Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Especially in the wake of a lot of bad press and stepped-up enforcement efforts targeting distracted driving, a resident of the Bay Area might wonder what exactly is so important that people are willing to keep texting and driving. After all, California drivers should know by now that such behavi...

When you have neighbors, one thing that's important to understand is when they or you can become liable for damage and injuries to the other person's property or to the people themselves. For instance, you probably know that you have a right to put up a fence, but what happens if that fence is sh...

Truck driver fatigue is a serious safety hazard for drivers traveling on the highways and other roads in Alameda and the greater Bay Area. A driver who is too tired to operate a large truck safely can easily cause a truck accident, as his or her mind will tend to wander from the task at hand, eve...

With more than 37,000 deaths on the country's roads and highways every year, our Alameda readers might think that safe driving practices would be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, just the opposite seems to be true: as distractions proliferate, some seem to be forgetting that negligence behind the whe...

We often write here on our Alameda personal injury law blog about the types of injuries and losses for which victims can seek compensation. All manner of outward physical injuries, brain injuries and the loss of a loved one's life may be included in a legal action. Sometimes, however, the injurie...

Sometimes, owners allow their dogs to run free in Alameda neighborhoods. Other times, dogs may get free on their own and roam loose. Whatever the case, when these animals cause injury, a premises liability lawsuit can hold their owner accountable. A recent example occurred in a community a few ho...

If you're walking down the street and trip because of an open manhole, who's to blame? What about if you fall because of slick steps at a waterpark? If you slip on a wet floor at a restaurant, can you do anything about it? These are common questions people have, and all of them have to do with pr...

Accidents happen every day in Alameda in in the surrounding communities. Particularly when a driver is drunk or otherwise intoxicated, anyone else sharing the road could become the next victim. Just recently, Betty Yee – the State Controller of California – and her husband left their Alameda home...

Car and truck accidents, even minor ones, have the potential to be devastating, life-altering events. Many victims who survive a crash are left with a brain injury that can require intensive rehabilitation and lifelong care. Recently, one victim's progress in rehabilitation made headlines here in...

Truck accident injuries come in a number of forms, but one thing that you should know is that they are often severe. There is the weight of the truck to consider along with the potential for injuries from the speed of impact, your own vehicle's seat belt and airbags as well as potentially hazardo...

The loss of a child's life in an automobile accident is a tragedy that no Alameda family should ever have to bear. Yet, far too often, families are confronted with this reality. As we've discussed previously, a wrongful death lawsuit can provide some measure of accountability as well as protectio...

Criminal charges are an important way in which Alameda County holds distracted or otherwise negligent drivers accountable when their actions lead to the loss of innocent lives. However, the threshold of proof necessary to convict someone can be difficult to clear. In those cases, officials may no...

If you fall when you're on another person's premises, your first question may be if you can file a claim for compensation. You might have broken or sprained your wrist, hurt your ankle, hit your head or have other injuries as a result of the fall. In the majority of cases, you will have a right t...

In Alameda and across California, one of the most dangerous kinds of car accidents is a rear-end crash. People are not expecting it, so they have little chance to avoid it or brace themselves. Often, the vehicle that crashes into them is traveling at a high rate of speed or is a larger vehicle, e...

A driver's negligence behind the wheel is frequently a factor in car accidents. When looking at truck accidents, however, it's possible that a driver may do everything right while out on the road and still cause a collision due to a different kind of negligence. We're talking about negligent truc...

The types of injuries that Alameda victims suffer when two or more vehicles collide can be graphic and shocking to see. But here at the Law Offices of Leonard S. Becker, APC, we know that car accident injuries lingering beneath the surface can be every bit as painful, as life-altering and as dese...

Recently, this blog discussed a fall injury where the victim broke one of her teeth, among other injuries. When we're used to talking about broken bones and other more graphic injuries, a broken tooth may seem trivial in comparison. But just how serious is a fractured or broken tooth and what wil...

Property owners in Alameda have a responsibility to keep their premises safe for visitors or other people using the property. When a property owner's negligence causes someone to suffer an injury, a premises liability claim can help the victim recover compensation. An incident from across the Bay...

The three summer months after school gets out have earned a sobering nickname: The 100 deadliest days of the year. How did summer get this reputation? Isn't it supposed to be a laid-back, carefree time of family fun? The kids get out of school, parents take vacations and families embrace the beau...

The loss of a loved one due to another person's misconduct is a tragedy that no compensation can truly equate. While no amount of money can bring back a loved one, file a civil action has its benefits. A tragic death from back in 2015 in southern California, however, illustrates the important rol...

Last week, we discussed the case of a serious injury that occurred at a party when a flying object hit a victim on the head. While a brain injury can occur in a diverse set of circumstances, not every brain injury is the same. Let's take a look at a few important differences in brain injuries, wi...

Once a tool limited to high-tech military operations, drones are now available in stores everywhere and are marketed to practically all age groups. Alameda residents use them for hobbies ranging from racing to photography, and even event-planning companies use them for crowd photography. However,...

Traumatic brain injuries can occur in a variety of settings and different types of accidents including car accidents, truck accidents or in a serious slip and fall accident. In each instance, it is important that victims of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are familiar with the legal resources that...

If you imagine the sheer size and weight of a big rig, you can understand why these vehicles are so dangerous while they're on the road. A non-commercial vehicle doesn't stand a chance when struck by a big rig. It will be crushed in a heartbeat and the victims inside the car will likely suffer ca...

Being involved in an unexpected car accident can be upsetting, especially if you are not at fault or to blame for the accident. Car accident victims may wonder what to do following a car accident. It is important to take actions to preserve a personal injury claim for damages, if that is what the...