Motorcycle Accidents

San Francisco – Oakland Car Accident Attorney: Road Accident Avoidance Tips

August 18, 2010 | Gregory J. Brod

With so many people in the Bay Area commuting to and from jobs in every part of the area, there is really no longer any typical or even “reverse” commute. Many people commute via car, however in some places, including the City of San Francisco, people commute on bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, and even skateboard. Hazards for drivers, particularly in San Francisco, are plenty, as there are several devices that can power people at a relatively high speed without the visibility of the mass of another vehicle. This is one of many reasons why it’s so important to drive, ride, or walk defensively. In most instances, one really needs to expect a driver who is not paying attention, particularly with cell phones, text messaging, and other distractions. Keep aware and keep safe.

At the Brod Law Firm, we have been advocating on behalf of injured cyclists for over ten years, and have helped clients who have suffered minor injuries to catastrophic injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured by the fault of someone else, please contact us for a free consultation.

San Francisco Injury Attorney Predicts Fewer Injury Accidents on San Francisco’s Streets

September 25, 2009 | Gregory J. Brod

Apropos my last blog, there are two other projects underway in the City of San Francisco that focus on the safety and well-being of both its residents and visitors. One project, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on February 6, 2006 and appropriately called Better Streets, is a joint effort by several city agencies to improve the design of San Francisco’s streets and sidewalks and was. Since that time, Better Streets has created a collection of street types which are a great improvement over our current automobile-centered street scheme and focus on the appropriate use of land (i.e. residential, commercial and industrial), the efficiency of street width and the street’s role in the transportation system. The highlights and benefits that stand out most to us here at the Brod Law Firm are the ones that focus on safety, though there are many others–such as its support of neighborliness, civic interaction , community identity, and the enhancement of the quality of life for San Francisco’s residents and local businesses-and they are:

• The Design of sidewalks and medians, pedestrian safety and accessibility features, ways to mange storm water in the right-of –way, design and placement of streetscape elements such as street trees, lighting ,benches, and more • Decreased likelihood of pedestrian/auto collisions injuries and fatalities

• Increased accessibility for all street users, create settings that make it safe and easy to be physically active and enhance the everyday quality of life for San Francisco Residents.

San Francisco Bay Bridge Accident Sends a Motorcyclist to His Death and Drunk Driver to Jail

July 23, 2008 | Gregory J. Brod

On July 19th at approximately 5am, motorcyclist, Ryan Willis Jones, age 30, was riding eastbound on the Bay Bridge was side swiped by driver of a car, Daniel Francisco Olivera, age 31, of Oakland. As he was changing lanes, his car hit the rear of Ryan’s motorcycle. Ryan was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where he pronounced dead. Daniel was suspected of drunk driving and he was arrested and booked at San Francisco County Jail, according to CHP Officer A. Paulson.

After we read this information in our local newspaper, we, here at the Brod Law Firm, collectively wondered how this particular driver, or anyone for that matter, could consider driving while under the influence of alcohol. We wondered why–after being inundated over the years by all the ad campaigns that show the catastrophic consequences of drunk driving, such as those telling us “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk“; and after having witnessed all the efforts of organizations like M.A.D.D. (Mother’s Against Drunk Drivers) who, since the 1980’s, have worked tirelessly with the help of educators, government, corporations and media on promoting personal responsibility against drunk driving; or after having witnessed our law makers pass laws that are extremely harsh on drunk drivers–people still risk driving drunk? We then concluded that maybe the public has forgotten the legal limits of alcohol allowed in the body when driving a vehicle and/or forgotten what exactly can happen if they are caught driving drunk. So we thought we could help re-educate the public by reminding anyone reading this of some of the basic information they should know regarding drinking and driving.

In a guide put out by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) titled The ABC’s of BAC: A Guide to Understanding Blood Alcohol Concentration and Alcohol Impairment, blood alcohol concentration, (BAC) is explained in detail. We feel some important facts to know about BAC are: