Who do you love more than your dog? Probably your immediate family, and that’s it. Who else shows they’re happy when they see you, or waits at the front door for you to get home? Unlike a spouse, you only have 12 to 15 years of this love and devotion…although this is more time than many have with their spouse. Before you drink and drive, think of your “DOG”.

If left alone, your dog will not have food or water and possibly be chained up. Your dog needs you!…so DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET IN AN ACCIDENT! CALL A TAXI OR UBER………they are A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME. If arrested; accident victim Accident, hospitalized or jailed both cost money and heartache…not to mention embarrassment. You want the lights following you home to be street lights,  not Red and Blue flashing lights.

When we see police lights flashing in the rearview mirror – whether you’ve done something wrong or not…many develop Black and White Fever. Unfortunately a routine stop, or minor car accident, can quickly turn into a life-threatening evening.

My office focuses on protecting the “constitutional rights” of the critically injured (PI) and criminally accused (DUI). We deliver results, not false promises…and get top dollar on our accident cases and good results on DUI’s. When the case is successfully concluded, our clients tell us we were courteous, professional and caring and that we “DID TURN WRONGS INTO RIGHTS”.

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If you’re involved in an Accident or DUI, REMEMBER SILENCE IS GOLDEN, so Keep Your Mouth SHUT! Remember the 3 S’s……SILENCE, SILENCE, SILENCE. DO NOT TALK!, SIGN!, SETTLE OR DEAL with ANYONE FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY OR LAW ENFORCEMENT, WITHOUT  THE PERMISSION OF YOUR LAWYER.

EXPLAIN YOU WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK, However, your lawyer said don’t discuss anything with anyone WITHOUT YOUR LAWYER’S OK! Request they call/ email me…760 837-7500 and dale@dalegribowlaw.com. If possible, get their name and number, call me, and I will explain it is our policy to not allow a client to talk…and that info will come through us. Thus, you remain the good guy, and the lawyer is the bad guy.

Many lawyers don’t understand, it is not what you say, but rather, what the adjuster, investigator, officer “THOUGHT THEY HEARD YOU SAY”.  If I tell them something and I am wrong, I can say I must have misunderstood my client and I will check and get back to you. If you say the same thing, you are locked into that testimony.

I strongly advise to only retain a lawyer who has also been in an accident. I suggest you tell the doc that you have pain when you try to… rather than you can’t…X. That lawyer understands trouble: lifting/bending; sleeping; driving; temperament; confusion; finding a doctor, and then which (not Witch) doctor. You want a doctor who is competent in providing medical care and knows How To Write A Med/Legal Report. For a decade I lectured to the International College of Surgeons on this subject.

Insurance companies are motivated by “Perception of Risk”. Thus you would prefer a doc writing there is a 50% chance you will not recover, rather than there is a 50% you will recover. Keep them scared of your hitting it “big”.

Like me, you may have had trouble sleeping and reliving the accident. Whenever I drove, I would constantly look in the rear and side view mirror to be sure the cars behind me were stopping. When I heard brakes screeching I would tighten my neck and shoulder muscles, preparing to be hit etc.

For more detailed information, please check prior columns on what to do when you are a victim of an auto accident or arrested for a DUI. When choosing an attorney, you have to decide…Do you want your lawyer to be good, fast or cheap? …Pick 2!

DALE GRIBOW

Representing the Injured and Criminally accused

“TOP LAWYER” – Palm Springs Life/Inland Empire Magazine