If a hazardous pothole in a bike lane, sidewalk, parking lot, or skate park has caused you to suffer serious injuries on your skateboard in Porterville, you may be wondering who can be held responsible. That’s where Maison Law can help. Our law firm makes the legal process quick and easy for injured skateboarders. Our dedicated team of attorneys will find the party responsible, contact the insurance company, and negotiate fair compensation on your behalf, so you can take the time you need to recover.
So, don’t waste another second trying resolve your skateboard injury on your own. Contact Maison Law today for a free case review and get the legal help you need.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Skateboard Accident Caused By a Pothole?
Skateboarders in Porterville have the same legal rights after being injured in an accident as someone driving a car, truck, or motorcycle. So, if your accident was caused by a hazardous pothole, then you are entitled to recover damages in the same way a car accident victim would.
Unfortunately, recovering essential compensation can become challenging when insurance companies offer victims the lowest amount possible for their injuries. It can also be exceptionally difficult for skateboarders who are often blamed for causing accidents on the road. But that’s where Maison Law can help. Our firm will manage your accident claim and ensure the insurance company compensates you for the following damages:
- Economic damages: financial damages you incurred due to the accident.
- Medical bills
- Lost Wages
- Loss of future potential earnings
- Loss of property
- Cost of property repair or replacement
- Non-economic damages: these are subjective, non-compensatory damages.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages: these are damages awarded to serve as punishment to the at-fault party.
- Intentionally reckless behavior
- Actions performed out of spite
What Info is Needed During a Law Firm’s Intake Process?
The intake process usually starts off with a questionnaire to assess the merits of the case. This questionnaire will provide the law firm with key information to help determine if a case is worth pursuing or not. However, if you’d like to speak directly to an attorney, you can usually setup a brief meeting to discuss the details of your situation prior to answering a questionnaire. The following data is what potential clients will need to begin the intake process with a law firm:
- Employment details: current or former employer, job title, dates of employment, and compensation information.
- Nature of the complaint: type of carelessness that led to your injury (premise liability, car accident, defective equipment)
- Timeline of events: dates of key incidents, formal complaints filed, relevant communications with employer
- Witnesses: names and contact information of potential witnesses to the alleged misconduct
- Documentation: list of relevant documents (x-rays, MRIs, doctor’s diagnosis, physical therapy appointments, workers’ compensation forms)
- Prior legal action: if you’ve filed previous personal injury claims, then the details of your previous case may be relevant to your new case
- Medical information: details about your medical diagnosis and treatment plan
- Social media presence: your injury may be documented online, as well as you discussing the details of your personal injury
How Road Hazards Cause Skateboard Accidents
Hazards can form over time, or all of a sudden, but their usual cause is due to someone neglecting to repair them or make sure they won’t cause harm to another person. For skateboarders, hazardous conditions can make it difficult to stay upright and avoid falling or colliding with other riders or passing vehicles. A hazard like a pothole will force skateboarders to:
- Lose traction: The uneven terrain or sudden drop of a pothole can reduce wheel traction. Without traction, a skateboarder is unable maneuver safely or control where they are going, increasing the risk of a serious accident.
- Balance disruption: Sudden road surface changes like potholes can significantly impact a skateboarder’s balance and safety. Most skateboarders are balancing at all times, so the slightest disruption can easily lead to them losing control and getting injured.
- Sudden stopping: If a skateboarder notices a pothole at the last minute, they may be forced to make a sudden stop. Even if they avoid a pothole, a sudden stop could send them over their handlebars and into the road.
Who is Liable for a Skateboard Accident Caused by a Pothole?
Determining liability for a skateboard accident caused by a pothole can be difficult, but ultimately, the party responsible will be discovered through the details of the accident. For example, a road or sidewalk could be maintained by the following parties:
- Government entity: city or state agencies in California are typically responsible for the maintenance of the roadways, so if a pothole is left unattended, the government could be held liable.
- Construction companies: if a construction zone is poorly marked or maintained, resulting in a hazardous pothole, they can be held responsible for their careless actions.
- Private property owners: if a road hazard is on private property, such as a parking lot or driveway, the owner may be at fault if they fail to maintain the area.
Potholes left in the road are considered a premises liability because someone has allowed public or private property to be unsafe. So, once it is determined who is at fault, they can be served with a premises liability lawsuit. If you believe that a premises liability caused your bicycle accident, then please don’t hesitate to call, text, or stop by our offices for a free case review.
Steps You Should Take After a Skateboard Accident in Porterville
A skateboard accident can be life-altering, which is why it is important to make sure you take the necessary steps to get your life back on track. At Maison Law, we can handle your case for you, so you don’t have to worry about being taken advantage of by the insurance company or missing out on compensation you may need for current and future medical procedures. We recommend taking the following steps to ensure you have a strong case:
- Collect Medical Records: Even if your injuries seem minor, they can manifest into something much worse weeks later. So, it is recommended to check in with a doctor and get a record of your injury. An MRI or an X-ray can reveal substantial damage that you might not be aware of. These documents will be essential to building a strong case.
- Get a Police Report or Accident Report (if applicable): Failing to alert the police or property owner does not help your case, especially if the case comes down to your word over the person responsible for your injuries. An accident report is critical evidence in any claim and will play a key role in ensuring you are fully compensated.
- Gather Evidence: You should document the accident as thoroughly as possible. Take pictures of the property where the accident occurred. Take a video of yourself recounting the accident while it is still fresh in your mind.
- Collect Eye Witness Statements: if there are any eyewitnesses, try and get a statement from them. Or, at least, get their names and numbers, as they can testify on your behalf or provide a statement to corroborate your story later.
- Collect General Information: Exchange insurance information with the party responsible for your injuries, and be sure to get their name, phone number, and contact information.
- Contact Maison Law: Our firm is standing by to help skateboard accident victims in Porterville, physically and financially recover. Call, text, or email. Our door is always open to the community, and we’d love to help you through this difficult time.
Reporting a Pothole in Porterville
Potholes can be found unrepaired all over Porterville. This is mainly due to a combination of heavy rains and traffic, which is common anywhere in the Central Valley. Fixing potholes is up to the City of Porterville’s local government, but you can help prevent injuries by reporting them through the following steps:
- Use the myPorterville mobile app: here you can submit a request, attach a photo, and check on the repair status.
- Email the field services division: citizens can send an email to fs-dept@ci.porterville.ca.us with the subject “Potholes” along with a description of where the pothole can be found.
- Call field services: Porterville field services department can be reached at (559) 782-7514.
What is the Typical Settlement Amount for a Skateboard Injury in Porterville?
There is no average compensation for haunted skateboard injuries. The result of every personal injury lawsuit varies on a case-by-case basis, so it is difficult to determine the value of every case. However, certain factors can potentially increase your amount of compensation:
- The severity and permanence of your injuries
- The percentage of blame assigned to you in the accident (ranges anywhere from 1% – 99%)
- Your age at the time of the accident
- Your education level and occupation
- Loss of enjoyment you’ve suffered due to injuries or mental trauma sustained from the accident
- Loss of earnings
- Future and present medical treatments
It is proven that payouts for skateboard injury victims tend to be higher for those represented by an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer than those who took legal action without representation.
Contact Maison Law | Porterville Skateboard Accident Lawyers
If you’re looking for a law firm to manage your skateboard injury claim and get you fair compensation, we can help. Our firm understands the enormous medical costs associated with skateboard accidents and will aggressively pursue a settlement to match the full extent of your damages to ensure you are made whole. Even a minor accident can have a major impact on your health and finances over time, so don’t hesitate to get the legal representation you need to get your life back on track. Contact Maison Law today for a no-cost, no-obligation case review.
