Posted on April 17,2020 in Premises Liability

An unexpected accident such as slip and fall can happen to anyone at any time. Every year, millions of individuals are injured in accidents on both public and private properties. Some of these injuries are caused by defective conditions on the property itself. Buildings that are not in compliance with state and local building codes can present an unreasonable risk to guests to that property. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident involving building code violations, you may be entitled to compensation.

Understanding the Importance of Building Codes

“Building codes” refers to the standards that regulate building design and construction. Building codes require materials, building practices, and structures to meet certain standards for reliability and safety. Common building code violations include:

• Structural defects

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 Posted on January 14,2020 in Personal Injury

Many people do not realize that many physical injuries also cause serious mental injuries. A person who is involved in a brutal car accident may experience extreme anxiety and fear for months or even years after the accident. An individual who is hurt in an attack caused by negligent security may experience flashbacks and nightmares of the incident that leave him or her unable to live a normal life. If you have been involved in a serious accident and are now suffering psychological symptoms as a result, you may be able to get compensation for these mental injuries through a personal injury lawsuit.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

One of the most common types of mental injuries that a person involved in an injury-causing incident can develop is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness, insomnia, problems with concentration, being easily startled, and more. A person suffering from PTSD may go out of his or her way to avoid activities or places that remind him or her of the traumatic experience. Someone involved in a car accident may find it hard to even ride in a vehicle let alone drive after the incident. The symptoms of PTSD can dramatically affect a person’s ability to function normally.

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 Posted on November 25,2019 in Car Accidents

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 years old are at a higher risk for a car accident than those in any other age group. In facts, teenage drivers are three times more likely per mile driven to be involved in a fatal accident that drivers over the age 20. Some teens, of course, are very conscientious drivers, but unfortunately, accidents still happen. A recent study suggests that that monitoring levels of a certain stress hormone may help predict how likely a teen is to be involved in an accident.

Testing Cortisol Levels

The study found that newly-licensed teenagers who produced lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol were more likely to be involved in an accident or near-accident. According to Dr. Dennis Durbin, co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, this may indicate that people who experience heightened emotions in stressful situations use those emotions to learn more quickly when behind the wheel. Dr. Durbin did not conduct the study, but he did co-write an editorial that was published along with the findings.

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 Posted on November 11,2019 in Truck Accidents

The trucking industry is absolutely essential to the flow of goods across the United States. An estimated 80 percent of U.S. cargo is transported by hard-working men and women who drive tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and other large trucks. Driving a semi-truck across the country can a tedious and isolating job. Truck drivers are expected to endure harsh road and weather conditions, long periods of time away from family and friends, and erratic sleep schedules. Unfortunately, some truck drivers turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the strenuousness of their job. Considering how destructive truck accidents can be, the prevalence of drug and alcohol use in truck drivers is extremely concerning.

Fatal Truck Accidents on the Rise

The same features that make 18-wheelers and other large trucks so useful for transportation make them deadly during a traffic accident. A large truck cannot maneuver through traffic the way an averaged sized vehicle can. If a stalled vehicle suddenly blocks the road ahead, for example, cars may have enough time to dodge the stalled vehicle or come to a stop. A fully-loaded tractor-trailer takes approximately 20-40 percent farther to come to a stop than a small car does. This difference in stopping time can mean the difference between life and death. Data shows that there were just under 4000 fatalities caused by truck crashes in 2016. This number represents a 27 percent increase from the number of fatalities in 2009.  

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 Posted on August 02,2019 in Defective Products

In decades past, a diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was akin to a death sentence. However, incredible advances in both HIV treatment and prevention have significantly reduced the number of people who die from Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). By simply taking a pill, many people have been able to successfully reduce their chances of acquiring the HIV virus while others are able to take medications to slow the progression of AIDS. However, a product liability lawsuit aimed at a company who manufactures these types of drugs asserts that the drugs are not as safe as the public has been led to believe. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is now asking one HIV/AIDS drug manufacturer to compensate victims for exposing them to unnecessary medical risks associated with these drugs.

HIV Litigation Attorneys Demand Victim Compensation

A lawsuit filed in Alameda County seeks to hold HIV/AIDS drug manufacturer Gilead Sciences Inc. accountable for purportedly failing to fix a defect in one popular medication. The lawsuit alleges that a medication manufactured by Gilead Sciences Inc. which is designed to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS was not as safe as it could have been.

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 Posted on July 23,2019 in Premises Liability

If you are a parent, you probably already know how difficult it can be to leave your child in the care of others. Working parents across the nation trust daycare, before and after school program, and other child care workers to take care of their precious loved ones. They trust that the staff at the child care facility will keep a sanitary and hazard-free environment and that their child will return from the facility without injury. Unfortunately, this not always the case. If your child was injured by a negligent child care facility, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages.

Daycare Injuries and Illnesses Should Be Assessed by a Medical Professional

If your child was injured or contracted an illness at daycare, it is crucial that you have their injuries checked out by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. If the injury is due to a negligent facility or staff member, you may consider seeking compensation for the damages at a later date. Evidence in the form of an official medical record is almost always necessary to bring a successful personal injury claim and child care injuries and illnesses are no exception. Some injuries and illnesses can seem minor at first, but then develop into more serious conditions. Getting your loved one checked out by a professional not only secures your ability to seek compensation in the future, it may also prevent the child’s condition from worsening.

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 Posted on July 15,2019 in Car Accidents

Being in any type of car accident can be a terrifying ordeal, but being involved in a hit and run may be the worst type of accident to be involved in. When a driver causes a car crash and then intentionally leaves the scene of the accident without providing contact information, the victim may incorrectly assume there is nothing they can do to get compensation for their damages. However, there are several things hit and run victims can do to maximize their chances of getting reimbursement for their injuries and property damage.

Always Call the Police Immediately After a Hit and Run

It can be infuriating to be the victim of a hit and run accident. Understandably, some people feel tempted to chase after the person who hit them and sped away from the accident scene. However, doing this can make your situation much worse than it already is. You could cause another accident or exacerbate your injuries by attempting to catch the person who caused the crash. You could also face criminal charges if you break traffic laws in your pursuit of the other driver. Instead, call the police immediately after being involved in a hit and run. A police report chronicling the details of the accident is almost always needed to pursue a civil claim for a hit and run. Furthermore, a police report will likely make your auto claims process faster.

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 Posted on July 08,2019 in Premises Liability

Sometimes injury-causing accidents happen simply because of bad luck. However, if you were injured on another party’s property because that property was not safe or because the property owner/manager was negligent, you may have a valid premises liability case. Many premises liability claims stem from slip and fall accidents, broken staircases, falling objects, negligent security, and unsafe conditions caused by building code violations, however, these are not the only types of situations which can necessitate an injury claim. If you have been injured on property belonging to someone else and you want to pursue compensation, make sure to take the following steps.

File an Incident Report When Possible

Premises liability cases can result from an injury at a residence, government establishment, business, public place, or other property. The type of property on which you were injured will determine the steps you should take to maximize your chances of obtaining reimbursement. If you were hurt at a retail store or other business, speak with a manager and ask to fill out an incident report. Make sure to also get a copy of the report for your own records. If you were injured on a residential property, notify the property owner of your injury as soon as possible.

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 Posted on July 01,2019 in Wrongful Death

Schools, daycares, and other institutions responsible for the safety of children are held to very high standards. These facilities have a legal obligation to make the premises safe and free from unreasonable dangers. This includes keeping the buildings and grounds free from hazards like broken stairs as well as making sure children are adequately supervised. Sadly, one California family is grieving after their teenaged son passed away in an incident at a Colorado school.

Drunk Driver Hits 15-Year-Old Student Who Wandered from Campus

The young teen who tragically lost his life was adopted by his parents at age three. He had been in foster care and was suffering from symptoms related to a traumatic brain injury. The parents struggled to find a school which could appropriately meet their son’s unique needs, so they sent him to a school specializing in behavioral health issues. In August of last year, the 15-year-old wandered off of the school campus and was stuck and killed by a drunk driver. The driver, who had a blood alcohol content of 0.189 percent, fled the scene of the crime but was later found and arrested by the police. He pled guilty to vehicular homicide-DUI and leaving the scene of an accident involving death.

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 Posted on June 03,2019 in Dog Bites

While most dogs live up to their reputation as “man’s best friend,” it is important to remember that some dogs do pose a danger to people. Dogs who have been bred and trained for the purposes of fighting or guarding can be especially vicious animals. According to the California Department of Public Health, nearly 80 percent of all the animal bite injuries that took place in California between 2006 and 2010 were caused by domestic dogs. Across the country, about 750,000 dog bite victims require medical care each year. When a dog bites another person because the owner of the dog was negligent, the owner can be held liable for any damages caused by the bite.

Young Girl Brutally Mauled by Akita While Visiting Kennel

Recently, a 7-year-old girl was severely injured after she was attacked by a dog at a nonprofit Akita rescue kennel in Romoland, California. The attack was so brutal that the young girl needed an astounding 1,000 stitches and three hours of surgery. Because the bites were primarily to her face, it is possible that the girl will be permanently disfigured as a result of the bites. Disturbingly, the dog was listed on the nonprofit’s Facebook page as looking for “a kid he can play with.”

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