Personal Injury
How to Lose Your Case Before It Even Starts
| January 11th, 2016
There are a number of reasons why you shouldn’t attempt to handle your own injury claim. On average, accident victims with an attorney get more money. That fact alone should be enough incentive to call a lawyer after your accident. But beyond the possibility of getting more for your claim, here are two factors to consider when determining whether or not you need a lawyer: paperwork and deadlines. If you’re going to handle your injury claim alone, you’ll need to fill out a number of forms and have them approved in order to have your case considered by a court. This paperwork can be confusing and time-sensitive. Missing just one filing deadline could put your entire claim at risk, and your right to compensation may be lost. Depending on your situation, filing deadlines can vary dramatically. For instance, in the state of California, you have two years to file a personal injury claim against a responsible party. However, if your claim is against a government entity, such as a city or county, you only have six months to file. And that’s just one of the many deadlines you have to consider when filing an injury claim. Bottom line is injury claims aren’t one-size-fits-all. Each case is different, requiring a unique approach. An experienced California personal injury lawyer will know all the necessary paperwork to file and deadlines that must be met for your specific situation. If you’ve been injured, put an experienced attorney on your side. Contact us today.California Environmental Injury Lawyers Discuss Hazards Residents Face After Wildfires
| September 22nd, 2015
In recent weeks, wildfires have ravaged Northern California, destroying homes, businesses, and land along the way. As many residents make their way back to the area after being evacuated, our California environmental injury lawyers would like to warn you of certain risks you may be facing. Inhalation of smoke is one of the greatest potential hazards in wildfire areas. Breathing in smoke that can be thick in the air can cause lung irritation and other respiratory problems. Even if there’s no smoke, what you’re breathing could be extremely harmful to your health. According to an article from NBC Bay Area News, the California Department of Health is warning residents who were evacuated from wildfire areas and are now returning to be aware of the risks breathing in ashes could have to your health. Officials say the ashes of burned structures, buildings, and products could contain harmful chemicals that could include asbestos—a substance often used in construction that can lead to the development of a deadly form of cancer known as mesothelioma if inhaled. These risks have led officials to advise the public to wash ash from children, pets, toys, and homegrown foods as soon as possible. Officials are also advising against the use of leaf blowers or vacuums to remove ash, as these methods can agitate ash particles into the air where they can then be inhaled. We hope this information helps to keep you and your loved ones safe from the dangers wildfire ash and smoke can pose.Computer System Could Save California Millions On Veterans Payments
| January 28th, 2013
January 28, 2013 Budgetary restraints that each state in our country is facing today have forced them to find ways of being more efficient with the money they currently have available. An article from Government Technology discusses how California may be able to utilize a computer program that could potentially save millions of dollars per year. The Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) was first used in Washington State to identify veterans who were on Medicaid and not utilizing federally funded veterans’ benefits. Those individuals were then notified of the benefits they were missing out on and eventually transferred each person off of Medicaid and to the veterans’ benefits programs, which has saved the state roughly $30 million over the last nine years. California ran a test of the program from 2009 to 2011 that found PARIS may be able to save the state an estimated $1.6 million by switching just veterans who are 100 percent disabled onto federal care programs designed specifically for Veterans’ Disability Benefit recipients. PARIS has been made mandatory for in each state since then, but faces a new challenge of manpower to run the program, according to Manuel Urbina, a spokesman for the California Department of Health and Human Services Medi-Cal Eligibility Division. The California Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers recognize how complicated understanding what benefits an injured service member may be qualified for can be and may be able to help if you, or a loved one, have been injured while serving your country.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.Berg Injury Lawyers Helps Local Residents by Giving Away Hands-Free Headsets
| June 25th, 2008
June 25, 2008 With California’s new hands-free law taking effect July 1, 2008, many Californians are purchasing headsets for their cell phones so they can continue to talk while driving. Any motorists, who are caught chatting on their cell phones without a hands-free device starting July 1, will be fined. To help local residents and alleviate the added costs of purchasing headsets, Berg Injury Lawyers will be distributing 2,000 complimentary hands-free headsets. “With the new law taking effect, many Californians are faced with the added expense of purchasing hands-free headsets,” said attorney William Berg, founder of Berg Injury Lawyers. “By giving these headsets away, I hope to alleviate the extra expense while promoting safe driving. As part of my job, I constantly hear about car accidents that could have been easily avoided if drivers had been paying more attention to the traffic around them. I hope that this new law helps keep all drivers a little safer on the roads.” The law, which takes effect July 1, 2008, is meant to protect everyone on the road by reducing driver distraction. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, an estimated 300 lives will be saved annually in California due to the new law. Additionally, Connecticut, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., currently have laws in place to ban using hand-held mobile devices while driving. To receive a complimentary hands-free headset, visit the firm’s Web site at www.BergInjuryLawyers.com and fill out a simple form. Headsets will be available at Berg Injury Lawyers’ Alameda, Modesto, and Sacramento office locations beginning July 3 while supplies last. About California’s Hands-Free Law- While those 18 and older are allowed to use hands-free headsets, those under 18 aren’t allowed to use mobile devices with or without hands-free accessories (VC §23124).
- Police officers will begin ticketing drivers who use cell phones without hands-free devices on July 1. The first offense results in a $20 fine and the second offense is a $50 fine. Multiple offenses could result in more than triple the base amount.
- Drivers are allowed to use their cell phones without hands-free devices during emergencies to call police, fire, or medical authorities.
