What Do After a Scooter Accident in New Orleans

Electric and gas scooters are popular these days. They’re fun, affordable, and environmentally friendly. However, the popularity of scooters means there are more severe accidents. Scooter accidents are happening more often. JAMA Surgery reported that the number of e-scooter injuries in the US climbed from 4,582 in 2014 to 14,650 in 2018. 

 

Imagine if you’re hit by a driver when you’re on your scooter. You could be left with devastating injuries and a pile of medical bills. And you may not be able to work for months. What would you do? 

 

Below are essential steps to take if a driver hits you on your scooter. For more information, call a personal injury lawyer in New Orleans today.

 

Get Immediate Medical Attention 

After an auto accident, it’s essential to be seen by a doctor. But when you’re on a scooter or motorcycle, getting immediate medical attention is critical. 

 

You are entirely exposed to the violent forces of the collision on your scooter. You probably will be thrown off the scooter. You could slam into the vehicle that hit you, the ground, or both. There is a high probability you have serious injuries, which might include: 

  • Broken bones
  • Head trauma
  • Back injuries
  • Cuts and scrapes
  • Internal injuries
  • Joint injuries

 

Some scooter injuries may be apparent right away, but not always. For example, you could have internal bleeding or a concussion that you don’t notice for a day or two. That’s why it’s essential to get medical attention right away. 

The doctor will document all your injuries and ensure you get the treatment you need. Also, documenting your injuries immediately will help your personal injury attorney file a successful claim or lawsuit. 

 

Obtain the Police Report

The police should respond to the scooter accident. So you should ask for a copy of the police report at the crash scene. But if you’re too injured, you can contact the police later to receive a copy. You also can usually order a police report copy online. 

 

Even if you’re still in the hospital, now is the time to contact a scooter personal injury attorney. The sooner you get a lawyer the better. Even if the other driver was at fault, you still could say something that hurts your case. Therefore, you should only discuss the issue with your attorney present. 

 

Remember to choose an attorney with a lot of personal injury experience, ideally in scooter and motorcycle accident cases. 

 

Additional Scooter Accident Tips

After you have had medical attention and retained a lawyer, we recommend these guidelines: 

  • Don’t provide the other insurance company with a recorded statement unless your attorney is there. 
  • Don’t talk about your scooter accident on social media. 
  • Provide all of your medical bills and other accident-related documents to your attorney. 
  • If you are seriously injured and will miss a lot of work, give your attorney as much information about your job and salary as possible. Loss of future earnings can be a large part of a personal injury settlement. 

 

Call Us Today to speak with a New Orleans Personal Injury Lawyer

A scooter accident can leave you with debilitating injuries, medical bills, and lost wages. Egenberg Trial Lawyers can help you get compensation for your damages and other losses. Contact us today at (504) 229-2863. 

Do You Need to See a Doctor after a Slip and Fall?

If you are asking whether you need to seek medical attention after any type of accident, a New Orleans personal injury attorney will tell you the answer is always yes, regardless of the circumstances. Simply put, medical treatment is the primary reason that insurance companies will seek settlements, and you are not likely to get any kind of settlement offer when you fail to see a doctor. 

 

You should never minimize the risk of any slip and fall accident because many falls have the potential to cause debilitating injuries, so prompt treatment is always a good idea. All falls deserve to be taken seriously, especially when they involve older adults.

 

The Importance of Medical Attention

The primary reason to seek medical care after a slip and fall concerns your health. Even when you feel fine after a fall, it is far from uncommon for people to suddenly feel twinges of pain or other discomfort days later because of injuries they were not aware they had sustained.

 

The bottom line is that you do not know how a slip and fall might have hurt you, so it is always a good idea to have a doctor perform a complete evaluation that ensures you did not suffer an injury that may present more lingering symptoms later on. Consider how many soft-tissue injuries present no visible signs of injury but end up causing extreme pain later on.

 

Beyond the immediate injury care, you also need to be mindful of what caused your fall and whether you could be at risk of falling again. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that falling once will double your chances of falling again, so you will want to get advice from your doctor or another medical professional about how you can best keep yourself safe.

 

The Importance of a Medical Record

Medical records will be crucially important for establishing that another party was at fault for your fall. The records help prove not only that a slip and fall accident caused your injuries but also contributed to your medical bills, lost income, and any other damages you are seeking. 

 

The burden of proof (meaning the obligation on a party in a dispute to provide sufficient evidence for its position) will be on you to demonstrate that you suffered compensable damages, and medical records can serve as:

  • Direct evidence of injuries with emergency room records, doctor’s notes, a diagnosis, recommended treatment, and other medical documentation can serve as important forms of evidence. 
  • Proof of damages that show an insurance company that you were seriously injured.
  • Indications of what an injury case is worth because medical records will include the exact prices of hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and prescriptions. 

 

The Health Insurance Portability and Account Act (HIPAA) allows you to request a copy of your medical records, and when you are not sure which records you will need, you should talk to a personal injury lawyer. You may have to sign a HIPAA request form that will allow the attorney to request the appropriate records on your behalf. 

 

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation with a New Orleans Personal Injury Attorney

Did you suffer serious injuries in a slip and fall accident in the greater New Orleans area? You will want to be sure you have Egenberg Trial Lawyers on your side for help recovering every last dollar that is available to you.

 

Our firm can conduct a thorough independent investigation into your fall and secure the evidence necessary to demonstrate another party was at fault before negotiating a full and fair settlement that covers all of your personal expenses or we can take the case to trial when necessary. Call (504) 229-3117 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation so we can take the time to discuss all of the details of your case with you and outline what steps you should take to achieve a full recovery.

Risks Associated with Summer Road Trips

Summertime is an ideal time of the year for people to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and pleasant weather. Unfortunately, it can also be a time of year in which people find themselves hurt in a number of different kinds of accidents that only become more common during the warmer months because there are more people partaking in activities and increasing the likelihood of possible injury risks.

People hurt during summertime accidents must be quick to seek legal representation for assistance with injury claims so they can know that they will be taken care of and receive all appropriate treatment for their injuries. A New Orleans personal injury attorney will make a world of difference for any person who sustains serious injuries in a summertime accident.

 

Car Accidents

When we are talking about summer road trips, driving will be inherent to traveling. Being on the road thus increases the chances of injuries in car accidents.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) report that teenage crash deaths were most frequent during the summer months of June, July, and August in 2020. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data from 2020 shows that June, July, and August were the three months with the highest percentages of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes.

In addition to higher rates of alcohol-impaired drivers on the road in the summer, there is also just the matter of driver fatigue. Hotter conditions make people more likely to become dehydrated and thus feel the effects of trying to operate motor vehicles in hotter conditions that can lead to accidents.

 

Pool and Spa Injuries

Swimming pool accidents can include drownings and near-drownings, entrapments or entanglements, diving board or slide injuries, slip and fall accidents, and malfunctioning electrical systems. Owners of public or private swimming pools can both be liable for negligence when they fail to maintain safe swimming pools.

Injury victims in these cases often have premises liability claims against pool or spa owners, but you need to be aware that both pool or spa owners and their insurance companies are very likely to deny liability for any accident and will instead claim you were somehow responsible for your accident. For this reason, it is critical for any swimming pool or spa accident victim to quickly seek legal representation for assistance fighting to recover adequate damages.

 

Bicycle and Motorcycle Accidents

The summer months are incredibly popular times of year for more people to ride bikes, some with motors and some without. Either two-wheeled ride can be incredibly dangerous because all bikes will still have to deal with motor vehicle traffic at some point.

Many drivers are simply not paying attention to take appropriate notice of bikes, so there is always an increased risk of accidents for people on motorcycles and traditional bicycles. Worse yet, individuals riding bikes often have much less protection in accident scenarios, meaning they are much more likely to suffer potentially catastrophic injuries.

 

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation with a New Orleans Personal Injury Attorney

If you or your loved one suffers injuries in any kind of summertime accident in New Orleans, be quick to hire a lawyer for assistance in holding the negligent party accountable. Egenberg Trial Lawyers know how common these kinds of accidents can be and fights to make sure that victims are able to recover full and fair compensation for their injuries.

Our firm will be able to conduct our own independent investigation into your accident to help prove liability and take the appropriate steps to recove3r adequate damages that actually cover all of the costs you incur because of your accident. You can call (504) 229-2853 or contact us online to take advantage of a free consultation so we can sit down with you and learn everything about your case before working to make sure that you are taken care of.

Why Hire a NOLA Injury Attorney For Your Injury Claim?

When you suffer injuries in any kind of accident in the greater New Orleans area, there can be a temptation to think that you can handle the personal injury claim process on your own and recover financial compensation without having to pay a lawyer. The primary problem with this belief, however, is that many people end up having insurance companies take advantage of the lack of legal representation and forcing them to accept settlements that are far less than the victim actually needs and deserves.

There are many reasons you will want to retain legal counsel when you have a personal injury case in Louisiana. When you sustain any kind of serious injuries in an accident that was the result of another party’s negligence, make sure you speak to an experienced New Orleans personal injury attorney.

Getting the Best Possible Medical Care

When you suffer severe injuries, you need to understand that caring for the injuries can require both a lot of time and money. You should not compromise on getting the best possible medical treatment so you are able to make a full recovery or, at the very least, get as close as possible to your original state.

A lawyer is going to be able to work with medical professionals to ensure that you are able to receive all of the treatment that will be necessary for recovering from your injuries. More importantly, the attorney can also make sure the negligent party covers all of your medical expenses so you do not pay any of these costs out of your own pocket.

Help Expediting Your Claim

You should be aware that the personal injury claim process has the potential to drag out for several months or possibly even years in some cases. Insurance companies have a habit of creating all kinds of red tape that only adds more and more delays to recovering compensation.

When you hire a lawyer, they will know how to get around these obstructions and maintain focus on the goal of getting you money as soon as possible. If an insurer becomes unwilling to settle a case outside of court, the attorney can file a lawsuit to take the case to trial.

Negotiating the Best Available Settlement

It is not uncommon for many injury victims to be taken aback by the first settlement offer they receive from an insurance company, but accepting this offer without consulting a lawyer is almost always a mistake. The initial offer is a decidedly lowball amount that is nowhere near what you actually should be getting.

When you have an attorney, they are going to be able to calculate what your case is actually worth and be able to fight to recover something that is much closer to that amount than you are likely to accomplish on your own. A lawyer is also going to be able to help you if you need to recover money beyond the limits of a negligent party’s insurance policy.

You Do Not Pay Unless You Win

The biggest advantage to hiring a personal injury attorney is that they will not charge you anything upfront for their services. Instead, a personal injury lawyer will be handling your case on a contingency fee basis, which means they only recover compensation when you do first.

People who are sweating about whether they can afford an attorney should know that they have nothing to worry about in personal injury cases. You will be able to relax and allow the lawyer to work.

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation with a New Orleans Personal Injury Attorney

If you or your loved one sustain injuries in any kind of accident that was the result of another party’s negligence in New Orleans, then you should make sure your first phone call is to a skilled lawyer. Egenberg Trial Lawyers handles cases throughout Louisiana, Texas, and the Gulf Coast region.Our firm offers decades of experience handling these types of claims and handles everything from common automobile accidents to 18-wheeler crashes to slip and fall accidents. Call (504) 229-2853 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation that will let us dig into the details of your case and talk about how we can help.

How Much is Your New Orleans Bicycle Accident Worth?

One of the first questions that new clients ask us is how much they would be able to recover for their bicycle accident injury. This is a question that we will be able to give you a more exact response to after learning much more about your case. What we can do right now is explain the factors that help determine how much you receive.

No two injuries are the same in a bicycle accident case, even when two people suffer very similar harms. A badly broken leg can have a completely different effect, depending on the individual accident victim. One person can be a healthy 25-year old who has a physical job. They may suffer more damages than a retired person on a fixed income because this accident victim cannot earn the money that they need to support themselves. A competitive runner who jogs every day may be more affected by a severe injury than one who does not have as active of a lifestyle.

 

The Factors that Will Contribute to Your Bicycle Accident Payment

Having said that, we can explain how your bicycle accident claim is valued. Your claim is about far more than just your medical bills. Not only are you entitled to be paid for the economic damages that come out of your pocket, but the defendant also must compensate you for the experience that you have gone through from the accident. Since there are many pieces of your bicycle accident damages, these claims can be difficult to value. The challenge is even greater in a serious bicycle accident, when you are deserving of a check well into the six figures.

 

Economic Damages from Your Bicycle Accident

For economic damages, these are your actual losses from the bicycle accident. You may need to pay out money for your share of health care costs. These can add up quickly after an accident, as you have copayments for hospitalizations and medication. The other major part of economic damages is payment for not being able to work. If you miss time from your job or cannot do the same work that you did before your injury, that will be a part of your settlement. 

 

How Non-Economic Damages Work in Your Bicycle Accident Case

Next, the defendant must also pay you for your post-accident ordeal. This is what is known as non-economic damages because it is more difficult to place a direct dollar value on them. Every accident victim suffers differently from their injuries. One may be anxious, depressed and unable to sleep at night. Another may have suffered severe emotional distress. These are all part of your damages because you would never have experienced these emotions had it not been for your bicycle accident.

Non-economic damages are not easy to value because they are subjective in nature. The insurance company does not know what you have gone through, and chances are that they do not care. They are just looking to slap as low of a number of these as possible to settle the claim for less. Your claim may be worth more to you if you have an experienced lawyer telling your story and fighting on your side. 

The insurance company will use a multiplier of your medical bills to value pain and suffering. They will attach a higher multiplier to more serious injuries. However, this does not usually do justice for your particular experience. If they can take any shortcut to avoid paying you what you are legally entitled to, they will gladly do it. Your pain and suffering are unique to you and your experience. This is why you will need to be prepared to reject a low settlement offer that does not fairly compensate you. 

 

Making Sure that You Get Full Payment for Your Bike Accident

The value of your case and what you may receive as a settlement can often be two different things. If you do not have an experienced attorney or do not have the resolve to take on the insurance company, this gap will grow even wider. Just because you have suffered a certain amount of damages does not mean that the insurance company will want to pay you for them. In other words, the value of your case can be irrelevant if you are not able to fight for what you deserve. 

You can count on the fact that the insurance company knows the exact answer to the question about your case’s value. This is what they do all day, every day. They see thousands of accidents each month, and they have adjusters and sophisticated programs that can quickly place a dollar value on your case. However, they would never share that information with you because that is the advantage that they have. They are counting on slipping a low settlement offer by you when you do not know how much money you deserve. 

You need to equalize this advantage with a lawyer who also knows the value of bicycle accident cases. You can rest assured that we will learn the facts of your case well and arrive at a value of your case that we will use when we negotiate a possible settlement. While the ultimate decision on whether to settle is your, we will fight for you when it is necessary. If the insurance company will not make a reasonable settlement offer, we are prepared to litigate in court to get the money to which you are legally entitled when someone else’s negligence has injured you. 

 

New Orleans Bicycle Accident Lawyers

The attorneys at Egenberg Trial Lawyers know how to stand up to the insurance company on behalf of our clients when they seek to lower their recovery. We will not let this stand. Insurance companies know us and take us seriously when they see us on the other side. Let us fight for you to get the money that you deserve. Call us today at (504) 229-5700 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation.

Common Causes of Commercial Truck Accidents

Commercial truck accidents often require more work to investigate than a car crash. There are many more things that can go wrong. These are large vehicles that are difficult to operate by even the most experienced drivers. When truck accidents happen, other motorists and their passengers often suffer serious injuries. Here are some of the most common causes of commercial truck accidents.

 

Fatigued Drivers

There are federal regulations that restrict how many hours a driver can be behind the wheel for and mandate rest stops. However, these rules are not always followed. Even when operators do adhere to the federal restrictions, they may do their driving late at night to maximize their driving time. This is not to say that they are actually resting during the time that they cannot drive. Fatigued driving dulls operators’ reaction times and takes their focus away from the road. Drivers do not even have to fall asleep to be a danger. Going 20 hours or more without sleep is equivalent to driving over the legal alcohol limit. Not getting the proper rest and failing to take breaks make truck drivers an obvious hazard. Caffeine does not make up for the value of sleep and rest, and drivers cannot simply “power through” when they get tired.

 

Poor Maintenance

Even when drivers do everything right, they are only as safe as their trucks. Trucking companies often cut corners to get their vehicles on the road. If their trucks are in the service bay, they cannot be out making money. There are federal rules governing truck maintenance, but trucking companies cut corners to keep their trucks moving. One of the most dangerous problems caused by improper maintenance is tire blowouts. This will cause the driver to lose control of their truck, and they will often hit other drivers on the road. Trucks are hard enough to operate. When trucks are operating without complete maintenance, truck drivers may have an even harder time. Safe trucks are a combination of driver skill and attention and a properly maintained vehicle. 

 

Inadequate Training

There is a national truck driver shortage these days. Trucking companies simply cannot find enough people to put behind the wheel, and higher wages are not attracting more people. Drivers who may not have been qualified to be out on the road are now operating 80,000-pound trucks. At the same time, these companies are giving these drivers the keys much more quickly, in spite of strict regulations about driver training and qualifications. Tractor-trailers are very difficult for anyone, let alone a driver who has not been adequately trained. Experienced drivers have difficulty avoiding accidents, and inexperienced operators are a downright hazard to everyone else on the road. 

 

Speeding

Truck drivers are often in a rush to get where they are going. They are under strict deadlines, and customers will complain when they need to wait for a shipment. However, as mentioned above, federal regulations force them to take breaks. Some drivers try to make up for this and stay on schedule by speeding. These truck drivers have a much greater chance of losing control of their vehicles, as heavy trucks are difficult to drive even when an operator is obeying the speed limit. It is not uncommon to see trucks illegally in the fast lane going 15 miles per hour or more above the speed limit. Trucks are also difficult to stop, and speeding drivers may rear-end cars in front of them when they cannot stop in time to avoid other cars. 

 

Distracted Driving

When they are on longer journeys, truck drivers may have a dangerous habit of trying to multitask behind the wheel. They are trying to maximize their shift, so they may not want to pull over to do things such as eat. Even worse, they may try to use their phone to talk or send a text when they are driving. Boredom could cause them to pick up their phone. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents in the United States. All it takes is a couple of seconds with a driver looking down to miss seeing something. Truck drivers need all of their reaction time, and a momentary distraction could lead to a major accident. 

 

Improperly Loaded Cargo

Trucking companies are under pressure to get as much as possible onto the truck. If they send a truck out onto the road with extra space, it could be a wasted profit opportunity. They might also want to get the truck out onto the road in a hurry, cutting corners when it comes to securing the cargo. A truck does not need to hit another driver to cause severe injuries. Some accidents happen when cargo falls from the truck onto the roadway. Drivers lose control when they hit the cargo or swerve to avoid it. 

If you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident, the trucking company can be made to pay if their driver was at fault for the accident. Any of the causes that we described above are examples of what may be considered truck driver negligence. This could be enough to prove that you are legally entitled to financial compensation. However, you will need the proof that this happened. While you may think that the driver was speeding before your accident, you will need evidence to back up your side of the story. 

 

New Orleans Truck Accident Attorneys

The attorneys at Egenburg Trial Lawyers are experienced and aggressive, and we have a track record of helping injured clients recover for their injuries. We know how to investigate truck accidents and the special considerations at play. Insurance companies know us well because we hold their feet to the fire and do not let them take advantage of our clients. Call us today at (504) 229-5700 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation. One phone call is enough to give you the peace of mind that you have a seasoned attorney in your corner.

Injuries at Summer Festivals in New Orleans

Many people focus their New Orleans plans around Mardi Gras festivities or the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. However, this great city offers so much to do throughout the summer months. Whether you live in New Orleans or are here on vacation, many summer festivals provide great food, music, and more. The following festivals can help you make the most of the hot summer months:

  • Oyster Festival
  • Cajun-Zydeco Festival
  • Essence Festival
  • Running of the Bulls
  • Bastille Day Fête
  • Tales of the Cocktail
  • Satchmo Summerfest
  • White Linen Night
  • Dirty Linen Night
  • Red Dress Run
  • Southern Decadence

Whether you want to eat good food, have some craft cocktails, listen to some jazz, or simply be out in the crowd, festival season is a good time to celebrate.

As at any concert or event, accidents and injuries may interrupt the good times that participants are enjoying. They can create a jarring experience—and you may not know what to do if such an accident happens. First, always make sure you get medical treatment for your injuries. Then, contact a respected New Orleans law firm that handles personal injury cases.

Who Is Responsible for Festival Injuries?

As with any type of accident, the primary question after a summer festival injury is whether someone else can be held accountable for your medical bills and other losses. Our attorneys evaluate each case on an individual basis to best advise you of your rights and the best course of action.

  • Individuals – Other people can cause accidents and injuries in many ways. Many festival-goers indulge in some alcoholic beverages, which can only increase the chances that they may cause injuries to others. People may try to drive their cars and may cause drunk driving crashes in parking lots or while leaving the festival. Intoxicated people may become agitated and start fights with others at a festival. These are only some ways that other individuals may be responsible for your injuries.
  • OrganizationsIn many cases, the organization or venue running the event can also be held liable. For example, if a festival employee was negligent and caused an accident, the employer may also be liable for the actions of the employee. In addition, festival producers and venue owners are required to ensure that the premises of the festival are safe for visitors, which means eliminating any dangerous conditions. They should also provide adequate security for guests. If someone is injured due to a hazard at a festival or due to inadequate security, the organization can be held accountable.

Consult an Experienced New Orleans Personal Injury Attorney Today

The legal team at Egenberg, APLC, hopes that everyone in The Big Easy has a safe and enjoyable summer filled with festivals and other activities. However, if an accident does occur, we are here to help you and your family. These claims can be complex and time is short. If you would like to start discussing a possible case for free, call (504) 229-5700 or contact us online.

Common Injuries From Electrical Accidents

Accidents that involve electricity are dangerous, unpredictable, and can result in serious injuries. Because electrical hazards are common in certain workplaces, the US Department of Labor has published a guide to help protect those who work around electricity. This guide is also helpful for anyone who wants to know how to avoid electrical injuries.

Where to Watch for Electrical Accidents

Although an electrical accident can happen anywhere, certain scenarios pose especially high risks. Common locations of dangerous electrical accidents include:

  • Industrial manufacturing sites – electrical accidents are common in manufacturing workplaces with high voltage machinery. These accidents typically occur due to inadequate safety measures, failure to properly maintain equipment, and improper training or supervision of workers.
  • Construction sites may have ungrounded live wires left unattended, as well as high voltage. Never enter a construction site without authorization or allow children to play around construction sites.
  • Near water – whether by the pool or the bathroom sink, electrical devices and circuits pose additional dangers near water. Hair dryers in particular use a surprisingly high voltage and can cause electrocution when exposed to water.
  • Overloaded power strips – if you do not have enough accessible outlets, it’s tempting to plug everything into one power strip. However, doing so causes a risk of an electrical fire.

Electrical Accident Injuries

Regardless of how an accident occurs, the electrical injuries can be severe. Common injuries in electrical accidents include:

  • Burns – electrical burns can be extremely serious, sometimes requiring amputation. Current may travel deep into bones and tissues, causing irreparable internal damage.
  • Electrocution, brain damage, and death – these are terrifying but unfortunately common results of electric shock, especially if the current passes through the accident victim’s head to the ground.
  • Nerve and/or tissue damage – these injuries can take a long time to heal or be permanent.
  • Heart failure – an electric shock can cause your heart to stop momentarily or permanently.

These injuries are especially dangerous for young children, who suffer serous injuries even from low voltage accidents. If you or a family member has been injured in an electrical accident, seek medical attention right away. Ensure a medical professional performs a thorough examination to determine if there are any unseen injuries or symptoms that could lead to critical issues in the future. Make sure to follow doctor’s orders and watch for any signs of infection or other complications.

A New Orleans, LA Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Sustaining an electrical injury can be devastating and cause permanent damage. If you have been hurt in an electrical accident that may have been someone else’s fault, or took place on someone else’s property, it’s important to understand your rights to just compensation. At Egenberg, APLC, we pride ourselves on advocating for the rights of accident victims and helping them recover just compensation for their injuries. To learn more about your options, reach out to schedule a free initial consultation. Call us at 504-229-5700 or contact us online today.

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