Category: Legal
Bellevue car accident: Don’t miss these steps
Car accidents and crashes happen often in Washington, and a significant number of these mishaps are related to negligent, reckless, and distracted driving. If you were hurt in such a crash in Bellevue, you must evaluate whether you can seek compensation from the driver at fault. Washington’s fault-based rules make the at-fault party accountable for losses suffered by victims, including medical bills and lost wages. Instead of trying to understand state laws or how to file a lawsuit, consider meeting a Bellevue car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Here are some steps that can help your claim.
- Report the accident: Other drivers may say that the accident is a minor incident and doesn’t require reporting, but don’t listen to all that. Inform the local law enforcement, and unless there is another emergency or you need medical care immediately, don’t leave the scene. An officer will ask questions, and you will need a copy of the accident report for your next steps.
- Document everything: Use your phone to take pictures of the damaged vehicles, road conditions, and injuries. Video footage and photos are beneficial for establishing the severity of an accident, and your attorney will determine other details, including the property damage, based on the evidence available.
- Gather information from others: Note the names, contact details, insurance information, and addresses of all drivers involved in the accident. Check if someone saw the crash happen, and you can get their numbers to contact them later for witness statements.
- Keep up with medical care. Even if there was no need to call emergency responders to the scene, you should see a doctor soon after the accident. Follow their advice and keep up with the treatment plan as suggested. You need medical records to prove your injuries, and if you fail to seek medical care, there is little room to evaluate the damages and losses.
- Choose a competent accident lawyer: Not all injury lawyers handle car accident lawsuits. Find a law firm based in Bellevue and check whether they have attorneys with commendable profiles. You should also check whether the lawyer assigned to your case has trial experience and can take the matter to court. Online ratings and reviews are also helpful in comparing local firms in your city.
See an attorney before you lose track of the accident claim. They will also negotiate with the insurance company and handle the relevant paperwork.
ERG demands compensation from SFO and law firm Dechertfor expenses for damage due to investigation
The UK’s Serious Financial Fraud Office (SFO) together with law firm Dechert forced to reimburse the expenses of the giant Eurasian Resources Group (ERG). The corporation suffered them in connection with a lengthy criminal case. In August 2023, the SFO concluded its ten-year investigation into ERG. The SFO announced that it did not have enough convincing evidence to use in court.
The claim brought by the SFO forced ERG to face a series of proceedings that entailed significant financial costs and wasted management time. This information was presented by London High Court Judge, David Waxman. The court concluded that without the SFO’s unlawful conduct the criminal investigation would have been unfounded. According to the novinite, the court ruled that ERG’s potential damages to the SFO and its associates could be in the tens of millions of pounds.
What does ERG do?Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) is an international corporation, a major participant in the global mining and processing of mineral resources. The company operates with integrated capabilities including mining, processing, energy generation and logistics. In addition, ERG is the world’s largest ferrochrome producer by chromium content, the largest iron ore mining and processing company in Kazakhstan and one of the world’s leading iron ore exporters. The company ranks ninth in the world in terms of industrial alumina production.
The bulk of the company’s assets are located in Kazakhstan. It was previously known as Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC).
Litigation: SFO, Dechert and ERG in the fight for compensation and defeat of illegal investigation
The SFO opened an investigation into ERG in 2013, but ten years later, in August 2023, it was closed. The reason for this was that the SFO declared that there was insufficient evidence for a criminal investigation.
These lengthy proceedings have raised serious questions about the actions of Neil Gerrard, a former partner at law firm Dechert who was appointed to advise ERG.
Summing up his decision last year, Judge Waxman stressed that the SFO had breached its duties. The breach involved the SFO accepting information from Gerrard that was “manifestly unauthorized” and “contrary to the interests of his client”. Corporation ERG brought Neil Gerrard into its team in 2010 to conduct an internal investigation into corrupt practices within the organization. However, laterERGcharged Gerrard with using confidential information he received for his own benefit and passing this information on to the SFO with the intention of expanding its investigation. This, in turn, could lead to increased legal costs. Neil Gerrard’s representative declined to comment, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on December 21, 2023. Despite the allegations, Gerrard has insisted the legality of his actions in previous statements.
As a result, ERG is seeking compensation in excess of £21 million for legal costs, unnecessary work, expenses and lost management time associated with the litigation.
Law firm Dechert has already paid around £9 million to ERG for work and expenses. This brings ERG’s total outstanding compensation to just under £12 million, according to the court’s decision.
Who Is Liable For Accidents Due To Low Visibility
It might be dangerous to drive with poor vision. There are around 600 fatalities in car accidents due to poor visibility, backed up by The U.S. Department of Transportation If you are involved in an accident due to poor visibility, contact a car accident attorney in Vegas to discuss your claim. This blog will discuss the causes of visibility issues and how liability is determined for these crashes.
Determining liability for accidents due to low visibility
All types of man-made and natural conditions can affect visibility. The most common natural types of low visibility include the following:
- Heavy rain
- Snow
- Fog
- Hail
- Glare
- Low light
- Snowstorms
- Snow
Visibility can also be affected by man-made conditions like the following:
- Failure to maintain a work zone contained, such as dust from a construction site or building machinery on the road.
- Failure to trim landscaping includes trees, hedges, shrubs, and other overgrown plants obstructing a driver’s view of crossings or traffic signs.
- Failure to remove obstructive constructions off the road: When new roads or buildings are constructed, they should not make it harder for passing vehicles to see where they are heading.
It all comes down to whether the driver was negligent in limited visibility regarding liability. Usually, there are two primary issues to think about.
Is the Duty of Care Still Important?
Yes, even when sight is limited, drivers are still responsible for exerting caution towards other motorists. Because he or she might not be able to see as well, a motorist has an even greater need to take additional safety measures.
Was a third party to blame?
Liability can be assigned to a third party if their actions cause low or obstructed visibility. For example, a construction business could be liable for damages if they neglect to protect a work zone and a dustup results in an accident.
The driver or company of the commercial vehicle may also be held responsible for any damages if the truck obstructs the motorist’s vision at an intersection. However, these situations can be hard to set up, so consulting with a lawyer might be more beneficial.
How to Make a Low-Visibility Crash Claim
You can be eligible for damages compensation if poor visibility led you to be injured in an accident. However, you must show that another person’s carelessness caused such damage.
You can file a third-party claim with the driver’s liability insurance company if the driver’s negligence caused your injuries. To show the other driver’s carelessness, you must collect evidence such as speeding or approaching too closely.
Help From a Car Accident Lawyer
Making a low-visibility crash claim involves demonstrating that another person’s negligence caused the injuries. If the driver is at fault, a third-party claim can be filed with their liability insurance company. Collecting evidence, such as proof of speeding or following too closely, is essential to establish the other driver’s negligence. Consulting with a car accident attorney can be beneficial, especially in complex situations where liability is challenging to determine.
The 5 Most Common Types of Fatal Georgia Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents are some of the most dangerous types of accidents that can happen in a person’s lifetime. These accidents can be fatal or result in major injuries. So, it is essential to consult Georgia motorcycle accident lawyers if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident and suffered injuries or lost a loved one.
A motorcycle accident lawyer in Georgia will be able to help you determine if you are eligible for compensation, and they will be able to represent you in court. These lawyers also understand the local laws and can advise you on what your rights are.
Let us now see the 5 most common types of fatal motorcycle accidents reported in Georgia.
- Head-on collisions
Head-on collisions occur when motorcyclists ride into oncoming traffic. Motorcyclists can have a hard time avoiding accidents with other vehicles on the road, and head-on crashes are often fatal. The direct impact of the head-on collision causes severe injuries, and there is an increased likelihood that motorcyclists will be thrown from their motorcycles.
- Lane splitting
Lane splitting occurs when a motorcyclist rides between two moving vehicles that are in the same lane. These crashes are usually caused by motorcyclists riding at high speeds, and they fail to notice that traffic is slowing or stopping. In fact, these types of accidents can be fatal because of the high speed involved and because of the resulting direct impact on other vehicles.
- Lane switching
Lane switching accidents occur when a motorcyclist switches to another lane while traveling at high speeds. The rider fails to notice the vehicle ahead of them, and they switch lanes without being monitored. These types of accidents can be fatal because the motorcyclists are riding at high speeds and are unable to avoid traffic quickly.
- Intoxicated riding
Intoxicated riding occurs when a motorcyclist is riding home from a bar or party. Riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs poses a great risk to the rider and others on the road, and these types of accidents can be fatal. Alcohol impairs motorcyclists’ abilities, and these drivers are less able to avoid other vehicles on the road.
- Speeding
Speeding occurs when motorcyclists drive at faster than normal speeds. This is a serious problem, and puts other vehicles on the road in great danger. These accidents can be fatal because of the high speeds involved and the direct impact of these crashes.