Andy Gillin

Following the return of spring sports schedules across the US, a national spike in sports-related injuries is inevitable. So, as Americans around the country take to basketball courts,…

What Is “Wrongful Death” in California? A wrongful death lawsuit is brought by the surviving relatives of someone who died due to the legal fault of another. This…

A personal injury attorney is the type of lawyer that handles wrongful death cases. The hard part is knowing which wrongful death attorney to hire for your case…

Many people ask, what are the questions they want answered when they’re interviewing a lawyer. This is a great initial question, as you will not be able to select the best lawyer to handle your case unless you know what questions you need to ask in order to research the issue. Here, our experienced San Jose personal injury attorneys have put together a list of seven important questions that you should consider asking a lawyer before hiring them to handle your case.

You do not ever need money in advance to hire GJEL Accident Attorneys. Most people injured in an accident don’t have the money to pay for a lawyer…

At GJEL Accident Attorneys we have recovered over $10 Million Dollars for our clients suffering from Post Concussion Syndrome in California. If you or someone you love is…

Following the return to spring sports schedules for many across the United States, it’s inevitable that we’re going to see a spike in sports-related injuries nationally. So, as…

It seems hardly a day goes by without hearing something in the news about an accident caused by texting and driving, in California and throughout the US.

At GJEL Accident Attorneys we’ve been serving the California community for over 40 years. During that time we’ve had the opportunity to work with some incredible law firms…

While many of us are aware of the dangers outside our front door, are we aware of hazards within our own four walls? In an attempt to raise…

1. By checking for witnesses, won’t the insurance companies think that you were planning to make the accident a payday from the beginning?” You know, it’s a very…

People who follow the news in the United States are not strangers to disturbing legal stories that often dominate the headlines. From the Casey Anthony trial that concluded last month, to the Scott Peterson verdict years before, and even the controversial O.J. Simpson murder case nearly 20 years ago, it’s often difficult to avoid the day’s most followed legal stories. But there are thousands of legal stories that go unnoticed each year by much of the general public, or are nearly forgotten years later. In the four following examples, documentary film makers have exposed and revitalized those stories to create powerful documentary films discussing a variety of troubling legal issues. We’ve compiled the trailers for the films Hot Coffee, Capturing the Friedmans, Deliver Us From Evil, and Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, along with short descriptions and reviews.

Spring break is a vacation period in early spring to be enjoyed by college students in every state of America. Although many jet-set abroad, most stay in the…

The film industry is loaded with movies throughout history that have a focus on lawyers and the drama that takes place in the courtroom. This list contains the…

According to IRS Rule 1.104-1, the amount of money you receive from a wrongful death settlement is not taxable. The Internal Revenue Service considers any portion of a…

It has been a big year for class action lawsuits. Most recently, thousands of Toyota drivers have sued the Japanese auto giant for injuries and loss of investment resulting from unintended acceleration, and victims of the BP Gulf oil spill disaster are lining up to take on the British oil conglomerate in court. Both of those budding class action battles pale in comparison to the legal storm about to engulf WalMart, which is being sued for gender discrimination by more than a million women in potentially the largest class action suit ever. To put this in perspective, we decided to round up a list of other massive class action titans over the past two decades.

Slowly but surely, technology has become an unavoidable part of our day. But fidgeting with cell phones and other technological devices while driving is enormously dangerous, contributing to more than 500,000 injuries and 6,000 deaths last year alone, according to the .National Highway Traffic Administration. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of devices that will help avoid the temptation to text, email, or dial friends while on the road. These devices can help make yourself and your teenager tech gurus, but more importantly, a safer drivers.

There are so many safety factors to consider when your teenager begins driving. When it comes to teen brain development, distracted driving, and graduated license laws, parents have a strong role in assuring that their children stay safe behind the wheel. Great safety strategies include educating your teen about the dangers of distracted driving, and creating a teen-parent safe driving contract that rewards safe driving behavior. But there’s one aspect for new teen drivers that parents have complete control over: what car (if any) they will drive.

Everything that’s posted on social media is considered public, and even the most well meaning remarks about a personal injury claim could potentially be used against a plaintiff by the defense. For this reason, we’ve assembled the following social media guidelines for personal injury plaintiffs currently involved in litigation.

These 15 Driving Distractions Could Ruin Your Day. Wouldn’t it be nice to settle in to your morning commute in total relaxation, catching up with a friend in the passenger seat next to you, or with hundreds of friends all at once on social media?

If someone you love tragically dies in an accident or due to a violent crime, it is only natural to want to obtain justice for them and take…

Welcome to May, which marks the first full month of Spring, and the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Month. The group will celebrate the month with a variety of programs and events, including Bike-to-Work Week May 16-20, and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday May 20. Here on the GJEL blog, we will be posting a series of in depth blog posts on bicycle safety and bike accident statistics here in California and nationwide. To start off the month, we’ve collected data on the states that have pushed ahead of the pack with strict bicycle safety laws: Oregon, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, California, and Maryland.

‘Clumsy’ is a word many people use to describe themselves, especially if they’re somewhat accident-prone and have a habit of tripping over, knocking into things, or dropping stuff….

Every day, GJEL attorneys assist clients and prospective clients with their insurance claims regarding car accidents and other personal injury cases. In over 30 years of practicing personal injury law, we’ve seen just about every “trick in the book” from insurance companies, including asking people unfair or manipulative questions during a recorded conversation, requesting medical records that infringe on people’s privacy, and biased examinations by company doctors.

If you think your insurance company–or the insurance company of the person who injured you–may be using deceptive, fraudulent, or manipulative tactics against you or a loved one, we encourage you to file a complaint with the Insurance Department of your home state.

Car accidents, for the most part, ARE avoidable. However, without fully understanding the cause of car accidents, it can be difficult for individuals to know what they can…

Christmas is a magical time of year for millions of families across the United States, with children all over the country often experiencing new food, toys and traditions,…

There are 5 important steps to take after an accident: Seek Medical Assistance, Exchange Contact and Insurance Information, Gather and Secure Evidence, Be Wary of Insurance Adjusters, and Contact a Qualified Attorney

If your loved one has died because of someone else’s actions, you likely want to march into court and demand the responsible party be held accountable for your…

Each year, the holiday season brings excitement about seeing family, eating delicious meals, and even opening a few presents. For some, the season marks a series of events complete with dinner parties and elaborate decorations. In addition to this seasonal mirth, families must consider safety issues related to driving long distances in rough conditions, the potential for shopping mall mishaps, and dangers associated with holiday decorations and lights. To help navigate those additional considerations, we’ve developed a list of some of the most common holiday-related injuries and some precautions families can take to avoid trips to the emergency room this winter.

Gearing up for the holiday weekend, we thought it necessary to revive GJEL Accident Attorneys’ legal humor category. With that, we’ve compiled 9 Seinfeld-related lawsuits, five fictional and four real, to commemorate the 9 years the 90’s mega-sitcom fantastically mocked most aspects, significant and mundane, of real life. And the show’s take on the legal industry was no different. Check out our list.

On the air for more than 20 years, the iconic family cartoon sitcom “The Simpsons” has covered just about every topic you can think of. So it’s no surprise that the show has addressed – and mocked – many legal issues. In fact, The Simpsons has managed to cover personal injury law, sexual harassment, false advertising, criminal law, food safety, copyright law, and more. While the plots of these episodes themselves are hilarious, they wouldn’t be quite as great without shuckster attorney Lionel Hutz (Phil Hartman). We’ve compiled a list of our favorite lawsuits in the Simpsons, in chronological order.

Anytime that you are involved in a car accident, or any other serious accident type that necessitates emergency medical care, you should make sure that an accident report is filed with the police (in fact, in the event of a car accident, California law requires that you report the accident if anyone is injured or killed, or damages total more than $750).

$700,000 for a motorcycle vs. auto accident in Marin County.

Were you or someone you love injured in an accident in Piedmont, California? If so, call GJEL Accident Attorneys today for a free case review. Attorney Andy Gillin…

What comes to mind when you think of traffic laws? There are right-of-way rules that say who yields and who proceeds at traffic intersections and crosswalks. And speed…

One question we field here at GJEL is what the “average typical” settlement or jury verdict is for a wrongful death case. The short answer is that there…

Call an attorney as soon as possible if you were serious injured. Car accidents can be scary and stressful in many ways. Depending on the details of your…

When an accident occurs in California, whether an automobile accident or an accident such as a slip and fall on someone else’s property, the way that injuries are almost always paid for is through liability insurance. Because California is an at-fault state, the insurance company of the person whose negligence caused the accident and related injuries is responsible for paying for the injured party’s damages.

Bike share programs have exploded in cities like Oakland, Washington, D.C. and Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The programs have been widely popular thus far, but to…

This blog often champions causes that prevent drivers’ attentions from leaving the immediate concerns of the road. Drunk driving and distracted driving (typically in the form of texting…

If you are seriously injured in a car accident or your accident required hospitalization you are likely better off hiring a lawyer after a car accident. If your…

Victims can hold the person who injured them accountable for his or her negligence in court and receive money damages as compensation in a California Wrongful death case….

Summer vacation is coming to an end and the back to school blitz is officially here. With kids getting set to resume their daily commute, and some younger…

GJEL Accident Attorneys recovered 13.6 Million Dollars for a client which was paid during trial. View more about the wrongful death verdicts and settlements from GJEL.

GJEL recovered 11.6 Million Dollars for a client in a California wrongful death settlement.

Getting hit by a car while walking or riding your bicycle is an awful thought. So the image of a pack of cyclists being run over by a SUV is nothing short of terrifying. Last year, four cyclists were injured in San Francisco’s Mission District after a man in an SUV allegedly ran them down in what the San Francisco Chronicle calls a “six-minute rampage.” The driver, David Mark Clark, now faces four counts of attempted murder, and his attorney has unofficially said Clark will seek an insanity plea. Click through for five more important California bike accident lawsuits.

When you are grieving the accidental death of a family member, you may not immediately appreciate the full extent of how that person’s passing may affect your life….

If you do not regularly ride a bike in urban areas, it may sound odd, but a car door can be a lethal weapon. A driver or vehicle passenger suddenly opening a car door as you ride by can lead to a truly devastating injury. This type of accident is often referred to ‘getting doored’. Car door-related bike accidents are far more common than many people realize. Indeed, according to data collected and published by the League of American Bicyclists, approximately eight percent of all bike accidents occur as a result of a biker ‘getting doored’. This leads to an important question: If someone opens a door while you’re riding by on your bicycle, the question becomes, “who is at fault.”

Safe driving behavior begins at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Teen drivers are tested by their local DMV before receiving their license, and all drivers must go through the DMV to renew their license or ask other important questions. California has made sure that residents don’t need to travel far to access DMV services. To help make this even easier, we’ve put together an interactive map of the DMV offices throughout California. Click the DMV office near you for its address and phone number.

When considering representation and suit over a client’s losses arising from the death of another in California you need to start by asking a few questions. Is your…

GJEL has recovered millions of dollars from The Hartford Insurance for injured victims. If you were injured and you think you might have a case against The Hartford…

As one of the most anticipated holidays of the year, Halloween can be lots of fun for people of all ages. But with everyone out and about, things…

Our client had entered the marked pedestrian crossing, with the signal, to cross Stockton Avenue at its intersection with Lenzen Avenue in San Jose. The driver of a…

Case Details: Our client, an experienced bicyclist, was riding westbound on Lone Tree Way in Antioch, California. He was in the #3 lane approaching the on-ramp for northbound…

Our client was a fourteen-year-old girl who was in a car with her two friends, who were also minors. The car they were traveling in belonged to our…

A retired high school teacher and a longtime resident of rural Sonoma County was walking across Franz Valley School Road to retrieve his morning newspaper from the roadside…

Our client was rear-ended in Brentwood while driving his 2005 Land Rover SUV. He was stopped waiting for the traffic ahead to move when his vehicle was struck…

Our 63 year-old client, a self-employed plumber and part-time musician, suffered serious injuries and incurred thousands of dollars of medical bills and lost wages due to the negligence…

About The Accident Our client was assembling furniture for his new residence on the driveway- pavement in front of his space at the garage shared with other condo…

Our client was driving his motorcycle into an intersection in Mountain View, California, when he was struck by a car from his left-side that had entered the intersection…

Our 81 year-old client suffered severe spinal injuries when he fell while trying to uncover patio furniture at a second home in Copperopolis, California, owned by a family…

GJEL Accident Attorneys has recovered over $10 Million Dollars for victims injured and killed in Motorcycle accidents. Here is how GJEL helped one family after a serious motorcycle…

On August 25, 2014 our client was on US-101 Northbound 70 feet South of Rengstorff Avenue in Unincorporated Palo Alto, CA.  Our client was obeying the rules of…

Our 81-year-old client suffered severe spinal injuries when he fell while trying to uncover patio furniture at a second home in Copperopolis, California, owned by a family member….

This comes up a lot. Theoretically, you’re not supposed to ride your bike on the sidewalk. However, that’s not the end of the story. A lot of times,…

The Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) is making a strong push to add a third westbound lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to alleviate congestion during the morning…

The attorneys at GJEL recently hosted a scholarship program and asked incoming law students why they wanted to go to law school. As a part of this contest,…

Beginning January 2019, AC Transit increased Transbay fares by $1 to $5.50 for a one-way trip to San Francisco and by $36 to $198 for a monthly pass….

MTC’s Restrictive Ford GoBike Contract Impeding Expansion of Shared E-Bikes Overshadowed by the expansion of scooters, shared pedal-assist e-bikes have quietly grown in popularity this year. Across the…

Last week, we brought you some of the most absurd attempts of replicating judicial in the most unlikely courtroom dramas. Ranging from Chicago to Miracle on 34th Street, it was clear that film writers are comfortable fudging the facts and realities when it comes to telling a compelling story. Not surprisingly, the same is true for legal comedies… to an even more outlandish extent. But since comedies typically aren’t bound by realism or attention to detail, the freedoms taken in the films described below are perhaps more forgivable than those taken in courtroom dramas. Take a look at our list, ranging all the way from Legally Blonde to Ghostbusters II.

Several highly-anticipated pedestrian safety improvements recently opened along Oakland’s Grand Avenue. One of the City’s high injury corridors, Grand has long served as a regional relief valve to…

The average personal injury settlement is $52,900, according to Martindale-Nolo Research, but the settlement range is $3,000 to $75,000. Thirty percent of claimants receive nothing, while a good…

Accident Overview In the Spring of 2015, our client’s husband was driving his van at 55 mph, in a 55 mph zone, in a rural county in California,…