Fire Injuries

Hoverboard Fires and California Product Liability Law

January 29, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

A problem we reported on in mid-December continues to endanger people, including children, in Northern California and nationwide – hoverboard fires. Hoverboards certainly turns heads the first few time you encounter them (even if it isn’t quite what those of us old enough to have watched the Back to the Future trilogy think of when we first hear the name!) and they can take time to master. A few bruises from tumbling off while mastering the ride are one thing, severe burns from an explosion are quite another and our team is here to serve as a law firm for hoverboard fire injuries in San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Oakland.

Petaluma Fire Adds to List of Alleged Hoverboard Explosions

According to CBS SF, a hoverboard is being blamed for a home fire in Petaluma on Monday night. The hoverboard was allegedly charging and plugged into a wall outlet when it exploded, catching fire and sending burning debris throughout the home. Thankfully no one was injured, but officials estimate the damage to the home at around $10,000.

Garage Fires: Common and Dangerous

January 20, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

For some, a garage is simply a place to park a car, perhaps a bit more climate-control and security than an open parking slot. For others, a garage is an extension of the home, a place for storage and engaging in hobbies from exercise to woodworking, scrapbooking to auto repair. No matter the use, garage safety is important. Garage fires are particularly dangerous and surprisingly common. Prevention is (as always) best, but when a garage fire occurs our Oakland fire injury law firm takes a close look at the facts in the context of the law to determine who is at fault and who may be owed compensation.

Fire Consumes Oakland Garage, Spreads to Home

The San Jose Mercury News reported on a weekend fire in Oakland that destroyed two cars and left two people displaced. The fire started in the garage of the Marr Avenue home and two residents were able to escape the home before firefighters arrived. Before the Oakland and Piedmont firefighters gained control, the blaze consumed the entire garage and spread to the house and attic. Thankfully, no one was injured, but fire officials estimate the damage will exceed $150,000 and say the home will need work before it is habitable. Officials say the cause remains under investigation, but it appears accidental and may have involved a malfunction involving the natural gas system.

Oakland Apartment Fire Lawyer Looks at Residential Fire Statistics Following Deadly Blaze

December 30, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Fires have been in the news a lot in recent years. While wildfires are tragic, causing substantial property damage and endangering lives, they are not the only type of blaze that impacts Californians. Home structure fires are a very real danger that, as revealed in the discussion below, claims nearly 2,500 civilian lives a year (and we cannot ignore the deaths of brave first responders who make the ultimate sacrifice). As an Oakland apartment fire lawyer, Attorney Greg Brod helps the injured and grieving recover monetary compensation from those responsible for apartment fires whether it is the manufacturer of a faulty device or a landlord who does not provide appropriate fire safety equipment.

Oakland Fire Claims Two Lives

On Monday morning, the danger of home fires became all too real for people residing in the 6200 block of Eastlawn Street in Oakland. CBS reports that firefighters arrived around 1:15 AM, but the fire quickly grew to two alarms and it took crews an hour to finally extinguish the flames. Sadly, a man and woman perished in the blaze. The fire rendered two apartment units uninhabitable and CBS reports that there had been previous fires at the same building. The fire remains under investigation.

Holiday Decorations: Keeping Your Loved Ones Safe This Holiday Season

December 23, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Loading the family into the car, perhaps armed with steaming travel mugs filled with hot cocoa, and looking at Christmas lights and other holiday decorations is a cherished part of many families’ holiday traditions. Whether you are looking to see what your neighbors have come up with (The Sacramento Bee lists some of the best home displays in the capitol region) or you prefer to tour some of our region’s grand estates (see The Press Democrat’s article for ideas), there are many options in the Northern California region. Still, the best decorations are quite often those you hang yourself and our San Francisco home injury lawyer wants to remind you of the importance of holiday decoration safety to ensure your holiday display is not only beautiful but also safe.

A Holiday Decoration Safety Tips pamphlet authored by the Consumer Product Safety Commission contains many tips for keeping your holiday decorations safe. These tips include:

Tree Safety

Hoverboards: A Holiday Craze that May Become a Holiday Nightmare

December 16, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

It is hard to miss the signs that the holiday giving season is upon us. For many children, the top item on their list for Santa is a so-called “hoverboard.” Although it isn’t quite the air-riding skateboard some of us remember from Back to the Future II, hoverboards offer both transportation and excitement attracting both the young and young-at-heart. If a hoverboard is on the wish list for someone you love, or if it makes your own “Dear Santa” letter, you need to know about the growing number of hoverboard fires. As an injury lawyer with a keen understanding dangerous product and recreational injury claims, Attorney Greg Brod can help people injured by hoverboard fires as well as other injuries caused by toys r recreational equipment. With three offices serving Northern California, his San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Oakland product liability law firm wants to ensure holiday gifts don’t become holiday tragedies.

The Hoverboards of 2015

First things first: What exactly are the hoverboards of 2015? Buzzfeed, a social and entertainment news site, published a fairly comprehensive report this summer titled Everything You Need to Know About the Hoverboard Craze. The article references multiple types of hoverboards including a motorized skateboard and a board with a single wheel in the center. For those looking for a “true” hoverboard (a la Marty McFly), boards that actually hover above ground are largely in the development and testing stages.

The Growing Danger of Explosions Linked to Marijuana Honey Oil Production

December 11, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

You have probably heard about the threat of fires and explosions linked to methamphetamine labs, but did you know that producing a potent form of marijuana poses a similar danger? Experts in our region have linked a number of area explosions to the production of marijuana “honey oil,” also known as “hash oil” or “dabs.” The threat of injuries linked to honey oil explosions is a growing concern for our San Francisco burn injury lawyer. Whether you favor full legalization, medical use only, or a total ban on marijuana, you need to know about this threat since it endangers both those involved in the drug market as well as mere bystanders.

Fire Officials Suspect Production of Marijuana Honey Oil Caused Petaluma Explosion

This week, ABC7 reported that fire officials suspect Monday night’s explosion of a home in Petaluma may have been sparked by butane gas used in the production of honey oil. Just after 9 PM Monday, firefighters were called to a home near the corner of La Cresta and Haven drives. At the scene, fire officials found light smoke along with signs of an explosion, but no active fire was present by the time the residence was cleared for entry. Police report they questioned but did not arrest the only resident who was home when the explosion occurred. Luckily for him, that resident suffered only minor injuries. Fire officials report that the explosion caused about $10,000 in damage. The cause remains under investigation, but fire officials say they believe the explosion was tied to the production of marijuana honey oil.

Negligence and Responsibility in Northern California Apartment Fires

October 14, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Wildfires have ravaged much of our region this year. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by these terrible blazes and our thanks go out to the brave men and women who risk their own safety to battle the fires. While wildfires have made headlines, other types of fires can also destroy property, cause serious injury, and even claim lives. Apartment fires pose some unique issues and the actions (or inaction) of landlords and property owners can increase fire risk. When a renter is injured or a life is lost due to an apartment fire caused by owner/landlord negligence, our Santa Rosa apartment fire lawyer is prepared to use the power of the law to fight for the injured renter or grieving family.

Fire Attacks Santa Rosa Apartment Complex

The Press Democrat reports that a destructive fire ravaged a west Santa Rosa apartment building on Sunday. At around 7:45 AM, the fire department began receiving reports of smoke at the 266-unit, two-story complex located near the intersection of Piner and Marlow Roads. Firefighters initially found light smoke, but no visible flames. The battalion chief told reporters that a fire was burning inside the walls and the attic space. He warned that this type of fire is particularly dangerous because they often go undiscovered until smoke begins to billow out into the homes.

Cigarette Fires: Smoking Can Be Hazardous to All of Us

September 18, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

We hear it even before we enter kindergarten: smoking is hazardous to your health. Typically, this refers to the risk of inhaling harmful chemicals, but other hazards exist. Cigarette fires are one of these dangers. They are particularly worrisome in light of the dangerous conditions that have made fires a constant concern for Californians and therefore a constant concern for our legal team. Our Santa Rosa burn injury attorney has the experience and knowledge necessary to advocate for people wrongfully injured in fires sparked by cigarettes. (Note: “Cigarette fires,” “smoking-material fires,” and similar phrases refer to fires caused by any form of smoking materials, but do not include fires sparked by lighting implements like matches or cigarette lighters.)

Tossed Cigarette Sparks Grass Fire

Last week, the Press Democrat reported on a fire that consumed a quarter-acre grass lot in Santa Rosa, a blaze investigators blame on a tossed cigarette. The fire occurred shortly before 7 P.M. on Tuesday September 8 near Santa Rosa Avenue and East Robles Avenue. Thankfully, firefighters quickly gained control, stopping flames just 50 feet from a business.

Examining the Causes and the Dangers of Wildfires

September 15, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

It’s a topic we’ve touched on often in recent weeks, but it is also the news story foremost in the minds of many Californians and one our team thinks about on both a personal and professional level every day. Watching the news is both frightening and humbling; after all, if the images are coming to us from the news rather than from outside our own windows, we are luckier than many of our neighbors. With reports suggesting that the Valley Fire has now claimed a human life, today’s post looks at the danger of wildfire injuries and wildfire deaths. Our Northern California fire injury law firm also reminds readers that many, though certainly not all, fires are unfortunately the result of human negligence. This truth should push all of us to be vigilant about fire safety and should serve as a reminder that those impacted by fire may have a legal recourse.

Lake County Fire Grows, Fatality Confirmed

On Monday morning, ABC30 published an update on the terrible wildfires ravaging the state. Although details are not available, the network reports that the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (“Cal Fire”) has confirmed the death of one person in the Valley Fire. The confirmation of one death comes as officials say area hospitals have treated at least 27 people for fire-related health problems. Most of the injuries involved smoke inhalation and were deemed minor. Four firefighters were treated for burns.

Water Heater Fires: A Threat on All Our Minds

August 21, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Wildfires continue to dominate the headlines in California and throughout our region. For some, fires are a hard-to-watch story on the news. For others, they are a very present danger, a threat to property and well-being. Some wildfires are sparked by nature, but others are manmade. Our San Francisco fire injury lawyer represents people who are injured or suffer the loss of a relative because of a manmade fire. Attorney Brod and his team also use this blog to provide information that we hope helps prevent future tragedies. Today’s topic is fresh from the headlines — water heater fires.

Water Heater Blamed for Massive Fire

On Wednesday, officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (“Cal Fire”) identified a faulty water heater located in an outbuilding as a significant factor causing one of our region’s massive fires. According to the Napa Valley Register, Cal Fire representatives said the gas water heater sparked one of two fires that eventually became the Rocky Fire. Flammable liquids in the outbuilding caught fire and then the blaze spread to nearby vegetation. The Rocky Fire consumed almost 70,000 acres, caused the evacuation of 13,000 residents, and destroyed 43 homes before it was contained late last week. Officials are still looking into the circumstances surrounding the fire and working to identify the cause of the second fire that became part of the Rocky Fire.