Stockton Injury Lawyer Blog

Memorial Day weekend marks the traditional start of summer, and the Modesto Bee reports that local officials are speaking out against the dangers of boating on the Central Valley's waterways without a life jacket.

According to the National Safe Boating Council, 520 boating accidents were reported in California in 2008, along with 45 deaths.

California law requires anyone under the age of 13 to wear a life jacket while boating.

Other safety precautions include:

• Always ensure you are prepared. This means having the right safety equipment on board as well as basic first aid kits.
• Check the weather before you head out. Storms with thunder and lightening can crop up in an instant.
• Do not exceed your boat's capacity in weight or horsepower.
• Passengers should remain seated.

For a complete list of boating safety tips, see the California Department of Boating and Waterways.

Unfortunately, boating accidents can and do occur. When an accident does occur, certain circumstances such as significant personal injury or boat damage require that you must file a report.

Continue reading "Prevent Serious California Boating Accidents By Wearing Life Jackets" »

The week provides a great opportunity to raise awareness among California bicyclists - as well as drivers - regarding bike safety. In conjunction with National Ride to Work Week, professional bike racers emphasized the need for safety after Lance Armstrong crashed in the Tour of California, causing him to drop out, and David Zabriskie, a bike/car collision survivor, won Stage 3 of the Tour from San Francisco to Monterey and took the overall lead.

Armstrong's injuries include a large gash below his eye and a severe bruise.

Zabriskie's injuries occurred several years ago, during a training ride.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), 540,000 bicyclists end up in the emergency room after suffering bicycling accidents.

In 2003, Zabriskie was injured when a car turned suddenly in front of him. He was hospitalized with a shattered leg. After his accident, Zabriskie started "Yield to Life," an organization dedicated to raising bike-safety issues, emphasizing drivers and cyclists sharing the road.

Zabriskie states that safety is really about using common-sense. Car drivers need to be more patient. Even a "tap" from a car can make a cyclist fall, shattering bones or causing substantial injuries, such as brain, back or head injuries.

At the same time, cyclists need to follow the rules. They need to wear protective gear and pay attention to the rules of the road.

Zabriskie also notes that too often cyclists and drivers are pitted against each other. Instead they need to work together. Drivers should remember that cyclists have a right to the road, and cyclist need to remember that just because they have a right to the road, they don't own the road.

Continue reading "Tour Of California Underscores Need For Bike Safety" »

The Centers for Disease Control has designated May 16-22, 2010 as National Dog Bite Prevention Week in order to raise awareness of the seriousness of dog bites and the resulting injuries.

Millions of Californian are bitten by dogs each year, and statistics show that one-fifth of all those bitten require medical attention - ranging from antibiotics, to stitches to reconstructive surgery.

Although children tend to be the most at risk, each year a substantial number of California utility employees have received dog bites requiring medical attention. When a meter reader or gas service representative, or any other service professional enters a homeowner's yard to provide customer care, unrestrained dogs may feel threatened and protective, and subsequently attack.

California utility companies have issued the following tips to prevent dog bite injuries:

• When you have scheduled service visits, keep your dog inside or restrained
• Post a "beware of dog" sign
• Train your dog to obey at least simple commands such as "sit," "stay" and "no"
• Keep all of your vaccinations up to date

California law provides that dog owners as always responsible for dog bites. An owner is responsible for ensuring the dog is under control in all situations, especially if they own a dangerous breed and know the dog may bite.

Continue reading "National Dog Bite Prevention Week Seeks To Raise Awareness and Reduce Dog Bite Injuries" »

Since the beginning of 2010, hundreds of thousands of cribs have been recalled due to the hazards of suffocation and strangulation created by drop-side cribs. According to KGO-TV San Francisco, the latest recall involves about 170,000 C&T International/Sorelle cribs sold in California and throughout the country since January 2000.

Earlier this week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission(the "CPSC") recalled the Simplicity baby cribs due to a problem with its metal support frames bending or detaching and creating a space where an infant can become trapped or injured.

And these aren't the only crib recalls. In early January the CPSC recalled 635,000 after reports of 10 injuries and one death as the result of defective drop side hardware.

Hopefully, the rash of recalls will raise public awareness regarding dangerous and defective cribs. A product is considered defective and its manufacturer, designer or seller may be liable for injuries caused by its use if its design was defective, if it has a manufacturing defect, or if there was either a failure to warn or an inadequate warning of the dangers of improper use.

Although the type of defect affects recovery, the most important thing for California families is that companies to remove these dangerous and defective cribs from the marketplace and ensure any faulty parts are replaced before another infant is hurt.

Continue reading "Massive Crib Recall Could Affect Dozens Of Central Valley Infants " »