Alameda Personal Injury Law Blog

Wrongful death in the context of medicine

On behalf of Law Offices of Leonard S. Becker, APC posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, August 15, 2019.

A doctor is charged with providing their patient with care that may improve the patient's health. While not all medical conditions can be healed fully and some medical conditions are not treatable, a doctor should take the time to explore the possible causes of their patient's discomfort and seek therapies, medications, and other treatments to improve their quality of life. A doctor who fails to uphold their duties to those under their care may be liable for medical malpractice.

The line between medical malpractice and challenging medical cases may be thin. That is to say, in situations where a California patient dies under the care of a doctor or medical team, that death may not necessarily be due to the doctor's negligence. In some situations medical professionals may exercise competent and complete care and may still be unable to save a patient's life.

The injuries caused by truck accidents

On behalf of Law Offices of Leonard S. Becker, APC on Thursday, August 15, 2019.

There is no way of knowing what will happen in the event of a car-truck accident. If you're lucky, you'll walk away from the accident scene with minimal injuries. Unfortunately, this doesn't always happen.

You can suffer almost every injury imaginable in a truck accident, with these among the most common:

Head injury: All head injuries are serious, but some are much more severe than others. For example, a concussion can occur if you strike your head during the accident, such as on the windshield. However, you should always be aware of other more serious injuries, such as bleeding on the brain and a skull fracture.
Back and neck injuries: These are among the most serious truck accident injuries, as they can limit your ability to live your best life. A broken bone in the back or neck can cause extreme pain and possible paralysis. Even less serious injuries, such as a herniated disk, can cause you trouble now and in the future.
Broken bones: You can break any bone in your body in a car-truck accident. From your skull all the way down to your feet, everything is at risk.
Deep lacerations: Just the same as broken bones, you can suffer deep lacerations on every part of your body. It's difficult to protect against lacerations in a car accident, as there are likely to be many objects moving about the cabin.

Get help with a possible California truck accident claim

On behalf of Law Offices of Leonard S. Becker, APC posted in Truck Accidents on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

Collisions between personal vehicles and large commercial trucks in California can cause people to suffer serious injuries. In the aftermath of a truck accident, a victim may seek medical help in order to heal their body and set themselves on a course of recovery so that they can eventually get back to their normal life. As they fight to regain their health, they may lose pay from their job, they may lose enjoyment from their change in lifestyle, there will likely be medical bills and other costly and emotionally draining losses.

Attorney Leonard Becker represents individuals who have suffered damages after being involved in an accident caused by a large truck, commercial vehicle or delivery truck. With attention to detail and compassion for his clients, he works with victims to ensure that their cases are competently prepared and legally persuasive.

Kids can suffer brain injuries from common products at home

On behalf of Law Offices of Leonard S. Becker, APC posted in Brain Injury on Friday, August 2, 2019.

When readers of this California personal injury legal blog think of brain injuries, they may picture dangerous accidents and traumatic events.

However, information published in a reputable publication suggests that children actually suffer brain injuries at home from the use of many common products and features. This post will identify some of those items that may cause brain injuries in kids.

Understanding the requirements for a wrongful death

On behalf of Law Offices of Leonard S. Becker, APC posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, July 25, 2019.

The loss of elderly loved ones to old age is hard on those who loved and cared for them, while the deaths of young friends and family members can be devastating when the losses are unexpected. Not every death that occurs in the California will be considered wrongful, but it is important to understand just what constitutes a wrongful death under the law.

Every wrongful death involves the death of a victim. Many wrongful deaths are accidental, and deaths that occur because of natural causes generally will not serve as the bases of wrongful death claims. That is because wrongful deaths must be caused by the negligence of others or the intention of others to inflict harm.

What should a victim do after a car accident?

On behalf of Law Offices of Leonard S. Becker, APC posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, July 18, 2019.

Getting hit by a car can be a traumatic experience for an Alameda driver. Aside from the injuries they may suffer and the damage their car may sustain, they may feel extreme stress over figuring out just how to cope with the aftermath of the crash.

Immediately after an accident a victim should attend to their medical needs. Even if they do not believe that they are injured they should consider seeing a doctor to make sure that they are not suffering from any accident-related harm. Emergency medical care should be sought by those with life-threatening injuries.

Are you familiar with post-concussion syndrome?

On behalf of Law Offices of Leonard S. Becker, APC on Wednesday, July 17, 2019.

A concussion is a serious brain injury that has the potential to cause a variety of health concerns. Fortunately, with the right treatment strategy most people are able to make a full recovery.

It's possible your symptoms could stick with you over the long haul. Known as post-concussion syndrome, this complex disorder is associated with symptoms that last for several months or longer after the initial injury.

What is an "attractive nuisance"?

On behalf of Law Offices of Leonard S. Becker, APC posted in Premises Liability on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

To some extent, property owners in California can do what they want with the land that they own. While they may be restricted in terms of zoning ordinances and the covenants of their neighborhoods, a person who owns land has a fair amount of autonomy when it comes to how they use it. However, property owners have a duty to provide safe premises for those who are permitted to be on their land and, in some cases, must also ensure the safety of individuals who may come onto their properties without permission.

When it comes to kids, property owners have a special duty to make safe any "attractive nuisances" that may be present on their premises. An attractive nuisance is something that would be interesting to a child and that would tempt them to enter the land of another person. For example, a swimming pool may be an attractive nuisance, as may be a piece of equipment, such as something that is used in farming or manufacturing.

These conditions can result in an indoor slip-and-fall accident

On behalf of Law Offices of Leonard S. Becker, APC on Monday, July 8, 2019.

It's easy to go about your day without ever thinking about the risk of a slip-and-fall accident. However, if you're not careful (and even if you are), you could suffer a serious injury when you least expect it.

There are a variety of conditions that can result in an indoor slip-and-fall accident, such as at your place of employment, a shopping mall or a grocery store. These include the following:

Wet floors: There are many causes of wet floors, ranging from a ceiling leak to a recent cleaning. Property owners and property managers must use proper signage to warn pedestrians of wet floors.
Application of too much polish or wax: Polish and wax can enhance the visual appearance of a walking surface, while also protecting it against damage. It can also make for slippery conditions.
Torn or bulging carpet: Over time, carpet has a way of breaking down. This can result in tears and bulges, both of which can cause a slip-and-fall accident. For example, a tear could catch your foot, thus causing you to lose your balance.
Damaged or dangerous stairs: This includes things such as the use of wax on stairs, missing or cracked stairs, and missing or loose handrails.
Jerking elevators and escalators: You expect elevators and escalators to operate smoothly, but this isn't always the case. If the machinery jerks, such as when stepping off an elevator, it could knock you off your feet.

Legal counsel for victims of 4th of July car accidents

On behalf of Law Offices of Leonard S. Becker, APC posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, July 3, 2019.

The 4th of July is perhaps the most celebrated summer holiday for Americans. With children out of school and individuals able to take vacation days around it, the 4th of July is often used as a reason to get together with family members, good friends, and beloved associates. When individuals come together to enjoy each other's company and to revel in the independence of the country, they may choose to do so with food, fireworks, and alcohol.

Responsible drinking among legal adults is generally not a problem, but it may quickly become a dangerous practice if a California driver decides to get behind the wheel of their car after consuming intoxicating beverages. Drunk driving is a cause of vehicle collisions because drivers who are impaired by alcohol often cannot make good decisions about how to react to always changing driving conditions.