Law Blog and Resources

A crush injury happens when part of your body gets squeezed or pressed between two heavy objects. This can happen to an arm, leg, chest, or even your entire body. Because the force is so strong, it can damage bones, muscles, nerves, and even organs. Crush injuries are very serious and can change a person’s life in big ways. Some people need surgery and long hospital stays to treat these injuries. Others may need help from doctors, therapists, and caregivers for a very long time. Even though crush injuries can happen anywhere, they often take place in busy settings like construction sites, factories, or after car accidents. Sadly, crush injuries can lead to a lot of pain and big medical bills. In some extreme cases, the damage can be permanent, and people may not be able to work like before. Below, we will further explain this and how a California…

Even though self-driving vehicles can drive without a person steering, serious accidents can still happen. If one crashes into you, you might feel confused or hurt. Don’t worry. Our California car accident lawyers will explain, step by step, what to do after a self-driving car crash. We’ll also tell you how Banafshe Law Firm can help you if this happens. Seek to Get Medical Help After a Self-Driving Car Crash After the police come and you’re safe, go to a doctor. Even if you feel fine, some injuries, like a sore neck or back, might not hurt right away. A doctor can check you and make sure everything’s okay. Keep any papers from the doctor, like bills or notes about your visit. These papers show you got hurt and needed help. Why Self-Driving Car Crashes Are Different Under California Law Self-driving cars are special because they use computers, cameras, and…

Walking down a California sidewalk should feel safe, but more and more pedestrians are getting hurt in accidents. Why? People are distracted by phones, music, or just not paying attention. These “distracted” pedestrian accidents are on the rise, and they can cause serious injuries, expensive medical bills, or even worse. At Banafshe Law Firm, we help people in California who get hurt in accidents like these. We’ve won cases like $4.5 million for an auto accident, so we know how to fight for you. In this blog, our California pedestrian accident attorneys will explain why these accidents are happening more, what California laws say, and how to stay safe. Phones Are a Major Problem The biggest reason pedestrian accidents are increasing is smartphones. People walk while texting, scrolling social media, or listening to music with earbuds, not looking where they’re going. A survey found that 53 percent of cell phone…

Car doors may seem harmless, but when someone opens a car door into oncoming traffic, serious accidents can happen. You might be driving along, paying attention to the road, and suddenly there’s a door swinging open right in front of you. Or perhaps you parked your car and opened your door—only to have a passing car crash into it. Who is at fault in these situations? At BANA LAW, PC, we want to explain how the law looks at car-door accidents, and how a California car accident lawyer can help if you’re injured. Below, we answer key questions people often have about who bears responsibility for collisions involving open doors. What Does the Law Say About Opening Car Doors? In California, there’s a specific rule about opening car doors into traffic. § 22517 of the California Vehicle Code states that you cannot open a vehicle door on the side facing…

Have you ever been in a car accident and felt your neck snap forward or backward? If so, you might have experienced whiplash, a common but often overlooked injury. Whiplash affects the soft tissues in the neck and spine, and it can cause lasting pain, headaches, and stiffness. Despite how real the pain can be, whiplash claims often make insurance adjusters uneasy. At BANA LAW, PC, our mission is to help you understand why insurance companies can be tough on whiplash cases and how a California personal injury lawyer can assist you if you’re facing such a situation. Why Is Whiplash Hard to Prove? Soft tissue injuries like whiplash do not usually show up on standard imaging. An insurance adjuster prefers visible evidence, such as an X-ray of a fracture. When the injury is invisible (or “subjective”), adjusters get skeptical. They wonder if the pain is as severe as you…

When crossing the street outside of a designated crosswalk in California, you’re entering what many call a legal and safety gray area. While recent legislative changes have relaxed the penalties for “jaywalking,” the physical dangers remain unchanged. Many pedestrians assume a quick dash across the street saves time without consequences—until they become part of California’s troubling pedestrian accident statistics. Understanding when, where, and how to legally cross streets in California isn’t just about avoiding tickets—it’s about protecting your life. As pedestrian injuries continue to rise across major California cities, knowing your rights and responsibilities has never been more crucial. Below, we’ll explore the legal issues related to jaywalking and provide tups to stay safe. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you should talk to a lawyer immediately. Our California pedestrian accident lawyers offer free case evaluations to determine your rights, even if you weren’t in a crosswalk….

Every year on January 2nd, we look back on an important piece of American road history—55 MPH Speed Limit Day. This day honors the moment in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act, which created the first national speed limit. It was set at 55 miles per hour. Why did our country do this? And why does it still matter today, especially for drivers in California? In this blog, we will discuss this and how a California car accident attorney might be able to help you. Why Was There a 55 MPH Speed Limit? In 1973, there was an oil crisis. Many countries in the Middle East decided to stop selling oil to the United States (and some other countries). This caused a big problem: gasoline became hard to find. People had to wait in long lines at gas stations, and prices went way up….

Car insurance is meant to protect you if there is an accident. But do you know that California is changing the rules about how much insurance you must have? Starting in 2025—and again in 2035—the state will require higher minimum coverage. Our experienced California car accident attorneys will discuss this further below. What Are Car Insurance Policy Limits? When you buy car insurance, you often see numbers like “15/30/5.” These numbers tell you how much your insurance will pay if you cause an accident. For example, under the old rules: 15 means your insurance pays up to $15,000 for injuries to one person. 30 means your insurance pays up to $30,000 total if multiple people are hurt. 5 means your insurance pays up to $5,000 for damage to someone else’s property. These three parts—injury to one person, injury to multiple people, and damage to property—are called policy limits. They set…

Wearing a seatbelt might feel like a simple routine. You get in the car, buckle up, and drive off. But sometimes you may wonder: Why is wearing a seatbelt such a big deal? Is it just about following rules, or is there more to it? In California, seatbelts are not only important for your safety, but they are also required by law. Below, a California car accident attorney will explain why seatbelts matter, what the law says, and how it can affect you and your loved ones. Why Are Seatbelts So Important? You want to stay safe when you ride in a car, right? A seatbelt can save your life if you get into an accident. It is like a shield that keeps you from being thrown around the inside of the car. The seatbelt holds your body in place if there is a sudden stop or crash. This can help prevent…

If you have ever driven a car in California, you have seen speed limit signs along the roads. These signs might say 25 miles per hour in a neighborhood or 65 miles per hour on a freeway. But what do these signs really mean? Do you have to drive exactly at the speed limit? And what happens if you drive faster—or even slower—than what the sign says? Below, an experienced California car accident attorney will discuss this and more. What Are Speed Limits in California? Speed limits in California are usually posted on signs along roads and highways. These numbers are called “prima facie speed limits.” That means the posted speed is generally considered a safe speed—unless you are driving in a way that is not safe for the road conditions. For example, if the sign says 65 miles per hour, but it is very foggy, and you cannot see…