Watch Out for Dog Bites Under the Mistletoe

As  personal injury attorneys, we're constantly warning of the very real and potentially serious dangers of dog bites.While that might not seem like a matter that's directly related to the holidays, the fact of the matter is that this is a very social time of year and we might find ourselves in unfamiliar homes. Alongside meeting a lot of new people, we're also likely to come into contact with pets we don't know very well.

While we might get nervous about meeting the new significant other of close family members, for example, the fact of the matter is that even the worst possible first meeting with a fellow human being won't likely result in a nasty bite to the hand or face. We all love dogs, but what personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles and all dog owners know is that they are sometimes unpredictable creatures who may act out if they feel threatened for any reason.

Especially if you're a pet lover, there's no reason to avoid family dogs at holiday gatherings, but some sensible precautions are always a good idea. It's good to check with the owner to make sure the dog is okay with strangers, and always resist the temptation to start petting a strange dog without a proper introduction. Be especially careful to avoid exposing your face directly to an animal you don't know extremely well.

Of course, if you are unlucky enough to have been the victim of a dog attack and the owner is at fault, there is a lot the Law Offices of Burg and Brock can do. It's also, of course, the place find an outstanding vehicle accident lawyer. Just give us a call any time at 888-509-2998.

When the Worst Happens

Whether we're vehicle accident lawyers, doctors, teachers, accountants, or baristas, most of us go through life fairly confident in the assumption that one day will follow on the other and life as we know it will go on. However, if we're unfortunate enough to be involved in a terrible incident, everything can change very suddenly.

The truly horrific traffic accident that occurred Thursday morning on the 60 Freeway near El Monte that killed a five year-old girl and injured 14 others, four critically, is one such reminder of the small but very real risk we all take every time get on a highway. In this case, the apparent culprit was, according to news reports, a tanker carrying milk that did not slow down for oncoming traffic. It then jackknifed over the center divider, causing a chain reaction crash that involved nine vehicles.

Lawyers are always a popular target for scorn from some quarters, but those who might question the role of personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles or elsewhere should take an incident like this into account. Although many of the facts of this particular accident are not known publicly at this time, often in these cases there are very clear guilty parties who need to be help accountable.

This is not only for the sake of the victims, who clearly have a right to be fiscally compensated following a tremendous loss -- it's also for the sake of the rest of us to ensure such incidents are as rare as possible. Corporations and individuals need to understand that putting lives at risk can have an enormous financial cost. It's one of the only means we have to actually discourage poor safety practices.

If you believe you are the victim of the negligence, or worse, in an accident and need an automotive or motorcycle accident lawyer, the Law Offices of Burg and Brock are here to help. Just call us at 1-888-509-2998.

Celebrate & Keep Safe on July 4th

We love holidays here a the Law Offices of Burg & Brock, who doesn't? We get a 3-day weekend this Independence Day filled with barbeques and a firework display on the beach. But unfortunately, it also means there may be an increased need for vehicle accident lawyers because of the number of car accidents that happen during this weekend. The Fourth of July has repeatedly ranked as the deadliest holiday of the year!

It's a tragedy that one has to be extra careful when driving on the road during a holiday, but it is not something we can ignore. Most of the car accidents that occur on holidays are due to driving under the influence. The last time we had a 3-day Fourth of July weekend, 491 people died in car accidents. 43% of those died as a result of alcohol-impared driving. A lot of people stay off the road to avoid accidents on New Year's Eve, perhaps they should stay away from driving on Independence Day as well. You do not want to seek our personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles during your summer!

Our motorcycle accident lawyer Cameron Yadidi Brock frequently reminds us that America is one of the best places to live. There is a reason why Independence Day is a a special holiday. Lets enjoy our freedom responsively - do not drink and drive.

Bouncing Toward Justice

At the Law Offices of Burg & Brock, Inc., we're proud to be the primary vehicle accident lawyer for L.A. residents who have suffered injuries due to a car collision that was caused by another driver's negligence. However, we've seen a number of injuries due to situations that are far more diverse than simply auto issues. That's why safety and caution are always on  our mind - particularly in the summer months, when kids are home from school, and everyone is trying to spend as much time as possible outdoors.

The skilled and dedicated attorneys at our personal injury law firm want to remind you to stay safe this summer, whether you're at the grill, in the pool, or bouncing on a trampoline. A new study reported on in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics actually found that trampoline injuries caused more than one million ER visits to U.S. hospitals from 2002 to 2011. Perhaps most upsetting, nearly 289,000 of those injured were children.

Of course, as anybody who has suffered a serious injury is well aware, the physical pain of the incident is only part of the issue, as costs can quickly add up after a hospital visit. In fact, from trampoline incidents alone, emergency department costs added up to over $1 billion!

Trampolines can be fun for sure, but when getting exercise bouncing in the backyard, make sure to exercise caution as well. In the even that an injury does occur, know that Cameron Yadidi Brock and his personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles at the Law Offices of Burg & Brock, Inc.are always on your side.

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Not long before we started this week's blog post, the word came down that LAPD Officer Chris Cortijo had died due to injuries received earlier in the week when his vehicle was rear-ended. Even a fairly hardened vehicle accident lawyer has to be saddened somewhat by reading about a case like this, especially as the officer was a 26 year veteran who was the subject of blood drives as colleagues did whatever they could to save his life.

Just as our sympathies are naturally going to be going towards a man killed in the line of duty while protecting the public, it's hard not to be angry at the allegedly responsible party: a 33 year-old woman who was charged after the accident with a DUI and possession of cocaine. Even as a highly experienced personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles it's hard not be angered at the thought of a police officer, or anyone, being killed by an impaired driver by being pinned between two vehicles. It's especially ironice that Office Cortijo had been credited with literally thousands of DUI arrests.

Despite all this, however, being dispassionate remains crucial if you want to be the kind of attorney Los Angeles plaintiffs can actually benefit from. Our clients need us to maintain objectivity even in the most egregious cases. Fortunately, at the Law Offices of Burg and Brock, our standards of professionalism are, we're proud to say, absolutely consistent -- even during the most difficult and emotional cases.

If you are in a situation where you need to assistance of objective legal counsel, feel free to contact us any time at 888-509-2998.

The War at Home

Working as a vehicle accident lawyer can be a harrowing business. That certainly applies to cases dealing with veterans who have given their all for their nation, only to have the psychic toll of their experiences result in a tragic accident here at home.

Of course, it's important to keep in mind that the vast majority of combat veterans manage to return to a normal life without getting involved in dangerous behavior or excessive drinking or drug problems; in fact, hiring a skilled veteran is generally one of the smartest things any employer can do.

At the same time, we ask our military personnel to do a lot of extremely difficult and enormously stressful things. Such issues as post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) are very real and that's why we have to take the recent news from the Marine base at Twentynine Palms very seriously. According to a number of news stories that have come out over the last several days, it appears that, over the last seven years, more Marines there have died as the result of car crashes and suicides than from war-related casualties.

Of course, as personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles, we are directly concerned because very often cases in the San Bernadino/Inland Empire area come our way, and these types of cases can be among the most difficult that we see. More importantly, however, as citizens we have to hope that our government does a better job of taking care of our combat veterans. If anyone deserves a chance to deal with whatever psychological issues  might cause reckless and/or drunken driving, it's very definitely our veterans.

It's a matter that impacts all of us, whether or not you're an attorney. Los Angeles and San Bernadino area residents, of course, are especially impacted as well all share the road. This is a matter that should not wait.

A Devastating SxSW Tragedy Serves as a Time of Reflection and Mourning

 At the Law Offices of Burg & Brock, Inc., we're proud of our reputation as the top Los Angeles personal injury law firm. However, we're also fully aware of that our pedigree brings with it a real responsibility to residents of L.A. and individuals throughout the country who rely on the skill and experience of a dedicated personal injury or vehicle accident lawyer.

Never has that duty been more clear than today, when we awoke to learn of the tragedy that struck the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX, in the early hours of the morning. The New York Times reports that two people were killed and 23 others injured after a car plowed through a barricade and onto streets that were filled with festival-goers.The vehicle's driver was allegedly fleeing a DWI checkpoint, when he went the wrong way down a one-way street, then barreled through a barricade injuring dozens of revelers outside the Mohawk club and killing two people riding a moped.

The tragedy has cast a pall over the festival that was supposed to be a joyful experience, and led many scheduled artists, like the popular Tyler the Creator, to cancel their performances. At the Law Offices of Burg & Brock, Inc., we're deeply saddened for the families of victims, and all who have been impacted by the negligent, irresponsible and criminal actions of the driver.

The news has also helped to reinforce our commitment to those in need of vehicle collision and personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles. We hope that the victims in Austin and their families will find justice through effective personal injury and collision law, and in time, will be able to heal from this devastating tragedy.