The Future of Personal Injury

While browsing the web, we came across a particularly interesting recent article that begs the question, does damage to prosthetic limbs count as personal injury or property damage? According to the law, you and your cell phone are two separate entities, but as integration between humans and machines becomes closer, will new laws be put into place that reflect this? As personal injury attorneys we do a great deal of work in this field, so we are especially curious to see what may develop further down the road.

However, according to the article, today’s prostheses are becoming increasingly integrated with the body and can even be activated by electrical signals from muscles, so at what point may they be considered as inseparable from the body itself? It leaves us to wonder: in the case of a car accident where a prosthetic limb is damaged, could that be seen as a case of personal injury, or simply damaged equipment? Especially considering cases of mobility, as with the prosthetic legs in the attached image, the damage can be perceived as much more "personal" than when, say, a person's smart phone is damaged.

Nonetheless, the jury's out as to whether personal injury laws will change in relation to this matter in the near future.

Personal Injuries Come in Many Forms

The Porter Ranch gas leak appears to shaping up as possibly the biggest L.A. area personal injury case in many years. The sheer number of people who say they have been harmed by the noxious odors emanating from a well operated by the Southern California Gas Company and who are fleeing the community is somewhat staggering. Now, as the incident passes the 90 day mark, the case is attracting attention from the likes of famed legal activist Erin Brockovich and enviromentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., both of whom have made appearances locally.

As personal injury attorneys, we are naturally interested in the outcomes of these kind of incidents. Personal injuries, in fact, do come in very many forms. While much of our day to day work involves dealing with cases that call for the skills of an experienced vehicle accident lawyer, we are also involved in cases dealing with everything from dog bites and slip-and-fall injuries caused by establishments failing to take essential precautions, to a variety of cases involving more unusual circumstances.

The truth of the matter is that there is not so great a difference between an injury caused by a reckless or inebriated driver and one caused by a company that has failed to take proper steps to protect the public. The whole point of this area of the law is to allow individuals who have been harmed through no fault of their own to be made whole again. That's what our work at the Law Offices of Burg & Brock is all about!

Practicing Safety Wherever You Go

Despite decades of safety measures that have been implemented in homes, roadways, and workplaces, a large number of serious injuries occur each year as a result of negligence. Often, these cases are brought to personal injury attorneys, who can succeed in getting a favorable outcome for their clients. These cases not only serve as just compensation for the injured party, but they also serve as deterrents that can prevent individuals from acting negligently, and lead to the implementation of new safeguards.

Nevertheless, it is still extremely important that everyone exercise caution in all that they do. Whether you are at home, at work, or traveling the roadways in between, safety must be a priority. Whether that means pointing out potential safety issues in the workplace, or adopting defensive driving practices that can help protect from negligent drivers, these practices can help decrease your chances of a personal injury, even when those around you may not be paying attention. Of course, even those most diligent about their safety cannot know for sure that an accident will not happen to them. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, do not hesitate to contact Cameron Yadidi Brock and the Law Offices of Burg & Brock today.

DUI: Still a Year Long Concern

Now that the holidays are over, we're going to hear slightly less about the dangers of drunk driving. While that may be somewhat inevitable, anyone who's worked as, or with, a vehicle accident lawyer knows that these kind of accidents happen seven days a week, 365 days a year.

We were thinking about this while reading about the tragic case of 21 year-old Lyft driver Thor Anderson, who was killed in Hawthorne at roughly 3:00 in the morning on New Year's Day in an accident involving another driver of the same age. A DUI is suspected in the case. The young driver's father said that he was working for Lyft to help his family and was excited about the money he could make by working on New Year's Eve.

Personal injury attorneys see these kind of cases more than anyone would like to, and they happen every day. However, that doesn't mean we aren't moved by the loss of families impacted by this type of tragic DUI accident. Indeed, the devastation in these cases can be overwhelming at times. Oftentimes, the saddest realization of all is how easily they could have been prevented. In this case, ironically, all it might have taken to save Thor Anderson's life was one more call to Lyft or Uber on the part of the other driver in the case.

Meanwhile, if you are dealing with a personal injury due to a DUI or another type of accident where the other driver was at fault, and you're family is not receiving due compensation, we're here to help. And, very obviously, if you find yourself out and drinking, remember that, as the ads say, buzzed driving is drunk driving. If there's any question at all that you might be impaired, call a cab or one of the ride-sharing services. You don't belong behind the wheel.

Make Safety Your New Year’s Priority

As the calendar flips, and the start of a New Year has people looking for a fresh start, a variety of goals and resolutions will be made around the country. While many of these goals are important, it is always true that there is nothing more important than the health and wellness of ourselves and those around us. For individuals, this means practicing necessary caution when driving, and for business owners, this means ensuring that your premises, products, and policies are all aligned with the best practices for safety.

Far too often, the safety policies of businesses are reactive, only changing after an accident or a personal injury has occurred. While any efforts toward increased safety should be lauded, it is frustrating when these steps are only taken after an incident. At the Law Offices of Burg & Brock, we encourage business owners and individuals to make 2016 the year to examine any unsafe practices, and make the changes needed to prevent an accident. Of course, there will never be a world that is 100 percent free of accidents, and anyone needing the assistance of personal injury attorneys can contact us whenever they are in need.

A Time for Gratitude

As Los Angeles personal injury attorneys, we obviously spend a great deal of time dealing with people in unfortunate situations. Even so, it may not always sink us for us how important it is to take a moment to be thankful for all that we more fortunate people have.

Oddly enough, what started us thinking about this is the ongoing situation in Porter Ranch, where noxious smells from a Southern California Gas Company leak are driving some people from their homes. If you're a personal injury lawyer, the obvious thing is to consider the legal implications posed by an invasive bad smell, which is never good for a person's physical or mental health. On the other hand, it's also important to take a moment to be thankful for something as basic as having reasonably fresh air to breathe.

Aside from the air, living in what is, after all, a highly prosperous society, many of us take for granted that we have clean water to drink as close as the nearest tap, a roof over our heads, and enough food...actually much more than enough. At the same time, of course, not everyone has it so good.

So, it's good to be grateful for all the things we do have, like a good job at a personal injury law firm, for example. It's also, however, perhaps even more important to help spread some of that good fortune around by helping others who are in need by doing whatever we can, perhaps volunteering or giving to our favorite charities -- and, if you don't have a personal favorite, there are countless important causes out there, all of whom could use more help. It's also, of course, just as important to simply be kind to those around us, from our closest family and friends to strangers we encounter as we go about our business. Not just around the holidays but always.

Happy holidays, everyone!

Stay Safe during Holiday Travels!

Holidays are a joyous time for celebration and spending time with family, yet the bump in travel to unfamiliar locations often leads to an increase in injuries during this time. As a vehicle accident lawyer, Cameron Yadidi Brock and the rest of his team at the Law Offices of Burg & Brock know all too well what can happen when drivers are distracted while trying to traverse crowded roadways. Especially in any extraordinary roadway conditions, we remind all drivers to always practice defensive driving and never sacrifice safety in order to get to a destination just a little bit sooner. It is rushing like this that often makes it difficult to see hazardous conditions that may lead to a personal injury.

It is also important to be cautious and diligent when traversing crowded airports or other unfamiliar areas where a fall or other injury could occur. Typically, those who manage these high traffic buildings and areas tend to take extra precautions to account for the increased foot traffic and potential distractions. Yet, it is certainly true that not all stores and public buildings take these precautions, and many injuries still do occur. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident that resulted from the negligence of another party, contact the personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Burg & Brock today.