San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog

What Evidence do You Need to File a Car Accident Claim?

August 30, 2019 | Gregory J. Brod

California follows tort law in car accident claims, meaning that accident victims must prove another driver was at fault for a crash when they are trying to claim compensation. Evidence is crucial to prove this fault, but many accident victims do not know what type of evidence they need. If you have been in a car accident that was the fault of someone else, below are a few types of evidence that will greatly help with your claim. An experienced San Francisco car accident lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

Photographs and Video of the Scene

Everyone has a smartphone on them these days, making this type of evidence fairly easy to obtain. Take videos and pictures of the scene right after the accident happened. If you are too injured to take pictures or video, ask someone nearby to take them for you.

Tips for Taking Pictures After a Car Accident

July 25, 2019 | Gregory J. Brod

When it comes to evidence of a car accident, photos taken at the scene are some of the most important. Eyewitnesses are not always present at the accident scene. Without photographs, there is sometimes little reliable evidence to be collected from the scene aside from the police report. Photos of the scene are so important that this step is listed on every single list of what to do after an accident. However, what should you take pictures of after a crash, exactly? Below you will find, according to San Francisco car accident lawyers, the most important items to document, and tips for taking pictures after a car accident.

Take a Picture of the Whole Scene

You will want pictures capturing the entire scene to depict exactly what happened. Take a few steps back and take several photos from different angles. Make sure all vehicles involved are in the picture, as well as objects such as guardrails or trees that might be relevant. You also want to show the positions of the vehicles, as this can help determine which driver was negligent.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit

June 28, 2019 | Gregory J. Brod

There are many reasons people do not file personal injury claims, even when they are eligible for compensation. One of those reasons is simply the fear of the unknown. They do not know what to expect from a lawsuit, what steps to take, or what will be expected of them. If you have been hurt by someone else’s negligence, it is important that you do not let this fear keep you from the compensation you deserve. Becoming familiar with the process can make it less stressful, and help you feel more confident about your claim.

Finding the Right Attorney

If you have been hurt in a slip and fall, or any other accident that allows for compensation under the California Civil Code, you need to first speak with an attorney. An attorney will guide you through all the steps in a lawsuit and tell you what is coming next. Your lawyer will also review your claim and explain the California laws that pertain to it. If your attorney determines that you have a case, he or she will start collecting evidence and building your claim.

Are Stadium Owners Liable for Injuries?

May 26, 2019 | Gregory J. Brod

It was in April when the Los Angeles Dodgers played their longest regular-season game in franchise history. The game went on for 13 innings, a total of six hours and five minutes. At the end of it all, the Dodgers lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Needless to say, at the end of the game the fans were spirited, and some were angry. A man was attacked in the parking lot by another man and is now suffering from serious brain injuries.

The attack shocked Californians across the state, particularly considering this is not the first time something like this has happened at Dodger Stadium. It also has many wondering, who is liable for injuries that happen at a sports stadium?

When Stadium Owners are Liable

Should You Speak to the Insurance Company After an Accident?

April 15, 2019 | Gregory J. Brod

In California, everyone must carry the minimum amount of insurance required by state law. When you get into an accident with a negligent driver, you will have two insurance companies to deal with — your own, and that of the other driver. While this may sound fairly straightforward, it is not.

The insurance company, particularly the one for the other driver, is not your friend. They will try anything they can to get you to admit fault, or take your words out of context so you look like the negligent party. Many drivers are not familiar with their tactics. As such, they get tricked into providing things not required of them by law, or signing away their rights. Below are a few of the strategies these companies use to ruin your claim.

They Show Up Immediately

Civil Lawsuits are Possible for Victims of Sexual Assault

March 11, 2019 | Gregory J. Brod

Leaving Neverland, the documentary outlining the sexual assault two young boys experienced at the hands of Michael Jackson, aired for two nights on HBO this past week. In the documentary, the boys recounted how Jackson not only abused them, but threatened them with the prospect of jail if they were to tell anyone. The boys were 7 and 10 at the time the abuse took place.

The documentary was graphic, sparing no detail, and was difficult to watch. It was an important documentary though, as hopefully it now gives sexual assault victims the voice they need to come forward and to know their story will be believed. It is important that any victim of sexual assault understands that they too, can come forward, even if not to pursue criminal charges. In California, it is also possible to file a civil lawsuit to claim compensation for this type of abuse.

Types of Sexual Assault

What Does California Law Say About Dog Bites?

February 15, 2019 | Gregory J. Brod

According to State Farm Insurance, California has more dog bite claims than any other state. Much of the time, dog bites are minor and do not require any treatment. Other times however, dog bites and attacks are serious and require extensive medical treatment. In some instances, they even cause permanent scarring and disfigurement.

When a person suffers these and other serious injuries from a dog bite, he or she often wonders if there is any available recourse. In California, there is.

California Law on Dog Bites

Distracted Driving and Motor Vehicle Accidents in California

January 25, 2019 | Gregory J. Brod

If you are a driver in the San Francisco area, you likely have some stories about the distracted drivers you have seen around you. You can often see drivers eating, talking on the phone, texting, reading, and even putting on clothes or makeup. It is certainly scary to watch, especially knowing that they are behind the wheel of what is essentially a two-ton weapon moving at speed. Many of us often say to ourselves, “That person is going to hurt or kill someone if they do not pay better attention to what they are doing!” The question then, is what happens when they actually do hurt or kill someone?

Motor Vehicle Accidents and Distracted Driving Statistics

In 2017 (the last year for which statistics are available), motor vehicle accidents were responsible for 37,133 fatalities in the US. According to The Office of Traffic Safety, California accounted for 3,602 of those. 858 pedestrians were killed by motor vehicles in California, as well. Nationwide, 3,450 people were killed by distracted drivers as well as 562 pedestrians and bicyclists. This accounts for almost 10% of total fatalities. In California, which has some of the most strict distracted driver laws, there were more than 178,000 cell phone use convictions and more than 31,000 convictions for texting while driving (these numbers are for 2016, the most recent year for these numbers). Californians ranked texting while driving and talking on a phone (either with hands or hands-free) as the two largest dangers while driving and over 62% of those surveyed said they had either been hit or almost hit by someone using a cell phone. Clearly, distracted driving is a serious issue and is causing a substantial number of injuries and deaths that are potentially avoidable.

Personal Injury and Bus Accidents in California

January 23, 2019 | Gregory J. Brod

On January 18, KSBY-TV reported on a bus crash near Los Alamos off of Highway 101. The driver and six passengers were taken to the hospital for minor injuries. Later that day, the driver was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt in the incident, but it does raise the question as to who is liable in a bus accident.

Bus Accidents in the U.S.

Depending on your perspective, you may think of buses as inherently safe or inherently dangerous. The federal Department of Transportation puts out an annual report each year regarding crashes involving buses. The last report available is for 2016 and produced some eye-opening statistics:

An Overview of San Francisco’s Rent Control Ordinance

January 18, 2019 | Gregory J. Brod

If you rent your home in the San Francisco area, you most likely are aware of San Francisco’s Rent Control Ordinance. Even if you currently rent or you are thinking of coming to the area and renting, there are many specifics of the ordinance you may not know about. Consider the following when looking for a new place to live or if you feel like your current landlord is not following the law.

What Does the Ordinance do?

The San Francisco Rent Ordinance provides a number of protections to tenants who rent or lease a dwelling. First and perhaps foremost, the law regulates the amount that rent can be increased annually for specific dwellings in specific situations. To this end, the law also allows only a certain amount of capital improvement costs to be passed on to the tenant by the landlord. It also allows the tenant to petition the Rent Board for a decrease in rent if the landlord has failed to provide services that have been agreed upon or that are required by law. This includes if the landlord has not maintained the premises in a habitable manner or if unit has uncorrected housing code violations. Secondly, the law regulates the circumstances under which a tenant may be evicted.