In January 2026, Volkswagen issued an urgent and alarming directive to owners of more than 44,000 ID.4 electric SUVs: park your vehicle outside immediately after charging, and do not leave it charging indoors overnight. The reason was chilling — a series of battery fires, some occurring while the vehicles were parked and not even plugged in, had prompted one of the most serious EV safety recalls in recent memory. Volkswagen also warned owners to avoid fast charging entirely a

Americans tend to take for granted that someone is watching the automakers. When a dangerous part makes it into millions of vehicles, we assume a federal agency will find it, investigate it, and compel a recall before too many people get hurt. That assumption has always rested on the capacity of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal agency responsible for investigating vehicle defects, establishing safety standards, and forcing manufacturers to take

If you have been injured in a car accident, a slip and fall, or any other incident and filed an insurance claim recently, there is a growing chance that the offer you received was not evaluated by a human being. Across the insurance industry, carriers are deploying artificial intelligence systems to assess injury claims, calculate settlement values, and even generate the letters and emails you receive from adjusters. While insurers tout these tools as faster and more efficien

Right now, as you read this, paid signature gatherers are fanning out across California with clipboards, asking you to sign a petition for something called the "Protecting Automobile Accident Victims from Attorney Self-Dealing Act." The name sounds consumer-friendly. The reality is anything but. This ballot initiative, bankrolled by Uber to the tune of at least $12 million so far, would amend the California Constitution to cap what your attorney can earn representing you aft

As of January 1, 2026, California families who lose a loved one due to someone else's negligence face a harsh new reality — or more accurately, the return of an old one. A temporary law that allowed the estates of deceased individuals to recover damages for the pain and suffering their loved one endured before death has quietly expired. The practical result is that in many cases, it is now cheaper for a defendant to kill someone than to seriously injure them. Legal profession

After a collision, one of the first questions people ask is whether they have the right to know the other driver’s insurance information. This concern is understandable. Without that information, it becomes difficult—sometimes impossible—to make a proper claim, open a case with the insurer, or protect yourself from unexpected liability disputes. Where people often get confused is this: you are  entitled to some insurance information, but not all of it. The law requires disclo

When an employee is injured in a motor vehicle collision while performing work duties, two insurance systems often overlap: workers’ compensation and uninsured motorist coverage. Each system is governed by a different body of law, but in California they intersect in very specific ways. Understanding those rules can dramatically affect the injured worker’s final net recovery. Workers’ compensation benefits are governed by the Labor Code. These benefits cover medical care and w

If you are pursuing a personal injury case, chances are you will be asked to attend what the insurance company calls an “independent...

Automobile design has always been driven by a desire to improve performance and style. But did you know that safety regulations have been...

When an employee is injured on the job in California, their first thought is often about how to recover for medical bills, lost wages,...

One of the most common defense strategies in personal injury cases is to point to a pre-existing medical condition. If you have ever had...

In California, time limits for filing a personal injury lawsuit—known as statutes of limitations—are strict, and missing a deadline can...

When multiple parties cause harm in a California personal injury case, the question of “who pays” is rarely straightforward. California’s...

In California premises liability cases, one of the most common defenses property owners and their insurance companies raise is the “open...

When you’re injured in an accident and receive a settlement or judgment, one of the last things most people expect is a bill from their...

At Phillips & Associates, we often hear a range of misconceptions from clients and prospective clients regarding personal injury claims....

Motorcycles offer a sense of freedom on the road, but that freedom often comes with serious risk. According to data from the National...

For years, seat belts, airbags, and anti-lock brakes were the benchmarks of vehicle safety. In fact, seat belts alone are credited with...

In personal injury litigation, facts and law form the foundation of a case, but appearances and optics often shape how those facts and...

In today’s world, social media is second nature. Whether it’s sharing updates about your life, checking in with friends, or posting...