Personal Injury
California Creates Law Changing Workers’ Compensation System
| October 8th, 2012
October 8, 2012 California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed legislature to improve the state’s workers’ compensation system. According to Reuters, Senate Bill 863 will lower premiums for businesses while increasing benefits for injured workers. The law will help insurers cut costs by getting rid of benefits for certain health conditions and creating fee schedules where they did not previously exist. Also, it will cut back both the future earning capacity of a recipient when establishing benefits and the number of doctors available for treatment. The changes are expected to reduce the number of claims by 4.5 percent by the end of next year, resulting in just under $1 billion in savings. California Social Security Disability benefits for claims due to permanent disability are expected to rise by 3.2 percent in 2014, creating a little over a half of a billion dollars debt, which will results in savings of around $300,000,000 for California. This will help prevent a market crisis from occurring as it did a decade ago that cut market shares in half; however, more price increases will be needed to make the state a competitive market for the underwriting of workers’ compensation policies. The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers believe the changes will make it more difficult for an individual to receive benefits after filing a claim, making it more important than ever to have a knowledgeable attorney on your side if you’ve been hurt on the job.A Growing Number of California Patients Are Refusing Medical Treatment
| May 3rd, 2012
April 30, 2012 A newborn child in Folsom, California, is at the center of a debate over patient rights. According to the Sacramento Bee, the child’s parents claim their rights to refuse medical treatment were violated the day the child was born. The controversy began on April 11 at Mercy Hospital, where the child’s father was the former chief of staff. The parents had decided on a natural childbirth and followed through with the decision as the father, who is also a medical doctor, delivered the child without the use of any medications. Less than 12 hours later, medical staff protested as the parents decided to leave the hospital after refusing medical treatment for both the mother and child. Medical staff then contacted child protective services to investigate. The couple has since filed a complaint against the hospital saying their rights were violated. The father added, “If this could happen to me, a doctor with privileges at the hospital, how is an 18-year-old who may not know her rights treated?” Statistics from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Research show that 77 out of every 10,000 patients at Sacramento-area hospitals were discharged against doctor’s advice in 201. That is a 45 percent increase in the number from 2002. The California Accident Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers encourage anyone who disagrees with their doctor’s diagnosis of their condition to seek a second opinion from another qualified medical professional.San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Offers Rider Safety Course
| April 16th, 2012
April 16, 2012 In a large city like San Francisco, California, the bicycle is the normal mode of transportation for thousands of residents every day, and protecting those riders on dangerous roads and highways can be a major concern. That’s why one group, known as the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, is working hard to educate bikers on the importance of safe riding practices, according to The Sacramento Bee. The group began the campaign four years ago by offering cyclists hands-on training with certified instructors. During those rides, cyclists learn to maneuver busy city streets and other obstacles, such as slick trolley rails and open car doors. Riders are also required to take a classroom portion of the training program where they must pass an exam on the basic rules of the road. The hope is that the classes can help reduce the number of fatal bicycle accidents in the city. In 2009, the city estimated that 531 people died as a result of collisions between vehicles and bicycles. That’s 67 more fatalities than the previous year. Experts who polled both cyclists and motorists in a recent study say that the best way to reduce the number of accidents is for both groups to have a greater understanding of one another. The California Accident Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers would like to remind cyclists that wearing a helmet is an excellent way to prevent injuries while riding a bike.California Database Tracks Deadbeat Doctors
| January 23rd, 2012
January 23, 2012 The state of California has created a database of information that has offered residents a way to monitor which doctors in the state have been reprimanded for crimes or malpractice. The database was created in order to make information about doctors who do not properly care for patients public knowledge so that others are not hurt by their mistakes. The database can be accessed by anyone via the Medical Board of California website and can show users information regarding a doctors educational history, license information, and public records of any complaints or charges filed against the individual doctor. Doctors are searchable by name and license number and type. If you are having trouble finding your doctor in the system, it could be good or a bad. Doctors who have not ever been disciplined are not listed in the system; however, the database in only current through 2010, so if action has been taken against the doctor in recent years, it will not be listed either. A quick search of the city of Alameda, California, turned up the names of nine doctors who had been disciplined as far back as eighteen years ago, and as recently as two. Several were for notices to surrender a license, while another showed information regarding a $2,000,000 medical malpractice lawsuit. The California medical malpractice attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers would encourage all California residents to check their doctor’s names against the system to ensure the person you get your medical advice from has not made a costly, and sometimes fatal, mistake in the past.San Jose Students Receive 2,500 Free Bicycle Helmets and Safety Lessons
| January 9th, 2012
January 9, 2012 From the moment a child first peddles their bike down the driveway for the first time, it is vital to begin teaching them the importance of wearing a helmet and following safety rules. Unfortunately, not all children are taught these lessons early on. That is why, according to CBS-San Francisco News, the San Jose Department of Transportation and the Franklin-McKinley school district have partnered in a new campaign. The pair has joined forces to give away approximately 2,500 bicycle helmets to children within the school district. A spokesman for the groups and associate transportation specialist with the City of San Jose, Devin Gianchandani, said the helmets were made possible by a $55,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety. He added that the children would receive a helmet along with, “Pedestrian-bicycle safety education through the city’s nationally recognized street smart program.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that every year, approximately 1,000 die in bicycle-related accidents. Of those accident victims, 62 percent suffered from a traumatic head injury. The agency states that the most effective way to prevent such injuries is to wear a helmet. The California brain injury attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers understand that traumatic brain injuries can have a full spectrum of effects on a victim. Founding Attorney William Berg recently discussed how and why diagnosing brain injuries can be difficult and what steps to take in a recent news interview.Alameda Law Firm Offers Free Cab Rides Home on New Years Eve
| December 27th, 2011
December 26, 2011 In recent years, the holidays have become an increasingly dangerous time of year for driving in California. According to The Los Angeles Times, six people died on California highways over this past holiday weekend, and the California Highway Patrol made 889 suspected drunken driving arrests. The California drunk driving victim attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers are sponsoring a campaign in order to help combat the growing number of drunk drivers during the holidays. The firm will be offering free cab rides home to those who have been drinking on New Years Eve. This will be the seventh year that the law firm has sponsored the Safe And Sober Cab Ride program, which offers a maximum $35 cab fair home to anyone needing a ride. The rides are provided only to a person’s residence, not to another drinking location. The cabs will be running from 10:00 PM Saturday, December 31 to 4:00 AM Sunday, January 1. Call one of the following cab companies and tell them your ride home is on Berg Injury Lawyers:- Sacramento — Call Yellow Cab Company of Sacramento at (916) 444-2222. Patrons must be picked up at a restaurant, hotel, or bar within downtown Sacramento to qualify for a free ride.
- Alameda, Oakland & Berkeley — Call Veterans Cab at (800) 281‐4488. Any fare exceeding $35 must be paid in cash.
- San Francisco — Call Luxor Cab at (415) 282‐4141.
$73 Million Awarded In California Lawsuit Against Ford
| November 14th, 2011
November 14, 2011 A Sacramento, California, jury awarded $73 million dollars in damages to plaintiffs in a case against Ford Motor Company Thursday. According to The Sacramento Bee, the judgment came after seven years of litigation surrounding a passenger van accident caused by separation of tread from a tire on the van. The accident happened on April 9, 2004, as a group of church members headed home from a concert. During the drive, the van began to shake violently as the tread of a Goodyear tire began to peel off. The driver of the van attempted to pull over, but lost control and the van rolled several times before coming to rest. The 48-year-old driver of the van and the front passenger were killed in the accident, while several other suffered injuries. In court Thursday, the attorney for the plaintiffs told jurors that Ford and Goodyear failed to alert the customers about a $2 billion recall on the tires. The jury agreed, and with a vote of 10-2, the award was given. The jury also gave a small award after they found that the van’s design was partially at fault for the crash. Ford stated they plan to appeal the decision. The California Car Accident Attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers often handle cases where victims were injured because of faulty auto parts. If you have been injured because of a manufacturer’s negligence contact us immediately.Richmond Teen Killed, Two Others Injured During Illegal Street Race
| November 7th, 2011
November 7, 2011 In Richmond this weekend a local teen died and two others were injured in an illegal street race crash. The Contra Costa Times reported yesterday that the accident happened around 1:15 Sunday morning, along a stretch of Richmond Parkway. The street glistened as the two cars, a Nissan Altima and a BMW, floated down the asphalt that was freshly drenched with rain. The vehicles were locked neck-and-neck, when the 21-year-old driver of the Nissan hit a wet patch, lost control, and hit his friend’s BMW. The impact caused the BMW to spin out of control and flip several times before hitting a pole. The driver of the BMW died at the scene of the crash, while his two passengers were urgently rushed to the John Muir Medical Center by helicopter in critical condition. The driver of the Nissan was unharmed, but investigators arrested him on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence. California issued 800 citations in 2001 for illegal racing-related infractions–a number that has grown significantly every year since. Now, it is estimated that 49 people are hurt and killed for every 1,000 individuals who participate in illegal street races. The California Car Accident Attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers would like to encourage anyone hurt in an accident at no fault of their own to contact them immediately for a free evaluation of your case.Free Cab Rides Offered In The Bay Area Halloween Night
| October 31st, 2011
October 31, 2011 Tonight, trick-or-treaters will roam the streets in their ghoulish disguises on a quest for candy. Unfortunately, they could possibly have to share those streets with drivers who may have drank too much while celebrating the holiday, which puts everyone in grave danger. In order to help alleviate this problem, free cab rides home are being offered to anyone in the Bay area. The program is called Safe and Sober and is sponsored by California Personal Injury Attorney, William Berg, and his firm, Berg Injury Lawyers. They began the program seven years ago and have offered the rides during major holidays every year since. The rides will be offered between 10:00 PM tonight until 4:00 AM the tomorrow morning. The cab companies will offer the rides to anyone who has been drinking and needs a safe way home from a bar or restaurant. For a Safe and Sober ride this year, contact the following cab company within the your area:- Sacramento – Call Yellow Cab Company of Sacramento at (916) 444-2222.
- Alameda – Call Veterans Cab at (800) 281‐4488.
- San Francisco – Call Luxor Cab at (415) 282‐4141.
Free Health Care At Alameda County Fire Stations In The Works
| October 17th, 2011
October 17, 2011 A pilot program to provide healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured in Alameda County at five fire stations is in the planning stages and could be in place as early as fall of next year. The Oakland Tribune reports that the nearly $10 million dollar project would offer free primary and preventative healthcare to those in need. The project, called the Fire Station Health Care Portal pilot program, which is headed by Alameda County Fire Chief, Sheldon Gilbert, and Alameda County Health Care Services Agency Director, Alex Briscoe, has a list of seven stations in the area that are contenders to host the program. That list will be narrowed to five participants by January. Then, those five stations will be overhauled to accommodate three full-time employees: A firefighter/paramedic, a care coordinator, and a nurse practitioner. They will be responsible for giving non-emergency, primary care to the public as well as responding to non-emergency 911 calls, giving medical advice for 211 calls, and providing follow-up care. Gilbert and Briscoe believe the idea could offer local solutions for a nation-wide health care crisis. Briscoe commented, “We’re proposing a solution to a health care system where costs are running wild.” If enacted, the program would run for three years before assessment of its impact. The California Personal Injury Attorneys at Berg Injury Lawyers would like to applaud local officials for making such great efforts to ensure everyone in our area gets the health care that they deserve.
