Written in partnership with PR KingsLos Angeles is a hub of commerce as well as a popular tourist destination, along with the rest of Southern California. If a tourist suffers as a result of an accident or injury caused by another party, they can file a personal injury claim in order to recoup damages.
The same standard is applied to undocumented immigrants, according to Samer Habbas, founder of Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates, Inc. “Undocumented immigrants have just as much right to claim personal injury and receive fair compensation as anyone else, whether native to California or not”.
California’s AB 2159, which adds section 351.2 to the California Evidence Code, was signed into law and was effective February 2017. According to Samer Habbas, under this law courts can no longer inquire about plaintiffs’ immigration statuses in personal injury cases. Previously defendants used the immigration status of plaintiffs to determine lost earnings.
The law prior to AB 2159 – Rodriguez v. Kline – allowed for the calculation of lost earnings to be based on the plaintiff’s country of origin and what they would have earned there. Because immigration law is so complicated and a plaintiff’s status could change during the proceedings of the personal injury claim, the California legislature passed AB 2159 to close the loophole on loss of earnings.
“This bill is critical for victims from other countries since it means awards cannot be based on their home country’s calculations,” Habbas said. This law that disallows the consideration of immigration status will hopefully encourage anyone entitled to file a claim to be made whole, says Habbas.
“Tourists visiting the area as well as undocumented immigrants should never feel as though they cannot file a personal injury claim or receive the full compensation they deserve,” said Habbas, who noted that his award-winning team is responsible for helping victims of personal injury collect more than $225 million in damages. The Law Offices of Samer Habbas and Associates is responsible for collecting multiple six-figure settlements for undocumented immigrants and tourists and are well versed in navigating the courts to secure justice for their clients.
Samer Habbas founded his firm over sixteen years ago. The firm has offices in Los Angeles, Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine and San Diego. Samer is passionate about fighting for victims’ rights in civil court, ensuring they get the representation they need to recover damages.
For more information about AB 2159 or to discuss a personal injury claim, contact Samer Habbas & Associates, Inc. at 888-645-1659 for a free consultation. Visit their website at https://www.habbaspilaw.com for testimonials and reviews.
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