personal injury

Is the Nursing Home Properly Managing Your Parent’s Diabetes?

January 13, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 21 million individuals in the U.S. have been diagnosed with diabetes and another 8.1 million go undiagnosed. A small percentage of these individuals have Type 1 diabetes, while the more significant portion of Americans have Type 2 diabetes brought on by obesity and other lifestyle factors. Considering the proportion of Americans with diabetes, it is no surprise that many elderly individuals in nursing homes need their diabetes properly maintained to avoid injury. Undiagnosed or improperly treated diabetes can lead to devastating consequences, including death. If you believe nursing home staff over- or under-treated your parent’s diabetes causing an injury, contact a San Francisco nursing home neglect attorney at Brod Law Firm today. Your parent’s situation may be protected by California’s elder abuse and personal injury laws.

Avoiding Hypoglycemia

For elderly individuals, particularly those with diabetes, it is crucial to avoid hypoglycemia, which is when a person has detrimentally low blood sugar. A normal blood sugar level ranges from 70 to 110 milligrams per deciliter. A diabetic patient’s goal depends on a number of factors and should be set and monitored by a physician. Hypoglycemia can occur when patients are administered too much insulin or another drug that lowers blood glucose levels.

Car Crashes into Bus Stand, 10 People Injured

January 8, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

A vehicle crashed into a Muni bus stand, injuring 10 people, several of them critically. The accident occurred on Stockton Street in Chinatown. The crash is under investigation. According to reports, the crash happened when a driver lost control of her vehicle. First, the car hit a parked vehicle and a moving car before careening into the bus stop enclosure. The crash happened on December 22, 2016.

Injuries Due to the Crash

Many people suffered serious injuries as a result of the accident. Reportedly, injuries included broken bones, head and neck injuries, and back injuries. An elderly woman suffered fractures to her pelvis, ribs, and leg. Most victims are expected to make a full recovery, but several were initially listed in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

Dangerous Furniture Continues to Cause Injuries to Children

January 4, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

A furniture warning and recall from IKEA has prompted many people to take steps to make their dressers safer. Dressers, and other large pieces of furniture pose a serious danger to young children. Children may climb on the furniture, causing it to fall onto them. IKEA furniture has injured or killed some children. Although any furniture is capable of falling, IKEA has taken steps to make their furniture less hazardous. As recently as this week, parents have reported toppling furniture that has fallen onto toddlers.

What Causes Furniture to Fall?

Dressers and similar pieces of furniture are naturally top heavy. While the drawers are closed there is generally no danger. However, when the drawers are open, it can cause the dresser to have more weight in the front, causing it to fall over. Young children have been found to open drawers in order to climb on the dressers. When a child opens a drawer and puts his weight on it, the dresser is unable to remain steady, and can topple forward, directly onto the child.

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.

What Are Punitive Damages in Personal Injury Cases?

December 14, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

When someone is injured because of the negligence of someone else, the other party may be responsible for paying medical bills and other damages. While it is clear that all costs associated with medical treatment should be paid, many people wonder what other compensation they may be entitled to. In California, as in other states, victims may recover economic losses and non-economic losses. Punitive damages are considered punishments and are not always available.

Economic Losses

Economic losses are the costs directly associated with the injuries, such as medical bills, and the costs of rehabilitation, for example. These are the real costs that were incurred because of the injury. Victims may have already paid hospital and other bills, or they may still have some expenses that will be incurred.

Northern California Pedestrians Injury Lawyer Offers Tips on Keeping Your Ghouls and Goblins Safe This Halloween

October 23, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Every Halloween, certain things are bound to come around:

New, larger sizes of chocolates and candies for adults to distribute to the “ghouls” and “goblins” in their neighborhoods;
Scarier and more authentic costumes for children and adults alike; and

New Law Aims to Protect Rideshare Passengers

October 14, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Passengers using rideshare services like Uber and Lyft know (or at least should know, as these terms and conditions are posted on each ridesharing company’s website) that the ridesharing companies consider their drivers to be independent contractors. When a passenger is involved in a crash while riding in an Uber or Lyft vehicle, the process of obtaining compensation can be complicated enough. However, passengers who are deliberately injured by an act of violence committed by their Uber or Lyft driver are left in a vulnerable legal position. Neither Uber nor Lyft allow themselves to be sued for such acts, meaning that the passengers will likely have difficulty holding the responsible party accountable for his or her actions.

While a new law signed by Governor Jerry Brown does not solve this dilemma completely, it does aim to make passengers who use rideshare platforms a little bit safer.

Criminal Background Checks Now Required

What Kim Kardashian Can Teach Personal Injury Victims About Social Media Use

October 9, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

This week celebrity Kim Kardashian was allegedly the victim of an armed robbery while she was attending Paris Fashion Week in France. Although the investigation into the alleged robbery is ongoing, some journalists and others speculate that Kim Kardashian’s prolific social media use, especially her practice of publicizing her whereabouts and posting pictures of her extravagant jewelry, helped contribute in some way to the robbery.

Lessons Learned from Kim Kardashian’s Social Media Use

Personal injury victims claiming they suffered an injury or other harm at the hands of another and who file a lawsuit seeking compensation are in a vulnerable position. While their case is pending and even (in some cases) after their case has concluded, their statements and behaviors can be the subject of great scrutiny by attorneys for the allegedly-negligent defendant who is seeking to minimize liability to the victim.