San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog

Fog Leads to Car Accidents Around the Bay Area

January 19, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

San Francisco is well known for its fog – thick droplets of water suspended in air, unable to dissipate or fall as rain because of various temperatures. Yet, despite the number of days the Bay Area deals with fog, it still poses a risk to drivers. On Tuesday, January 16, the dense fog led to a number of auto accidents. By 6:35 a.m. an accident had been reported on westbound I-80, west of the Bay Bridge. Around the same time, there was an overturned vehicle on westbound CA-4, east of Sycamore Avenue. These were followed by accidents on southbound I-880 in Oakland, southbound I-680 in Pleasanton, southbound US-101 in San Francisco, and westbound I-580 in Tracy. Injuries were reported in many of these accidents.

While fog always increases the risk of a traffic accident, drivers should alter their driving behavior to mitigate this risk as much as possible. Drivers who are careful and alert can avoid crashes.

If you were in an accident caused by another driver during a heavy fog in the Bay Area, contact us at Brod Law Firm right away. Fog does not excuse careless or reckless driving. We will help you fight for the compensation you deserve due to the other driver’s negligence.

Multiple Fatal Wrong-Way Crashes in California

January 12, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

California roads saw multiple deadly wrong-way crashes in the beginning of the new year. On Sunday, January 7, around 12:30 am, California Highway Patrol (CHP) learned of a wrong-way crash on I-5 near Woodland. A 2013 Chevrolet with only a driver inside collided with a Dodge carrying five family members. All six individuals involved in the crashed died at the scene. They leave behind numerous family members.

Second Head-on Crash on I-5

On the same Sunday, another wrong-way collision occurred on a different portion of I-5 in Redding. A 29-year-old man was driving a 2012 Honda Accord on his way to residency interviews to become a physician when he was struck by a 28-year-old woman driving a Chevy Impala the wrong way.

Truck Crash in San Francisco Injures Seven

January 5, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

On January 1 around 3:30 pm, a delivery truck drove into a crosswalk in the Richmond District of San Francisco. The truck struck a vehicle carrying a family of five and two pedestrians. The family in the vehicle were treated at the scene for minor injuries. However, two elderly men, 66 and 79 years, were seriously injured. The 66-year-old is recovering from a broken rib and punctured lung while the 79-year-old required surgery for internal bleeding.

According to reports, the truck was driving southbound on 21st Avenue when it entered the crosswalk at Geary Boulevard. It is believed that the truck driver lost control of his vehicle. Law enforcement officials are investigating the crash, including questioning the trucker, and have not released a cause for the accident, though they do know that the trucker attempted to make an illegal turn. It has not been confirmed whether speeding, drugs, alcohol, or any other issue influenced the crash.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

SpaceX Rocket Appears to Cause Car Crash

December 29, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

On December 22, SpaceX launched its 18th and final rocket for 2017, known as Falcon 9. The unusual sight in the sky, which many people did not expect, caused curiosity and confusion. In Southern California, it caused drivers on I-10 to slow down and become distracted. Dashboard camera footage shows a white Toyota Corolla being rear-ended by a minivan, which then pushes the Corolla into a Toyota Rav4 SUV. The Corolla and Rav4 spin out of their lane and onto the shoulder of the highway.

While the rocket is a rare sight, driver distraction is not. People become distracted behind the wheel all the time, unfortunately, leading to many accidents, injuries, and fatalities. If you were in a car accident in California and you believe it was caused by the other driver’s distraction or inattention, contact a San Francisco car accident lawyer from Brod Law Firm today. Our experienced attorneys can help you through the insurance claim process, or if necessary, a personal injury lawsuit.

Types of Distracted Driving

California Workers Killed During Wildfire Debris Removal

December 22, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

The Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District responded to an accident at Central Landfill near Petaluma on Friday, December 15 around 6 p.m. A truck driver, Ezekiel Jackson Sumner Jr., was struck and killed by his truck. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office stated Sumner was found underneath his truck on top of a compost pile at the landfill.

Sumner had been working for a subcontractor of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, AshBritt Environmental, removing debris from wildfire sites in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake counties. At the time, he was dropping off debris that he had gathered from wildfire sites and had left the truck idling. Another worker found the truck in gear, which had backed up into its own trailer and pinned Sumner.

The California Highway Patrol, Army Corps of Engineers, and Cal-OSHA are conducting individual investigations into the incident. It has been reported that Ash Britt has violated safety regulations in the past, however it is currently unknown whether any violations took place preceding or during this incident.

California Continues to Struggle With Wildfires

December 15, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

California has had a tough year, experiencing a record number of wildfires, some of which began due to natural causes and others that began based on an individual or business’s negligence. In October 2017, there were approximately 250 individual wildfires that began across the northern portion of the state. These burned more than 245,000 acres, destroyed more than 8,900 structures, killed 44 individuals, and hurt hundreds of people. Now, in December, the southern portion of the state is facing significant fires.

If your home has been damaged or destroyed by a wildfire, you need to be clear on your responsibilities. Going through the insurance claim process can be difficult, particularly if you fight for your maximum possible recovery. However, there is help. You may benefit from working with a public insurance adjuster or contacting an experienced attorney like those from Brod Law Firm.

Current California Fires

DUI Crash on Bay Bridge Kills Tollbooth Operator

December 8, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

Around 5 a.m. on Saturday, December 2, Daniel Berk, 32, collided with a Bay Bridge tollbooth while driving a rented box truck. Berk was seriously injured and remains hospitalized in Oakland. The passenger of the truck and the drivers and passengers of five other vehicles were treated and released from the hospital.

The tollbooth operator, Si Si Han, 46, was killed in the crash. Han had worked as a tollbooth operator for almost a decade. She leaves behind her husband and a 10-year-old daughter.

Authorities determined that Berk was intoxicated at the time of the accident. He appears to have been driving between production jobs as the rented truck contained lighting and sound equipment.

San Pablo Hit-and-Run Crash Kills Four, Injures Six

December 1, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

On Saturday, November 25, four individuals were killed in a hit-and-run accident on I-80 in San Pablo, California. The collision was sizable, involving five vehicles and blocking all westbound lanes off I-80. The four individuals killed were a family from Napa Valley and included Daryl Horn, an active community member. The only Horn family member to survive the accident was Daryl’s eldest son. In addition to the four individuals killed in the crash, six others were injured.

The accident took place when Fred Lowe, 47, hit the Horn family’s Nissan sedan, which flipped over and crashed into oncoming traffic. Lowe was arrested later that night when he was involved in a second crash. Authorities reported that Lowe was intoxicated at the time and was driving on a suspended license due to a previous DUI. Lowe has been charged with four counts of felony hit and run, a felony DUI, and driving on a suspended license.

The Criminal and Civil Aspects of the Accident

Physician Shortage Leading to Negligent Inmate Care in Sacramento Prison

November 24, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

There are often controversies regarding jail and prison inmates’ rights. However, it is well established that all prisoners in state and federal facilities are entitled to receive adequate physical and mental health care. They are entitled to have their injuries, physical medical conditions, and psychological conditions reviewed by a physician, diagnosed, and treated. However, stories of negligent medical care in California facilities, some of which have led to inmate deaths, have gained more attention in recent years. Now it has come to light that the health care system within California’s prisons may be entirely inadequate to provide appropriate care.

If your loved one is currently incarcerated and is not receiving proper medical attention for a physical or mental condition, contact a San Francisco civil rights lawyer from Brod Law Firm right away.

Major Issues Despite Improvement

Cleaning Up Your Property After a Wildfire

November 17, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

If your home was destroyed or significantly damaged during a California wildfire, you now face the difficult task of clearing and cleaning up your land before you can rebuild. Depending on your situation, this can be a significant challenge. Here is what you need to know.

There is Help

You may not be personally responsible for clearing your land. Cleaning up your property after a wildfire takes special equipment and preparation, which is why there is government help. You may not need to rent equipment or a hire a private company to come in. Instead, you need to determine the local agency that is coordinating with the California and federal government to handle both hazardous waste and debris and ash removal. You may need to work with this local agency to ensure that your property is taken care of.