Los Angeles Injury Lawyer Blog

Orange County roads and highways are a notoriously dangerous place for drivers and pedestrians. Car and truck accidents can numerous potential causes: driver error or negligence (such as speeding, cell phone usage while driving or driving under the influence), road design defect (such as improper signage or a lack of barriers or guardrails), and vehicle malfunction or poor vehicle design. Car crash injuries can include burns, broken bones, spinal injuries (and paralysis) or head and neck injury. Too often, those involved in a wreck, especially pedestrians, die. Learn more about car and truck accidents and how we can help you, the victim, at www.alawpro.com, or call 1-800-ALAWPRO now to speak to an Orange County crash lawyer at 1-800-ALAWPRO.

A man who was not only texting while driving, but also under the influence of prescription pain killers, crashed his truck into a boy riding a bike and killed him in Orange County. The accident occurred in 2007, and now a county judge is forbidding the truck driver from taking a plea in the gross negligence and felony vehicular manslaughter case. The victim was a 14-year-old on his way to school. In another Orange County fatal accident, an elderly driver died when his ’98 Honda hit another car on the Costa Mesa Freeway in Orange. The man was thrown from his vehicle as he struck the other car, drove through a guardrail and then toppled down an embankment. The driver of the other car, a ’05 Ford was not harmed.

Have you or someone you love been hurt or killed in a car crash in Orange County, please seek legal help now. The Law Offices of The Rudman Law Firm, PLC will fight for you using our 50 years combined legal experience. Let us serve you in your time of need. Call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential consultation. Help is just a phone call away.

Shockingly, there have been three pedestrian deaths on Caltrain tracks in the month of May. The growing trend is disturbing and unfortunate. In two of the instances all of the warning systems seemed to have been working appropriately, but still a teenager and a senior citizen were struck and killed by commuter trains in separate incidents. Getting hurt or killed by a train may mean that the train company, train and track manufacturer, alert system maker and installer, municipality, train engineer, or other company are at fault. Don’t wait before getting the legal counsel you deserve. Call 1-800-ALAWPRO now to talk to a California train accident lawyer for free now.

While the three fatalities the past month occurred on Northern California Caltrain tracks, Southern California is no stranger to train crash deaths – including those of both pedestrians and commuter train passengers. Last year’s notorious Chatsworth crash appears to be in part the fault of the train engineer text messaging while driving the locomotive. The spate of recent deaths may give cause to reconsider whether the current warning system at railroad crossing is sufficient. Learn more about train accidents and victim’s rights at www.alawpro.com.

If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a California train accident, please call the Law Firm of The Rudman Law Firm, PLC now. We have collected more than $150 million for our clients. Call for your free and confidential consultation now. Help is just a phone call away at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776).

Chances are that if you are going to a hospital you are already hurt or sick. If a medical procedure or other hospital error deteriorates your condition rather than improves it, the hospital and/or its staff may be liable. The California Department of Health has just fined 13 state hospitals for violating health codes, including those in which foreign objects were found inside patients after surgery. Though every violation extracts a $25,000 fine from the hospital, for many the citation and fine are too little to late. If you or a loved one has received medical care that worsened your situation in California, please call 1-800-ALAWPRO to speak to a personal injury lawyer at no cost.

Just this month a hospital in Hollywood was fined and cited by the California Dept. of Health for a needless and ultimately deadly blood transfusion. The victim was given an unneeded transfusion with the wrong type of blood, and died as a result. An investigation showed that the nurses did not follow the appropriate blood transfusion protocol.

Of the 13 violations recently disclosed, all of which occurred in 2007 and 2008, three involved foreign objects found inside patients. Other violations were for unnecessarily using restrains, not appropriately assessing and intervening when a patient was in decline, and improperly following surgical procedures leading to patients to require more surgery. To learn more about medical malpractice and patient rights, visit our website at www.alawpro.com.

If you or someone close to you has been hurt or killed at a CA hospital, get legal help now. At the Law Firm of The Rudman Law Firm, PLC, we have more than 50 years combined legal experience. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and confidential consultation. We are here to fight for you.

At the end of March we ran a two-part blog about nursing home dangers, one of which was the frightening rise of mixing elderly populations with mentally ill patients. An AP study discovered that many nursing homes, also known as assisted living facilities, are allowing younger, mentally ill residents in to live among the primarily senior clientele. The mix of mentally ill patients, who may be violent, psychotic, hallucinatory or sexually frustrated, and elderly residents can be an extremely potent and dangerous situation. Numerous beatings and rapes were reported throughout the country. It appears that a lack of training and preparedness at the nursing homes is often responsible for the injuries and deaths, and that economic difficulties are causing some assisted living facilities to relax their policies regarding those they are admitting. If a nursing home does not provide proper care and a safe environment for their residents they may be committing negligence and elder abuse. Learn more at about elder abuse and nursing home neglect at www.alawpro.com. Or call 1-800-ALAWPRO to speak to a California elder abuse lawyer for free.

A recent lawsuit has an elderly nursing home resident suing her facility after she was sexually assaulted by a 21-year-old with bipolar disorder. The 69-year-old victim’s lawsuit alleges that not only did her Illinois home allow a dangerous mentally ill young adult live amongst frail seniors, but that they also attempted to cover up the rape. The man who attacked her had previously been a resident at the nursing home and was a convicted felon. He had admitted to staff that feeling sexually frustrated, yet nothing was done to keep him from harming residents.

If you believe that you or a loved one has suffered elder abuse at a nursing home or through other means in Southern California, please call the The Rudman Law Firm, PLC. We offer more than 50 years combined legal experience. When you call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) you will receive and free and confidential consultation with an attorney. Let us do the work and worrying for you. Please call now.

In the spirit of team-building, more and more companies are devising retreats for their workers. Events at these retreats include physical exercises geared at boosting camaraderie and creativity, but unfortunately, the results are sometimes dangerous or deadly. Paint ball wars, mock sumo wrestling and ropes courses can be hazardous if not supervised properly, if combined with alcohol consumption, or if there are other safety glitches such as dangerous or malfunctioning products or equipment. Injuries can be serious, including paralysis, brain injury, broken bones, and neck injuries. An employee who suffered a severe brain injury while wearing an inflatable sumo suit during a work retreat activity has been awarded a $2million settlement. If you or someone close to you has been hurt in a sumo suit or other team building exercise in California, call 1-800-ALAWPRO to speak with an attorney for free now.

The mock sumo-wrestling match happened at a resort in Colorado as part of an Ernst and Young employee event. The victim was a woman who donned the inflatable sumo suit, which are either padded or inflatable, and a helmet. During the game, she was pushed off the sumo mat, slamming her head onto the floor and hitting the edge of the one-size-fits-all helmet. She was unconscious after the fall and fractured her skull. Her brain damage is permanent. Though the woman had been drinking a $2 million settlement was awarded by the jury. The manufacturers of the sumo suit, the owners of the equipment, the event providers and the resort were all found liable.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a recreational activity in Southern California, get legal help now. At the Rudman Law Firm, PLC, we have collected more than $150 million for our clients. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your private and free consultation, and visit www.alawpro.com to learn more about us. We are here to fight for you now.

A local Los Angeles news station is reporting their investigation into pharmacy errors – potentially deadly errors that can be made by pharmacists when filling your prescription. Known in professional drug store jargon as “variation from prescription,” this means that customers are given the wrong medication – something that most consumers don’t realize until it is too late. If you or someone close to you has been sickened or killed in the Southland as a result of receiving wrong medication from a pharmacy, call 1-800-ALAWPRO to speak to a lawyer for free now.

The CBS report has uncovered some disturbing information for pharmacy users. For one, if a drug store or pharmacist has been cited for incorrectly filling a prescription, those citations are not available to the public. Los Angeles has the second highest rate of medication filling errors in the country. Over 51 million such mistakes are made annually in the US, although the number is likely higher since many don’t report or know that they have been given an incorrectly filled prescription. Still, even if they recognize their mistake, pharmacists are not obliged to report making a prescription filling error. The report found hundreds of druggists who are still filling prescriptions after being cited for making errors, since neither loss of license nor suspension is a consequence of giving the wrong medication.

If you believe that you or a loved one has been given the wrong medication by an LA pharmacy, please get legal help now. The Rudman Law Firm, PLC is a personal injury law firm dedicated to serving you in your time of need. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential initial interview, or check out our website at www.alawpro.com to learn more about what we do best. Let us do the work and worrying for you when you call us now.

In most motorcycle accidents, the biker is a male. Multiple reports have surfaced in the past year regarding the rise in motorcycle crash deaths among men, especially those over 30. Causes of bike wrecks can include driver error (motorcyclist or other vehicle operator), road design defect (as we reported in a recent blog when a biker was paralyzed in Monterey County), and motorcycle malfunction. Even when wearing a helmet, as is the law in California, motorcycle crashes are often fatal; while other injuries such as broken bones, head or neck injury and paralysis from brain or spinal injury can also occur. If you or a loved one has been in a bike crash in SoCal, call -1800-ALAWPRO to see how we can help you now.

In Hemet, Riverside County, a woman died when her motorcycle crashed into an SUV at a local road intersection. The 54-year-old female victim was from Wildomar, and she died from injuries sustained after she was thrown from her bike. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is investigating the accident cause. In the same week, a 55-year old man lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a concrete standard in Anaheim. His accident was also fatal. Find out more about victim’s rights and motorcycle crashes at www.alawpro.com.

Hurt or killed in a motorcycle crash in CA? Then get legal help from the Law Team that will fight for you. The Rudman Law Firm, PLC have more than 50 years combined legal experience. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) now for your free and confidential consultation. We are here for you now.

Dog attacks can happen to nearly anyone, but when an animal control officer is bitten, it makes non-professionals appear even more at risk. Dog bites can be deadly. If an animal attacks a major artery or blood vessel, or if the attack is particularly vicious, wounds and blood loss can kill the victim. Or if the victim is a child, elderly person, or someone unable to defend themselves, an animal attack can be fatal. Injuries incurred in a dog attack can include lacerations, broken bones and amputation. Pit bulls are often responsible for dog attacks, but other breeds can attack humans unprovoked. If you or someone close to you has been hurt or killed in a dog attack in the Southland, call 1-800-ALAWPRO to talk to a lawyer for free now.

A female animal control officer nearly had her thumb amputated by a two attacking pit bulls in Bell Gardens. The officer was called on a complaint seemingly unrelated to the pit bulls when the animals charged her after getting free from their ties. They pinned her to the ground though she defended herself with a baton. One of the offending dogs was euthanized.

Been bitten by a dog in So Cal? Then call the Rudman Law Firm, PLC now. We have more than 50 years combined legal experience with which to serve you. Call 1-800-ALAPWPRO for your free and confidential consultation, or visit our website at www.alawpro.com to learn more about us. We are here for you now.

A couple of high profile work-related death cases are making headlines. In one, a surprising settlement has been reached regarding the trampling death of a Wal-Mart worker last year. And in another, the family of a Las Vegas Strip construction worker is suing multiple parties in the death of the crane oiler after he was one of multiple builder-related deaths in a short period. Employees have the right to be safe on the job. Getting hurt or killed at any workplace mean that something serious has gone wrong. Finding out who is to blame may be a trying and complicated affair. That’s why if you or a loved one has been hurt or killed at work in California, you should call 1-800-ALAWPRO to speak to a lawyer for free now.

While the family of the employee that was killed when shoppers charged a Walmart store last November has filed a civil suit against his employer, the District Attorney of New York has reached an agreement with the retail giant which will prevent criminal charges from being filed. The settlement requires Wal-Mart to improve Black Friday crowd control, arrange for 50 jobs for local high schoolers each year, and create a $400,000 compensation fund for victims. Nevertheless, per the agreement, Wal-Mart did not admit wrongdoing or error.

In Nevada, half a dozen deaths occurred during a year and half long period throughout the construction of the “CityCenter” project on the Las Vegas Strip. The family of one of the killed workers has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the MGM Mirage and other entities for the 39-year-old’s death. The lawsuit alleges that the crane’s warning system was defective, that the crane operator was under the influence of alcohol, and that employees were neither properly trained nor properly supervised. Learn more about wrongful death at www.alawpro.com.

If you or someone close to got hurt or killed on the job in CA, call the Rudman Law Firm, PLC now. We have collected more than $150 million for our clients. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and private interview with one of our attorneys. Let us do the work and worrying for you when you cal now.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has released a preliminary report regarding the deadly tour bus crash that killed 5 people in Soledad recently. As cited in an earlier blog, the tour bus, operated by Orion Pacific, was carrying visitors from France when it crashed on the 101 in Northern California. Four passengers and the driver were killed in the accident that happened on a freeway overpass.

Per the new report, driver error seems the likely cause of the fatal accident. It appears that the driver poorly negotiated the overpass curve, and as a result, the bus slammed into the guardrail and turned over. Other possible causes for the crash, including driving under the influence, mechanical failure, poor road design or conditions and weather, were ruled out. Bus accidents, whether they involve school buses, tour buses or public transit buses, can involve multiple parities, such as the leasing company, owner, driver or municipality. To learn more about bus crashes and negligence, go to www.alawpro.com.

If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a CA bus accident, call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) now. The Rudman Law Firm, PLC have more than 50 years combined legal experience. Get your free and confidential consultation when you call us toll-free. Help is just a phone call away.

Pedestrians are often killed in car crashes. When the “lucky” ones do survive a collision with a moving motor vehicle, the results can still be devastating. Broken legs, arms, wrists, or hips, head or neck injuries, spinal injuries or paralysis, and severe lacerations are all potential injuries that can require long-term recovery and care. If you have been struck by a car, get legal help now by calling 1-800-ALAWPRO and talking to a lawyer at no cost.

In Sun Valley two 12-year old boys were hit by a car. Miraculously, they both survived. Still the kids were hurt: one had a head injury and the other a broken femur. The children were airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. The cause accident is being investigated. Learn more about accidents and victims’ rights at www.alawpro.com.

Have you or someone close to you been hurt in a Sun Valley wreck? The call the Rudman Law Firm, PLC now. We offer more than 50 years combined legal experience and are ready to serve you in your time of need. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential consultation. Help is just a phone call away.

The blood thinner, heparin, as made by Baxter International Inc., has come under fire in recent years for multiple factors including a contamination of the drug that killed numbers of patients. After multiple recalls, it appeared that the Heparin scare was over. But now hospital officials in Delaware are investigating Baxter Heparin in a pair of deaths. Learn more about Heparin’s history and who has filed suit at www.alawpro.com. If you or a loved one has suffered an adverse reaction or death after receiving Heparin in California, call 1-800-ALAWPRO to talk to an experienced lawyer for free.

Heparin, a blood thinner, is used to prepare patients for a number medical procedures including major heart surgery and kidney dialysis. The previously contaminated Heparin was produced at a plant in China for Baxter. The tainted heparin found to contain oversulfated chondroitin sulfate. The bad heparin killed many of the patients who received it. At the Delaware hospital, the current Heparin in question was not made in China and was not produced in the same packaging. North America produced this Heparin, which comes in intravenous bags. Still adverse side effects were reported in five hospital patients, including brain bleeding, and two patients have died. The investigation will tell if a new round of Heparin recalls and lawsuits are next.

Hurt after getting Heparin in a CA hospital? Then get expert legal help now. The The Rudman Law Firm, PLC has more than 50 years combined legal experience. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential consultation with a pharmaceutical attorney. We are here to do the work and worrying for you. Please call now.

Two deadly car accidents in Los Angeles are proof that crashes can happen anywhere. In each incident, one in which a car slammed into a liquor store and another with a car careening into a statue, a female victim was killed. When motor vehicle accidents involving a car, motorcycle, truck or bus striking a fixed object, such as a building, wall or guardrail, the injuries are often serious. Spinal, head or neck injuries can be incurred by drivers or passengers, and bystanders can be killed or suffer broken bones or lacerations. Learn more about car accidents and who is at fault at www.alawpro.com. Or call 1-800-ALAWPRO now to speak to a Los Angeles lawyer for free.

In Compton a Toyota Camry crashed into a liquor store, killing a customer and injuring two other bystanders. Officials are investigating why the driver drove through the front of the store in the middle of the day. The driver was expected to be released after questioning. In another fatal LA crash, a female driver plowed into a MacArthur Park statue. The driver died, and the three occupants are in critical condition at a local hospital. No cause for the early morning accident was known.

If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in an LA area accidents, get the legal help you deserve now. At the Rudman Law Firm, PLC we are personal injury attorneys who have collected more than $150 million for our clients. Call us for now for a free and confidential consultation at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776). We are here for you now.

A facility used by the Dallas Cowboys collapsed in heavy winds causing multiple serious injuries to staff members of the NFL team. News has now surfaced that three other structures erected by the builder of the Cowboy’s facility suffered a similar fate. Work-place injuries can happen when the facilities containing workers are not safe. These types of buildings can be temporary or permanent structures. A product, manufacturer or contractor that has a history of problems could mean that an accident is preventable. To learn more about negligence as well as product and premises liability, please visit our website at www.alawpro.com. If you or someone close to you has been injured in Southern Cal, call 1-800-ALAWPRO to talk to a lawyer for free.

The Cowboys accident injured a dozen employees. One victim had his spine severed, paralyzing him from the waist down. Other staff had neck vertebrae injuries and a broken leg. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is investigating the accident. The manufacturer of the fallen structure is Cover-All Building Systems, and its parent company Summit Structures. Allegedly three other buildings erected by the company, including an indoor arena and a warehouse, have also collapsed. Some of the buildings fell due to weather conditions. Thankfully no serious injuries resulted from those collapses; however, it appears that the lack of injuries allowed the pattern of fallen structures by the same company to go unnoticed.

Been hurt in a building accident or collapse in LA? Then get legal advice from experts now. The Rudman Law Firm, PLC have over 50 years combined legal experience. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and confidential consultation. We are here for you now. Help is just a phone call away.

Monrovia, CA, a Los Angeles County city, has more than 35,000 residents. Scenically located in the San Gabriel Mountains foothills, Monrovia is a frequent filming location for features, television, and commercials. Monrovia’s most accessible highway access is through the 210 (Foothill) Freeway. If you have been hurt in Monrovia, in a car accident or on-the-job, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses. Once you have been injured, finding out who is to blame may seem like too much to bear. If you have been paralyzed in a multi-car wreck or broken a leg at a construction site don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call 1-800-ALAWPRO now. A Monrovia’s personal injury lawyer is prepared to speak to you at no cost.

The The Rudman Law Firm, PLC has more than 50 years combined legal experience. Learn more about us and the $150 million we have collected for our clients at www.alawpro.com. When you call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) we offer a free and confidential consultation. Let us do all the work and worrying for you. Call now.

Bellflower, CA is located in LA County and has a population of over 70,000. Located at the junction of two freeways, the 605 (San Gabriel River Freeway) and the 91 (Artesia Freeway), Bellflower is unfortunately an easy place to get into an accident. More than 7200 truck crashes happen annually in Southern California. Cars, motorcycles, buses and vans also account for thousands of motor vehicle accidents. Getting hurt in a crash can mean have long-term physical and mental consequences. Injuries such as burns, broken bones, spinal injuries are potentially devastating. If you’ve been hurt in an accident in Bellflower, or you know someone who has been killed, please get legal help immediately by calling 1-800-ALAWPRO now.

The Rudman Law Firm, PLC proudly serve Southern Californians with more than 50 years combined legal experience. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Bellflower accident, call us toll-free at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential consultation with an attorney. Or visit our website at www.alawpro.com. We have collected more than $150 million for our clients. Let us help you in your time of need. Please call now.

Dangerous air containing toxic levels of chemicals has made headlines at locations near factories, refineries and plants. In a previous blog, we discussed a national report about the hazards of toxic air at US schools. But now a less obvious site is being blamed for releasing toxic fumes: an airplane. Two women have sued Southwest Airlines, claiming that a mystery chemical in the air of flight from Los Angeles (LAX) seriously sickened them. Get more facts about victims’ rights at www.alawpro.com, or if you believe you have been wrongfully harmed in California call 1-800-ALAWPRO for your free consultation now.

The Southwest lawsuit alleges that a flight from LAX to Nashville caused at least two passengers to get ill, suffering from serious and long-term health issues. The flight was diverted to Albuquerque due to oxygen deprivation, and the suit states that a mysterious substance or chemical was in the plane’s air. The claimants, two sisters, state that they now have uncontrollable tremors, impaired vision, and motor skill and balancing problems as a result of inhaling the air on the plane.

Hurt in California and don’t know where to turn? Get a free and confidential consultation at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776). The The Rudman Law Firm, PLC offers more than 50 years combined legal experience. Let us do the work and worrying for you when you call us now.

Even with all of the test and standards required for children’s products today, items are still sold that contain hazards for the young. In earlier blogs, we recounted how children’s jewelry was being sold that not only contained lead but also was falsely labeled as being lead-free. Now cribs are being recalled voluntarily by their manufacturer as the beds were discovered to posed potential strangulation and entrapment dangers. The crib recall is for Jardine cribs, and if your child has already been hurt, call 1-800-ALAWPRO for California legal advice immediately.

Jardine recalled 320,000 cribs last June and more than 56,000 this January. Now the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the voluntary recall of more than 95,000 more cribs. The problem is that the wooden slats on the cribs are breakable, which can create a gap possibly leading to a baby’s getting trapped or suffocated. Stores including Toys “R” Us, Babies “R” Us, and KidsWorld carried the Jardine cribs. To learn more about product liability and laws governing consumer rights, check out our website at www.alawpro.com.

If your child has been injured by faulty or defective cribs, toys, furniture, strollers, jewelry, or other products, get the expert legal help you deserve now. At the Rudman Law Firm, PLC we have collected more than $150 million for our clients. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and confidential initial interview and see what we are prepared to do to serve you. Help is just a phone call away.

There have now been two high injury count tour bus accidents in California in less than a week. The first crash was a deadly in Salinas in which four tourists died. Now a tour bus has crashed on a freeway in Perris, Riverside County, and every single person on board was hurt in the accident. Accidents involving tour buses can have multiple parties at fault including the bus driver, chartering company, and bus owner. Buses can be more likely to be involved in rollover accidents due to their higher center of gravity. Learn more about bus crashes and victims’ rights at www.alawpro.com, or call 1-800-ALAWPRO to speak to a California lawyer for free now.

The Perris accident occurred on a city-sponsored tour bus. There were 28 passengers on the bus and all suffered some sort of injury. Eight of the passengers were hospitalized in critical condition. The bus allegedly crashed into a median on a freeway, then bounded through a wall and landed on a nearby residential property. The impact broke the bus windshield, door and windows. Broken glass littered the wreckage, and those in the front of the bus were hurt the worst. While specific injuries of victims were not released, common bus crash injuries can include lacerations, brain or spinal injuries, head and neck injuries, broken bones.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a tour bus crash in So Cal, call the Rudman Law Firm, PLC today. Our Law Team offers has more than 50 years combined legal experience. Call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential consultation. We are here to do the work and worrying for you. Please call now.

Work place injuries can be serious and fatal. At work sites such as factories, manufacturing plants, refineries and construction sites, accidents can involve falls from high locations, mishandling or malfunctioning of equipment, or electrocution. At workplaces such as universities, dangers to employees may be more hidden. However, nearly any work location can lead to employee injury. An explosion at a chemistry laboratory in UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) a research assistant died from her burns. A Cal OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health) investigation has resulted in a steep fine against the school. Learn more about on-the-job accidents and victims’ rights at www.alawpro.com or call 1-800-ALAWPRO to speak to an LA personal injury lawyer for free.

UCLA is being fined $32,000 for the fatal lab explosions that killed a 23-year old research assistant. The lab assistant was burned over 40% over her body when the fire and explosion occurred. She died 18 days after the accident that happened December 2008. The OSHA investigation uncovered three separate violations of CA workplace safety regulations at the university chemistry lab. They were (1) previous problems discovered during an internal safety inspection had not been rectified; (2) the victim was not wearing protective clothing required for lab work; and (3) the victim had not received proper training.

If you or a loved one has received a burn injury at work in California, get legal help now. The Rudman Law Firm, PLC have collected more than $150 million for clients in need. Call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential consultation. Don’t wait a minute longer to get the help you deserve.

A new report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) states that most truck-related crashes in California are the fault of passenger vehicles, such as cars, SUV’s, vans or buses. According to the report, there were more than 7,200 California accidents involving big rigs in 2008, and over 50% were caused by unsafe maneuvers by passenger vehicle drivers. Still, there are plenty of reports of tractor-trailer accidents in which the big rig was reportedly speeding or disobeying other traffic laws. For those who are not killed upon impact, one of the most common injuries suffered in a truck on car collision is brain or spinal damage. If you’ve been involved in a crash with a truck in So Cal, call talk to a lawyer for free now by calling 1-800-ALAWPRO.

A big rig crashed through a center divide on the Riverside Freeway in Corona, hitting two cars, a Honda Accord and a Toyota Corolla. Thankfully, the car victims suffered moderate injuries. Suddenly slowing traffic apparently caused the truck to veer into the concrete center of the road. In Illinois a $24 million settlement has been reached in a suit against a trucking company and other entities for a big rig accident that killed two people and seriously injured another. The driver, the freight broker and the trucking company were all named in the suit.

Been hurt in a truck crash? Then call the Rudman Law Firm, PLC now. We have more than 50 years combined legal experience and are here to serve you in your time of need. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential consultation. Help is a phone call away.

Zyprexa, made and distributed by Eli Lilly & Co., is an antipsychotic drug approved for use of treatment in those with schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder only. In yet another chapter in Eli Lilly’s Zyprexa saga, the drug company has agreed to pay the State of Georgia a settlement of $6 million. Zyprexa makers have paid out over $1 billion for illegally marketing the drug to those with dementia, for which it is not approved for treatment. Additionally, Zyprexa has been accused and its manufacturers sued for having side effects including excessive weight gain and diabetes. Learn more about Zyprexa’s side effects and what rights you have if you have been prescribed Zyprexa at www.alawpro.com.

In addition to Georgia, multiple states are suing the Eli Lilly for reimbursement of Medicaid payments made towards Zyprexa. Thirty states are accepting million dollar settlements from Zyprexa. In an earlier blog, we recounted how the State of Alaska refused to accept an early settlement. Alaska sued the makers of Zyprexa and ultimately accepted $15 million after commencing a trial.

If you or a loved one has suffered side effects or been wrongly prescribed Zyprexa in California, get legal help immediately. Call the Rudman Law Firm, PLC at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776). We have collected more than $150 million for our clients. Get your free and confidential consultation with an attorney when you call us. Help is just a phone call away.

In recent blog, we discussed how drowning is a leading killer among children during Southern California summers. Multiple drowning scenarios may mean that others are to blame for a death by drowning. Those instances include (a) a swimming pool or hot tub that is not properly fitted with the required safety drains and drainage systems, (b) a swimming area at which a life guard should be present but is not, (c) a swimming area that requires fencing or other barriers, but lacks it, or (d) improperly or poorly trained care personnel who mishandle a drowning situation. While many of these instances may occur at a public pool or spa, private locations and residences may also be at fault if a drowning occurs. Learn more about negligence and swimming accidents at www.alawpro.com. In a tragic case, a 4-year old buy drowned at his first day of Summer Camp in Santa Barbara, and now his parents have been awarded a settlement after a jury found multiple parties guilty of negligence and wrongful death. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a So Cal swimming accident, call 1-800-ALAWPRO to speak to a lawyer for free.

The boy drowned at the Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club swimming pool 3 years ago. His parents sued employees of the club, its owner, and other entities for damages including funeral and medical expenses. Part of the drowning which lasted 8 minutes was caught on tape. The camp had no license. The lifeguard was not present at the time of the incident. The counselors performed “improper CPR,” and multiple other factors were included in the ruling. The settlement was for $15 million, not including punitive damages.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in California, you should seek legal advice now. At the Rudman Law Firm, PLC we offer more than 50 years combined legal experience. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for you confidential and free consultation, and let us do all the work and worrying for you.

Working at a construction site, oil refinery, chemical manufacturing plant may seem like a dangerous job. But all California workers are entitled to be safe and unharmed no matter what the job or the location. So if you have been hurt, learn about your rights at www.alawpro.com and get legal help by calling 1-800-ALAWPRO now. No one should accept dangerous work situations or on-the-job injuries. Such injuries include broken bones, head or spinal injuries, burns, paralysis, loss of vision, amputation or lacerations.

A recent explosion at a Paramount oil refinery injured one worker, sending him to the hospital. Shockingly, the employee’s injuries were minor, and no one else was hurt when a build-up of gas caused a furnace to explode. The blast was so strong that it caused $800,000 in damage, and shook nearby homes shook. It was not clear why the gas build-up occurred – whether due to a problem with the furnace or worker error. Injuries incurred when dealing with explosions caused by 100-foot high furnaces can include severe burns in other circumstances. Burn injuries can result in long-term care and be fatal.

If you or someone close to you has been hurt on the job in the LA area, please get legal help immediately. Call the Rudman Law Firm, PLC and take advantage of our more than 50 years combined legal experience. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and confidential consultation. Help is just a phone call away.

It seems that the number of train-related deaths in Southern California is never-ending. Train crashes can involved other trains, vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses, vans, motorcycles or bicycles, or pedestrians. When a smaller vehicle such as a car or a unprotected pedestrian are struck by a train, the results are often deadly. An eastbound Metrolink train struck a teenager attempting to cross the tracks while the crossing arm was down in Riverside. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a Southern California train-related accident, call 1-800-ALAWPRO to speak with a lawyer for free.

This most recent train fatality occurred in the morning at a Riverside RR crossing. The 14-year old victim and a friend stopped at the crossing arm as a westbound train passed. After the first passage, the boy apparently ignored the downed gates, warning bells and lights and went around the arm. Tragically, he was fatally struck by a train going the other way. Learn more about train crashes and who is to blame at www.alawpro.com.

If you or someone close to you has been killed by a California train, you need legal advice from professionals now. At the Rudman Law Firm, PLC we have more than 50 years combined experience. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential consultation. We are here for you now.

Nursing homes, also known as assisted living or residential facilities, are supposed to be a safe haven for the elderly and the sick. When nursing homes endanger the lives of their residents through lack of safety, neglect or other forms of abuse, the results can be deadly. In two fire-related incidents at So Cal nursing homes a man was killed and four were injured. Learn more about elder abuse and nursing home liability at www.alawpro.com, or call 1-800-ALAWPRO to talk to a lawyer for free.

At the Riviera Healthcare Center in Pico Rivera, an elderly resident died from severe burns he received in a smoking accident. Now the assisted living facility has been fined $100,000 by the State of California, the highest fine possible. The senior victim died after sustaining burns on more than 40% of his body. He accidentally set himself on fire lighting a cigarette. An investigation discovered that the nursing home permitted smoking but lacked a safety plan. Also staff did not react by using a fire extinguisher or fire blanket, both of which were available.

In Temecula, a nursing home caught fire, injuring 4 people and displacing 34 residents. The fire took place in the attic of the senior residence facility. The people who were hurt suffered smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire was unknown and under investigation.

If you suspect that you or a loved one has been the victim of senior abuse at a nursing home or other location, get legal help now. The Rudman Law Firm, PLC have collected more than $150 million for their clients. Let us serve you in your time of need. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for you free and confidential consultation, and let us do the work and worrying for you.

A series of bus-related crashes have plagued California recently. Three separate accidents have killed 6 people and injured dozens more. Fire, pedestrians and freeways were involved in the crashes that included a commuter bus, a public bus and a tour bus. When buses are involved in accidents, there may be multiple parties at fault for passenger or bystander injuries or deaths. The company that chartered the bus, the bus owner, the event organizer, the bus driver, or the municipality running the bus line may all be involved in a bus accident injury. Learn more about bus accidents and victims rights at www.alawpro.com, or call 1-800-ALAWPRO to discuss your Los Angeles bus accident with a lawyer for free.

Following are details of the three recent California bus crashes:

• A Commuter Express bus carrying 37 passengers caught on fire on Highway 101 in Calabasas. The fire burned 75% of the bus and sent one victim to the hospital. Twenty-seven passengers suffered smoke inhalation, and none were reported to have burn injuries.
• A man died when he was hit by a public bus in Playa del Rey. The 55-year old victim was waiting for the bus on bench when a crash between a car and bus sent the vehicle into the bus stop. The bus driver was hospitalized with injures. The cause of the accident is being investigated.
• A tour bus rolled over on a Northern California freeway, killing 4 of 36 passengers and the driver. The bus was traveling on the 101 at Soledad when it crashed on an overpass. The accident sent people flying out of the bus, one of whom plunged 70 feet to his or her death. The driver died days later of neck and head injuries, and dozens more passengers were injured. The Orion Pacific bus was the only vehicle involved in the crash.

If you or someone close to you has been hurt or killed in a CA bus crash, call the The Rudman Law Firm, PLC for help now. We have more than 50 years combined legal experience. Let us serve you in your time of need. Call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and private interview. Help is just a phone call away.

Sadly, fatal construction accidents appear to be happening all the time around Southern California. Whether the victims are workers or bystanders, construction sites can be extremely dangerous. Falls from scaffolding or ladders, crashes involving construction equipment, electrocutions, and accidents involving heavy machinery can be deadly or cause injuries such as broken bones, spinal, neck or head injuries, burns, brain damage, or amputation. Two recent construction accidents have involved trench collapses. In one incident the results were fatal. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a construction accident in So Cal, call 1-800-ALAWPRO and talk to a lawyer now for free.

The fatal trench collapse occurred midday at the location of an future apartment complex in Huntington Beach. The victim and another employee were working at a trench when it collapsed, filling up with dirt and concrete. The dead worker was not unearthed for an hour, and Cal OSHA has the accident under investigation. In another trench collapse, two workers were buried- one up to his knees, and the other to his waist while working at a residential home construction site in Sylmar. The trench was 8-feet deep and 40-feet wide. To read more about construction accidents and workers rights, visit www.alawpro.com.

If you or a family member has been hurt or killed in an LA area construction site accident, you should get legal advice immediately. Call the Rudman Law Firm, PLC now to take advantage of our more than 50 years combined legal experience. Let us help you in your time of need by calling 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential consultation. We are here for you now.

Southern Californians attend local events with the expectation of being safe. Unfortunately fair and event organizers or contractors can create dangerous situations if they use unsafe structures or practice unsafe building practices when accommodating their guests. At a recent LA area book fair, a scaffolding structure collapsed in the wind, hurting 3 attendees. At Los Angeles events locations, including larger venues such as County fairs or theme parks, accidents can include ride injuries, electrocutions, slips, trips or falls, drownings, and amputations. Learn more about premises liability accidents at www.alawpro.com, or call 1-800-ALAWPRO to speak to a lawyer for free.

The scaffolding accident occurred at the annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at UCLA. The 15-foot scaffolding blew over from a gust of wind. The structure fell onto three victims, all of whom were hospitalized. It was not reported whether the scaffolding itself was faulty or if it was erected improperly. Most deadly scaffolding accidents take place at construction sites and involve employees.

If you or someone close to you has been hurt in an accident at a Los Angeles fair, park, or event you should get legal help now. At the Rudman Law Firm, PLC, we have collected more than $150 million for our clients. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) now for your free and confidential consultation. We are here for you now.

On April 2, we blogged about an active case regarding necklaces sold by Macy’s and other retailers that contained dangerous amount of lead, though they were advertised as being “lead-free.” Now a similar set of circumstances is unfolding in the Los Angeles area. California state regulators have seized jewelry, misleadingly and incorrectly labeled as lead-free, in warehouses and stores throughout SoCal. Mislabeling products and selling products deemed to be dangerous is illegal. If you or a loved one has been hurt or injured due to such products, which can include jewelry, paints, toys, and food, get legal help now by calling 1-800-ALAWPRO. For more information about product liability and who is to blame, check out our website at www.alawpro.com.

In all, 33 pieces of jewelry were found to be containing dangerously high levels of lead. Some of the jewelry was meant for children, and all if it was imported from China. One of the children’s necklaces seized was made up of 74% lead. Lead poisoning can be dangerous and deadly especially to children. Brain damage and other long-term problems can ensue from swallowing lead products.

If you believe that you or a loved one has been harmed from products containing lead, call the Rudman Law Firm, PLC now. We have more than 50 years combined legal experience. Let us do the work and worrying for you when you call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776). We offer a free and confidential consultation. Please call now.

Motorcycle crash deaths are on the rise in California. Biker accidents are often the fault of driver error- either the motorcycle rider’s or another vehicle driver. In other instances, road design or defect problems may be to blame. A dangerous stretch of Highway was responsible for a California crash when a motorcyclist crashed into wild pigs and received massive head injuries. He has sued the state and won a multi-million dollar settlement. If you or a loved one has been hurt, paralyzed or killed in a CA motorcycle crash, call 1-800-ALAWPRO to talk to a lawyer for free.

The motorcycle rider that hit the pigs was driving on Highway 1 in Monterey County. His lawsuit alleged that officials knew the stretch of road was hazardous due to the frequent wild pig crossings. Still nothing was done to amend the situation. The victim, who is confined to a wheelchair as a result of his injuries, received $8.6 million. A pig-crossing sign has since been erected at the road site.

Been hurt in a LA motorcycle accident? Then get the legal help you deserve. At the The Rudman Law Firm, PLC we have collected more than $150 million for our clientele. Call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and confidential consultation. We are here for you now.