Car and Auto Accidents

From Buses to Taxis to Uber: Common Carrier Liability in California

February 23, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

When we hail a cab or, the modern-day equivalent, call for an Uber, we expect to be getting a safe ride to our location. That’s what we pay them. In fact, often people are trying to make the safe choice and responsibly avoiding driving while intoxicated. However, a senseless act of violence in Michigan and a lawsuit pending here in California are both drawing attention to the safety of taxis and Ubers. As a taxi accident lawyer in San Francisco, Greg Brod has experience advocating for those injured when then entrusted the driving to someone else.

Uber Driver Suspected in Spree Shooting in Michigan

According to CBS SF, San Francisco-based Uber recently confirmed that the man who allegedly went on a shooting spree and killed six people in Kalamazoo, had passed the organization’s background check. An Uber passenger claims to have called to report an erratic driver over an hour before the shooting rampage allegedly began, saying the driver began blowing past stop signs, driving through medians, and sideswiping vehicles just after receiving a phone call. About an hour later, the first shooting occurred and seven more shootings occurred over the next several hours before the suspected perpetrator was arrested. Uber officials have expressed sorrow and horror. The company prohibits drivers and passengers from having weapons in an Uber vehicle.

Drunk Driving: What Do BAC Numbers Really Mean?

February 17, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

We talk about drunk driving fairly often on this blog. One reason is our commitment to advocacy — as a Sonoma injury law firm we are proud to advocate on behalf of those injured or killed by drunk drivers. Another reason is our commitment to prevention – drunk driving accidents are 100% preventable and we hope the information we provide helps convince people that alcohol and driving do not mix. Today’s post looks at a frightening drunk driving accident in Petaluma and then takes a closer look at the meaning of blood alcohol content (“BAC”) numbers and how they impact a person’s ability to drive.

Driver Slams into Window of Petaluma Business

According to a report by CBS San Francisco, police arrested a man early Monday morning after a scary crash in Petaluma. Just after 1:30 AM, police responded to a call from the 100 block of Petaluma Boulevard North. When they arrived, they found a car had driven into the display window of a business which, luckily, was closed at the time of the incident.

Understanding California Courts: Plaintiffs’ Lawyer on Civil vs. Criminal Courts, State vs. Federal Courts

February 16, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Our San Francisco, Oakland, and Santa Rosa plaintiffs’ law firm believes in keeping our clients informed and educated, whether it is a personal injury matter, a False Claims Act case, a small business dispute, or any other claim within our firm’s purview. We make this a key commitment in our work because it helps make the process of claim resolution a bit easier and makes the system a bit less intimidating. Today’s focus, explaining two of the key divisions within the court system, is intended to help you to understand some of the different courts in California where your potential claim might be filed and heard (note: often, our cases are settled prior to actual trial).

Civil versus Criminal: The Two Faces of Justice

The first distinction is one we refer to often in these posts, the separation between the civil and criminal courts. Criminal law is about punishment and guilty verdicts result in fines and/or incarceration (or, in some places, the death penalty). In contrast, the object of civil cases is the redress of a wrong which, if the plaintiff prevails, is scales typically accomplished through monetary compensation and/or restitution. Criminal cases are brought by the government, while civil cases are between two private parties.

Auto Repair Fraud: When Your Trust is Abused and Your Safety Put at Risk

February 9, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

For most of us, hiring a good mechanic comes down to one crucial trait – trustworthiness. Hiring the wrong mechanic can lead to financial losses, injuries, and even deaths. Yet, according to one local news station, auto repair fraud is far too common and far too easy to cover-up. As a San Francisco auto repair fraud injury law firm, we fight for those who simply made the wrong choice (an easy error to make) and who paid a steep price for lies told by so-called “experts” in cars and safety.

Auto Repair Fraud and Government’s Blind Eye Impacts Bay Area Family

Last Friday, NBC Bay Area told a frightening tale of a visit to the auto shop gone wrong. Reporters spoke to a San Jose family who hired a local shop to make some repairs to their SUV. After noticing strange noises upon steering after the shop worked on the vehicle, the family eventually learned that the shop’s employees had gone to great lengths to hide more than $11,000 worth of damage done to the SUV allegedly while in the store’s care. Eventually, one employee broke ranks to tell the family that the SUV had crashed several feet off a mechanical lift. The employee said management ordered them to fix the car as well as they could and return it to the family without saying a word about the incident.

Wet Weather Driving Tips as Bay Area Sees Rainy Start to 2016

February 5, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

When it comes to the weather in California, one word has dominated the headlines in recent years: drought. However, this year is off to a much rainier start than years past. While we could certainly use the rain, it is important to remember the fundamentals of rainy day driving. Rain and water can make travel more complex and more hazardous, but our San Francisco car accident law firm believes drivers must take responsibility and exercise appropriate caution in wet conditions.

January Sees Huge Rainfall Totals in Northern California

According to SFGate, El Nino delivered on its promise of a wet start to 2016. Forecasters say that the weather phenomenon typically brings in warm Pacific Ocean waters that can add moisture to the region’s air mass. In San Francisco, where a typical January sees 4.5 inches of rain, January 2016 brought a whopping 6.94 inches, the highest total since 2008 and more than the past five Januaries combined (a statistic “helped” by the fact that January 2015 saw no rain at all)! Other impressive totals include 12.06 inches in Eureka (186% of average) and 12.68 in Redding (213% of average). While most of California is still dealing with drought conditions, forecasters say this may ease if the season brings in 150% of the average rainfall. One section along the North Coast has already been removed from the official drought tally.

Nontraffic Collisions and Children: Northern California Child Injury Lawyer on Car Accidents in Driveways, Lots, and Similar Locations

February 3, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Tragedies involving children are particularly difficult to comprehend and the mere thought of a car accident killing or injuring a child is enough to send a shiver down any parent’s spine. While statistics show that children are safer than ever on the road, a surprising number of car accidents involving children occur in driveways and other private spaces. So-called nontraffic crashes involving children are terrible to contemplate, but discussing them is crucial to preventing future tragedies and obtaining justice for the victims of these incidents. Our Oakland child injury lawyer is dedicated to both fights.

Toddler Killed as Car Pulls onto Road in Richmond

This week, the Oakland Tribune provided additional details about an accident on January 28 that led to the death of a young girl. It was around 2:25 PM in Richmond when a man was getting ready to leave his home on the 300 block of Beck Street near South 35 Street. As he pulled away in his truck, he tragically hit and killed a two-year-old girl. Police suspect the toddler was chasing after her father to say goodbye when she was hit and say they do not believe he saw the child before hitting her.

Falling Trees and California Premises Liability Law

February 2, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

There are countless poems and other verses about the beauty of trees. They can provide shelter, give fruit, and offer shade. Part of their beauty is in their powerful size, stretching to the sky and often much wider than an adult’s arm span. This is also what makes them potentially dangerous, potentially deadly. In some cases, property owners are responsible when a tree falls and injures or kills someone else. Do not assume you are without recourse if you or a loved one are the victim of a tree fall injury; read on for some general information and call our Northern California tree fall injury law firm in San Francisco, Santa Rosa, or Oakland to learn more.

Tree Fall Kills Driver in SoCal

According to the San Francisco Chronicle and the Associated Press, a motorist in Pacific Beach died Sunday when powerful winds knocked a tree onto a residential roadway. Fire Captain Joe Amador told reporters the tree measured eight feet in diameter and also crushed three unoccupied, parked vehicles. The storm’s strong winds knocked down dozens of trees throughout Southern California, even ripping up rooftops before continuing its journey up the coast.

San Francisco Injury Lawyer Looks at Drowsy Driving as CHP Investigates Deadly Bus Crash

January 26, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Last Tuesday, we published a blog entry about bus accidents. In a tragic turn, between the time we wrote the post and the time it went live on our website, another terrible bus accident occurred in the Bay Area. We regularly look at major news stories and this accident raises several important issues, including the serious danger of overtired drivers. Bus drivers hold many lives in their hands, both the lives of their passengers and the non-passengers who may be impacted in an accident with such a large vehicle. It is, as we note below, too early to know for sure what caused last week’s deadly bus accident, but out San Francisco bus crash lawyer knows that the potential dangers of bus driver fatigue are too great to ignore.

Investigation Continues into San Jose Bus Crash, Officials Rule Out Mechanical Failure

It was early on a rainy Tuesday morning in San Jose when, as ABC7/KGO reported later that day, a Greyhound bus travelling on Highway 101 began to turn onto Highway 85 and suddenly slid into several impact barriers before landing on its side. Two passengers died after being ejected through the bus’s front window. One other passenger suffered serious injuries and nine others, including the driver, were taken to the hospital for minor injuries. The bus, which left Los Angeles around 11:30 P.M. Monday, had been due to arrive in Oakland by 8:10 A.M.

Aging on the Roads: The Risks Associated with Older Drivers

January 13, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Reportedly, Maurice Chevalier is responsible for one of the most-cited quips about aging: “Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.” There is immense value in age and our oldest community members have much to offer and much to teach. However, there are also a number of concerns raised as growing numbers join the 65+ set. Our Santa Rosa injury lawyer understands that concerns over the safety of older drivers will become increasingly important in the coming years, but that doesn’t alter the fact that this is a difficult and sensitive topic for all involved.

Sunday Morning Crash Seriously Injures Elderly Santa Rosa Driver

On Sunday morning, a crash in Rincon Valley left an 85-year-old driver seriously injured according to a report in the Press Democrat. Police believe the elderly Santa Rosa woman was at a stop sign on Benicia Drive when she turned her Prius left onto Montecito Boulevard and into the path of an oncoming pickup truck. Police believe the truck driver had the right-of-way. They do not believe that alcohol or speed factored into the collision.

Rail Crossing Accidents: Statistics and Safety Tips from Your Muni Accident Lawyer

January 6, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

railcrossing At The Brod Law Firm, we support efforts to make a variety of transportation options available to our Northern California community. Commuter trains and light-rail vehicles are critical to life at work and life at play for thousands of Californians. Transit systems not only need to be available to make our region run effectively and efficiently, they need to be safe. It is inevitable that tracks will meet roads and these crossings are among the most dangerous areas for mass transit systems. As a San Francisco light-rail accident lawyer, Attorney Brod helps people injured in crashes between trains and automobiles. Our team investigates, determines fault, and seeks compensation on behalf of those injured in railroad crossing accidents. Whether the accident was caused by a careless driver, a negligent train operator, the profit-driven San Francisco Municipal Railway (“Muni”) organization, or another entity/individual, we can help.

Light-Rail Crossing Crash Injures Five

A crash between a light-rail vehicle and a truck left five people injured and snarled traffic as many people returned to their normal work lives on Monday morning. According to CBS SF, the crash occurred in the Bayview District near the intersection of Third Street and Egbert Avenue around 9:15 AM. A Muni spokesman told CBS that the collision occurred when a truck made a left turn and crossed in front of the train. Four passengers and the Muni operator were treated for knee and/or neck injuries, none of which were deemed life-threatening. Light-rail lines were temporarily stopped at Third Street and Armstrong Avenue and bus shuttles were used to take riders around the scene of the crash while it was cleared.