Technology is quickly advancing, and cars can now drive without a human operator. Many questions can come up with this new technology, especially after a car accident. The biggest question is probably, Who is responsible for autonomous car accidents? If you’ve been injured in a self-driving car crash, you may be able to collect compensation for your injuries. But from who? The autonomous car accident attorneys at Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer are here to answer these questions.

Is the Demand for Self-Driving Cars Increasing?

The self-driving car industry is quickly growing, with the demand expected to reach over four million units by 2030. Many well-known car industry players are getting involved, including Tesla, General Motors Company, Volkswagen AG, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW AG. They continue to make large investments in the research and development of self-driving technology. As governments increase regulations for driverless cars, the demand will go up as well.

Nationwide Self-Driving Car Accident Statistics

Statistics for driverless cars show the danger they could be to other drivers. According to the National Law Review, self-driving cars cause more accidents than human drivers. This is concerning, as they also report that 4.5 million self-driving cars are expected to be on U.S. roads by 2035. AAA found that cars equipped with active driving assistance systems had an issue an average of every eight miles on the road. They also can leave the human driver to take over with little notice after disengaging. This all leaves drivers at risk when self-driving cars are on the roads.

Who Is Liable in a Self-Driving Car Accident?

There may not be a human driver at fault in an autonomous car accident. So who can be held responsible for your injuries? After a normal car accident caused by human error, you’d likely file a personal injury claim with the driver’s insurance. When there’s no human negligence involved, the responsibility will probably fall on the car company or manufacturer. If the car is still in the testing phase, the company doing the testing could be at fault. And if there is any type of human error involved, the driver can still be held liable as usual.

Talk to a Knowledgeable Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer in Phoenix, AZ Today

After a self-driving car accident, you may not know where to turn. You shouldn’t have to handle the pain, bills, and emotional damages you’re suffering from a driverless car accident. There can be big companies involved, and a lawyer on your side can make a difference. Call or contact us online today to speak to one of our Phoenix self-driving car accident attorneys and see how we can help.

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Car accidents often leave you with many questions and concerns. If you had a car seat in your vehicle, you may be wondering, do car seats need to be replaced after an accident? The answer depends on the details of the accident. After a collision, you can count on Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer to answer your questions and help you navigate each step of the recovery process, from replacing your car seat to pursuing compensation for your losses.

Should Car Seats Be Replaced After an Accident?

There aren’t any actual laws for car seat replacement after an accident in Arizona. But it’s still strongly recommended for your child’s safety.  According to the NHTSA, you should always replace a car seat if it was involved in a “moderate to severe” crash. For a collision to be a “minor” accident, all of the following must apply:

• The vehicle is drivable after the crash
• The door closest to the car seat is not damaged
• No passengers in the car suffered injuries in the accident
• The airbags in the vehicle did not deploy
• The car seat has no visible damage

If all of these guidelines apply to you, the accident is considered minor. There’s likely no damage, so there’s probably no need to replace the car seat after a minor accident. However, you should always follow the car seat manufacturer’s instructions. It’s best to contact the manufacturer of your specific car seat if you aren’t sure if it needs to be replaced. If one or more of these guidelines apply, the accident is considered a moderate or severe crash. It is crucial to replace the car seat after a moderate or severe accident to provide your child with the best protection. You should immediately stop using the car seat, dispose of it, and purchase a new one. Your insurance company or the at-fault party’s insurance may reimburse you for the cost of purchasing a new car seat. An experienced car accident attorney can help you determine if this is possible and file a claim for you.

Why Is It Important to Replace Your Car Seat After an Accident?

The primary function of a car seat is to keep your child safe in case of an accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IHS), putting your child in an appropriate car seat rather than relying on a seat belt significantly reduces injuries and death in an accident. An appropriate car seat is suitable for your child’s age, size, and weight. Car seats are specially designed to protect children during a crash. If the car seat is damaged, either internally or externally, this reduces the level of protection it may provide. That’s why it’s essential to replace a car seat right away after a serious car accident, even if it doesn’t appear damaged.

Injured in an Arizona Car Accident? Contact Our Experienced Phoenix Car Accident Attorneys

Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer focuses exclusively on helping injured clients. This allows us to provide high-quality legal representation after an accident. When you work with us, you can expect to have a dedicated, communicative, and compassionate team on your side. We can help you with every detail of your case, including your options for car seat replacement after an accident. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, we want to help. Contact us today for a free case review.

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Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer is proud to announce the launch of a new personal injury website to help better serve accident victims in Phoenix and throughout Arizona. The website includes valuable resources about filing insurance claims and lawsuits, answers frequently asked questions, highlights client testimonials, and helps connect accident victims with an experienced and compassionate Phoenix personal injury lawyer.

About the Personal Injury Law Firm in Phoenix, AZ

Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer is focused exclusively on helping accident victims in the Phoenix area get the full and fair compensation they deserve. Founder and managing member Alex Silkman built the firm to provide compassionate and personalized care in every case the firm takes. No matter how big or small the injuries, the team at Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer is here to help.

Cases They Handle

At Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer, the Phoenix personal injury legal team represents clients in a wide variety of cases, including the following:

• Car accidents – Car accident victims face both injuries and property damage. Getting insurance companies to accept liability can be challenging, which is why it’s best to have a car accident lawyer act as a personal advocate.
• Truck accidents – Truck accidents can be especially devastating and often involve multiple at-fault parties. The team works tirelessly to identify every possible source of compensation and fight for the financial relief truck accident victims need.
• Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle accidents can leave victims with soaring medical costs, lost earnings, and extensive property damage. Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer can help seek recovery for losses if someone else was at fault.
• Pedestrian accidents – Pedestrians hit by motor vehicles are often left with serious injuries and medical bills. The personal injury firm can pursue compensation for those injured by a negligent motorist while walking or running.
• Bicycle accidents – Cyclists are particularly vulnerable to serious injuries in a traffic collision. Their legal team can help those injured in a bicycle accident that wasn’t their fault.
• Bus accidents – Bus accidents can also involve many at-fault parties, and there are tight deadlines for filing a claim. A Phoenix personal injury attorney can help meet these deadlines and seek justice and compensation.
• Boat accidents – Boat accident victims shouldn’t be left paying the price for a boat accident that wasn’t their fault. Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer can investigate the incident, determine liability, and fight for a fair settlement in such cases.
• Burn injuries – Exposure to fire or toxic chemicals can result in significant, permanent disfigurement to the skin, requiring painful and expensive medical procedures. A personal injury lawyer can pursue compensation to help burn victims recover.
• Brain injuries – Brain injuries can profoundly affect a victim’s life, making it difficult to find work and perform daily tasks. Victims who sustain a debilitating brain injury deserve to be fairly compensated for all they have suffered as a result.
• Spinal injuries – Severe spine injuries can result in permanent paralysis and other debilitating disabilities. Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer can help victims pursue compensation – not just for their current injuries and medical bills but the long-term consequences as well.
• Dog bites – If a dog owner knows that their animal tends to bite or act aggressively, they could be liable for any resulting injuries. The legal team can help file a claim against that party’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy.
• Premises liability – Property owners are obligated to protect visitors from being harmed on their property and should be held accountable when they fail in this obligation.
• Bad-faith insurance – Those dealing with an insurance company engaging in bad-faith tactics or denying a valid claim can contact Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer for help getting the money they’re owed.
• Wrongful death – If a loved one was killed because of another person’s misconduct, a personal injury attorney can help seek reimbursement for funeral and burial costs, medical expenses, loss of companionship, and more.

How Their Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix, AZ Can Help With Personal Injury Cases

Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer will go above and beyond to help accident victims get the compensation they deserve. To pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit, they’re ready to do the following:

• Conduct an independent investigation into the accident that caused the injuries
• Quickly gather and preserve evidence to bolster the case and prove liability
• Document losses and evaluate the total worth of the claim
• Handle communications with the insurance company
• Fiercely negotiate a settlement on the victim’s behalf
• Take the case to trial if they cannot secure a fair settlement

The Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer team can be counted on to communicate regularly and provide updates on critical developments in the case. They understand how stressful the insurance claims process can be for someone recovering from an injury, which is why they’re prepared to take that burden off victims’ shoulders.

What Their Clients Say

Clients of Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer have positive testimonials for the team, stating they’re “aggressive when dealing with pesky, non-cooperative insurance companies.” They still maintain a high level of compassion, though, with one client noting the firm was “determined to make sure I got the best treatments and care for my injuries.” Their clients also appreciate how they feel up-to-date and are able to contact the firm with any questions. They report the firm to be “detail oriented and proactive,” which is likely how so many of their clients are able to pursue higher financial compensation for their injuries. Other testimonials are similar to this client who states Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer “helped me with a settlement that was beyond my expectations.”

Contact Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer Today

Those who have been hurt due to someone else’s actions should contact Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer today. The team provides a free consultation to all prospective clients, allowing them to get to know the team at no cost or obligation. Contact them today to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney in Phoenix, AZ.

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Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer, a personal injury law firm based in Phoenix, Arizona, is pleased to announce that Managing Member, Alexander Silkman, has been named as a “Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Star” for 2021 by the publishers of Thomson Reuters. Mr. Silkman was named in the field of “Personal Injury General: Plaintiff”. The Southwest Super Lawyers represents the top 5% of attorneys in the Southwest region comprised of Arizona and New Mexico, as chosen by their peer nominations and evaluations which are combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. “Super Lawyers” a Thomson Reuters Business, makes the selections through a process designed to identify lawyers who have obtained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Candidates for “Rising Stars” are eligible if they are 40 years old or younger, or have been in practice for 10 years or less. A description of the selection methodology can be found on Super Lawyers’ selection process page.

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When you sustain injuries from a drunk driving accident and want to file a claim, one of the first things you will need to know is the kind of damages you qualify for.

What are Damages?

“Damages” is a legal term used to refer to compensation awarded to you in court and are generally classified as either compensatory or punitive damages. Compensatory damages are intended to compensate you for the economic and non-economic losses you suffered.

Types of Compensatory Damages

There are plenty of types of compensatory damages you can qualify for in a drunk driving accident. This will include compensation for the following:

• Medical Expenses: If you have medical bills, you can file for compensation to cover the costs you incurred.
• Loss Wages: If the injuries that resulted from the accident have rendered you unable to fulfill your responsibilities and duties at work, then you can lose your salary. You are entitled to compensation as a result.
• Loss of Future Earnings: If you sustain lifelong disability that will prevent you from seeking employment in the same field or job positions you occupied in the past, then that constitutes the loss of future earnings. Personal injury lawyers can help you seek out compensation for that loss.
• Household Expenses: If you can no longer work, you will have a hard time covering the cost of your household expenses. That may include home maintenance bills. If the accident affected your present and future earning capacity, then you are entitled to compensation.
• Pain and Suffering: Surviving a bad a car accident, one that resulted in lifelong disability or disfigurement, often leaves victims struggling with trauma. Dealing with the accident itself can be harrowing enough. Add the difficulty of coming to terms with a disability or disfigurement that can affect one’s self-esteem and confidence as well as ability to get a job or earn a living– that’s going to mean tremendous pain and suffering for the victim of the car accident. The aftermath is more consequential if it resulted in the death of a family member or the family’s breadwinner.

Punitive Damages

• Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are different from the compensatory types of damages listed above and are designed to “punish” a wrongdoer. Punitive damages are not available in all kinds of auto collisions, but can become available in accidents involving drunk drivers. One of the ways they become available is when someone “consciously pursued a course of conduct knowing that it created a substantial risk of significant harm to others.” When someone knows, or should know, that they have drank too much but they decide to drive anyway and cause a collision, punitive damages can often be pursued in addition to the compensatory damages listed above.

For further information, get legal help. Consult with auto accident lawyers in Phoenix AZ from Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer.

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Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in America, causing approximately 250,000 deaths a year. If you believe you or a loved one are a victim of medical negligence, finding legal help is the first step to getting the justice you and your family deserve. Here are the best ways to find a good medical malpractice attorney to help with your case.

Start with Referrals

If you already know someone in your circle who has faced this issue and has any experience in hiring a personal injury lawyer, contact that person and ask for advice. Referrals often save you a lot of time and trouble when looking for legal counsel. Reach out to people whose opinion you know and trust and ask them for recommendations.

Search Online

If you are unable to reach out to individuals who have been in your situation, the internet is filled with reviews and referrals from people all around the world who have been in your exact shoes. See what others have to say about local lawyers in your area. It is ideal that you hire someone who is familiar with the justice system in the Phoenix area.

Do Your Homework

If you already have a list of prospective attorneys, start narrowing down your options. Dig into the lawyer’s background. Start by finding out how much experience s/he has.

Consider Specialization

Not all law firms are going to be right for your case. When you seek out legal help, choose a medical malpractice law firm that has years of experience in settling and winning medical malpractice cases in court.

Test the Lawyer’s Response Rate

Medical malpractice cases need to be filed within a given window. That’s why it is important to hire a lawyer who is responsive to your emails or calls. If the lawyer is hard to reach or if it is hard to communicate with the attorney, then you are better off looking for assistance elsewhere. Put these tips to good use to make sure justice is served and that you get the maximum compensation you are entitled to. For questions, contact Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer and talk to a medical malpractice attorney in Phoenix AZ today.

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It can be overwhelming to deal with the aftermath of a car accident. While seeking a doctor and getting checked out should be high on your list, so is finding legal help. Here is why.

You Are Filing for a Claim

If you believe the car accident was not your fault and you want to file a claim, then you will need legal help. Personal injury lawyers can help you get the legal ball rolling. If you know next to nothing about how to file a claim or seek out a settlement, get the legal help you need by hiring the services of a seasoned attorney. This is especially true if you believe your claim is against or involves some sort of government agency.

You Are Hounded by Agents

Lots of insurance companies will want to pay as little as possible to cover the costs of the damages. Agents will keep on hounding you, trying to get you to admit fault or say something that could compromise your chances of winning the case. Do not let that happen. Injury attorneys can help by fending them off. Your lawyer can field off those questions and handle any correspondence or calls from insurance agents, so you will not be hassled anymore.

You Need Proof of Liability

When you are still recovering at the hospital, you have no one to help you find the proof you need to prove the other party’s liability. When you hire an attorney, though, you can rely on your lawyer to unearth details and information that can prove the other party’s guilt. Proving fault or negligence is much easier when you have competent legal counsel on your side.

You Need to Present Your Case

Hiring an attorney means you have someone to represent you in court. A good one will take steps to ensure that your rights and interests are protected. Also, a lawyer who has been in practice for years knows the best way to present your case to the court, and that is going to help tip the results in your favor.

You have a Settlement Offer

Lawyers know what damages you can get a claim for, so they have a clear idea how much you can receive for your compensation. Let your lawyer review the terms, conditions, and amount. By letting your lawyer advise you, you will not fall for an unfair settlement offer. If you get into an accident, get medical help first, but then contact an experienced auto accident attorney in Phoenix, Arizona with Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer.

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33% of children under the age of five receive child care from nonrelatives. Their families trust daycares and child-care facilities not only to educate and entertain their children but keep them safe. Unfortunately, many children each year are victims of daycare injuries, and families find themselves asking, “Who’s to blame?”

Daycare Hazards

Not all daycare injuries result from an abusive employee. They’re often due to unsafe facilities. Examples include:

• Unsafe sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots
• Unsafe walkways, hallways, and doorways
• Unsafe playground equipment
• Unsafe toys
• Unsecured bookshelves and television stands
• Ungated pools
• Ladders that aren’t put away
• Medication left out in the open
• Accessible chemicals
• Loose stair handrails
• Wet floors
• Falling objects

Waivers

Daycare waivers often state that parents forfeit rights to sue in the event their child is hurt on site. However, those clauses rarely hold up in court as it’s against public policy to promote negligence. Daycares who include these clauses in their waivers are either uninformed or attempting to scare parents. Parents have every right to compensation if their child is injured on site.

Daycare Injury Case

A family in Alabama was awarded $30.3 million in compensatory damages that occurred to their son while he was at a daycare. Christian, almost two years old, was napping on the floor in front of an unsecured dresser that held a television. Another child tripped on an unsecured cord which caused the television to fall on top of him. Christian suffered permanent brain damage from a fractured skull and intracranial bleeding.

Seeking Legal Help

Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer recently secured a $115,000 settlement in a premises liability case involving a resident of an apartment complex who was injured when a stair broke. Have you or a loved one been injured at a daycare or other place of business? Contact us for a free consultation.

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In October of 2016, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced all of his company’s vehicles would be fully self-driving. For the first half of 2017, Tesla Autopilot 2.0’s over-the-air software updated around every three weeks. Since then, the updates have been sporadic (in October of 2017, it had been nearly five months since the last autopilot update).

How these Updates Affect Safety

Many of the features from the previous version of ADAS (advanced driver assist system) are still missing. As a result, Tesla vehicles built since October of 2016 lack safety models enabled in older makes. At the beginning of 2017, Musk promised those features would come out soon. They didn’t.

The Settlement

In April 2017, owners of Tesla’s Model S Sedans and Model X SUVs sued Tesla, alleging their semi-autonomous driver assist system was “essentially unusable and demonstrably dangerous.” Tesla originally called the suit “disingenuous,” “inaccurate,” and “sensationalist.” However, the company came under scrutiny after several fatal crashes involving their autopilot system made headlines. As of May 2018, Tesla settled and has agreed to pay those who purchased the autopilot upgrade between 2016 and 2017 $20-$280. Their spokesperson stated, “…it eventually became clear that it was taking us longer to roll out these features than we would have liked or initially expected. We want to do right by those customers, so…we’ve agreed to compensate customers who purchased Autopilot on Hardware 2 vehicles who had to wait longer than we expected for these features.” Have you or a loved one suffered personal injury involving a Tesla or any other vehicle? Leave your case in Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer’s hands. This May 2018, we secured a $100,000 policy limits settlement involving a client who suffered a lumbar herniation and whiplash following a rear-end automobile collision. We’ve fought to receive the best possible results for each of our clients, and your case will be no different. Contact us for a free consultation today.

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June is known as National Safety Month. During this month, it’s important to be aware of one of the largest causes of personal injury—auto accidents. Statistics show that 1.3 million people die in road crashes each year, an average of 3,287 deaths a day. Many causes contribute to this horrifying statistic—alcohol, texting while driving, etc. A lesser known cause? Driving while drowsy.

Research

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that drowsy driving contributes to 10% of all motor vehicle related crashes. This came as shocking news as federal agencies estimated this percentage to be 1-2%. AAA released a video showing drivers falling asleep behind the wheel for only a few seconds. Some drivers veered out of their lanes and off the road, while others crossed into oncoming traffic.

Prevention

Getting a good night’s rest seems like obvious advice, but it’s surprisingly ignored. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cite that 35% of U.S. drivers get less than the recommended minimum of seven hours of sleep a night. According to the AAA Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research, “…missing just two to three hours of sleep can more than quadruple your risk for a crash, which is the equivalent of driving drunk.” Forgoing a few hours of sleep each day is not as harmless as it seems; it can put you and others in danger.

Tips

AAA recommends:

• Drive during normal awake hours.
• Don’t rely on your body for warning signs of fatigue.
• Take breaks every two hours or 100 miles.
• Drive with an alert passenger and take turns driving.
• Don’t take medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment before driving.

Have You Been Injured?

Unfortunately, your safe driving doesn’t affect others’ recklessness. Have you been injured in an auto accident because of a “drowsy driver”? Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer has represented hundreds of auto accident victims and fought for their compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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