In 2020, 539 Californian motorcyclists died in traffic accidents. The majority (491) were wearing helmets at the time. Unfortunately, helmets cannot always prevent motorcycle accident deaths – especially when the victim is a child. Child motorcycle passengers are especially vulnerable to personal injuries in traffic accidents. Yet no California laws prohibit minors from riding on… read more

A personal injury lawsuit in California can be filed not only for physical injuries but emotional, mental and psychological damage, as well. Serious accidents can be traumatizing for injured victims and witnesses. Individuals who suffer emotional or mental trauma can often seek compensatory damages for these injuries in a personal injury case. How Is Emotional… read more

A car accident can cost thousands of dollars in medical bills and property repairs. If you believe the other driver involved or a third party is to blame for your crash, you should not have to pay for your losses. If liability (financial responsibility) for the crash is disputed, you may need to prove your… read more

A traffic collision report contains important facts and information about a car accident that you may need for a car insurance claim. It can serve as evidence during a car accident case. You will not automatically be given a copy of your police accident report at the scene or afterward. You will need to take… read more

In the context of a personal injury case, damages refer to the financial compensation that can be awarded to an injured party (plaintiff) for harm caused by the accused party’s (defendant’s) actions. In California, personal injury damages are placed into two categories: special damages and general damages. What Are Special Damages? Special damages, also known… read more

It can be difficult enough to determine who is liable, or legally and financially responsible, for a car accident that occurs in your own vehicle; if you get into a crash in a borrowed car, understanding who pays is even more complicated. Liability for a crash involving a borrowed car can depend on the circumstances… read more

As one of the newest types of transportation services, ridesharing has had to undergo several reforms to improve rider safety. This includes the passing of new laws in California that ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft must obey. Understanding these laws and regulations can help you know your legal rights as an Uber or… read more

For the second consecutive year, the Daily Journal publication has named Brian J. Panish as one of the Leading Commercial Litigators in its annual supplement. The 2024 edition honors 98 of the “best attorneys working within the broad scope of commercial and bet-the-company litigation across the country.” The profile featuring Mr. Panish highlights his current work on… read more

Brian Panish has been recognized as one of the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America. This is his fifth consecutive year of recognition and tenth year named to the Lawdragon 500 annual list. As noted by the publication, those named to the 2024 list include “amazing lawyers from throughout the land: whistleblowers, plaintiff medical malpractice… read more

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. experienced an unprecedented increase in fatal traffic collisions. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, fatal crashes increased by nearly 17 percent during the first two years of the pandemic – among the largest two-year increase in history.   This sharp rise was punctuated by the deadliest… read more

You should be able to think that the water you drink is safe when you live in the United States. Unfortunately, this is not always a safe assumption, as many former members of the military and their families have discovered after ingesting contaminated water. For decades, military members, families, and civilians were unwittingly drinking poisonous… read more

Fueled by intense ocean winds, the Coastal Fire ignited at 2:43 pm Wednesday, May 11th, and burned at least 20 Laguna Niguel homes in a single day. With the fire at zero percent containment, as many as 900 other homes in the area have been evacuated. While Southern California now faces year-round fire danger, initial… read more