Negligence and Rarity: When a Lawsuit is Appropriate

It is certainly true that there are some injuries suffered as a result of someone else’s negligence that naturally make the injured party more likely to seek out a personal injury lawyer. This is to say that, because we are culturally inundated by commercials advertising representation for car crash, dog bite, or slip and fall injuries, people are already aware that those injuries merit compensation. Yet, there are a variety of other, equally serious, but less discussed circumstances that people may not know entitle them to damages.

At the Law Offices of Burg and Brock, we understand that the core basis of any personal injury argument is whether or not it is logical to state that, had one party not behaved negligently, the injuries suffered by a client would not have occurred. Whether this is a burn injury, a head injury, or any number of common injuries caused by negligence, our head attorney Cameron Yadidi Brock fights tirelessly to convince the court of what is just and proven by the facts. If you have been injured, in any way, as a result of someone else’s negligence, it surely cannot hurt to call us today to see if you are entitled to compensation.

The Long and Winding Road

It often seems as if technology and business move a lot faster than the law, and Uber and Lyft could turn out to be an example. We know you love them and we know why. Just a little while ago, if you needed a ride here in sprawling, public-transportation poor Los Angeles, you either had to find a friend or family member willing to take you, or fork over as much as $50.00 or more for a cross-town taxi. Today, however, all it takes is a smart phone, a credit card, and a significantly smaller sum of money to get a ride from drivers who are typically quite pleasant and professional.

It's easy to see why these services have become so popular nationwide, but from a personal injury law point of view, they might ultimately represent another one of these cases of the law being caught unawares. Presently, if a taxi or limousine company fails to properly ensure that their drivers are plying their trade safety, they can sometimes by held accountable by an automotive or motorcycle accident lawyer. But what if an Uber or Lyft driver gets involved in an injury accident?

At the moment, the services are sometimes paying damages when drivers are involved in personal injury accidents and they are also being sued in some cases of alleged assaults by drivers. A currently ongoing employment lawsuit, however, has the company arguing that they are, in fact, a software platform and not truly an employer of its drivers at all. Taken to an extreme, a legal victory for Uber could have the ridesharing services arguing its drivers are solely responsible for any injuries, regardless of their undeniable role in providing employment for drivers. It's just another case of the law getting more and more complex. It's also another reason why lawyers like our own Cameron Yadidi have no problem at all keeping busy!

Keeping Cool About the Heat

As we write this, we're looking at weekend with temperatures ranging from the mid-80s in our usually cool coastal areas and going up into the hundreds in the Valley areas. While this is slightly unusual for this time of the year -- L.A.'s most intense heat usually seems to come in late August and well into September and beyond -- high temperatures like this are a part of life in the sunbelt. Even so, incidences of heat exhaustion and it's more serious cousin, heat stroke, happen every year and sometimes may even end up in the offices of a personal injury lawyer.

The important thing, of course, is to avoid any instances of a heat related illness from happening to you or anyone around you, whether you're working outdoors or participating in other outdoor activities. The first step is simply to be aware that the risk is very real and, yes, people do die from excessive heat. The second is to ensure that you and others are probably protected from direct sunlight -- hats, light clothing, and sunblock are all important tools for preventing serious problems. Staying properly hydrated is also essential. Experts suggest that people subjected to high temperatures for long periods should drink water every quarter of an hour, even if they are not feeling thirsty.

Another important step is watch out for a number of symptoms of serious problems. Confusion, high body temperatures, excessive sweating and more dramatic signs like fainting and seizures simply can't be ignored and require immediate medical attention. Also pay special attention to children, older people, and even healthy adults who may not be used to spending time outside on a hot day. If you think someone might be at risk of becoming overheated, get them to drink some water and take them to a cooler place immediately. Older people and others who may be living without air conditioning should consider taking advantage of one of the cooling centers that are operated by the city and county and public libraries and other locations. (Locations below, you can also dial 211 or 311 for further information.)

Of course, as Los Angeles personal injury attorneys, we're fortunate in the sense that we work in air conditioned offices most of the time. Still, being unused to the heat is also considered a risk factor for heat exhaustion. That's why Cameron Yadidi Brock and the rest of us ask that everyone do their part to keep themselves and others safe and cool as we hit the real dog days of summers.

Miracles of Technology and their Downsides

You might have read earlier today about how NTSB investigators are citing a minor carburetor problem which they think contributed to the plane crash in which 73 year-old actor Harrison Ford was injured last March. While the fact that Mr. Ford's injuries in the vintage World War II era plane turned out to be relatively minor was a relief to everyone -- not just for Mr. Ford's friends and family, but for fans worried about his reappearance in upcoming sequels to science fiction classics "Star Wars" and "Blade Runner" -- it does point up one of the ironies of modern life. As the pilot of something of an antique, it's arguable that Ford was taking somewhat more of a risk flying it than some more recent airplane model. It's definitely true that small planes tend to be far more risky than highly advanced commercial airliners. Flying is amazing, but the potential danger is obvious.

You don't have to be a busy LA accident lawyer to understand that, whether we're talking about the advances that led to the early "horseless carriages" (i.e., cars) or the seeming miracle of modern flight, every advance seems to bring with it new dangers. It gets even more ironic when even advances aimed specifically at improving safety, such as the currently in-development driverless cars may turn out to have some potential complications with personal injury implications of their own.

Comedian Louis C.K. in his now famous routine pokes fun at how unappreciative we all are of the technological miracles we experience every day, including cross-country commercial flights that have become almost absurdly speedy and safe when compared to earlier forms of travel. At the same time, of course, when a company or individual provides a service, it's their duty to make it as safe as possible. Cars might have been almost miraculous at one point, but auto manufacturers had to be pressured to make cars less dangerous with improvements like seat belts and airbags. They knew for a fact that these modifications would save lives, but they had to be convinced that it was worth spending the money by an angry public and hard driving lawyers threatening costly lawsuits.

Our own Cameron Yadidi Brock is proud to be a part of a legal tradition that has made today's highly advanced technology safer. It's good to appreciate modern technology, but it's even better to be safe while doing so!