Articles Tagged with Oakland personal injury lawyer

There is no such thing as a safe level of lead in the blood. Even the smallest amounts can result in unpleasant symptoms and mood disorders. When children suffer from lead poisoning, it is particularly hazardous because it can result in developmental delays and lifelong problems. While many lead poisoning cases focus on child injuries, adults can also suffer serious consequences when they are exposed to lead. Regardless of who is hurt by lead poisoning, they can hold manufacturers, property owners, and sometimes even more parties responsible for paying damages.

The Dangers of Lead Poisoning in Children

Prior to 1978, it was very common for paint used in homes to contain lead. Although this practice has been banned since the end of that decade, homes and other properties built before that time still often contain the dangerous substance. There are approximately four million homes in the country that currently have children living in them that are being exposed to lead on a daily basis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Due to the fact that these properties are older structures, the paint is often flaking and deteriorating, causing children to inhale or ingest it.

harlie-raethel-516092-unsplash-1-copy-300x187There are many reasons people do not file personal injury claims, even when they are eligible for compensation. One of those reasons is simply the fear of the unknown. They do not know what to expect from a lawsuit, what steps to take, or what will be expected of them. If you have been hurt by someone else’s negligence, it is important that you do not let this fear keep you from the compensation you deserve. Becoming familiar with the process can make it less stressful, and help you feel more confident about your claim. 

Finding the Right Attorney

If you have been hurt in a slip and fall, or any other accident that allows for compensation under the California Civil Code, you need to first speak with an attorney. An attorney will guide you through all the steps in a lawsuit and tell you what is coming next. Your lawyer will also review your claim and explain the California laws that pertain to it. If  your attorney determines that you have a case, he or she will start collecting evidence and building your claim. 

soren-astrup-jorgensen-206084-unsplash-copy-300x200In California, everyone must carry the minimum amount of insurance required by state law. When you get into an accident with a negligent driver, you will have two insurance companies to deal with — your own, and that of the other driver. While this may sound fairly straightforward, it is not.

The insurance company, particularly the one for the other driver, is not your friend. They will try anything they can to get you to admit fault, or take your words out of context so you look like the negligent party. Many drivers are not familiar with their tactics. As such, they get tricked into providing things not required of them by law, or signing away their rights. Below are a few of the strategies these companies use to ruin your claim.

They Show Up Immediately

daniel-monteiro-413416-copy-199x300Surprisingly to most drivers in California, the state does not require drivers to have liability insurance. What the law does require, however, is that a motorist be able to show financial responsibility. There are four ways by law that a motorist can do this. The motorist must either have a:

  • Motor vehicle liability insurance policy
  • Cash deposit of $35,000 on file with the DMV

nathan-dumlao-1064615-unsplash-copy-200x300With the recent boom in electric scooter shares like Bird, Lime, Spin, and Jump in California comes a parallel boom in scooter accidents. E-scooter accidents can involve two scooters, a scooter and a pedestrian, or a scooter and a car. Whether you are riding an electric scooter or walking on the street, it is important to use extra caution and abide by California laws in order to avoid accidents. We have compiled a list of the most common types of electric scooter accidents in California, so you can take extra precautions to try to avoid becoming the next victim.

Scooter Malfunction

The most common cause of e-scooter accidents is scooter malfunction. With the huge number of riders daily, it is impossible for scooter share companies to inspect each scooter after each use. It is even questionable whether scooter companies that claim to inspect their scooters daily in fact do so. For example, the scooter share company Bird has stated in emails to customers that they perform no preventative work on the scooters and rely on customers to bring complaints about any scooter malfunction. This directly contradicts their public statements of daily inspecting each Bird scooter. Scooter malfunction can include brake failures, electric motor issues, handlebar collapses, flat tires, and much more.

nathan-dumlao-1064615-unsplash-copy-200x300In the wake of an e-scooter fatality in Texas immediately following California’s loosening of electric scooter (e-scooter) laws, one has to wonder whether safety precautions can be taken by individuals regardless of what the law requires. Despite California’s new laws removing the requirement to wear a helmet while riding an e-scooter, California residents are well advised to stick to the following safety tips while riding an e-scooter in order to avoid accidents. If you have been involved in an accident in the Santa Rosa or San Francisco area, however, make sure to seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney immediately so that you can obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Always be Alert

While sharing the road with cars, bicycles, and pedestrians, the most important safety precaution you can take is to stay alert. There are many ways you can stay alert while riding on an e-scooter, including the following:

It is virtually impossible to go through an entire day without taking at least one elevator. While we trust that the elevators we take are well-made and well-maintained, that is not always the case. Unfortunately, elevator accidents happen more frequently than you might think, and the resulting injuries can be severe. If you have been injured in an elevator or escalator accident, contact the personal injury attorneys at Brod Law Firm immediately to learn more about your rights and have a dedicated attorney fight for the compensation you deserve.

Causes of Elevator Accidents

Elevators can malfunction in a number of different ways, including the following:

petra-cigale-128139-unsplash-copy-300x200The U.S. is dealing with a large outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 associated with romaine lettuce, and a few states, including California, have been hit particularly hard. The initial announcement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding an outbreak of E. coli took place on April 10. As of the initial announcement, 17 individuals in seven states had been affected. Their illnesses had developed between March 22 and 31. Of those individuals, six had been hospitalized. One individual had been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a type of kidney failure and one of the more severe potential side effects of an E. coli infection. Since April 10, the outbreak has worsened.

Information as of April 25

The CDC reports that, as of April 25, 84 cases of E. coli infection have been linked to romaine lettuce produced in or around Yuma, Arizona. Individuals affected are spread across 19 states. There have been no deaths, though 42 people have been hospitalized and nine have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. California has had 13 residents affected by the foodborne illness. The only state hit harder is Pennsylvania with 18 infected individuals.

jake-blucker-147540-copy-300x200A man in a stolen truck caused a fatal collision in Antioch, on January 17. Just before 1 p.m., the Contra Costa County Police received reports of a stolen vehicle, a Ford F-250, in Pittsburg, California. A deputy spotted the truck on State Highway 4, and when the driver took the off-ramp at Somersville Road, the deputy activated his emergency lights. Shortly after, the man drove the stolen truck through a red light and hit a Ford F-150, carrying a woman and her two young daughters. The mother was injured and the two young girls, 2 and 4 years old, were killed.

While the driver faces a number of criminal charges, accidents like this also give the surviving family members the right to file civil cases to seek compensation. If you were injured in a serious crash like this, or you lost a loved one to a devastating collision, call our San Francisco personal injury lawyers at Brod Law Firm today.

Legal Options After a Fatal Collision

jordan-mcqueen-15301-copy-300x200San Francisco is well known for its fog – thick droplets of water suspended in air, unable to dissipate or fall as rain because of various temperatures. Yet, despite the number of days the Bay Area deals with fog, it still poses a risk to drivers. On Tuesday, January 16, the dense fog led to a number of auto accidents. By 6:35 a.m. an accident had been reported on westbound I-80, west of the Bay Bridge. Around the same time, there was an overturned vehicle on westbound CA-4, east of Sycamore Avenue. These were followed by accidents on southbound I-880 in Oakland, southbound I-680 in Pleasanton, southbound US-101 in San Francisco, and westbound I-580 in Tracy. Injuries were reported in many of these accidents.

While fog always increases the risk of a traffic accident, drivers should alter their driving behavior to mitigate this risk as much as possible. Drivers who are careful and alert can avoid crashes.

If you were in an accident caused by another driver during a heavy fog in the Bay Area, contact us at Brod Law Firm right away. Fog does not excuse careless or reckless driving. We will help you fight for the compensation you deserve due to the other driver’s negligence.

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