San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog

Bay Area Lawyer on the Danger of Big-Rig Crashes

November 4, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Over the years, vehicles seem to have grown with SUVs and crossover vehicles making traditional passenger cars seem almost petite. Still, even not-so-mini-vans look almost like the Matchbook cars when they pull alongside a big-rig truck. Despite all the advances in technology, the transportation of goods remains essential and big-rig trucks are a major part of that supply chain. Many commercial drivers are committed to safety, but the sheer size of these vehicles make even a moment of inattention dangerous. Big-rig accidents can be big-time catastrophes and our San Francisco big-rig crash lawyer is committed to helping the victims recover compensation from any and all parties at fault.

Big-Rig Crashes Litter Highways on Monday and Tuesday

As we write this post, CBS SF Bay Area is reporting on a multi-vehicle accident involving a big-rig truck that snarled traffic during Tuesday morning’s commute on Highway 880 near Brokaw Road in San Jose. Few details were available in the early report, but the crash followed a rain-soaked Monday morning marked by at least two early morning accidents involving big-rigs. CBS reported that at 2:19 AM on Monday California Highway Patrol (“CHP”) personnel responded to a call regarding a big-rig accident in the westbound lanes of Highway 580 just east of Greenville Road near Livermore. CHP officials told reporters that the accident left the big-rig on its side across three lanes of traffic and they eventually shut down all westbound lanes to clean up the debris. Less than half an hour after the first crash, a report came in about a second accident involving a big-rig on Highway 580, this time in the eastbound lanes. CHP officials say that crash involved a big-rig colliding with an SUV; CHP also had to close the eastbound lanes for a period to address that incident. The report does not say whether anyone was injured in either of Monday’s big-rig collisions.

Car Accidents and Daylight Savings Time: The Dangers After We Fall Back

November 3, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

The end of Daylight Savings Time is a yearly occurrence that many of us eagerly anticipate and dread in equal measures. Many people reveled in an extra hour of rest this past weekend (at least those without young children whose sleep cycles don’t change simply because we adjusted our clocks!). However, that extra hour of sleep comes at cost: lost daylight. While many people worry about the impact on afternoon activities and even on people’s moods, at our Oakland injury law firm we worry about another danger – the tie between car accidents and daylight savings time.

Increased Risk of Car Accidents When Daylight Saving Time Ends

sunset Last year, Time Magazine delved into the twice-yearly debate about changing the clocks, focusing on the impact of Daylight Savings Time (“DST”) on road safety. The article suggests that losing an hour of afternoon sunlight, as we do each fall when DST ends, may result in an increased number of traffic accidents. According to a 2004 study, the lives of some 170 pedestrians and 200 motorists could be saved each year by maintaining DST all year.

From Extreme Treatments to Basic Pedicures: California Spa Injury Lawyer on Salon Safety

October 30, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

For many women, and an increasing number of men, a day at the spa is a small luxury that leaves them relaxed and feeling attractive. Nail salons and spas offer a wide range of services, especially if you include so-called “health spas” in the mix. Recently, a news story brought national attention to an extreme service offered at some spas after an employee died while using a treatment device that is increasingly popular with athletes and celebrities. However, the risks lurking at salons are not limited to the more unusual services. The danger of spa and nail salon injuries is very real, lurking behind even popular, wide-spread services like manicures and pedicures. As a salon injury lawyer in San Francisco with additional salon injury law offices in Sonoma and Oakland, Attorney Brod is prepared to help individuals who went to a spa seeking bliss and instead found injury and pain.

The Extreme: Worker Dies Using Cryotherapy Chamber at Nevada Spa

An Associated Press (“AP”) report carried by SFGate.com details the disturbing death of a young spa employee in Las Vegas. According to the article, a fellow employee found the 24-year-old woman frozen to death inside a cryotherapy chamber earlier this month. It appears the deceased used the chamber after closing a day prior. Cryotherapy involves putting users into a chamber for just a minute or two and using liquid nitrogen to achieve sub-zero temperature. Proponents, including athletes, say it can relieve post-exercise pain, improve healing, and increase circulation. Some salons also tout the treatment as a weight loss aid and anti-aging remedy.

Understanding Wrongful Death Law in California

October 28, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Wrongful death cases are always emotional, even for a law firm that deals with them on a regular basis, however, this work can be incredibly rewarding. When our Oakland wrongful death law firm helps a grieving family recover compensation, we allow a family to begin to move forward from a terrible tragedy alleviating some of their most pressing financial concerns and also providing a sense of justice. Whether it is a deadly auto accident such as the accident that claimed 5 lives in the Sierra foothills on Saturday, a dangerously defective product, or any other danger created by someone else’s negligence, California wrongful death law and the Brod Law Firm can help.

Deadly Accident Involved Santa Rosa Vehicle

The Oakland Tribune reports that a vehicle registered in Santa Rosa was one of two cars involved in a deadly collision near Sonora on Saturday. Calling it one of the worst accidents the area has seen in a while, California Highway Patrol (“CHP”) officials say that an SUV and a sedan collided in a head-on crash on Highway 120 near Smith Station Road around 6:30 Saturday evening. Four people travelling in the SUV died at the scene while one was airlifted to a Modesto hospital. The driver of the sedan also perished while his sole passenger was taken to the same hospital for treatment of major injuries.

Construction Defect Lawsuits and the Never-Ending Saga of the Bay Bridge

October 27, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

It’s a story we’ve followed for years – problems that plagued the Bay Bridge construction project and continue to arise more than two years after the grand re-opening. We hope that paying attention NOW helps prevent tragedy LATER, such as the frightening collapse of the previous span during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. As a San Francisco construction defect injury law firm, we represent plaintiffs injured by construction defects, people for whom repairs come too late. We hope our services are never needed for injuries tied to the Bay Bridge construction (or any other project, for that matter), but when shoddy workmanship on a home, road, or any other manmade structure leads to injuries anywhere in Northern California we are here to help.

More Defects Found in Bay Bridge Components

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, new documents are raising new concerns about the integrity of steel rods used in the eastern span of the Bay Bridge. The newly released report includes statements from an independent engineer suggesting that previously discovered micro-cracks caused by water exposure are present in parts of the span far from where issues were first discovered. Cracking could, per experts, lead to failure. The report is part of a $20 million testing program undertaken after flooded sleeves caused cracking and, in one case, failure of tower rods.

Foodborne Illness Litigation: Examining the Law and Looking at a Shigella Outbreak in San Jose

October 23, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

ecoli Whether it’s to celebrate a special event, a way to spend time with someone you love, an opportunity to get to know someone new, or simply a chance to give the kitchen (and the family chef”) the night off, Americans love dining out. Restaurants can tantalize the taste buds with something new while connecting with our companions or with ourselves. Thanks in part to a network of health-related laws and regulations, dining out is usually a safe experience and typically the biggest health risk lies in overindulging. However, on occasion a restaurant meal leaves diners dealing with a foodborne illness, including conditions that can be fatal. When a meal out in Northern California leaves a patron ill, especially when the illness is serious, our San Francisco restaurant lawyer can help.

Shigella Outbreak Traced to San Jose Restaurant

As of Wednesday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, officials had identified more than 80 people who were sickened by a bacterial infection after eating at a San Jose restaurant. After numerous people sought treatment at area hospitals last weekend, doctors and investigators concluded they were dealing with an outbreak of shigella and traced the bacteria to a suspected source, a Mexican seafood restaurant in downtown San Jose. All of the infected patients had dined at the establishment on Friday or Saturday. Of the 80 plus people believed to have been sickened by the outbreak, testing has confirmed that 15 have the shigella bacteria. Twelve patients required treatment in intensive care. The restaurant is closed while the investigation continues.

Wrong-Way Drivers and Alcohol

October 21, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

It’s a scenario we can imagine all too well – you are driving and, almost out of nowhere, you find yourself staring into a set of headlights. Just the thought of coming (quite literally) face-to-face with a wrong-way driver is enough to send a shiver of fright down your spine. Perhaps not surprisingly, a large percentage of wrong-way drivers are also alcohol-impaired drivers. The combination can cause serious injuries or even death to innocent travelers. Our Santa Rosa wrong-way driver lawyer advocates for both the injured and the grieving, helping victims recover the compensation they need and deserve.

Alcohol-Impaired Wrong-Way Driver Had Two Prior DUIs

Last week, a judge sentenced a Cloverdale man to five years in prison for a wrong-way drunk driving crash. According to a news release from the District Attorney’s Office, on April 21, 2015, a driver called 911 to report that he’d been forced off Highway 12 in Dunbar by a wrong-way driver. Before police could respond, the wrong-way driver crashed head-on into another vehicle causing someone in the other vehicle to suffer a broken foot. Police reportedly observed objective signs showing that the wrong-way driver was intoxicated and conducted a blood test that found he had a BAC of 0.13 (0.08 is the legal limit).

Oakland Dangerous Roads Lawyer on Liability for Car Accident Caused by Hazardous Roads

October 20, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Often, car accidents are the fault of one or more negligent drivers including drunk drivers, texting drivers, and drivers who are simply day-dreaming rather than focusing on the road. However, when accidents repeatedly occur at the same location, one has to ask if the location is the problem. Not every Bay Area car accident gives rise to a legal claim regarding dangerous roads in Oakland, San Francisco, and/or Santa Rosa, but sometimes dangerous designs, poor maintenance, or the failure to address another dangerous condition means a dangerous roads lawsuit is appropriate. Oakland dangerous roads lawyer Greg Brod partners with experts in road design and related topics to help drivers seek justice and to bring about positive change.

Second Accident in Four Days Leaves Three Hospitalized

The Oakland Tribune reports that three people were taken to area hospitals with non-critical injuries following a three vehicle accident in Byron on Sunday night. Authorities report that a motorcycle and two cars were involved in a wreck just before 7 P.M. on Vasco Road at Camino Diablo. California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the collision.

Tragic Day Highlights the Problem of Railway Fatalities

October 16, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

On Tuesday, we discussed non-passenger accidents involving San Francisco’s Municipal Railway (“Muni”). After that article posted, in a bizarre and tragic twist of fate, multiple accidents occurred in our region including several different transit providers. The thought and hearts of our Oakland train accident lawyer and our entire legal team go out to the individuals and families affected by these tragedies. Given Tuesday’s events, we wanted to touch on the issue of train accidents and train fatalities once more and take a broader look at accidents involving railroad vehicles.

A Tragic Day on the Tracks

The Oakland Tribune reports that Tuesday evening’s commute saw collisions involving every major public transit agency in our region, including two deadly accidents. Officials say it is unclear what exactly led to the four separate collisions. In particular, in the first three incidents, the article suggests that it is unclear why the parties involved were present on the tracks.

Negligence and Responsibility in Northern California Apartment Fires

October 14, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Wildfires have ravaged much of our region this year. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by these terrible blazes and our thanks go out to the brave men and women who risk their own safety to battle the fires. While wildfires have made headlines, other types of fires can also destroy property, cause serious injury, and even claim lives. Apartment fires pose some unique issues and the actions (or inaction) of landlords and property owners can increase fire risk. When a renter is injured or a life is lost due to an apartment fire caused by owner/landlord negligence, our Santa Rosa apartment fire lawyer is prepared to use the power of the law to fight for the injured renter or grieving family.

Fire Attacks Santa Rosa Apartment Complex

The Press Democrat reports that a destructive fire ravaged a west Santa Rosa apartment building on Sunday. At around 7:45 AM, the fire department began receiving reports of smoke at the 266-unit, two-story complex located near the intersection of Piner and Marlow Roads. Firefighters initially found light smoke, but no visible flames. The battalion chief told reporters that a fire was burning inside the walls and the attic space. He warned that this type of fire is particularly dangerous because they often go undiscovered until smoke begins to billow out into the homes.