Blog – Page 2 – The Kindley Firm, APC

Things to Know About Auto Insurance Companies

A San Diego car accident is never a pleasant experience. You may suffer injuries after your car accident occurs, and it’s also likely that your accident will result in a significant financial loss. If someone else caused your San Diego car accident, then it’s important to pursue a settlement so you can recover more quickly.

Before taking legal action against the liability party in your San Diego accident, you may try to win a settlement from your California auto insurance company. Although car insurance should cover you for some of the damage you’ve experienced, it’s not always easy to deal with insurance companies after an accident.

It’s important to know what to expect from your car insurance company before moving forward. If you’re having trouble with your case, a San Diego car accident lawyer from The Kindley Firm, APC can help.

They Will Likely Request a Written or Recorded Statement

It’s likely that your California auto insurance company will ask you for a written or recorded statement after a San Diego car accident. You don’t have to give this statement right away and it can be beneficial for you to speak with an attorney before discussing your case with your insurance company.

Once you put your statement in writing or on a recording, your insurance company can use what you say against you. By gathering your thoughts first, you’ll have a better idea of how to present the events.

They Often Make Low Settlement Offers

Auto insurance companies in California often make low settlement offers to victims in San Diego car accidents, so you shouldn’t accept an offer until you know the value of your claim. Speaking to an attorney can be helpful in assessing the value of your claim because they can pinpoint the liable party in your car accident and account for your damages.

If your auto insurance company refuses to settle for what you deserve, you can file a lawsuit instead.

They’re Working for Profit

It’s important to know that insurance companies are working for profit and may not always have your best interests in mind. Even if you think the amount of money they offer you sounds high, it’s possible you deserve much more. You should closely assess the details of your case before accepting an offer so that you don’t miss out on the settlement you truly deserve.

Contact a San Diego Car Accident Attorney

Many victims don’t have the legal experience to know when they’re being cheated by an auto insurance company in California. By hiring a strong legal team, you’ll have a strong support system ready to fight for you and get the most out of your claim. Whether you receive a settlement through insurance or through a lawsuit, you can be confident that you’re getting what you deserve.

If you’re ready to schedule a free consultation with a San Diego car accident lawyer from The Kindley Firm, APC, fill out the contact form below or call 619-550-1313.

How to Report Abuse in a Nursing Home

Nursing homes can be a blessing and a curse for the elderly. On the one hand, many nursing homes are wonderful places where elderly individuals can live and enjoy their lives while still getting the care and support they need. Many nursing homes have great amenities, which can make all the difference for elderly adults.

However, nursing homes can also be poorly run. Abuse can occur if management is not vigilant in protecting the elders in their care. Elderly adults are abused for many different reasons. Unfortunately, they don’t always have the ability to protect themselves from abuse, and they may be too scared to report abuse themselves.

How to Spot Nursing Home Abuse

Before you can report abuse, you will need to be able to identify it. Abuse can come in many different forms, and the signs are different depending on the type of abuse.

For example, physical abuse is one form of nursing home abuse. This abuse involves physical violence against an elderly adult, such as slapping, hitting, pinching, punching, kicking, and scratching. This kind of abuse will not always take place where witnesses can see it.

You need to look out for the signs of physical abuse. Some signs include unexplained bruises, broken bones, torn clothing, scratches, and marks on the body. You can also watch out for behavioral signs such as withdrawal, depression, anxiety, self-soothing behavior, and fearful behavior.

A few other types of nursing home abuse:

Sexual abuse
Verbal and emotional abuse
Financial exploitation
Neglect

Reporting Abuse

Abuse can be reported to law enforcement officials right away. If you suspect the nursing home or nursing home staff are complicit in the abusive behavior, you might want to remove your loved one from the nursing home and then contact the authorities. You can simply call the police to report instances of elder abuse.

In some states, you can also report elder abuse to an agency that investigates allegations of elder or nursing home abuse.

In addition to reporting abuse, you can also seek justice and financial compensation for the abuse your beloved family member has been through. When it’s too late to prevent abuse, you have every right to go after the person or organization responsible for the abuse your family member suffered.

Filing a claim can be difficult. Learn more by talking with a personal injury lawyer in California.

Reach Out to a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near You

If you spot abuse, make sure that you report it right away. You could protect an elderly individual from being abused and suffering for the rest of their lives. If your loved one has already been abused, you might have the right to file a claim and get justice for what happened to them and financial compensation for any losses that resulted from the abuse.

Learn more about filing a claim when you call a California nursing home abuse lawyer. The Kindley Firm, APC can be reached by using the online contact form on this web page. You can also call 619-550-1313 to reach a lawyer at our firm.

Filing an Insurance Claim After a San Diego Car Accident

When you’re in a car accident in San Diego, you’ll likely have to contact your car insurance company to report the accident. Depending on your car insurance coverage, you may have the opportunity to file an insurance claim before taking legal action against the liable party in your wreck.

When seeking a settlement from your insurance company, it can still be helpful to speak with a San Diego car accident lawyer from The Kindley Firm, APC so you have an idea of how much your settlement is worth. When you speak to your insurance company, you’ll know how much money you deserve and whether the adjuster is offering a decent amount of money.

How Insurance Companies Often Handle Car Accident Settlements

Your insurance adjuster in San Diego may ask you to record a statement as soon as your car accident occurs. It’s important to know that you don’t have to record this statement right away. You can take time to process what’s happened in your accident before speaking to your insurance. If you record a statement and say something you regret, your insurance company can use it against you.

Insurance companies often prioritize their own financial interests over the needs of their clients, so it’s likely that your insurance company will offer you a lower settlement than you deserve. You aren’t required to accept any offer you receive because you can file a lawsuit against the liable party in your accident instead.

When to Take Legal Action for Your San Diego Car Accident

If you want to maximize your car accident settlement in San Diego, you can take legal action with the help of an attorney. Your car accident lawyer can investigate your case and use evidence such as photographs, witness statements, and video footage to prove who’s at fault. Once you know who to sue, you can begin accounting for the damages you’ve suffered.

Recoverable Damages You Can Receive in Your San Diego Car Accident Claim

If you want to maximize your car accident claim, you should account for both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are any financial losses you’ve suffered after your car accident, and these damages may include property damage, lost income from being out of work, and medical expenses from injuries you’ve treated. Non-economic damages are any non-financial losses you’ve suffered, and these damages may include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Contact a San Diego Car Accident Attorney

Although obtaining a settlement from your insurance company may be the fast and easy way to resolve your car accident case, you’ll likely walk away with less money than you deserve.

If you want to get the most out of your car accident claim, speak with a San Diego car accident lawyer from The Kindley Firm, APC. To discuss your case with our team, fill out the contact form below or call 619-550-1313 to schedule a free consultation.

Suing for Elder Abuse in California: What You Need to Know

Vulnerable people in society are common targets of abuse, such as children and the elderly. Although elder abuse is an awful reality to accept, it’s essential to be aware of the risk for abuse so you can identify when elder abuse has occurred. Victims of abuse aren’t always eager to come forward and demand justice because they may experience trauma or shame about what’s happened to them.

At The Kindley Firm, APC, we work hard to obtain justice on behalf of abuse victims. A San Diego elder abuse lawyer from our team can help you protect your loved one and put an end to their suffering. We’ll investigate the suspected abuse and use evidence to hold the appropriate parties accountable.

Types of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse can be physical, sexual, psychological, financial, or come in the form of neglect. If your loved one is living in a nursing home, the nurse or doctor caring for them may abuse them by forgetting to give them daily medication or failing to bathe them every day.

Physical elder abuse can involve slapping, pinching, or hitting the elderly victim. Sexual abuse is any inappropriate touching that the elderly victim didn’t consent to. Psychological abuse can involve harassing, demeaning, belittling, or teasing the elderly victim. Financial abuse can involve tricking the victim into paying the abuser or taking money without the elderly victim knowing.

Identifying Signs of Elder Abuse

Your elderly loved one may not verbally talk about the abuse they’ve experienced, but you may identify that abuse has occurred in other ways. When you visit your family member, look out for signs of elder abuse which can include any of the following:

Uncommon mood changes
Bedsores
Unexplained cuts and bruises
Worsening or development of illnesses
Bad hygiene
Lack of communication with close family members

Whom to Sue for Elder Abuse

Once you’ve confirmed that elder abuse is occurring using photographs, medical records, witness testimonies, or video footage, you can file a lawsuit and determine whom to sue for the incident. If your loved one is being abused in a nursing home, you may need to sue the entire company for negligence. If your loved one is being abused by an individual, you can sue the abuser personally for damages.

Your loved one deserves the maximum settlement for both the financial and non-financial losses they’ve suffered. If your loved one suffered injuries or worsening illnesses because of the abuse, you may claim medical expenses as a financial loss. Abuse usually results in extensive non-financial losses, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress.

Contact a San Diego Elder Abuse Attorney

No one deserves to be abused, especially those who are vulnerable and can’t fully take care of themselves. The elderly need people to protect them, and adults must notice the signs of elder abuse and speak up when these tragedies occur.

If you’re ready to discuss your loved one’s case with a San Diego elder abuse lawyer from The Kindley Firm, APC, fill out the contact form below or call 619-550-1313 to schedule a free consultation.

Car Accident in San Diego: Three Reasons to Call an Attorney

Car accidents can trigger significant physical and emotional stress. In addition to the damage your body may experience, your injuries can also result in costly medical expenses. It’s essential to recover a settlement if you hope to return to normal life after your wreck and lift the financial burden from your shoulders.

You may feel unsure of how to handle your wreck after it’s occurred. An experienced attorney can assess the details of your case and guide you in the right direction. At The Kindley Firm, APC, we know when a case qualifies for compensation and can negotiate in court to maximize your payout. You should consult a San Diego car accident lawyer if you’ve experienced any of the situations below.

1. If Your Insurance Company Won’t Settle

Your insurance company will likely contact you after your car accident. They may ask for a recorded statement of what happened, but you have the right to postpone this statement. Once you’ve recorded a statement, you can’t take back what you’ve said. Speaking to an attorney before this statement can be helpful because you’ll know how to gracefully explain the accident to your insurance company.

You should also contact an attorney if your insurance company refuses to settle or offers a settlement for your car accident that is lower than the amount you deserve. Insurance companies often have their own financial interests in mind, so they may try to settle your claim for the lowest amount possible. You should assess the value of your claim before accepting an offer.

2. If You Know Someone Else Is Responsible for Your Accident

When you know someone else is responsible for your accident, consult a lawyer because the liable party should be held accountable. Even if your insurance company offers you a settlement, you can sue the negligent party and receive a larger settlement for your damages. Insurance claims don’t account for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.

When you sue the liable party for your accident, you can maximize your claim by accounting for all the damages you’ve suffered, both economic and non-economic.

3. If You Need to Recover Compensation for Your Damages

When you’ve suffered damages in a car accident, recovering compensation may be the only way to pay for these damages. An experienced attorney can help you win the maximum settlement by negotiating on your behalf in court and proving why you deserve this money.

Not only will your lawyer gather evidence to support your claim but they’ll use strategies to explain your case and paint you in the best light possible.

Reach Out to a San Diego Car Accident Attorney

Contacting a lawyer after a car accident can only benefit your situation. At The Kindley Firm, APC, we offer free consultations so you can get your questions answered before committing to legal counsel. To speak with a San Diego car accident lawyer from our team, call 619-550-1313 or fill out the contact form below.