personal injury law firm in San Francisco

Falls May be a Sign of Elder Abuse or Neglect

October 6, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in four people over the age of 65 years falls each year. Of these falls, one in five leads to a serious injury like a traumatic brain injury or a broken bone. In fact, falling is the most common cause of concussions and more serious traumatic brain injuries. Following these falls, 2.8 million seniors are treated in emergency rooms for injuries and more than 800,000 of these seniors are hospitalized.

Many falls are related to medical conditions and age-related changes. However, they are not always innocent accidents. Seniors face a greater risk of falling when they are the victims of neglect and abuse. If your loved one has suffered one or more falls and you believe it is because of abuse or neglect, contact our experienced San Francisco elder neglect and abuse attorneys at Brod Law Firm immediately. We will thoroughly review your loved one’s situation to advise you on how to get them into a safer situation and their right to seek compensation for their injuries.

Falls Have Tragic Consequences

San Francisco Bus Crash Leads to Injuries

October 2, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

In late September, two Alameda-Contra Costa (AC) Transit buses collided near Howard and Fremont streets in San Francisco just before 9:30 in the morning. AC Transit officials stated that both buses exited I-80, heading north on Fremont. The buses were supposed to turn right onto Folsom. The first made the turn, and the second bus appears to have lost control before doing the same. The second bus collided with multiple vehicles before driving onto a sidewalk and stopping once it collided with the scaffolding of a building. Initial reports from passengers and pedestrians who stopped to help state that the driver appeared to have lost consciousness just before the incident. Four individuals, including at least one of the drivers, were injured and taken to nearby hospitals. It also appears that a fifth person was injured and took themselves to the emergency room.

It is likely these individuals will need to file insurance claims or lawsuits to recover compensation for their injuries. If you have been hurt in a bus or public transportation accident, do not hesitate to seek legal advice regarding your rights and legal options. At Brod Law Firm, we are ready to help you recover the compensation you deserve under the law and need to move forward with life.

Bus Accident Statistics

Is Your Loved One’s Nursing Home Prepared for Dementia or Alzheimer’s Patients?

July 24, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

In July, Gary Lee Potts, 62, was arrested for his part in the 2014 death of Mauricio Edgar Cardenas, 65, who was an elderly nursing home resident with dementia at The Manse on Marsh. Potts, the owner of the facility, and another former facility administrator, Christopher E. Skiff, have been accused of elder and dependent abuse and involuntary manslaughter based on the care they and their facility failed to give to the elderly man.

If you believe your elderly loved one is not receiving the care he or she is entitled to at a nursing home, or you think that negligent care caused your relative’s death, contact our San Francisco elder neglect and abuse attorneys at Brod Law Firm right away. It can be difficult to investigate nursing home care. However, we are well-versed in these matters and will fight to get to the bottom of what has happened to your loved one.

Nursing Home Owner and Employee Charged With Manslaughter

Three Individuals Hit by Vehicle While Crossing the Street in Oakland

July 21, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

Two young women and a 5-year-old boy were struck by a vehicle while walking in an Oakland crosswalk in mid-July. A surveillance video at a nearby restaurant recorded the accident that took place at the intersection of Fruitvale and Brookdale. The three entered the marked crosswalk while walking home from the bus. They noticed the vehicle, yet have stated that they thought it was far enough away that they assumed it would stop. The vehicle did not stop and directly struck the three pedestrians. The two women were thrown into the air and the toddler was dragged under the car.

Each individual survived, but is suffering from significant injuries. One of the young women has a broken pelvis and fractured leg. The other suffered chest injuries and broken ribs. The young boy is now paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury and may be in the hospital for a considerable length of time.

A Dangerous Oakland Intersection

Street Racing Causes Accident in California

May 19, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

In mid-May, a pair of Mustangs raced down 25th Street in Palmdale, California, when they encountered an intersection. Because the vehicles were moving so fast, they were unable to stop. One mustang lost control after the driver slammed on the brakes. It crashed on the side of the road after it crossed through the intersection. The other Mustang was hit by a Mercedes-Benz, which was crossing the intersection. The collision pushed the Mustang into a pole that split it in two. The driver was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but is expected to recover.

Individuals who are hurt in accidents caused by other people street racing have a strong case for negligence. Drivers have a duty to drive safely, obey traffic laws, and not put other motorists and pedestrians in danger. Drag racing not only breaks California law, but it clearly puts others at risk. When a street racer caused the crash that resulted in your injuries, you may have a great deal of evidence to support receiving compensation. For more information, contact a San Francisco personal injury lawyer from the Brod Law Firm.

Drag Racing in California

Catering Truck Crashes into Pole in Sunnyvale

March 24, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

On March 17 at around 9:30 a.m., a catering truck crashed into a traffic signal pole in East Caribbean Drive. Two women were in the truck. One was airlifted to a nearby hospital and the other was taken by ambulance. Both are being treated for serious injuries at a trauma center. As of right now, law enforcement has not determined whether drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash.

While the single-vehicle crash may have been a simple accident, it could also have been caused by driver error, a defective part, or a maintenance issue. If negligence was behind the crash, then it is possible for the passenger or both the driver and passenger to have a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.

Individuals who are hurt in single-vehicle crashes should speak with a San Francisco personal injury attorney to determine if they have a valid personal injury claim through which they can receive compensation for their injuries.

Dangerous Construction Site Leads to Building Evacuations

February 22, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

On February 22, a crane and concrete slab in a high-rise construction site in South of Market became unstable and were at a risk of falling, CBS SF Bay Area reported. Due to the significant dangers posed by the two-ton piece of concrete hanging 35 stories above the ground, the building under construction and 15 others around it were evacuated. The surrounding streets and alleys were also closed.

The issue was caused when a strut within the crane that was putting the concrete wall into position failed, which is also being referred to in the news as a partial hydraulic failure. This caused the crane, which is currently located in the center of the building where a stair well will be, to tilt and allow the concrete wall to lean outward. Authorities stated the crane was not going to fall and the evacuations were purely out of caution. If the concrete had fallen after individuals were evacuated, a worst-case-scenario only involved structural damage to a couple of buildings and the street.

Incident Leads to Health and Safety Violation

Berkeley Resident Dies in Bicycle Accident

February 15, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

On February 8, a long-time Berkeley resident was killed in a bicycle-vehicle accident on Sacramento Street south of Hopkins Street at around 7 in the morning, Berkeleyside reported. Motorists stopped to help and call 911, and the Berkeley Police and Fire Departments arrived quickly. A motorist attempted CPR prior to the arrival of paramedics, but the cyclist was not responsive and died from the accident. The Berkeley Police Department Fatal Accident Investigation Team is investigating the crash, and the driver who collided with the cyclist was fully cooperating. Investigators had not identified the primary cause of the collision as of the day following the accident and it is unknown whether any charges will be filed.

Bicycle accidents like this can hit a community and family hard. Unfortunately, they are not rare. Thousands of individuals are seriously injured or lose their lives during vehicle-bicycle collisions every year. If you were injured in a bike accident or lost a loved one in a crash, do not hesitate to seek legal advice. At Brod Law Firm, we can explain your legal rights and next best steps.

Bicycle Accidents Plague California

Man Killed in Forklift Accident

December 28, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Industrial accidents can be serious and can cause life-threatening injuries. Construction sites and industrial premises are required to follow safety rules. Workers and others expect that they will be out of harm’s way. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Injuries can occur for a number of reasons. Last month, a man was killed in a forklift accident in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco. Officials classified the death as an industrial accident.

Industrial Accidents

Industrial accidents are caused by human error, according to OSHA (Occupational Health & Safety). Thousands of people are injured or killed as a result of accidents in the workplace. Workplace safety is an important concern for all companies. Some industries are more dangerous than others. For example, coal mining is one of the most hazardous of all occupations in the United States. When an industrial accident occurs, it often results in serious injuries.

When is Accident Reconstruction Necessary?

December 2, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Minor fender benders happen every day across the country with only slight harm caused to the people involved. Sometimes, however, an accident is much more serious. When an accident results in severe injuries or death, there is an urgent need to determine fault, or negligence, in the crash. The responsible party should be required to pay injuries and damages caused by the accident. Sometimes, the cause of the accident is not immediately evident. In complex situations, accident reconstruction may be necessary to determine exactly how the accident happened.

Determining the Cause of an Accident

One of the most important concerns, especially in serious crashes, is finding out precisely how an accident occurred. Sometimes the drivers are severely injured, or have died, and are not able to provide information. When they are able to do so, they may not remember the details of the accident. Furthermore, there may be no witnesses and no surveillance video that shows the impact. For these reasons, a full investigation into the cause of the accident is warranted.