United States: Personal Injury

Commercial and residential construction projects expose property owners and general contractors to significant risks arising from personal injury, property damage and construction defect claims. Contract documents can help allocate those risks to the responsible parties, while insurance can protect against losses that cannot be avoided or fully transferred. Common risk management tools include contractual indemnity, prevailing-party attorneys’ fees provisions, insurance requirements and early alternative dispute resolution (ADR) clauses.

Boat operators face legal responsibility when excessive speed or dangerous wakes cause accidents on the water. Understanding safe speed requirements, no-wake zones, and how speed violations factor into maritime injury claims can help determine liability when collisions, wake damage, or passenger injuries occur.

Nuclear verdicts pose significant risks for defense counsel, particularly in catastrophic injury cases. Strategic mistakes during trial preparation often lead to exceptionally high jury awards that exceed reasonable expectations. Early case planning and mock trial research can help identify vulnerabilities and reduce exposure to adverse outcomes.

Shopping centers can harbor hidden dangers like wet floors, uneven walkways, and poor lighting that turn routine errands into serious accidents. When property owners fail to maintain safe conditions, injured visitors may have legal recourse. Understanding liability, common hazards, and the claims process is essential for protecting your rights after a slip and fall injury.

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation establishing new rideshare safety standards and reforms governing medical liens after Uber Technologies Inc. and the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) reached an agreement that ended competing statewide ballot initiatives.

Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger is excited to announce that 13 of our attorneys have been named to the 2026 Northern California Super Lawyers lists, with four earning top honors.

Facing complex legal matters such as insurance claims, shareholder disputes, and commercial contracts requires specialized expertise to achieve favorable results. Without proper legal guidance, businesses and individuals risk costly mistakes and unfavorable outcomes that could have lasting consequences.

When a death occurs on navigable waters or involves a seaman, the legal framework shifts dramatically from familiar Texas wrongful death law to federal maritime statutes. This analysis examines how the Jones Act, Death on the High Seas Act, and general maritime law create fundamentally different rules for who can recover, what damages are available, and how claims must be pursued compared to Texas state law remedies.

Summer driving in New Jersey looks different. Roads are more crowded, construction is everywhere, and there are more people out walking, biking, or riding e‑bikes. Add in long trips, unpredictable weather, and everyday distractions, and the margin for error gets smaller. It is not just busier out there, it is riskier.