San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog

Spectator Violence: When Sports Fans Turn Violent

September 18, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Sports is an important part of American culture, a truth that is never more evident than in the fall when baseball is moving towards its championship and football, college and professional, is just beginning. Far too frequently, however, we are seeing stories of fans turning violent. We love our teams, but our San Francisco sports lawyer and his team find this type of violence completely unacceptable. Holding the perpetrators of spectator violence accountable serves the dual purposes associated with all civil injury claims – prevention of future harm and compensation for the injured.

Video Captures Assault on Vikings Fan

As reported by ABC7, a Vikings fan was assaulted in the parking lot of Levi’s Stadium on Monday night after the 49ers beat the Minnesota team. A video shared on social media shows a group of 49ers fans attacking the individual as he tries to crawl away. Police are talking to the victim and looking for witnesses, including some still-unidentified people on the video.

Cigarette Fires: Smoking Can Be Hazardous to All of Us

September 18, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

We hear it even before we enter kindergarten: smoking is hazardous to your health. Typically, this refers to the risk of inhaling harmful chemicals, but other hazards exist. Cigarette fires are one of these dangers. They are particularly worrisome in light of the dangerous conditions that have made fires a constant concern for Californians and therefore a constant concern for our legal team. Our Santa Rosa burn injury attorney has the experience and knowledge necessary to advocate for people wrongfully injured in fires sparked by cigarettes. (Note: “Cigarette fires,” “smoking-material fires,” and similar phrases refer to fires caused by any form of smoking materials, but do not include fires sparked by lighting implements like matches or cigarette lighters.)

Tossed Cigarette Sparks Grass Fire

Last week, the Press Democrat reported on a fire that consumed a quarter-acre grass lot in Santa Rosa, a blaze investigators blame on a tossed cigarette. The fire occurred shortly before 7 P.M. on Tuesday September 8 near Santa Rosa Avenue and East Robles Avenue. Thankfully, firefighters quickly gained control, stopping flames just 50 feet from a business.

Examining the Causes and the Dangers of Wildfires

September 15, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

It’s a topic we’ve touched on often in recent weeks, but it is also the news story foremost in the minds of many Californians and one our team thinks about on both a personal and professional level every day. Watching the news is both frightening and humbling; after all, if the images are coming to us from the news rather than from outside our own windows, we are luckier than many of our neighbors. With reports suggesting that the Valley Fire has now claimed a human life, today’s post looks at the danger of wildfire injuries and wildfire deaths. Our Northern California fire injury law firm also reminds readers that many, though certainly not all, fires are unfortunately the result of human negligence. This truth should push all of us to be vigilant about fire safety and should serve as a reminder that those impacted by fire may have a legal recourse.

Lake County Fire Grows, Fatality Confirmed

On Monday morning, ABC30 published an update on the terrible wildfires ravaging the state. Although details are not available, the network reports that the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (“Cal Fire”) has confirmed the death of one person in the Valley Fire. The confirmation of one death comes as officials say area hospitals have treated at least 27 people for fire-related health problems. Most of the injuries involved smoke inhalation and were deemed minor. Four firefighters were treated for burns.

Dying Declaration in East Oakland Shooting Serves as a Lesson in Evidence and the Civil/Criminal Divide

September 11, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

While the original Law & Order may no longer be in production, legal dramas continue to abound. Often, a key moment in the fictional courtroom involves whether or not the so-called “smoking gun” is admissible in court. These dramas can also highlight the interplay of the criminal and civil systems. Today’s blog entry looks at these issues in the context of a tragic shooting. First, we briefly examine the hearsay rule and its exceptions. Second, we remind readers that our Oakland violent injury law firm can help clients pursue civil claims for violent injury regardless of what happens in a criminal tribunal.

Criminal Charges Filed Based on Dying Man’s Declaration

This week, the Oakland Tribune reported that authorities have filed murder and weapons charges tied to a fatal East Oakland shooting. In the early hours of September 3, police were called to the 9800 block of Burr Street where they found a 22-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. According to police, the man made a dying declaration to officers identifying his shooter prior to passing away at a nearby hospital. Police located the named 31-year-old Richmond resident. Officers say he admitted to involvement in the shooting but a motive is unknown.

Santa Rosa Injury Lawyer Examines Rollover Accidents

September 9, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

All car crashes are frightening, but rollovers are particularly terrifying. Rollovers are particularly violent and particularly deadly. They leave occupants feeling particularly helpless, a feeling that often persists long after the event itself. When a rollover crash is caused by someone’s negligent or wrongful actions and it results in death or injury of another, our Santa Rosa rollover crash attorney is prepared to file a wrongful death or personal injury claim on behalf of the injured and/or surviving relatives. These claims seek to hold the at-fault party accountable and provide much needed compensation to those impacted by the terrifying event.

Rollover Accident Claims Life in Lake County

The Press Democrat reports that a 35 year-old woman died in a Lake County rollover crash on Sunday. CHP investigators say the woman was a passenger in a 1996 Honda Accord that was travelling south on Highway 39 near the Hill Road undercrossing when the vehicle started to drift towards the dirt median. Apparently, the driver overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle which proceeded to skid across the southbound lanes before hitting a curb and dirt embankment. The force of the impact caused the Accord to roll and slide off the road, landing on its roof on the adjoining frontage road.

Vision Zero San Francisco: Making Progress on Plan to End Traffic Fatalities

September 8, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

As your San Francisco personal injury law firm, we fight for compensation for the injured and we know our client’s need money to move forward after tragedy. To put it bluntly, money helps. Still, we understand that no amount of money can take away the pain of an injury or the grief of a loved one’s death. This is why we believe in prevention first. While many entries on this blog include cautionary tales and evidence-backed advice that we hope will further support our commitment to safety, this post will focus on hope and the ambitious prevention goals embodied in the Vision Zero SF plan.

What Is Vision Zero SF?

Vision Zero SF is a road safety policy and a commitment to protect our city’s residents and visitors by making the streets safe and livable. According to the program’s website, 30 people die and more than 200 are seriously injured each year as they travel the city’s streets. The Vison Zero program, which originated in Sweden and is spreading to U.S. cities, is based on the belief that these numbers are unacceptable and these accidents preventable. San Francisco adopted the policy in 2014. The collaborative effort involves policy changes and cultural shifts with the lofty but firm goal of eliminating all traffic deaths by 2024. The initial Two-Year Action Plan calls for completing at least 24 traffic safety improvements in the first 24 months

Oakland/San Francisco Airplane Accident Attorney Looks at Ground Aviation Accidents

September 4, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

When people think of an aviation accident (at least people who didn’t see this post’s title or read/experience the news story that inspired it!), a midair disaster often comes to mind. However, a surprising number of plane crashes occur on the ground. Whether it is a collision between two planes near the terminal, a plane hitting an object while taxiing, or a runway incident as frightening as a failed landing attempt, our Oakland airplane accident attorney is ready to help people injured in ground aviation accidents.

Sideswipe-Style Crash Between Airplanes Damages Wing on 737

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that two aircraft collided on Sunday night at Oakland International Airport. A Southwest Airlines flight was leaving the gate in preparation for a short flight to Orange County when the end of its wing brushed against the wing of another Southwest plane. The sideswipe-style collision damaged the top of a wing tip on the departing plane, a Boeing 737. A passenger told reporters that travelers felt a sudden jolt, one that most passengers seemed to dismiss. He says he noticed the wing tip cracked and fell off while the plane continued to move, leading him to notify a flight attendant out of concern that the damage had not been noticed.

Renter Fights Back: Tenant Files Suit Following $6,700 Rent Hike

September 2, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

There are countless reasons to love San Francisco including our vibrant cultural scene, amazing restaurants, and countless year-round outdoor activities courtesy of the temperate climate. In 2013, The Huffington Post looked at why San Francisco has some of the nation’s happiest and healthiest people in the nation, referencing a well-known Rudyard Kipling quote: “San Francisco has only one drawback – ’tis hard to leave.” Sadly, our San Francisco landlord-tenant attorney knows at least one other drawback: the high cost of renting an apartment. Few stories call attention to this problem as dramatically as the following look at a woman slapped with the highest rent increase we’ve ever encountered. The story calls attention to a loophole in the San Francisco rent control system but also reminds renters that they can, and should, fight back.

The Rent Hike Heard Round the Town

Last week, San Francisco Magazine highlighted the most recent chapter in a rent dispute that captured the attention of the city earlier this year. In March, a renter used social media to share a photo of a notice from her landlord hiking the rent on her Bernal Heights apartment from $2,145 to $8,900 and also increasing her security deposit from $1,500 to $12,500. That’s more than four times the rent and more than eight times the original security deposit, increases that are even more astounding given that the unit had been, to the tenant’s knowledge, covered by rent control! Unable to afford the rent, the tenant moved out in May. She reports struggled to find an affordable home and had managed to get by thus far by doing various house/dog/cat-sitting gigs. The article reports she will move into a sublet this month.

California Supreme Court Paves Way for Dangerous Condition of Public Property Claim

September 1, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Many people assume that personal injury law is a rather static field; after all, while the mode of injuries may change, injuries themselves are far from a new concept. Nonetheless, injury law does indeed evolve. As your San Francisco personal injury law firm, we work to stay informed about new legislation and updated interpretations of existing law. Earlier this summer, the Supreme Court of California handed down a decision clarifying when a government entity can be held liable for injuries stemming from a dangerous condition of public property. The ruling is important in itself and as a signal of California’s continued commitment to protecting her people.

Background: The Case & Rulings Below

According to the court (decision available online), a woman was driving in Los Angeles when another driver veered into her vehicle. The woman’s car spun out and crashed into a magnolia tree, one of several planted in the median about seven feet away from the inside lane. The woman and three passengers, including two of her siblings (identified by the Metropolitan News-Enterprise as between 15 and 19 years old), were killed while a fourth passenger was badly injured. Police arrested the other driver and he was later convicted of four counts of vehicular manslaughter without malice.

Sharing the Road: Even the Safest Pedestrians and Motorcyclists Rely on Responsible Drivers

August 28, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Cars are powerful machines, a fact that is easy to forget as we go about our day-to-day lives. Occasionally, however, we are given a sharp reminder. In some cases, this comes in the form of a close call; a driver glances down momentarily, perhaps returning a beverage to the cup holder, and looks up to with just enough time to brake before hitting someone crossing the road. Such moments make us think about what could have happened and remember how much responsibility we have behind the wheel. Unfortunately, sometimes the reminder takes a harsher form and someone is hurt or even killed. These moments remind us of the sheer power of the automobile, the importance of attentive driving, and the vulnerability of other travelers, especially those not protected by an automobile themselves. As the following story of two crashes illustrates, pedestrian injuries and motorcyclist injuries are far too real and, in the opinion of our San Francisco injury law firm, far too common.

Pedestrian and Motorcycle Rider Hit in Two Crashes

A motorcycle officer and a pedestrian were injured in a pair of accidents on Tuesday. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a police officer aboard a motorcycle was struck by a car around 7:30 A.M. at the intersection of Leavenworth Street and Golden Gate Avenue. A police spokesman told reporters the officer was in the far-left lane when a Volvo travelling in the same direction changed lanes, hitting the officer and sending him crashing into a nearby parked car. The officer was injured but is expected to recover. The driver is cooperating with investigators.