor, or the defendant was absent from the state for some period of time, or the Defendant... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Arbitration / Mediation Law for California on
Q: I NEED HELP WITH THIS

what are my legal obligations regarding insurance coverage, and what are the consequences if I fail to meet these requirements?

To what extent can the lienholder dictate the specific terms or cost of my insurance coverage? Are there any legal limits to this?

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Feb 6, 2024

Unclear what "legal obligations" to which you refer. By statute, you are required to have automobile insurance. Any other insurance requirements would likely be something to which you agreed by contract. Generally, you have an obligation to comply with your contractual promises,... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Adoption, Family Law and Wrongful Death for California on
Q: My son passed away years ago. He was 1. Blunt head trauma I believe was what the investigators told me and the father.

No one was taken to jail. During the whole investigation I was pregnant. The case was going to remain open. When I delivered my baby social services came in and placed my daughter in orangewood. Because they claimed we were unfit parents. I was17 at that time was new to the system and no one really... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Feb 3, 2024

You can search the court records for your name to see if a lawsuit was filed on your behalf. However, if you have lost contact with your attorney, it is highly unlikely that a settlement was achieved, even if a lawsuit was filed. Attorneys generally don't have authority to enter into... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Animal / Dog Law and Personal Injury for California on
Q: Can I sue my boyfriend or his renters insurance for dog bites if I was living with him at the time?

The dog bit me at least 8 times.. he would usually pull the dog off of me. But not every time.. I have been to the ER several times. He never corrected the behavior. I have witnesses. I'm terrified whenever I hear a dog bark now. I would have moved out sooner but had to save money. Now that I... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Jan 29, 2024

You can sue your boyfriend. You cannot sue his renters insurance. That insurance would only - potentially - pay the sums for which he is liable. However, his renters insurance will likely have an exclusion for people who reside in the apartment, so it is unlikely that you will recovery anything... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury and Car Accidents for California on
Q: January 10, I was driving on the main road when a semi-truck that was exiting a parking lot t-boned my right back door

where my 1 year old daughter was sitting. We weren’t injured but we’re seeing a chiropractor tomorrow to be sure. My car was deemed totaled and the other party’s insurance is offering less than what I still owe on the car. I have gap insurance to cover the difference but I don’t think... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Jan 25, 2024

You can hire a certified auto appraiser to dispute the valuation of the insurance company if you think the offer is below market value.

If your certified appraisal doesn't move the insurer, you can sue in Small Claims Court for up to $10k for your property damage. Your suit would be...
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3 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law, Employment Law, Libel & Slander and Personal Injury for California on
Q: Can I sue my previous work place for not firing a former coworker for assaulting me.

I used to date this coworker. In which we got into heavy abusive arguments often. One of those incidents happened in a company parking lot, where I refused to get out his car, so he used physical force to get me out. Resulting in a cut in hand, and a broken car door. Because I wouldn’t get out he... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Jan 20, 2024

Your employer has to provide a work place free from sexual harassment, discrimination and violence. What you describe, though, is your own violation of another's property, which led to violence. In other words, you caused it. Your employer was within its rights to terminate your employment,... View More

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5 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for California on
Q: I was taking my stepson to school. We got rear ended. My wife & I are separated now. Should I file separate ins. claim?

The police report says the other driver was at fault. We were examined at hospital same day. I needed several months of therapy and missed 3 months of work due to my injuries. My stepson experienced periodcal headaches but did not need further medical treatment.

Since the accident my... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Jan 18, 2024

Your stepson and you both have claims. Each of you will be able to recover from the defendant's insurer for your damages, up to the limit of the defendant's per person personal injury limits. There should not be a conflict between you and your stepson because you will not be competing... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents, DUI / DWI and Personal Injury for California on
Q: I was injured by a drunk driver who subsequently plead guilty to felony dui with injury & having .16 blood alcohol.

The Judge sentenced the criminal defendant to 3 yrs probation & the usual penalties of a first offense misdemeanor. My victim rights have been violated & the judge sentenced the defendant incorrectly (my opinion) due to various lies, inconsistencies & incompatible statements that the... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Jan 13, 2024

You have no recourse over the sentencing. You have personal injury claims against him. If he has liability insurance or you have uninsured motorist coverage, you can recover monetary damages. If you have underinsured motorist coverage, you might be entitled to additional recovery. Talk to a... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Car Accidents for California on
Q: Hi my parked car was involved in a car accident in my jobs parking lot while I was inside working

Hi my parked car was involved in a car accident in my jobs parking lot while I was inside working, my car was hit first then hit into another and both deemed a total loss after adjuster came to take pictures 3 weeks after the accident happened, i reached out to the guy who hit my cars insurance and... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Jan 12, 2024

You should submit a claim to your own collision insurance. If you don't have that, you are going to take a loss.

Regardless of the amount of your damages, the insurer will only pay its policy limit. Ask for a copy of the declarations page from the other insurer to confirm the...
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2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law and Workers' Compensation for California on
Q: Repeatedly told to do task out side of my job description that caused my physical exhaustion/injury. Do I have a claim?

A coworker who position is lower than mine (but had seniority) would put me to do her tasks, despite her being aware of my limitations/health issues. I file an incident report against her and was still put to work with her. I have filed 2 incident reports against her. I was still put to work with... View More

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Jan 12, 2024

You need to talk to a workers compensation attorney.

Whether you have rights in a civil suit depends on a lot of factors. If your employer was discriminating or retaliating against you on account of a disability, or failing to accommodate a serious health condition, you might have claims...
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2 Answers | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for California on
Q: if a person has her pitbul do his business in my planter , can she threaten me by having her dog attack me

....if I went out to tell the dog's owner to get the dog out of my planter

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Jan 7, 2024

The dog owner is stricly liable if the dog bit you. If the dog tripped you or otherwise injured you, the dog owner is liable if he was negligent in the ownership and control of the dog. If the dog owner intentionally injured you with the dog, that would probably be a crime and you should call the... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for California on
Q: Hi, I rented a uhaul and added mom as an additional driver, my insurance lasped and mom caused crash, who is responsible
William John Light
William John Light
answered on Jan 5, 2024

You and your mom are responsible to U-Haul. Your mom is responsible to any third parties who were injured, and maybe you. Not certain about your liability to third parties without some research.

If you added liability insurance to the rental contract with U-Haul, you and your mom would be...
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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for California on
Q: CHp was apologetic after he crashed into our family car parked on the street. I only have PL/PD.Who handles my end w/CHp

My insurance only cared to document that they have no responsibility otherwise they are no help. How do i reach out for rental to get and my damaged car out of the street that will probably get ticketed? Is there a best way to handle my end?

William John Light
William John Light
answered on Jan 4, 2024

You have 6 months to file a Claim with the State of California. This is a requisite to filing a lawsuit. You can find directions to filing the Claim here: dgs.ca.gov/ORIM/Services/Page-Content/Office-of-Risk-and-Insurance-Management-Services-List-Folder/File-a-Government-Claim

Your Claim...
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