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What Can I Do If an Uninsured Driver Collides with Me?
California requires all drivers to carry liability insurance. Bodily injury coverage provides a source of compensation to accident victims if the driver causes a collision that injures another driver. Unfortunately, not all drivers obey the law. In California, one out of every eight drivers has no insurance. Even when drivers do purchase insurance, they often…
Motorcycle Helmets Reduce Traumatic Brain Injuries
As California personal injury attorneys, we know that head injuries are among the most tragic outcomes of motorcycle accidents. Half of all deaths in motorcycle accidents are caused by head injuries. When riders survive the crash, impacts to the head often produce traumatic brain injuries, leaving accident victims with permanent disabilities. Motorcycle riders are particularly…
Northern California Motorcycle Crash Injuries
The recent death of a San Jose motorcycle officer calls attention to the risks taken by California motorcyclists every day. The officer was on duty, but the fatal crash was unrelated to his law enforcement work. It was the kind of accident that could happen to any motorcycle rider. According to news reports, Officer Michael…
Can Accident Bystanders Recover Damages for Emotional Distress?
Another person’s negligent act, such as running a red light, can cause both physical harm and emotional distress to an accident victim. California law defines emotional distress as including suffering, anguish, fright, horror, nervousness, grief, anxiety, worry, shock, humiliation, and shame. Compensation for emotional distress is nearly always available when a victim suffers physical harm…
Traffic Deaths Increased in 2015
The most recent crash statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal a disturbing trend. About 35,200 people died in traffic accidents during 2015. That’s a 7.7% increase in traffic fatalities as compared to 2014, and the deadliest year on American roads since 2008. Part of the increase is attributable to population…
Traffic Death Trends in San Jose: A Public Health Crisis
The Mercury News proclaimed San Jose traffic deaths to be the “worst public-safety trend” of 2015. The year ended with 59 traffic accident fatalities, an increase of 35% from 2014. The 2015 statistics represent San Jose’s highest traffic fatality rate in twenty years. Five of the deaths were caused by hit-and-run drivers. Traffic fatality victims…
Laser Surgery Malpractice — Skin Injuries
Laser surgery can be a useful tool in the hands of a skilled operator. In some cases, however, patients have experienced severe and permanent harm as the result of negligent doctors as well as operators who are not licensed as physicians. Laser surgery is often used to remove hair, rejuvenate skin, and treat vascular lesions.…
Laser Surgery Malpractice — Eye Injuries from LASIK or PRK
Ophthalmologists perform LASIK surgery to improve focusing power by removing corneal tissue and reshaping eyes. LASIK is short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. An older procedure, known as PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), is performed with the same kind of laser. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, about 800,000 LASIK or PRK procedures are performed each…
Medical Malpractice in Ambulatory Surgery Centers
The recent settlement of a medical malpractice lawsuit concerning the wrongful death of Joan Rivers raises questions about the safety of ambulatory surgery centers. Unlike hospitals, most outpatient surgery centers are owned by doctors. That gives them an incentive to recommend that their patients have surgery in the center they own rather than the safer…
California Hotel Injuries
The Bay area hosts more than 17 million visitors every year. With more than 200 hotels in San Francisco, about 70 in San Jose, and many more in surrounding communities, travelers have a variety of short-term housing options. While visitors hope to enjoy a safe and productive stay in the Bay area, too often they…
