Survivors of sexual assault in San Diego have the right to pursue justice through both criminal and civil legal systems. While the state handles criminal prosecution, civil claims empower survivors to seek accountability, healing, and financial compensation—even without a conviction or police report.

At Ray Padilla Law, APC, our trauma-informed sexual assault attorneys are committed to standing by survivors and helping them understand their legal rights. We have extensive experience representing individuals in sensitive and complex sexual assault and abuse cases throughout California.

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Your Civil Legal Rights in California

California law allows survivors of sexual assault to file civil lawsuits seeking compensation. These claims are separate from criminal cases and can proceed regardless of whether the offender is arrested or charged. Survivors may be entitled to recover damages for:

• Medical expenses, including ongoing psychological treatment
• Lost wages or job loss related to trauma or recovery
• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress and mental anguish
• Punitive damages, in cases of particularly egregious behavior

Most adult survivors have two years from the date of the incident to file a civil claim, though special rules apply in cases involving minors or delayed discovery of the abuse. Prompt action can help preserve evidence and improve your chances of success.

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Types of Sexual Assault

Sexual assault includes a wide range of non-consensual sexual acts, such as:

• Rape or attempted rape
• Unwanted sexual contact or groping
• Sexual coercion or exploitation
• Assault involving intoxicated or incapacitated victims

Unfortunately, many assaults go unreported, and the number of actual incidents in San Diego is likely far greater than official statistics show. Survivors deserve the opportunity to seek justice on their terms.

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Institutional Abuse and Third-Party Liability

Sexual abuse often occurs in institutional settings such as schools, medical facilities, churches, or workplaces—where abusers misuse positions of power. In these cases, the institution may also be held liable if it failed to protect victims or allowed abuse to continue through negligence or cover-up.

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Recognizing Abuse and Taking Action

Warning signs of abuse can include sudden behavioral changes, anxiety, withdrawal, or unexplained injuries. Abusers often use manipulation, threats, or isolation to silence victims. If you or someone you love has experienced sexual assault, it’s important to seek medical care and legal advice right away to protect your rights.

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Why You Need a Lawyer

While the criminal justice system focuses on prosecution, a civil attorney helps you seek compensation and closure. At Ray Padilla Law, APC, we support survivors with compassionate legal guidance, dedicated representation, and access to essential resources. Your privacy and healing are our priority.

If you or a loved one has experienced sexual assault in San Diego, contact Ray Padilla Law, APC today for a free, confidential consultation. You deserve justice—and we’re here to help you pursue it.

San Diego is one of California’s most walkable cities, with its beautiful beaches, popular tourist destinations, and busy downtown streets. But with more pedestrians comes an increased risk of accidents — especially when drivers and pedestrians aren’t clear about California’s pedestrian right of way laws. If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian car crash in San Diego, understanding who had the right of way is crucial when pursuing a personal injury claim.

What is the Pedestrian Right of Way Law in California?

California Vehicle Code § 21950 states that drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing the road within any marked crosswalk or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

This means that even if the crosswalk isn’t painted, drivers in San Diego must stop for pedestrians crossing at corners or intersections.

However, pedestrians also have responsibilities under the law. They cannot suddenly leave the curb or step into the street in front of a vehicle that doesn’t have time to stop.

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San Diego Crosswalk Laws Every Driver Should Know

San Diego drivers must be especially cautious in pedestrian-heavy areas like:

• Downtown San Diego
• Pacific Beach
• Gaslamp Quarter
• Little Italy
• Balboa Park
• Near schools and universities

Drivers Must:

• Yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks.

• Stop for pedestrians at intersections — even without traffic signals.

• Never pass a car stopped at a crosswalk — it could be yielding to a pedestrian.

• Exercise extra caution in neighborhoods, near parks, and near schools.

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Pedestrian Safety Tips for San Diego Residents

While pedestrians have the right of way in many situations, they also have legal duties to follow.

Pedestrians Should:

• Use crosswalks when available.

• Obey pedestrian signals at intersections.

• Avoid stepping into traffic suddenly.

• Stay alert — distracted walking (texting while crossing) can be dangerous.

• Be cautious when crossing busy streets like Broadway, Harbor Drive, and Pacific Highway.

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What About Jaywalking in San Diego?

California updated its jaywalking laws in 2023, allowing pedestrians to cross outside of a crosswalk if it’s safe to do so. However, jaywalking is still illegal if it creates a hazard or risk of a collision.

Even if a pedestrian is jaywalking, San Diego drivers still have a duty to avoid a crash if reasonably possible.

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Who is Liable in a San Diego Pedestrian Accident?

Determining fault in a pedestrian accident often comes down to who had the right of way — but it’s not always black and white.

California follows comparative negligence rules. This means:

• A pedestrian may still recover compensation even if they were partially at fault.

• A driver may share liability if they failed to yield or weren’t paying attention.

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What Compensation Can Pedestrian Accident Victims Recover?

If you’ve been hit by a car while walking in San Diego, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical bills

• Lost wages

• Pain and suffering

• Future medical care

• Permanent disability

• Wrongful death (for surviving family members)

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Contact a San Diego Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

Pedestrian accidents in San Diego can leave victims with serious injuries, medical expenses, and emotional trauma. Don’t try to handle your claim alone.

At Ray Padilla Law APC, our experienced San Diego pedestrian crash attorneys know California’s pedestrian right of way laws and how to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Free Consultation — No Fee Unless We Win.

Contact us today at (619) 431-1187 to speak with Attorney Ray directly, even if it is just to ask “What should I do?” Let us help you get back on your feet.

Losing a pregnancy due to a car accident is a devastating and deeply personal tragedy. In the midst of grief, families should not have to navigate complex legal battles alone. A compassionate and experienced car accident attorney can take on the legal burden, allowing grieving families to focus on healing while ensuring justice is pursued.

Let a Lawyer Handle the Legal Burden

The emotional weight of losing a child is overwhelming. The last thing any family needs is the added stress of dealing with insurance companies, legal paperwork, and financial concerns. A skilled attorney can step in to:

• Investigate the Accident – Gathering evidence, obtaining police reports, and determining fault.
• Handle Insurance Companies – Negotiating with adjusters to prevent lowball settlements.
• Pursue Maximum Compensation – Ensuring you receive financial relief for medical bills, injuries, emotional trauma, and other losses.
• Provide Emotional Support and Guidance – Connecting you with resources to help you through the grieving process.

Understanding Your Legal Rights After a Pregnancy Loss Due to a Car Crash

In California, wrongful death claims are not applicable to miscarriages, as they are limited to cases where infants are born alive and later pass away. However, grieving mothers can still pursue a personal injury claim for medical expenses, injuries, lost wages, emotional suffering, and trauma related to the accident. A lawyer will explain your rights and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve, though we know nothing could ever be enough to make up for such a devastating loss.

No Family Should Face This Alone

Healing after such a loss takes time. By trusting a dedicated attorney to handle your case, you can focus on your well-being, your family, and your future—knowing that justice is being pursued on your behalf.

If you or a loved one has suffered a pregnancy loss due to a car accident, contact our office today at (619) 431-1187 to speak with Attorney Ray Padilla directly. Let us take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can focus on what truly matters—healing.

 

 

In almost every single situation following a car accident, it is worth hiring an attorney to help you. From not having to deal with insurance companies yourself, to the peace of mind knowing someone is in your corner fighting for you, our attorneys at Ray Padilla Law explain the difference a personal injury law firm can make.

Client deals with Insurance Company Alone 

When is it a good idea to hire a car accident attorney?  As soon as possible.

Before hiring Ray Padilla Law, APC, one of our clients who we will call Ms. Smith, try to deal with the insurance of the person who rear-ended her by herself. Before Ms. Smith could even seek medical treatment or begin to understand what the nature of her injuries were, she was receiving nonstop calls and offers to settle her case from the insurance adjuster.

Mrs. Smith explained to us that she was receiving up to five calls a day from the adjuster offering her $250 to settle her case.  The insurance adjuster then began sending her email after email with a settlement release attached to it, constantly continuing their efforts to try and get her to agree.

Ms. Smith’s injuries continued, and her pain worsened, so she sought medical treatment. Ms. Smith told the insurance company that she didn’t feel comfortable settling her case for $250 given that she didn’t know how bad her injuries would turn out to be and how it would affect her ability to work.  The calls and emails didn’t stop.  Ms. Smith then decided to hire an auto accident attorney.

Client Hires Attorney

As soon as our personal injury law firm was hired, we sent a letter instructing the insurance company to no longer communicate with Ms. Smith and to instead direct all communication to our car accident lawyers.  We understand that the most important thing is our client’s health and recovery.  This is best achieved by not having to constantly deal with the unwanted and unfair tactics that insurance companies resort to after car accidents.

Ms. Smith was then able to seek the proper medical care and together we were able to determine what she had lost as a result of being rear-ended.  Fortunately for Ms. Smith, her injuries were not too severe and she was able to recover promptly.  At this point, our office was able to begin to negotiate a settlement that would compensate her for her injuries, medical bills, time lost from work and, of course, the pain and discomfort.

Hiring an attorney resulted in the insurance company offering to settle her claim for an amount 26 times higher than what they initially tried to get Ms. Smith to settle for.

The reality is that there are no guarantees in law and not every case turns out this way.  This won’t be the highest settlement that you’ll hear about all year, all month and likely not even today.  But, to Ms. Smith and to us, it was just as important as any of the bigger results because justice was achieved.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash, hiring an attorney should be a strong consideration.  Our law office is ready to help so feel free to contact Ray Padilla Law, APC at (619) 431-1187 to speak with Attorney Ray Padilla directly.  Please call even if its simply to ask, “what should I do?”

 

Navigating roundabouts, otherwise known as traffic circles, can be confusing for many drivers. While roundabouts are designed to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents, they’re not foolproof. Crashes still happen—and when they do, the question of who is at fault can be complex. As experienced car crash attorneys at Ray Padilla Law, APC, we’re here to break down the main factors that determine fault in roundabout accidents.

Common Types of Roundabout Crashes

Roundabout accidents often occur due to misunderstandings of who has the right of way or from misjudgments in maneuvering. In San Diego neighborhoods where roundabouts are few and far between, many drivers do not know how to approach a roundabout properly. Many San Diegans even feeling as though the addition of new traffic circles are creating more dangerous roads. Here are some of the most common types of crashes we see:

1. Failure to Yield – Drivers entering a roundabout must yield to traffic already inside. If they don’t, they can cause a side-impact or rear-end collision.
2. Lane Changes – In larger roundabouts with multiple lanes, some drivers fail to stay in their designated lane, leading to side-swiping or rear-ending another vehicle.
3. Sudden Stops – Roundabouts are supposed to keep traffic moving. When a driver stops suddenly, either out of confusion or hesitancy, the result can be a rear-end collision.
4. Speeding – Entering or exiting a roundabout at excessive speed increases the risk of losing control and colliding with other vehicles or pedestrians.

Determining Fault in Roundabout Accidents

In roundabouts, the concept of “right of way” is crucial in determining fault. Here’s a breakdown of the main factors that help establish who is at fault in these incidents:

1. Right of Way – Typically, drivers already inside the roundabout have the right of way. A driver entering the roundabout is usually at fault if they fail to yield to vehicles already in the circle.
2. Lane Discipline – Drivers must stay within their designated lane within a multi-lane roundabout. Changing lanes or cutting across the roundabout without signaling can make the lane-switching driver liable.
3. Traffic Signs and Signals – Some roundabouts include signs, lights, or road markings to guide traffic. Ignoring these can lead to driver liability, as they’re intended to prevent accidents by clarifying the right of way.
4. Police Reports and Witness Statements – Law enforcement reports and witness accounts are often essential in verifying details.

Proving Fault in a Roundabout Accident

When you’ve been injured in a roundabout accident, working with a knowledgeable car crash attorney can be critical. An attorney will gather all the evidence—surveillance footage, police reports, witness statements, and expert analysis—to support your claim.

What To Do If You’ve Been Involved in a Roundabout Accident

If you’re involved in a crash at a roundabout, here are steps to protect yourself and your case:

• Document the Scene – Take photos of vehicle positions, damage, road signs, and other relevant details.
• Seek Medical Attention – Always get checked for injuries, even if you feel fine immediately after the accident. Adrenaline can mask injury symptoms.
• Contact an Experienced Car Crash Attorney – A seasoned attorney will navigate the legal process on your behalf, increasing your chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve.

Roundabouts are meant to streamline traffic, but when a crash occurs, determining fault can be more complicated than in other intersections. If you’ve been injured in a roundabout crash, we’re here to help you understand your rights. Our local attorneys at Ray Padilla Law, APC are ready to help. Contact our office today at (619) 431-1187 to speak with Attorney Ray Padilla directly.