| Read Time: 6 minutes | Product Liability

Product Liability Essentials

People think of product liability cases as huge, time consuming and costly.  Some are– like medical device, pharmaceutical and automotive design/crashworthiness cases. However, there are many product liability cases arising out of ordinary every day products that fail to perform as safely as the reasonable consumer expects. Some examples from my career include: a bathroom cleaner with inadequate warnings; a...

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| Read Time: 4 minutes | Wrongful Death

What Is the California Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations?

The unexpected death of a loved one is always a tragedy under any circumstances. However, when one’s negligent or willful act causes death, the resulting trauma suffered by surviving family members may never heal. After the wrongful death of a loved one, you may not know where to turn to pursue justice. Wrongful death can happen in a variety...

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| Read Time: 3 minutes | Personal Injury

California Motorcycle Laws Overview

California’s busy highways tempt thousands of drivers every year to opt for a motorcycle to navigate the troublesome traffic jams. However, motorcycles pose safety risks to riders. In fact, 474 motorcycle fatalities occurred within the state in 2019. Because of motorcycles’ popularity, California imposes certain motorcycle laws in an attempt to protect motorcyclists and other drivers on the road....

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| Read Time: 4 minutes | Car Accidents

What Is the Average Settlement Amount for a Drunk Driving Accident in California?

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 28 people per day die in drunk driving accidents. In 2019, the total number of DUI accident fatalities reached over 10,000. These accidents are responsible for almost a third of all traffic-related fatalities. Thousands of people are hit by drunk drivers every year, and while most survive the accident, it can...

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| Read Time: 3 minutes | Personal Injury

Is It Important That I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer Who Is “Near Me”?

If you or someone you love was injured in a personal injury accident caused by another party’s negligence, you might be searching for a lawyer. When you search online, you may enter the search term, “personal injury lawyer near me.” However, do you really need to hire a lawyer that is close to where you live? The answer is not...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Chuck Geerhart Blog

How Fast Will My Case Settle?

One of the questions most often asked by clients is “How long will it take to get my case settled?” Good question! Most people who have been injured want to get their claim settled and move on with their lives.  The answer varies depending on the severity of injury, whether liability is clear, and whether there is an insurance...

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| Read Time: 6 minutes | Chuck Geerhart Blog

How to Succeed at a Mandatory Settlement Conference in San Francisco Superior Court

The mandatory settlement conference (MSC) is your next to last chance at a formal settlement negotiation (you might get ordered to a day of the trial settlement conference.) The Court usually schedules the MSC to occur about three weeks before trial. This means that sometimes costly expert depositions will still not have been taken, which is a smaller case that can make...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Bicycle Accident

What’s Up in the Law of Bicycling

You’re riding along, feeling great, and all of a sudden a car pulls out from a parking place in front of you and knocks you over.  You’re hurt.  Badly.  What do you do? First of all, take care of yourself. Summon an ambulance and go to the ER or urgent care.  Also, make sure the police come to the...

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| Read Time: 4 minutes | Chuck Geerhart Blog

Should your lawyer be your friend

I represent people severely injured in accidents.  My core mission is to get them as much money as possible to help compensate for their loss. But along the way, I develop relationships with my clients.  Sometimes the relationship remains very businesslike– “get my case settled for fair value as fast as possible.”  I try to do this.  Unfortunately, the...

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