San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog

Skateboarding Safety: Thoughts from a Recreational Injury Lawyer in Santa Rosa, Oakland, and San Francisco

August 17, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

When you think about car accident victims, what groups come to mind? Vehicle occupants and pedestrians are probably at the top of the list. After a bit of thought, people might add motorcycle and bicycle riders. However, the truth is that car accident injuries and fatalities can involve a broad range of individuals. One often-overlooked group: Skateboarders. As a recent incident reminds us, skateboard accidents can be serious, even deadly. Sometimes the rider is at fault, but other times fault lies with the vehicle driver or another third-party. In those cases, our skateboard accident lawyer in Santa Rosa, San Francisco, and Oakland can help the injured and/or grieving recover compensation for their loss.

Skateboarder Killed by Car Near Santa Rosa

According to The Press Democrat, a male skateboard rider was killed in an accident on northbound Fulton Road on Friday night. A CHP spokesperson said that the skateboard rider had been travelling on the shoulder when he swerved into the path of a GMC Yukon at approximately 9:15 P.M. near the intersection of Fulton and River roads. The rider suffered major injuries and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where he later died. Police say that the rider veered into the SUV’s path for unknown reasons and the driver was unable to avoid a crash. Although the investigation is ongoing, police do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor and do not expect to charge the driver in the incident.

Wildfires: Northern California Fire Injury Lawyer on Liability and Compensation

August 16, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Years ago, if you asked someone to name the biggest meteorological threat facing California, they would probably have answered “earthquakes” without a second thought. In recent years, however, two closely-related threats have risen to the top of the list – drought and wildfire. Given the “wild” moniker, many people assume that they have little or no legal rights when a wildfire causes damage, injury, or loss of life. This is not necessarily true and our California wildfire attorney helps ensure that wildfire injury victims recover money from insurers and, when there is a human cause, from those responsible for the blaze.

Wildfire Roars through Lake County

On Monday, San Jose Mercury News reported on a wildfire that is roaring through parts of Northern California. The Lower Lake Fire, broke out on Saturday and quickly grew to cover 5 square miles, aided by winds, bone-dry vegetation, and soaring temperatures that hindered firefighters’ efforts. After seeming to calm later Saturday, wind gusts kicked up flames again on Sunday and the fire tore into parts of Lower Lake, a town of 1,200 located some 90 miles north of San Francisco. Fire officials compared the blaze to a wave of water pouring over the city. More than 100 homes were destroyed over the weekend and Cal Fire said thousands remain in the threat zone.

Rollover Accidents: Oakland Accident Attorney on these Terrifying and Complex Events

August 12, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Every car accident is frightening, but rollover accidents are certainly among the most terrifying. As an Oakland car accident lawyer with twenty years’ experience representing the injured and grieving, Attorney Gregory Brod understands the myriad of emotions experienced in the wake of an accident. Attorney Brod also understands the particular complexity of rollover accidents and, along with his team, he can help victims recover critical compensation from other drivers, car manufacturers, and others whose negligence had terrible consequences.

Rollover Injures Three in Brentwood

According to the East Bay Times, a pickup truck travelling on Marsh Creek Road near the Clayton-Brentwood border was involved in a rollover accident on Monday. The accident occurred shortly before 5 P.M. Three people were transported to John Muir Medical Center for medical treatment. Police say at least one person suffered major injuries in the crash. As of this writing, the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Fighting for the Victims: Sexual Assault and the Importance of Civil Litigation

August 10, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Perhaps the most important things one can say to the victim of sexual assault are “I believe you” and “You are not alone.” As a San Francisco sexual assault victim’s law firm, we are here to represent the victim. We are proud to act on behalf of brave children and adults who have suffered from these heinous wrongs. We are honored to help bring civil sexual assault lawsuits that can provide a sense of justice and recover compensation from the assailant.

Police Arrest Petaluma Man on Charges of Sexual Assault Involving a Minor

ABC7 recently reported on a disturbing case of alleged sexual assault in Petaluma. According to the article, police arrested a 38-year-old drug and alcohol counselor based on allegations he drugged and sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl. Police say they found evidence and admissions during a search of the man’s home.

Tenants’ Rights Spotlight: Northern California Tenants’ Lawyer on Housing Discrimination

August 9, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Shelter is one of our most basic and most universal needs. Like other basic needs, the need for safe housing is particularly urgent for parents for whom with the health and well-being of their children often takes precedence over their own. As a San Francisco housing lawyer, Attorney Greg Brod represents renters throughout Northern California who have been treated unfairly by a landlord or property owner. Our work includes representing the victims of housing discrimination, including families, minorities, and others whose rights are violated by increasingly powerful owners and landlords.

DOJ Announces $75,000 Settlement in Case Alleging Discrimination Against Families with Children

A recent case out of Colorado serves as a useful illustration of these wrongs. On July 25, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a press release announcing that the owners and manager of a 28-unit apartment complex in Lakewood, Colorado have agreed to pay $75,000 to settle a claim filed under the Fair Housing Act. The underlying lawsuit alleges that the defendants implemented a policy that generally excluded families with young children from residing in units located in the complex’s front building. Per the allegations contained in the complaint, representatives from a Denver non-profit posed as potential renters and were told that families with children were generally housed in the rear building. The suit further alleged that prospective renters with children were not offered the opportunity to consider available units in the front building.

Refinery Accidents: From Prevention to Compensation

August 5, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

At the Brod Law Firm, we are concerned with the health and safety of all who live in and visit Northern California. We believe wholeheartedly in “Prevention First” and we would much rather see accidents avoided than see clients after the fact. Still, we are also committed to victims. We represent people who are injured or grieving because of the actions (or inaction) of a negligent person or careless company. Our dual commitment can be seen in our work as an Oakland refinery accident law firm. We advocate for refinery safety in the hopes of preventing refinery accidents. We also represent people injured in refinery fires, harmed by toxic gases released from area refineries, or otherwise injured because a refinery failed to take preventative measures.

Report Criticizes Tesoro Refinery for “Safety Culture Deficiencies”

Earlier this week, ABC7 reported on the release of a new federal report that criticizes officials at Tesoro Martinez Refinery for promoting a lax safety culture. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (“CSB”) cited 15 separate acid spills at the refinery during a five-year span including the 2014 spill during which two refinery employees were burned and some 84,000 pounds of sulfuric acid were released. According to the CSB’s chairwoman, “While these incidents may appear to be isolated events, they are indicative of safety culture deficiencies at the Tesoro Martinez Refinery.” Likewise, one of the lead investigators suggested that sampling systems used by the refinery “routinely exposed operators to avoidable risk.”

Northern California Bus Accident Lawyer Looks at Tour Bus Accidents

August 3, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Tour buses can be a great way to travel. Longer distance buses are often an affordable option that can save riders the stress of driving and the cost of gas, not to mention the environmental (and traffic!) benefits of taking cars off the road. In-town tour buses are also a great option, allowing visitors to get an overview of a city and a sense of the places they might want to visit later. Sadly, we have seen far too many tour bus accidents in recent years. Our Northern California tour bus accident law firm is committed to helping victims obtain compensation and holding companies accountable in the hopes of preventing future tragedies.

Tour Bus Accident Kills Five in San Joaquin Valley

CBS SF reports that a tour bus crash in the San Joaquin Valley claimed five lives on Tuesday. The crash occurred around 3:20 A.M. on Highway 99 North near Livingston, approximately 15 miles northwest of Merced. California Highway Patrol representatives told CBS that the tour bus collided with a pole which tore through the center of the vehicle. The bus was travelling to Sacramento from Southern California. Authorities believe at least 30 people were on board at the time of the accident. The driver of the bus reportedly suffered major injuries. As of the time of this writing, it is unclear how many passengers were injured but CHP reports at least five individuals were airlifted to area hospitals. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.

The Many Forms of Financial Elder Abuse

August 2, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

It’s unfortunate but true, financial elder abuse is a growing problem. Unscrupulous thieves conducting consumer fraud schemes may target older individuals because they perceive seniors as more trusting or simply because older people may have accumulated more wealth. As a San Francisco elder abuse lawyer and a San Francisco financial fraud attorney, Greg Brod is committed to stopping ALL forms of elder abuse whether it targets the person’s physical, mental, or financial well-being.

Examples of Financial Elder Abuse from the State Bar of California

An elder abuse information pamphlet from the State Bar of California (“State Bar”) explains that seniors are often the targets of consumer fraud scams. According to the pamphlet, Americans lose billions of dollars per year due to telephone and mail scams alone. E-mail and even in-person scams are also a threat.

Smoke Inhalation: Dangerous and Deadly

July 29, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

Many of us recall fire safety education that included the advice that you drop to the floor and crawl in the event of a significant blaze. The reason behind the advice — Smoke inhalation is one of the biggest dangers in any fire and smoke rises. Whether it is a home fire or a wildfire, smoke is always a threat. When a fire is caused or exacerbated by human negligence (or all-out wrongdoing), victims of smoke inhalation in Northern and Central California can count on our San Francisco fire injury law firm for help recovering compensation for their injuries.

Doctors Report on the Danger of Smoke Inhalation from California Wildfires

The dangers of smoke inhalation are becoming far too real for some California residents as our state faces yet another wildfire. ABC7 reports that smoke from the Soberanes Fire in Monterey County has begun drifting north into San Jose and the South Bay area. According to the article, doctors have been seeing an increase in patients complaining of eye and airway irritation as the haze has moved into the area. One asthma specialist explains how the particulate matter in smoke impacts the lungs: “These are the small areas of the lungs, and the particulate matter can actually get down into the small airways of the lung and can cause asthma, mucous overproduction, wheezing, and can even cause decreased oxygenation to the blood.”

Advice from Your Oakland Bed Bug Lawyer on Avoiding Bed Bugs While Travelling

July 27, 2016 | Gregory J. Brod

It’s summer and many people are anticipating an upcoming vacation. As you think about everything you want to do on your trip, remember one thing you definitely do not want to do – encounter a hotel bed bug infestation or run into the pests elsewhere during your travels. Bed bugs in hotels, transit vehicles, and travel destinations can ruin your vacation by causing itchy red bites. Worse still, they may also try to hitch a ride with you and infest your home causing trouble long after your trip. Our Oakland bed bug lawyer wants to help you avoid these nasty pests and is also here to help if they turn your dream trip into a nightmare.

A Bit of Bed Bug History

Bed bugs are not a new problem, but they have made a resurgence in the past decade. In a 2010 article titled They’re Back: A Bed Bug History, a History.com reporter notes that bed bugs appear to have been plaguing people for millennia. There is evidence of bed bug problems on 17^th Century ships bound for the Americas and archaeologists found fossilized bed bugs at a site in Egypt dating back some 3,550 years. Still, there has been a notable resurgence in the number of bed bug infestations over the past decade.