Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases

the other spouse rather than focusing in resolving he divorce case. This may be in the form of over litigating a case for purposes of racking up legal fees for the other spouse.

Fabricating false allegations against the other spouse in the context of custody or domestic violence. Refusal to engage in good faith settlement negotiations. They will take unreasonable positions without any willingness to compromise. This will leave you with no option but to either roll over to their unreasonable positions or take the case to trial and get a ruling from the court.

Narcissistic behavior can be a major factor in the breakdown of a marriage, leading to divorce. Recognizing the signs of narcissism and seeking professional help can help you navigate the challenges of divorcing a narcissist and move forward with your life.

* * *

DEAR Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear-ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my back seemed very tight and stiff. I took some days off from work. After a week, I contacted the other driver’s insurance to report the claim. The insurance adjuster for the other driver said they would fix my car, and offered me $500 for my injuries. Is that enough? I do not know where to go from here. –K.K.

Dear K.K., claim for economic damages apart from medical expenses are often overlooked and not pursued by persons who settle their accident cases on their own, or with the assistance of inexperienced counsel.

Loss of earnings are often a significant part of an injured person’s claim for economic damages. Damages are recoverable for both past and future lost earnings. To recover for past lost earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/ she has lost to date. To recover damages for future earnings, a person must prove the amount of income or earnings that he/ she will be reasonably certain to lose in the future as a result of the injury. CACI No. 3903C value of sick leave and vacation time that are used due to the injury are also recoverable. For those self-employed, earnings history as reflected by tax returns and profit and loss statements can help prove the value of lost earnings. Similar supporting documentation must be presented for future lost earnings. own needs and desires. This can make it difficult for the relationship to thrive and grow over time.

Apart from economic damages, you can recover “general damages,” which are damages for the pain, suffering, and inconvenience due to the accident.

If you are in a relationship with a narcissist and are considering divorce, it is important to seek professional help and support. Divorcing a narcissist can be challenging, and it is important to have a support system in place to help you navigate the process. A therapist or counselor can help you work through your emotions and develop strategies to cope with the challenges of divorcing a narcissist. This may also apply to the minor children in the family who become victims of the narcissistic spouse.

Narcissistic spouses also have a tendency of weaponizing the judicial process against

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC. This article is not a solicitation.

* * *

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com. Visit us at kenreyeslaw.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

The first step is to make sure that any injuries that you have suffered in the accident are examined and treated. You can recover treatment costs since they are considered “economic damages” that you suffered due to the accident. You can also recover for time away from work as “economic damages,” even if you used paid time off or sick leave.

The term “economic damages” means “objectively verifiable monetary losses including medical expenses, loss of earnings, burial costs, loss of use of property, costs of repair or replacement, costs of obtaining substitute domestic services, loss of employment and loss of business or employment opportunities.” Civil Code Section 1431.2(b)(1). A person’s

How are past lost earnings proven? Medical records, which show the doctor authorizing a release from work or giving instructions to restrict work activities, can support the time taken off from work due to the injury. For those selfemployed, medical providers typically do not provide a release from work; however, medical records should record work restrictions placed by the medical provider.

After showing that the time off was justified, the next step is to value the lost earnings. A letter from a person’s employer that outlines the amount of time that one has lost as a result of his/her injury, the loss of benefits, and the rate of pay during the time of loss is evidence of the value of one’s loss of earnings claim. Other supporting documents include pay stubs, time cards, and tax returns. The monetary

If you were suffered injury in an auto accident or someone’s premises, please contact our office to discuss your case. To maximize monetary recovery, it is important to have the assistance of an experienced attorney in presenting your personal injury claim.

* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*

* * Darrick V. Tan, Esq. is admitted to practice law in California and Nevada. Mr. Tan is a graduate of UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a member of the Consumers Attorney Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA). LAW OFFICES OF DARRICK V. TAN, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Tel: 323639-0277. Email: info@dtanlaw.com (Advertising Supplement)

Nadine Lustre’s boyfriend...

PAGE B3

“When it comes to advocacies, it was a brutal reminder that life is fleeting. We do not have the luxury to wander and be mindless. I want to be mindful and conscious in every action. The best I can do is to lessen the suffering and cruelty around me, and promote kindness and compassion towards all forms of life – human and non-human,” he reflected further. “Our lives are way too precious to be wasted. In the same breath, other lives are too sacred to be robbed from them, too.”

Christophe admitted having no pretension to be revolutionary or change the world but simply hope that others would not wait to realize how fleeting life can be and regrets can make up a big part of it.

“Live and let live,” Christophe ended, expressing gratitude for his partner at the time before Nadine, his family, and his friends.

Numerous people praised and showed support for Christophe including Billy Crawford, BJ Pascual, and Katarina Rodriguez.

Nadine met Christophe in Siargao back in July 2021, and confirmed they were in a relationship at the turn of the following year. g