Los Angeles Injury Lawyer Blog

Riverside County and the Inland Empire are ever-growing regions of California. Unfortunately more people and more progress can translate to more injuries and accidents. Have you been injured in an accident or as the result of negligence? You may not even know you are a victim. At Greenberg & Rudman LLP, our job is to seek justice for the injured in California. Whether you’ve been in a car accident or motorcycle accident, or injured on the job or in a public place, we are here to help you now.

Many times, a person is injured and does not know that they may be entitled to compensation for their suffering. If you call 1-800-ALAWPRO, the Law Team at Greenberg & Rudman LLP will provide you with a free consultation to help assess your rights and needs. We take no payment from you until you are awarded a recovery for your losses. Let us do the worrying and thinking for you during this traumatic time. We will even come to your house or hospital room to sign you up.

If you live in Riverside County, help is around the corner. Call us now if you live in one of these California locations:

• Riverside: 287,820 residents


• Moreno Valley: 174,565 residents


• Corona: 144,661 residents


• Temecula: 93,923 residents


• Murrieta: 92,933 residents


• Indio: 71,654 residents


• Hemet: 69,544 residents


• Cathedral City: 51, 081 residents


• Palm Desert: 49,539 residents


• Perris: 47, 139 residents


• Palm Springs: 46,437 residents


• Lake Elsinore: 40,985 residents


• La Quinta: 38,340 residents


• Coachella: 35,207 residents


• San Jacinto: 31,066 residents


• Banning: 28,272 residents


• Beaumont: 28,250 residents


• Norco: 27,262 residents


• Blythe: 22,178 residents


• Desert Hot Springs: 22,011 residents


• Rancho Mirage: 16,672 residents


• Canyon Lake: 10,939 residents


• Calimesa: 7,415 residents


• Indian Wells: 4,865 residents

The loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult parts of life. The pain can be even more agonizing if the death was not a natural one. Wrongful death is a legal claim against a person, persons, or organization for the death of another. Usually a wrongful death claim is sought by close relatives of the deceased. When some dies as the result of an accident, negligence, or error, it may be considered a wrongful death by law, even if there was no intent to kill. If you believe you have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one in California, please call an experienced lawyer immediately. The Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP offers a free consultation at 1-800-ALAWPRO to help you in your time of need.

Many circumstances can lead to wrongful death, but it is not the family’s job to understand all the legal definitions of or requirements for a wrongful death claim. During this terrible time, let us do the work and worrying for you. If you suspect that negligence or wrongdoing played a part in the death of your family member, let us help you now.

Here is a list of some instances where a wrongful death may have occurred:

• Car, Motorcycle Accident, Truck Accident, or Bus Accident


• Drunk Driving Accident


• Pedestrian Accident


• Hit and Run Accident


• Work-Related Exposure to Dangerous or Defective Conditions or Substances


• Death as the Result of Dangerous Premises or Defective Products


• Medical Mistakes, including Malpractice and Pharmaceutical-Related Death


• Fire


• Swimming Pool Drowning


• Elderly Death as the Result of Neglect or Abuse


• Animal Attack


• Airplane Crash


• Catastrophic or Mass Disaster


• Criminal Attack, including Shooting or Stabbing

If you have lost a loved one from any of the above-listed circumstances or other accidental causes in California, please call us. The Law Team at Greenberg & Rudman LLP offers 50 years combined experience in helping loved ones seek justice for the deceased. Call us toll-free at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776). We are here to help you now.

In response to increasing number of injuries related to street racing in SoCal, California has tightened its enforcement and administering of stiffer penalties for this illegal activity. The current law on street racing is as follows:

• Minimum county jail sentence of 24 hours and maximum of 90 days


• Vehicle probably impounded for at least 30 days


• Owner responsible for vehicle's towing and storage charges ($1,000 or more)


• If owner fails to pay, vehicle could be sold at a lien sale


• Anyone who aids or abets a street race also faces a maximum 90-day jail sentence

Those who have been convicted of speed racing that caused injuries to persons other than the driver also face the following:

• County jail or prison sentence of 30 days to 6 months, or


• Fine between $500 and $1000

For more information on street racing and illegal vehicle modifications, please refer to the California Highway Patrol’s website at http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/streetlegal.html
Only last month, a 14-year old boy, while riding as a passenger, died of severe injuries sustained from a car crash in Huntington Beach, CA. The accident occurred when the driver of the Acura Integra while traveling at high speeds, ran a stop sign and collided into Cadillac Escalade. Luckily, the driver and the passengers of the Escalade (which included small children) escaped with relatively minor or no injuries. Unfortunately, the teenage passenger did not fare so well.

Witnesses to the accident believe that the Acura was involved in a street race with another car, with a third car trailing behind as the “referee.” Local residents in the area say that the intersection’s wide lanes, scarce traffic, and light police patrol make it a common place for street racing to occur. At night, the sounds of screeching tires can be heard from cars going 80 to 100 mph.

If you or a loved one has been injured in Southern California as a result of illegal street racing, you need the guidance of an experienced professional on your side. The personal injury lawyers at the Law Firm of Greenberg & Rudman LLP are here to help. Call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) now free initial interview regarding your situation.

Two SoCal men were fatally injured in a motor vehicle accident near the San Gabriel River Freeway in late January when their driver, a resident of Pomona, lost control of his Honda Accord automobile and swerved into oncoming traffic. After first sideswiping a Mercedes, the Accord was broadsided by two other cars, the impact of which most likely caused the two victims to be ejected from it. According to police, neither was wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. The driver, suspected of driving under the influence, was arrested at the scene and faces a minimum of manslaughter charges.

Seatbelt are often overlooked as a critical safety mechanism that significantly reduces the degree of injury and prevents fatalities. According to data published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seatbelts are an effective way to prevent ejections from a car. In crashes in which fatalities were involved, only 1 percent of occupants reported to be wearing seatbelt were ejected compared to 30 percent of those who were not wearing seatbelt restraint systems. A seatbelt not only saves lives but it also reduces the cost of injury associated with collisions. A long-term assessment of traffic accidents found that that from 1975-2000, seatbelts saved society a total of $585 billion in medical care, lost earnings, and other injury-related costs.

Law enforcement officials, state legislatures, and the department of motor vehicles all recognize the importance of wearing safety belts while driving. In an effort to educate consumers and motivate drivers to wear their seatbelts, they have launched a yearly, nationwide awareness campaign called “Click It or Ticket.” This year, the campaign will occur from May 19 – June 1, 2008. During this time period, law enforcement officials around the nation engage in an enforcement blitz to target those who fail to wear their seatbelts. In addition, national and local paid advertising will help support the message of seatbelt safety. The program is considered to highly successful – contributing to the 82% nationwide usage rate of seatbelts.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car crash in California that has caused serious injury, you need a professional attorney that will help you through this difficult time. The professionals at the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP are experienced personal injury lawyers that will fight hard to help you recover from your damages. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) now.

Nail gun injuries are rising and these tools are unsafe and poorly regulated according to a report by The Sacramento Bee. Victims of nail gun injuries have filed and won many lawsuits against both nail gun manufacturers and construction companies for wrongful death, negligence and faulty product production. Approximately 42,000 people are hurt in nailgun accidents each year. In California, about 500 nail gun work-related injuries are reported annually. Professionals and novices are at risk. If you or a loved one has been injured by a nail gun in California, please consult an attorney immediately. Call us now for your free-consultation.

Nail Gun Equipment Information
Nail guns are made by multiple manufacturers and are used at a variety of sites. The nail gun's function is to aid building construction by firing nails propelled by compressed air, also known as pneumatic firing. Nail-gunned nails can travel up to 490 feet per second and fire rapidly, up to 30 nails per minute. Nail guns are extremely powerful. In one incident, a nail killed a worker after traveling 27 feet.

Contact-Tip Mode: A special feature, known as "contact tip", provides an automatic mode by which nails are fired whenever they make contact with any surface, including the human body, once the trigger is pulled. Nail guns in contact tip mode appear to be responsible for the majority of nail gun injury incidents.

Nail Gun Dangers
The newspaper reports that safety regulation and labor agencies are not doing enough to address the dangers of nail guns. Dangers of nail guns include:

• hazardous design, specifically:
  *automatic or "contact tip" mode
  *trigger location


• improper training at work sites


• insufficient safety precautions supplied by employers, including safety goggles or shields


• poor availability of consumer safety information at rental and retailing establishments

Doctors, engineers and safety commissions are all urging the modification of nail gun design, the restriction of nail gun usage, and in some cases, an all out nail gun ban. Most arguments against nail guns are against the "contact tip" or automatic mode. Research indicates that up to 75% of nail gun injuries are the result of automatic firing.

Nail Gun Injuries
Nail guns have become increasingly popular in the past 10 years, and as a result, nail gun injuries have increased three-fold in the past decade. Injuries from nail guns can range from mild to severe. Injuries sustained from nail gun accidents are more common and costly than those from manually and mechanically operated saws and sanders. Commonly, nail gun accidents resulting nails entering hands, eyes, heads and chests. Reports exist of:

• fingers being nailed together


• eyes impalement


• partial and complete paralysis, from nails entering the spinal cord

death, from nail entering the brain, heart or severing arteries

Nail Gun Injury Victims
Victims of nail gun injuries vary in background. Those frequently injured are:

• People doing home improvements


• New construction workers


• Non-union carpenters


• Bystanders and Passersby, including those in neighboring buildings or rooms, or those who are driving or walking by a worksite
  550 people are injured each year in this fashion

If you or someone close to you has been injured with a nail gun in California, please contact an experience attorney to help you learn your rights. The Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP have over 50 years combined experience in personal injury law. Please call us toll-free at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a private consultation. Let us help you during this difficult time. Call us now.

The National Transportation Secretary announced a proposal for improving school bus safety late last year. The proposal includes higher seat back requirements and improved seat belt standards in an effort to protect children and assure parents of their safety. Implementation of the planned improvements on the country’s 474,000 school buses should be complete by this November. Approximately 7 passengers die per year in school bus accidents. If you or someone close to you has been involved in a school bus accident in California, please contact a lawyer who can help you.

School Bus Improvement Specifics
Even though school bus transportation is one of the safest ways to travel, here are the main proposed improvements:

• Federal Seat Belt Standards
  For full-size buses, federal safety standards for seat belts will be provided for school districts that request new belts. This is the first time such standards have been offered. Monies from the Federal Highway Safety funds will cover the cost.


• Seat Back Height Adjustment
  Current safety requirements include a 20 inch seat back. The new proposal calls for an increase to a 24 inch seat back. This height augmentation should provide better protection for passengers by preventing taller children and adults from being thrown over bus seats during an accident.


• Special Seat Belts for Small Buses
  Per the proposal, “three-point belts” will replace lap belts on new small buses, since these buses are more likely to roll over than full-sized ones. This will occur within three years.

If you or a family member has been involved in an accident with a school bus in California, you should seek the help of an experienced attorney. Please call the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP toll-free at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776). We will consult with you to help determine your rights. Don’t hesitate to protect the safety of your child. Please call us now.

A hit and run car accident is a crime which occurs when someone strikes another person, their personal property (including their car), or a fixed structure, and then flees the scene, neither stopping nor identifying themselves to take responsibility for the damage inflicted. In the U.S. there are approximately 700,000 hit and run accidents yearly. As of 2003, California has had a dramatic increase in the number hit and run crashes reported. It is the state with the most fatal hit and run accidents annually. If you or a loved one has been involved in a hit and run in California, please contact an experienced attorney to help you seek justice during this painful and difficult time. You can get a free consultation in California by calling 1-800-ALAWPRO.

Hit and Run Accident Statistics: California
Hit and run is a disturbing and deadly trend. Around 300 people are killed in hit-and- run’s each year in California. These fatalities represent 8% of all state-wide traffic deaths. California’s record of hit and run deaths is nearly twice as high as that of other states. Two-thirds of people killed in hit and run accidents are pedestrians.

Hit and Run Accidents in California: Why?
Hit and run causes severe pain and emotional trauma to the surviving victims and their friend and families, often leaving them with the unanswered question of “why?,” when the fleeing drivers are not apprehended. Experts, including police officers and safety professionals, have presented possible explanations for California’s exceedingly high hit and run numbers, though even they are shocked the frequency in which hit and run drivers are fleeing the scenes of their crimes. Some proposed reasons include:

• Fear of being caught and facing the consequences, especially for drivers who are under the influence and for those who lack insurance


• Abundance of busy and spacious highways, streets and intersections


• High speed driving, four-lane roads result in faster driving and therefore, greater danger


• California’s “car culture,” including dependence on traveling by car, fast driving, and general love of automobiles


• High number unlicensed drivers in California, estimated at 1million drivers, many of whom are illegal immigrants


• Driver’s with the feeling of having “nothing to lose”

Authorities are hopeful that new roads, laws, and education about pedestrian traffic and the danger of hit and run will eventually reduce California’s staggeringly high rate of hit-and-run fatalities.

Have you or a loved one been the victim of a California hit and run? If so, you should contact a lawyer immediately to learn about your rights and seek the justice and compensation you deserve. Please call the law team of Greenberg & Rudman LLP toll-free at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776). We will provide a free and confidential consultation and support you through this painful time. Call us now.

A Miami high school has been found guilty of partial negligence for a deadly car crash that occurred after a graduation party in 2001. A jury found the school liable for $14 million in damages to the victims and families. The horrible car accident left one student, a passenger, dead, and another student, the driver, brain-damaged and paralyzed. Both students were underage and above the legal blood limit for alcohol. School officials did not notify authorities about the party, even though they knew it involved illegal teenage drinking. The school intends to appeal the decision.

In the one-car wreck, which occurred around 5pm, two 17 year-old male students were driving in an Acura when they slammed into a tree going about 80 mph, splitting the car in half. The passenger had a blood alcohol level of .22, and the driver, who was thrown from the car, had a level of .096. The legal limit blood alcohol limit is .08.

The party was held at the home of two other students and was widely advertised with a flyer featuring a picture of a whiskey bottle. The school principal was aware of the party but did not notify parents or authorities. Not only did he refer to the party over the school’s PA system, but he also attended the party and witnessed students behaving in drunken and disorderly manner.

The jury found additional parties negligent as well, including the parents of the student-hosts, the 21-year old purchaser of alcohol, the driver of the car, and his parents. Families of the victims intend to seek compensation from the school only.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident which you believe involves alcohol in California, please contact an attorney to learn your rights. Call the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and confidential consultation. Let us help you understand your rights and seek compensation for you loss.

Electrocution deaths and electric shock accidents at work sites, including construction projects (indoor and outdoor), restaurants, agricultural sites, industrial plants, and offices, are a serious and ongoing problem for workers in the U.S. and California. It is estimated that 7% percent of all work-related fatalities are due to electrocution in some form, with around 700 employees being electrocuted per year. Electric shock is the 4th leading cause of death in occupational fatalities. If you or someone close to you has been electrocuted in a work-related incident in California, please contact a lawyer immediately.

Striking power lines both above and below ground, problems or mishaps in electric building circuitry, and the combination of water and electric outlets are all deadly contributors which can lead to death by electric shock. OSHA cites numerous fatal accidents in which poor safety maintenance led to the electrocution fatality of employees. Often times, mere education and training can prevent the devastating results of electrocution. Here is a brief recount of one such tragic incident:

A small group of employees was constructing a chain-link fence in a residential neighborhood under a live power line. The erection of the fence required the workers to install long metal rails (21 feet each) for assembling the top of the fence. During the fence construction, one of the workers held a 21-foot rail upright, causing it to come into direct contact with the energized power line. The laborer, a 25 year old man, was electrocuted with 7200-volts of electricity, and tragically, he died. Inspectors found that the electrocuted worker received no professional training or instruction regarding general construction or power line hazards from his employer or supervisor.

Have you or a loved one been electrocuted in an accident in California? If so, please seek the advice and help of an experienced personal injury attorney. Call the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and confidential consultation. We will help you understand your rights and seek the justice you deserve. Call us now.

As the Today Show reported this week, car crashes continue to be the most common cause of death for teenagers, and teen’s frequent cell phone use (talking and text messaging) while they drive greatly increases the danger. In a series of controlled tests, experts found that teens are increasingly distracted and overly confident of their abilities on the road. This information combined with teen’s lack of driving experience makes for a frightening combination. Parents of teens who are driving or about to drive are urged to get involved to insure the safety of the children and other drivers to prevent more accidents and deaths.

Most teenagers posses a cell phone for safety and/or social reasons; however unlike most adults, teenagers hardly have any experience behind the wheel. At an age where social communication is extremely important, many kids have a problem taking a break from or ignoring their cell phones. The featured study showed that looking away from the road for more than 2 seconds is extremely dangerous with potentially fatal consequences. Using a cell phone to dial, answer, read or type easily takes more than 2 seconds, and this applies to both adults and teens. In the test, the teen subjects’ cell phone use resulted in numerous simulated injuries and deaths. Clearly, teenagers’ lack of behind-the-wheel experience along with their attachment to cell phones causes increased risk including missing a red light, running a crosswalk, failing to see upcoming traffic, and a host of other hazards.

While 16 is the age that most states allow children to begin driving on their own, not all of them may be prepared for this enormous and important responsibility. Parents are advised to (a) make responsible decisions regarding children’s abilities and preparedness; (b) set up rules and precautions to keep children from using cell phones (and other distractions) while driving; and (c) educate children regarding car safety and the dangers at risk to themselves, their passengers and the other people on the road.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, you should speak with a lawyer. If you are located in California, please contact the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP toll-free at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776). We’ll provide a confidential consultation to apprise you of your rights and help you recover the compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one has suffered personal injury in Pomona, California, it is important that you seek the guidance of experienced legal professionals to help you understand your rights and remedies. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP have experience in the following practice areas:

• Motor vehicle (car, truck, bus) accidents


• Premises liability (slip & fall, trip & fall, workplace & construction injuries)


• Dog bites and animal attacks


• Defective products


• Pharmaceutical injury and medical malpractice


• Toxic, environmental torts


• Injuries such as burn, spinal cord, brain, broken bones, back pain

In addition to over 50 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys have successfully collected over $150 million for our clients. More importantly, we advance all costs so that you don’t have to pay a dime until we first collect money for you. If you think that you have suffered injury at the wrong of others, call now so that we can give you a personal assessment of your situation. We’ll even come to your home or medical room to sign you up. Call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9766) now. We’ll do what it takes to help you through this difficult time.

Another crane collapse has occurred at a construction site this month, whether by unlucky coincidence or widespread negligence,. For reasons unknown, a piece of a crane being used on a large condominium project in Miami, Florida fell 39 stories and crashed through the roof of a home being used as the site’s construction office. One person died at the scene of the crime from severe head injury, while another was pronounced dead later at the local hospital. In addition, 5 more people inside the house had to be hospitalized.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is currently investigating the crash to determine the cause of the accident. Earlier this month, another crane collapsed at a construction site in New York and left 7 individuals dead. The New York crane collapse occurred when a 5 ½ ton steel collar used to secure the crane to the building broke loose. Investigators into the New York crash discovered that a building inspector had allegedly lied about performing a safety inspection of the crane, and the individual was arrested.

Cranes are often used in the construction industry. One source estimates that approximately 125,000 cranes are currently being used. Although not a subject of widespread media attention until recently, crane accidents actually occur more often than most people realize. In 2007, 347 accident reports were received involving cranes. Of those, these crane accidents claimed 176 lives. Crane accidents can occur due to faulty design, negligence on the part of the inspector, operator, and even the construction company for failing to maintain safety standards.

Victims of crane accidents can seek recourse if the accident occurred as a result of negligence on a responsible party’s part. If you or a loved one has been injured by a crane or construction accident in the state of California, you need an expert who can help you fight for your rights. The professionals at the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP are just those experts. Call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney now.

A six-year old was hit and killed by a car while riding her bicycle in an alley this past Thursday, March 27. The tragic alleyway accident occurred midday near the center of Lompoc. The girl was not wearing a helmet. Lompoc is located in Santa Barbara County in Southern California. The city’s population is less than 75,000. According to local police, the accident is currently under investigation, with neither speed nor alcohol appearing to be factors in the crash.

Recent statistics show that in 2006, bicyclist deaths on the road numbered 770 in the U.S. Over 90% of those deaths were the result of motor vehicle crashes. The number of injuries cause by bike vs. auto accidents is a staggering 45,000 per year.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed while riding a bicycle, please seek the help of an attorney. Call the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776 immediately for a free and confidential consultation. We will come directly to your hospital room and help apprise you of your rights.