Car and Auto Accidents

Vehicle-Into-Building Crashes: Statistics, Prevention, and Compensation

April 26, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

It is no surprise to hear that car accidents are a danger to passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicycle riders, and even bystanders. Fewer recognize another place where people can be at risk – inside buildings. While it may seem like a rare, headline-grabbing event, incidents involving cars crashing into building happen every day, injuring thousands and causing hundreds of fatalities every year. Our San Francisco injury law firm is concerned. Our team is dedicated to helping the victims (both the injured and the grieving) and preventing future tragedies.

Three Injured When Accident Sends Car Crashing into San Francisco Building

According to KRON, on Sunday afternoon, three people were taken to the hospital after an accident sent a vehicle crashing into a downtown San Francisco building. The crash occurred near the intersection of Sutter and Taylor Streets at around 1:45 PM. A fire department spokesperson confirmed that at least two vehicles were involved in the incident. One of the victims suffered serious injuries while the injuries to two others were described as minor.

Ensuring the Law Keeps Up with a Changing World: A Law Firm for Californians Injured in Uber, Lyft, and Other Ride-Share Accidents

April 22, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

The world has changed a lot in the past twenty years. Cell phones have gone from huge, clunky devices saved for an elite few to sleek do-it-all computers that are in the hands of every adult and many (perhaps most!) kids. Paper maps are unheard of anymore; we just check GPS. And instead of hailing a cab, we summon Uber, Lyft, or a similar service. As technology changes, the law needs to keep up. One area The Brod Law Firm is watching closely is how the law responds in the case of car accidents involving ride-sharing companies. Greg Brod is proud to serve as a wrongful death and/or injury lawyer for San Francisco Uber accidents, Lyft accidents, and as an attorney for victims of ride-share accidents throughout Northern California.

Survivors File Suit Against Lyft for Deadly 2014 Accident

This week, CBS SF reported that loved ones of a man killed in a crash with a Lyft driver in 2014 have filed a wrongful death and personal injury lawsuit against the ride-share company. In the early hours of November 1, 2014, two men summoned a ride using Lyft’s mobile app to return home from a party. News reports say that their driver swerved to avoid a stopped vehicle on Highway 80 and spun off the road and into two trees. One rider died, the other suffered serious injuries. CBS cites a CHP report that found the Lyft driver caused the accident by “making an unsafe turning movement” and was not carrying proof of insurance at the time of the incident.

Drowsy Driving is Impaired Driving: An Important Message from Your Oakland Injury Lawyer

April 20, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

With the hustle of life in 2016, it seems like a good night’s sleep is an increasingly rare commodity. While some treat it as almost a luxury, sleep is essential to our physical and emotional well-being. Being well-rested is also a critical part of being a safe driver. People who wouldn’t dream of driving drunk are driving while sleep-deprived despite evidence that drowsy driving is a threat to everyone on the road. Our Oakland car accident injury lawyer fights for the victims of drowsy driving accidents in Northern California because they deserve compensation and because it sends a message that overly tired driving is a danger that should not be tolerated.

Police Report San Jose Death Resulted from Driver Falling Asleep at the Wheel

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a man lost his life this past Sunday in San Jose because a driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel. California Highway Patrol (“CHP”) officials say that the victim had pulled onto the shoulder of U.S. Highway 101, north of Alum Rock Avenue, to investigate car trouble when he was struck by a Ford Ranger. The Ford’s driver told CHP officers that he had momentarily fallen asleep at the wheel and wasn’t initially sure what he had hit. Police say the victim was a 60-year-old man from Daly City whose wife and children were in the car at the time of the deadly accident. The crash occurred shortly after 4 PM.

DUI Accidents and Child Victims in California

April 15, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Perhaps the most important thing to know about drunk driving accidents is that they are 100% preventable. That may also be the saddest thing since it means that the victims didn’t need to be injured or didn’t need to die too soon. DUI accidents with child victims are particularly tragic because children pay the price for an adult’s bad decision. As a Santa Rosa child injury lawyer, Greg Brod helps represent injured children, whether they were in the car with the drunk driver, in another vehicle, or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Two Children Injured in Car Crash, Police Say They Were Passengers of a Suspected Drunk Driver

Earlier this week, The Press Democrat reported on a crash believed to have been caused by a drunk driver in Santa Rosa. Police say that they arrested an intoxicated man after he crashed his car on West Third Street on Monday night. His vehicle ended up on a residential lawn near Surrey Drive. The suspected drunk driver had two children, ages 10 and 11, in his vehicle. Both children along with the driver of another vehicle involved in the accident were taken to the hospital for medical care. All are expected to be okay.

The Importance of Safe Passing on Two-Lane Roads

April 13, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Driving can be a frustrating task. One of the scenarios most likely to cause frustration is being stuck behind a slow-moving vehicle, especially one travelling well below the marked speed limit. Knowing how to safely pass another vehicle is an important part of any safe driver’s repertoire. Sadly, far too often improper passing leads to serious injuries or death. As your Oakland car accident injury attorney, Greg Brod can help if you are a loved one are injured in Northern California by someone else’s dangerous passing attempt.

Police Eye Passing Attempt in Deadly Northern California Car Crash

Police are eyeing a passing attempt as the cause of a deadly car accident near Rio Vista, according to a report by CBS SF. CHP officials say that a Honda Civic was attempting to pass another vehicle when the driver lost control of the car, veering back into the passing lane and colliding with an oncoming Chevy Silverado. The Silverado’s four occupants were taken to the hospital but are not believed to have serious injuries. Unfortunately, five people who were in the Civic died as a result of the crash. The deceased include a teenager and two three-year-old children. Police report that all of the people in the pick-up were wearing seatbelts, but they are unsure if the Civic’s occupants were buckled in and they only found one car seat inside the vehicle. It is unclear whether recent wet weather was a factor in the crash.

A Look at the Numbers: What Time Periods See the Most Accidents?

April 6, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

As your San Francisco/Oakland car accident law firm, we understand that automobile collisions can occur at any time of day, any day of the week. Different times carry different dangers. In the late night/early morning hours, there may be a higher risk of encountering drunk drivers or highly fatigued drivers and there is the challenge of driving without daylight. Daytime drivers, however, may face more traffic and may encounter drivers who are multi-tasking as work, children, and other distractions pull attention away from the task of driving. So, we wondered: Ultimately, what time of day sees the highest number of car accidents? Which is more dangerous, daytime or nighttime driving?

NHTSA Statistics on Injury and Fatality Crashes by Time of Day

A report entitled Traffic Safety Facts 2009 presents a plethora of data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) on accidents ranging from basic fender-benders to deadly multi-car pile-ups. The report includes over 100 tables and charts, examining crash data from many different angles in order to uncover patterns and trends. Table 25 focuses on time of day and reveals that the three hour timespan with the highest number of fatal crashes was 6 to 9 P.M. (4,988) followed very closely by 3 to 6 P.M. (4,994). Looking at injury crashes, the highest number occurred between 3 and 6 P.M. (371,000), with the next highest number occurring from noon to 3 P.M. (290,000).

Oakland Injury Lawyer on Compensation for Northern California Hit-and-Run Accident Victims

March 18, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Sometimes moments go from bad to worse. This can certainly feel like the case when you or someone you love is the victim of a hit-and-run driver. We truly believe that most people, even if they knew they were at fault, would stop check on the individuals involved in an accident, and take responsibility. Sadly, however, hit-and-run accidents remain a reality. Our Oakland hit-and-run injury lawyer works with police and with private investigators to find the perpetrators of Bay Area hit-and-run crashes. In addition to claims against the perpetrator, we can also pursue compensation via the victim’s own insurance policy. We are committed to ensuring the injured and/or grieving receive the compensation they need and deserve following hit-and-run incidents.

Castro Valley Hit-and-Run Driver Found, Accused of Striking Two Boys with Stolen Car

CBS SF reports that authorities have located the man they believe stole a vehicle before striking two young pedestrians and fleeing the scene. On the morning of March 7, two brothers were walking to school with their grandmother in Castro Valley. Police say that the trio was on Meadowview Drive and heading towards Marshall Street when a black Ford Fusion veered onto the sidewalk and hit the brothers. The crash caused severe injuries to the leg of the 6 year-old and his 8-year-old brother sustained minor injuries.

The All-Too-Common Tie Between Pedal Confusion and Storefront Crashes

March 4, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Pedal confusion and storefront crashes are two problems that may sound unusual but are unfortunately quite common and often go hand-in-hand. As an Oakland car accident lawyer, Attorney Greg Brod helps people injured in these accidents. As a concerned and safety-conscious member of this community, he is also dedicated to helping raise awareness about the dangers of pedal confusion, the relationship to storefront/building crashes, and ways to prevent these tragedies.

Pedal Error Eyed as Cause After Car Careens into Storefront in Third Vehicle-Into-Building Crash in Walnut Creek This Month

ABC7 reports that a vehicle plowed into the Walnut Creek Panda Express located on Oak Grove Road just before 5 PM on Tuesday. A Contra Costa County Fire official told reporters that it appears the elderly driver hit the gas instead of the brake while attempting to park in front of the restaurant, causing the car to accelerate into the storefront. The driver was taken to the hospital as a precaution but thankfully there were no serious injuries reported.

Northern California Injury Lawyers Examines Pedestrian Accidents in Oakland and Antioch

March 1, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Car accidents are frightening anytime, regardless of whether you’re a driver, passenger, or even a bystander. They are, no doubt, particularly frightening to pedestrian victims. As an Oakland pedestrian accident law firm (with additional offices in San Francisco and Santa Rosa), we are here to help pedestrians who are injured in Northern California car accidents and families left grieving after a pedestrian is killed. In today’s post, we look at a recent accident in Antioch involving a young pedestrian and some statistics for pedestrian accidents in Oakland and Antioch.

Child Injured in Antioch Pedestrian Accident

KRON reports that a serious accident involving a young pedestrian occurred in Antioch last weekend. At approximately 1:55 PM on Sunday, a vehicle driven by a juvenile hit a parked car which, in turn, hit an 11-year-old girl near the intersection of Rockford Drive and Alumrock Drive. Although police report that her injuries were minor and she is expected to recover, the child pedestrian was airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Oakland for treatment.

Caltrans and Your Dangerous Roads Lawyer on Structurally-Deficient Tunnels and Bridges

February 24, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Every time we get behind the wheel of a car, we are engaging in an act of trust. We trust that our car will function properly, we trust that other drivers will obey the rules of the road, and we trust that the roads and other infrastructure are safe. Sadly, there are far too many structurally deficient, dangerous tunnels and bridges that put drivers at risk. As a dangerous roads lawyer in San Francisco, with additional offices in Oakland and Santa Rosa, Attorney Greg Brod helps people injured as a result of deficient roads, bridges, tunnels, and other forms of dangerous infrastructure in Northern California.

Caltrans Investigates Bay Bridge Tunnel Problems

This week, ABC7 reported that Caltrans engineers are working to address corrosion problems discovered in the Bay Bridge tunnel. They are performing tests on the 80-year-old Yerba Buena Island Tunnel, partially in response to an incident last month when a chunk of concrete came loose and damaged a woman’s car. Luckily, the driver was not injured, but the concrete did approximately $3,000 worth of damage to the vehicle.