Tucked away near the bottom of today's news is a brief story stating that a Georgia pharmacy is issuing a recall on the drug Avastin, commonly prescribed for macular degeneration. The reason is that the lot in question of this drug has been linked to eye infections. Admittedly, this is not top-of-the-page news even for a personal injury attorney, but it's just another reminder of the way we all take it for granted how the combined power of the threat of lawsuits and regulation makes companies behave in ways that protect all of our safety.
If all the personal injury lawyers in the world dissappeared tomorrow, we know there are lots of people who wouldn't shed a tear. However, it's important to realize that the folks who would be dancing the most vigorous jigs would be owners and investors in large businesses that would no longer have to worry about lawsuits on behalf of injured employees and consumers.
We'd all like to think that simple human decency, plus the threat of bad public relations, would keep responsible parties from placing innocent people in danger. The problem is, without a single personal injury lawyer to file a lawsuit, not only would we lose a gigantic, albeit negative, financial incentive for companies to pay close attention to the safety of their products and workplaces -- we'd even lose the public relations damage a company that doesn't pay attention to safety should suffer. When was the last time you read a news story about a personal injury allegedly caused by a company or organization where a lawsuit by either an individual or a government agency wasn't involved?
Like us or not, if you want to stay safe, you need us.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
The Sporting Life
Word that a lawsuit had been filed earlier this week in the aftermath of and incident in which three spectators were injured at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida got us thinking about sports and the law in general. Obviously the vehicle accident lawyer who took the NASCAR case is thinking about the specific legalities that can make the case for the victims, even as representatives of the racetrack will try and argue that the waiver disclaiming responsibility on the back of the ticket absolves them of all responsibility.
Still, there are questions beyond the interesting matter of how much responsibility the owner of a sports venue has for the safety of guests, even when the sport in question carries a small but definite inherent risk for viewers. As an attorney in Los Angeles, we don't hear about NASCAR every day, but football is the nation's sport.
As most readers will probably know, doctors, sports observers, and athletes, as well as personally injury lawyers, have been conducting a very forthright discussion of the dangers to athletes inherent in the game of football in particular. With evidence mounting that the repeated concussions football players suffer can have seriously destructive consequences in regards to both the physical and mental health of athletes, many people are wondering if the sport should even be allowed to continue without truly major alterations to the way the game is played on the professional, collegiate, and high school level.
Of course, as with the Daytona case, the people behind the big business of sports will have to balance the popularity of their current way of doing things against the costs they will be forced to pay out to compensate the victims. In the meantime, lawyers like everyone here at the Law Offices of Burg and Brock will be watching very carefully.
Still, there are questions beyond the interesting matter of how much responsibility the owner of a sports venue has for the safety of guests, even when the sport in question carries a small but definite inherent risk for viewers. As an attorney in Los Angeles, we don't hear about NASCAR every day, but football is the nation's sport.
As most readers will probably know, doctors, sports observers, and athletes, as well as personally injury lawyers, have been conducting a very forthright discussion of the dangers to athletes inherent in the game of football in particular. With evidence mounting that the repeated concussions football players suffer can have seriously destructive consequences in regards to both the physical and mental health of athletes, many people are wondering if the sport should even be allowed to continue without truly major alterations to the way the game is played on the professional, collegiate, and high school level.
Of course, as with the Daytona case, the people behind the big business of sports will have to balance the popularity of their current way of doing things against the costs they will be forced to pay out to compensate the victims. In the meantime, lawyers like everyone here at the Law Offices of Burg and Brock will be watching very carefully.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Preparedness is Key after a Car Accident
At the Law Offices of Burg & Brock, we've seen the difference that a well-documented case can make for personal injury claims after an accident. As a vehicle accident lawyer in Los Angeles, Cameron Yadidi Brock works on a contingency basis and doesn't get paid unless you win a settlement or positive verdict. He's netted a success rate of 97% as an attorney in Los Angeles, which is helped by the fact that he only takes on cases he believes he can win.
Documentation and information following an accident can definitely help this confidence. Here are some ways to strengthen your case around the time of the accident before even seeing one of Burg & Brock's personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles:
On a personal note, we're big proponents of emergency preparedness kits to keep in your car. Here's a sample list of items to keep as suggested by squawkfox.com with additions from its comments section:
Documentation and information following an accident can definitely help this confidence. Here are some ways to strengthen your case around the time of the accident before even seeing one of Burg & Brock's personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles:
- Locate witnesses and get their contact information. You never know what testimony could come in handy.
- Take as many pictures as possible. Up close, from far away, all vehicles involved.
- Don't make any verbal or written claims about fault or injuries at this time. You could be in shock or simply startled, so it isn't a good idea to go on the record about anything.
- Go to the doctor. This will get you the proper documentation about your injuries and will also prevent any injuries from getting worse. If taken on by Burg & Brock, we can help you front the cost of these visits until your settlement has ended.
On a personal note, we're big proponents of emergency preparedness kits to keep in your car. Here's a sample list of items to keep as suggested by squawkfox.com with additions from its comments section:
- Cell phone
- Disposable camera
- Pen and paper
- Medical information card and related information
- Emergency contact numbers
- First aid kit
- Small road cones, emergency flares
- Mylar blankets
- Candles or other source of light
- Snacks
Thursday, February 14, 2013
A Single-Patient Personal Injury Case Results in a Huge Victory
This week, the personally injury lawyers at Burg & Brock want to take a moment to focus on an important personal injury case. Yesterday, the Reckis family of Massachusetts was awarded over $63 million dollars as a result of their suit with Johnson & Johnson. In 2003, seven-year-old Samantha Reckis took Children's Motrin for fever and suffered from Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) which resulted in blindness. The healthcare kingpin was faulted for not providing adequate information related to possible side-effects.
Hearing about young Samantha's tragedy is heartbreaking. It has been nearly ten years since the child took the drug - proof that law suits with such prominent companies are not resolved quickly. The plaintiff has spent the better part of her childhood waiting for retribution. The positive aspect of this case is the fact that giant corporations are being held to a higher standard when it comes to providing necessary information related to their products. It is the responsibility of these businesses to advise the public of the extremely adverse reactions and risks associated with the product.
This case epitomizes the need for better provisions for consumer safety. Unfortunately, some products such as vaccines and medications are unavoidably unsafe, but the manufacturer still must shoulder the responsibility of providing appropriate warning. It is important to consult with an extensively experienced and knowledgeable Los Angeles personal injury attorney when it comes to product liability. If you feel that you have suffered unjust damages at the hand of a consumer product, contact the offices of Burg & Brock to consult with an accomplished and compassionate product liability lawyer.
Hearing about young Samantha's tragedy is heartbreaking. It has been nearly ten years since the child took the drug - proof that law suits with such prominent companies are not resolved quickly. The plaintiff has spent the better part of her childhood waiting for retribution. The positive aspect of this case is the fact that giant corporations are being held to a higher standard when it comes to providing necessary information related to their products. It is the responsibility of these businesses to advise the public of the extremely adverse reactions and risks associated with the product.
This case epitomizes the need for better provisions for consumer safety. Unfortunately, some products such as vaccines and medications are unavoidably unsafe, but the manufacturer still must shoulder the responsibility of providing appropriate warning. It is important to consult with an extensively experienced and knowledgeable Los Angeles personal injury attorney when it comes to product liability. If you feel that you have suffered unjust damages at the hand of a consumer product, contact the offices of Burg & Brock to consult with an accomplished and compassionate product liability lawyer.
Friday, February 8, 2013
An Idea Whose Time May Have Come to California
A few weeks back, we discussed a proposed Massachusetts law to mandate liability insurance for gun owners, much as drivers are now required to possess such insurance in California and many other states. Well, since then, Maryland, Connecticut, and California have all started similar efforts.
Many a personal injury attorney has had to deal with the often tragic cases when guns go off in an unsafe or unauthorized fashion. The results of these gun accidents can range from the horribly tragic to the fairly minor. (Many of you will recall the incident in 2006 where then Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally sent birdshot into the face of a friend with fairly minor injuries, and much mirth from late night comics, resulting.) We also occasionally see cases involving intentionally self-inflicted and usually fatal wounds. Especially in cases where the guns are improperly secured and then stolen by a younger or less stable member, they can be among the saddest cases most personal injury lawyers ever see.
Introduced by Assemblymen Jimmy Gomez of Los Angeles and Philip Ting of San Francisco, the law is sure to receive fire from the NRA and other gun rights activists. It's also presents a pretty interesting legal/constitutional matter in that the law's foes can make the case that the law is mandating insurance for a constitutional right. If these laws manage to pass, which we think is possible at least in a state like California that has seen more than its share of gun violence, it seems to us that this a case that's very likely to make it to the Supreme Court. It's a fairly classic case of conflicting rights -- the right of victims to be compensated versus 2nd Amendment rights to gun ownership, a somewhat muddy and hotly debated matter partially because of the "well regulated militia" clause in the amendment. Of course, it''ll be a constitutional lawyer, not a personal injury lawyer, trying the case on both sides, but we'll be watching this one closely.
Many a personal injury attorney has had to deal with the often tragic cases when guns go off in an unsafe or unauthorized fashion. The results of these gun accidents can range from the horribly tragic to the fairly minor. (Many of you will recall the incident in 2006 where then Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally sent birdshot into the face of a friend with fairly minor injuries, and much mirth from late night comics, resulting.) We also occasionally see cases involving intentionally self-inflicted and usually fatal wounds. Especially in cases where the guns are improperly secured and then stolen by a younger or less stable member, they can be among the saddest cases most personal injury lawyers ever see.
Introduced by Assemblymen Jimmy Gomez of Los Angeles and Philip Ting of San Francisco, the law is sure to receive fire from the NRA and other gun rights activists. It's also presents a pretty interesting legal/constitutional matter in that the law's foes can make the case that the law is mandating insurance for a constitutional right. If these laws manage to pass, which we think is possible at least in a state like California that has seen more than its share of gun violence, it seems to us that this a case that's very likely to make it to the Supreme Court. It's a fairly classic case of conflicting rights -- the right of victims to be compensated versus 2nd Amendment rights to gun ownership, a somewhat muddy and hotly debated matter partially because of the "well regulated militia" clause in the amendment. Of course, it''ll be a constitutional lawyer, not a personal injury lawyer, trying the case on both sides, but we'll be watching this one closely.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Social Media Can Hurt Your Personal Injury Settlement
Reading this story on the Daily Report, we are struck again with how the legal industry continues to change with the times. A short summary: after a life-changing car crash, a woman's compensation in court was reduced from $237,000 to $142,000 after Twitter and Facebook posts were used to make the case that her pain and suffering wasn't as great as her lawyer claimed. In her posts, she was shown partying and mentioning that she's "starting to love [her] scar."
As a highly-regarded personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles, Cameron Yadidi Brock understands the role that social media plays in today's courts. While it's impractical to totally restrict a person's access to social media, the team here at the Law Offices of Burg & Brock are sensitive to how certain posts could be misinterpreted. We'll help keep tabs on your posts and, if one seems potentially harmful, we can mention it to you. (Although, this does bring up an interesting point. If all her posts were about suffering and being in pain, could it be used to increase a settlement? We highly doubt it.)
But we also know how to make modern technology work. Mr. Brock, as a vehicle accident lawyer, encourages his clients (and those who have just experienced an accident) to take as many pictures as possible on their cell phones. Photos from the accident, of yourself as you're healing, and anything you think is relevant can all be used to help your case. You don't need to share them online, of course, but they are good to have to properly represent your pain and suffering.
Of course there were other complicating factors in the case. The lawyer working on behalf of the plaintiff claimed that the all-white, conservative jury had a hard time understanding how a broken arm and related injuries could have a negative impact on the plaintiff's job—and future earning potential—as a hairstylist. Here at the Law Offices of Burg & Brock, we know how to properly defend our clients as personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles. While we can't guarantee success despite our track record of 97% of cases won, we can promise that we'll fight your case to the best of our abilities. Please call the Law Offices of Burg & Brock for a free consultation.
As a highly-regarded personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles, Cameron Yadidi Brock understands the role that social media plays in today's courts. While it's impractical to totally restrict a person's access to social media, the team here at the Law Offices of Burg & Brock are sensitive to how certain posts could be misinterpreted. We'll help keep tabs on your posts and, if one seems potentially harmful, we can mention it to you. (Although, this does bring up an interesting point. If all her posts were about suffering and being in pain, could it be used to increase a settlement? We highly doubt it.)
But we also know how to make modern technology work. Mr. Brock, as a vehicle accident lawyer, encourages his clients (and those who have just experienced an accident) to take as many pictures as possible on their cell phones. Photos from the accident, of yourself as you're healing, and anything you think is relevant can all be used to help your case. You don't need to share them online, of course, but they are good to have to properly represent your pain and suffering.
Of course there were other complicating factors in the case. The lawyer working on behalf of the plaintiff claimed that the all-white, conservative jury had a hard time understanding how a broken arm and related injuries could have a negative impact on the plaintiff's job—and future earning potential—as a hairstylist. Here at the Law Offices of Burg & Brock, we know how to properly defend our clients as personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles. While we can't guarantee success despite our track record of 97% of cases won, we can promise that we'll fight your case to the best of our abilities. Please call the Law Offices of Burg & Brock for a free consultation.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Famous People Can Be Personally Injured
As Los Angeles personal injury attorneys the presence of celebrities looming heavily in the daily legal news is pretty inevitable. While we don't represent a lot of extremely well known people, the cases they get involved with -- and don't get involved with -- can lead to some pretty interesting discussion. Just today, there are two cases in the news that we can't help thinking about.
The first involves Sylvester Stallone. In the midst of a recent comeback for the 66 year-old movie star, it was revealed that, decades ago, the actor and screenwriter had agreed to give his half-sister $2 million, along with a monthly stipend of $16,666.66, as well as yearly $50,000.00 contribution to a fund for psychiatric and medical expenses. Though there were abuse allegations, we don't know if any personal injury lawyer was involved on the side of the sister, who passed away from lung cancer earlier this year. The case is being widely described as, essentially, Stallone paying off blackmail to his allegedly drug-addicted late half-sister.
The second is the wave of "swattings" -- in which pranksters who have somehow obtained celebrity's addresses call 911 and report false emergencies. The most recent incident happened at the home of Chris Brown on Monday night.
As personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles, we have to wonder if there aren't more ways for celebrities to fight back, if they wish to. We suppose their publicists are warning them to wrap up cases quickly to avoid too much negative attention, but we think it's possible they at least in theory could counter these attacks with strong civil action. Certainly the pranksters in the "swatting" cases are guilty of the worst kind of harassment, a type of personal injury -- though we also understand that, first, they have to be caught. As for celebrities in Stallone's predicament, we imagine that either harassment or perhaps defamation charges could perhaps discourage a would-be blackmailer, perhaps even one in your own immediate family. Both cases make us just a little glad that we're not quite as famous as Mr. Stallone or Mr. Brown.
The first involves Sylvester Stallone. In the midst of a recent comeback for the 66 year-old movie star, it was revealed that, decades ago, the actor and screenwriter had agreed to give his half-sister $2 million, along with a monthly stipend of $16,666.66, as well as yearly $50,000.00 contribution to a fund for psychiatric and medical expenses. Though there were abuse allegations, we don't know if any personal injury lawyer was involved on the side of the sister, who passed away from lung cancer earlier this year. The case is being widely described as, essentially, Stallone paying off blackmail to his allegedly drug-addicted late half-sister.
The second is the wave of "swattings" -- in which pranksters who have somehow obtained celebrity's addresses call 911 and report false emergencies. The most recent incident happened at the home of Chris Brown on Monday night.
As personal injury attorneys in Los Angeles, we have to wonder if there aren't more ways for celebrities to fight back, if they wish to. We suppose their publicists are warning them to wrap up cases quickly to avoid too much negative attention, but we think it's possible they at least in theory could counter these attacks with strong civil action. Certainly the pranksters in the "swatting" cases are guilty of the worst kind of harassment, a type of personal injury -- though we also understand that, first, they have to be caught. As for celebrities in Stallone's predicament, we imagine that either harassment or perhaps defamation charges could perhaps discourage a would-be blackmailer, perhaps even one in your own immediate family. Both cases make us just a little glad that we're not quite as famous as Mr. Stallone or Mr. Brown.
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