car accident injury lawyer in California Tag Archives

Steps to Take After a Rideshare Accident in San Francisco

April 30, 2021 | Gregory J. Brod

Rideshare programs are becoming extremely popular today. Companies such as Uber and Lyft have provided a convenient way for people to get around. They have also been touted as a safer means of transportation, particularly for those who have been drinking alcohol. However, ridesharing drivers are just as likely to get into an accident as any other type of driver. When these crashes occur, it is important to determine which driver was negligent so that injured passengers can hold them liable. When filing a claim, taking the steps outlined below is important to increase your chances of success.

Call the Police

Whether you were the other driver involved in the crash, or the passenger inside the ridesharing vehicle, you should call the police after an accident. If the ridesharing driver was negligent, other motorists and passengers can file a claim against them or the company. If you were a passenger in the ridesharing vehicle and another driver was at fault, you will need to hold them liable. In any case, a police report will indicate the negligent behaviors that caused the accident, and the party that was at fault. All of these details will help bolster your claim.

When do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer?

January 31, 2020 | Gregory J. Brod

Car accidents occur every day in California. Even when a crash is caused by another person’s negligence, though, it may not require the help of a car accident lawyer. Although most car accident claims can greatly benefit from the help of an attorney, seeking legal counsel is not always necessary. How do you know if you need the help of a lawyer? If your car accident involves any of the factors below, the chances are good that your claim can greatly benefit from the advice of a San Francisco car accident lawyer.

The Accident Involved Serious Injuries or Death

If you only sustained minor bruises and scrapes in the accident, there is a good chance that you do not need a lawyer. When the injuries are more serious, however, or worse, result in wrongful death, you must seek the help of an attorney who knows the law and can advise on your claim.

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.

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.

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.

Serious Injuries Result From a Hit and Run Pedal Cab Accident

June 29, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

On Wednesday, June 27, two people were seriously hurt when a car crashed into a pedal cab at Embarcadero and Sansome Street in San Francisco and fled the scene. A second pedal cab then crashed into the first pedal cab. The pedal cabs were carrying a family of four. Police are still investigating the case and searching for the car, which has been described as a light colored sedan.

If you were injured in a hit and run accident, do not wait to ask for legal help. The personal injury lawyers at Brod Law Firm have years of experience handling hit and run claims. By calling us, you will have an experienced attorney fighting for your rights. Contact Brod Law Firm online or call us at (800) 427-7020.

California Hit and Run Laws

Fog Leads to Car Accidents Around the Bay Area

January 19, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

San Francisco is well known for its fog – thick droplets of water suspended in air, unable to dissipate or fall as rain because of various temperatures. Yet, despite the number of days the Bay Area deals with fog, it still poses a risk to drivers. On Tuesday, January 16, the dense fog led to a number of auto accidents. By 6:35 a.m. an accident had been reported on westbound I-80, west of the Bay Bridge. Around the same time, there was an overturned vehicle on westbound CA-4, east of Sycamore Avenue. These were followed by accidents on southbound I-880 in Oakland, southbound I-680 in Pleasanton, southbound US-101 in San Francisco, and westbound I-580 in Tracy. Injuries were reported in many of these accidents.

While fog always increases the risk of a traffic accident, drivers should alter their driving behavior to mitigate this risk as much as possible. Drivers who are careful and alert can avoid crashes.

If you were in an accident caused by another driver during a heavy fog in the Bay Area, contact us at Brod Law Firm right away. Fog does not excuse careless or reckless driving. We will help you fight for the compensation you deserve due to the other driver’s negligence.

Multiple Fatal Wrong-Way Crashes in California

January 12, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

California roads saw multiple deadly wrong-way crashes in the beginning of the new year. On Sunday, January 7, around 12:30 am, California Highway Patrol (CHP) learned of a wrong-way crash on I-5 near Woodland. A 2013 Chevrolet with only a driver inside collided with a Dodge carrying five family members. All six individuals involved in the crashed died at the scene. They leave behind numerous family members.

Second Head-on Crash on I-5

On the same Sunday, another wrong-way collision occurred on a different portion of I-5 in Redding. A 29-year-old man was driving a 2012 Honda Accord on his way to residency interviews to become a physician when he was struck by a 28-year-old woman driving a Chevy Impala the wrong way.

DUI Crash on Bay Bridge Kills Tollbooth Operator

December 8, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

Around 5 a.m. on Saturday, December 2, Daniel Berk, 32, collided with a Bay Bridge tollbooth while driving a rented box truck. Berk was seriously injured and remains hospitalized in Oakland. The passenger of the truck and the drivers and passengers of five other vehicles were treated and released from the hospital.

The tollbooth operator, Si Si Han, 46, was killed in the crash. Han had worked as a tollbooth operator for almost a decade. She leaves behind her husband and a 10-year-old daughter.

Authorities determined that Berk was intoxicated at the time of the accident. He appears to have been driving between production jobs as the rented truck contained lighting and sound equipment.

Three Individuals Hit by Vehicle While Crossing the Street in Oakland

July 21, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

Two young women and a 5-year-old boy were struck by a vehicle while walking in an Oakland crosswalk in mid-July. A surveillance video at a nearby restaurant recorded the accident that took place at the intersection of Fruitvale and Brookdale. The three entered the marked crosswalk while walking home from the bus. They noticed the vehicle, yet have stated that they thought it was far enough away that they assumed it would stop. The vehicle did not stop and directly struck the three pedestrians. The two women were thrown into the air and the toddler was dragged under the car.

Each individual survived, but is suffering from significant injuries. One of the young women has a broken pelvis and fractured leg. The other suffered chest injuries and broken ribs. The young boy is now paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury and may be in the hospital for a considerable length of time.

A Dangerous Oakland Intersection