San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog

Who is Responsible in a Driverless Car Accident?

November 30, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

Driverless vehicles may be the new wave of auto technology, but they do not come without their own set of legal issues. According to Forbes, 41% of Google’s Waymo autonomous driving vehicles have already been involved in 32 accidents in the Mountain View area. As if driving in San Francisco was not challenging enough for human motorists, now we have another aspect to consider: driverless vehicles. If you have been injured in an accident involving a driverless vehicle, contact the car accident attorneys at Brod Law Firm today for a full and free consultation of your case.

Who is at Fault?

Who is at fault in a car accident involving an autonomous vehicle depends on a number of factors, such as whether the vehicle was fully autonomous or partially autonomous. In order to determine which parties may be at fault, it is important to evaluate the specific case at hand. However, below is a list of parties that may be at fault depending on the specific circumstances.

What to do if You Detect Toxic Mold in Your Apartment

November 28, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

Everyone wants the assurance that their home is their safe place, but unfortunately this is not always the case. Sometimes, landlords can be lazy and fail to perform regular toxic mold inspections or remediation, and tenants may not notice until they start to exhibit symptoms. If you believe you are living with toxic mold in your apartment, follow the steps below and contact the toxic mold attorneys at Brod Law Firm to learn more about your rights and options.

California Laws Regarding Toxic Mold

While federal law regulates the disclosure and prevention of lead paint, it makes no mention of toxic mold. California law requires landlords to disclose the presence of toxic mold in a residence building, when the level of mold exceeds a safe level, to tenants but does not provide any rules or guidelines for preventing or clearing out toxic mold.

What to do if You Find Bed Bugs in Your Hotel Room

November 23, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

The last thing you expect or want to happen while you are on vacation is to find bed bugs in your hotel room. However, the unfortunate reality is that many hotels have had bed bug infestations, and it is not always possible to avoid them. If you find yourself in a situation in which you have found bed bugs in your room, whether the bugs have bitten you or not, make sure you follow the steps below and call the bed bug attorneys at Brod Law Firm to receive a personal consultation of your case.

What to do if You Find Bed Bugs in Your Hotel Room

Take photos and videos of the bed bugs.

California Woman and Daughter Charged With Financial Elder Abuse

November 16, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

A California woman and her daughter were recently charged with financial elder abuse for coercing the woman’s long time boyfriend into signing away the deed to his residence when he clearly lacked the capacity to do so. The two women are also alleged to have forged medical documents in order to facilitate the transfer of the property. Unfortunately, circumstances like this are not rare. In fact, a majority of financial elder abuse is committed by individuals known to the victim, such as family members. If you have been victimized by a loved one or suspect that someone you know is being victimized by financial elder abuse, contact the elder law attorneys at Brod Law Firm today to learn how we can help.

What is Financial Elder Abuse?

Financial elder abuse is a type of elder abuse that involves the misappropriation of funds. Sadly, the majority of financial elder abusers are family, friends, and acquaintances of the victim. While elderly individuals with alzheimer’s and dementia are at a particularly high risk, any unsuspecting elderly individual can fall prey to financial elder abuse.

Disneyland Sued Once Again for Bed Bug Infestation

November 14, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

Any holiday can be ruined by an unexpected bed bug infestation, even a holiday to the happiest place on earth. Disneyland has again been sued by a woman who claimed she was “butchered” by bed bugs while staying at a Disneyland resort in Anaheim, California. Specifically, she claimed to have been bitten by bed bugs throughout her entire body, including her face, neck, arms, and back. If you have suffered an unfortunate encounter with bed bugs while staying in hotels around California, contact the experienced bed bug attorneys at Brod Law Firm to have your rights represented.

Disneyland’s History of Bed Bug Lawsuits

This is not the first time Disneyland has been sued for a bed bug infestation. Most notably, a Victoria Secret model sued Disneyland for a bed bug infestation during her stay at one of their resorts back in 2016 that left her with more than 90 bites. As a result of the bites, she was forced to take a two-month break from work.

Two Fatal Accidents in San Francisco’s North Beach Neighborhood Remind Motorcyclists to Take Caution

November 9, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

On November 5, 2018, two chilling vehicle collisions in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood that ended in fatalities remind all vehicle operators – but especially motorcyclists – to take utmost caution when on the road. While motorcycle accidents are not necessarily more common than other vehicular accidents, they do result in more fatalities and serious injuries. If you regularly ride your motorcycle around San Francisco, take the following precautions in order to keep yourself and those around you safe. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact the personal injury attorneys at Brod Law Firm so that we can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

Watch where you are going.

This may sound obvious, but in a vast majority of collisions involving a motorcycle and other vehicle, the other vehicle strikes the motorcycle head-on rather than from the rear. Thus, paying attention to the road ahead of you can prevent head-on collisions from occurring and drastically reduce the number of motorcycle accidents and fatalities.

What to do When You are Injured in a Bus Accident in California

November 2, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

With over 4,000 large truck and bus accidents resulting in fatalities in the United States in 2016, it is clear that accidents can happen even on vehicles we typically deem to be safe. Whether you are traveling on a local bus, like a Muni bus, or a long haul bus, like a Greyhound, it is not always possible to avoid accidents and injuries. If you have been injured in a bus accident, make sure you know who is responsible and what your remedies are. Call an experienced personal injury attorney in your area to talk through your case and learn about your options moving forward.

Types of Buses in California

For most San Francisco natives, Muni and Greyhound are the two main types of buses used to get around. However, there are a variety of buses in the Bay Area that cater to other audiences, like tourists. Tour buses and school buses are just as prone to accidents as Muni or Greyhound buses and can be held liable in case of an accident that results in injury to its passengers.

Three Things You Should Know About Common Carrier Liability in California

October 31, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

What is a Common Carrier?

In California, a common carrier is a transportation company that transports people, goods, or property around the state. A transportation company that wants to be labeled a common carrier must meet the following requirements:

The reason the transportation company was established was to transport people or goods from one place to another

Five Most Common Injuries Resulting From Car Accidents

October 26, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

Car accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, from obvious injuries like broken bones to not-so-obvious injuries like emotional distress. The five types of injuries below are the most common types of injuries resulting from car accidents. If you have been involved in a car accident and suffered from one of these injuries, contact an experienced Santa Rosa or San Francisco personal injury attorney immediately for a comprehensive analysis of your case.

Whiplash

Since most car accidents involve a jerking motion, either from front to back or from side to side, victims of car accidents often suffer from whiplash. As the name indicates, whiplash occurs when the head and neck “whip” back and forth or from side to side. This typically causes pain or stiffness in the neck or head region, or even total loss of motion. Depending on the severity of the whiplash suffered, a car accident victim can recover from whiplash naturally over time or require additional treatment to heal.

Types of Emotional Elder Abuse in California

October 19, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

While elder physical abuse is typically easy to spot, as you notice bruises and scratches on your elderly loved one’s body, emotional abuse, or psychological abuse, can be more difficult to detect. In California, any type of elder abuse, including emotional or psychological abuse, is illegal and punishable under the law. If you suspect a loved one has been the victim of emotional or psychological elder abuse, contact the attorneys at Brod Law Firm today to help your loved ones seek justice and obtain the compensation they deserve.

What is Emotional Elder Abuse?

Emotional, or psychological elder abuse is similar to domestic abuse that an individual may experience in a bad relationship with their significant other or even with their parent or sibling. It often takes place in nursing homes by nursing home staff and caretakers, but it can also take place in the elderly individual’s home by his or her own family members. A person who is found to have committed elder abuse can be charged with a felony, which can result in two to four years of state prison time, or a misdemeanor, which can result in up to one year in county jail and thousands of dollars in fines, depending on the person’s background and history.