NFL Players Union Meets on Brain Injury Issues

BRAIN INJURY A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR NFL PLAYERS

It is very encouraging to see that the NFL has formed a “brain injury panel” to focus on the concerns over brain injuries that players suffer. The players’ union has met for the first time in Florida recently.

The major concerns for the NFL players is the frequency of concussions, which have a cumulative negative effect on people. That is, every time a player has another concussion the damage to the brain increases. The long term effects that NFL players suffer who have had too many concussions include problems with memory, head pain, and other head problems

One of the issues that they have been dealing with is the team policies on “returning to play” after suffering a concussion. Another major concern is the safety of the helmets that are used

Brain injuries are a serious matter and can have life changing consequences. People rarely recover from significant traumatic brain injuries, and the quality of their lives can be dramatically changed for the worse

As a lawyer that has represented many victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI), it is good to see that the risks of brain injury are being taken more seriously by the NFL with the goal of increasing safety for the players.

A person who suffers a traumatic brain injury, or serious head injury, as the result of an accident, like a car accident, motorcycle accident, or construction site accident, should contact a law firm with experience in brain injury matters.

Legal cases involving brain injuries have produced some large verdicts, frequently in the millions of dollars. This is because of the lifetime of expenses and lost earning capacity that these people suffer.

MUNI Accidents

MUNI ACCIDENTS – warning to riders – HOLD ON!

The MUNI accident recently in San Francisco brings to the attention of citizens who ride the MUNI buses and streetcars that there is real risk in riding these mass transit vehicles.

Unlike automobiles that are equipped with padded seats, seatbelts and airbags, all designed to protect a passenger in a serious accident, the public transportation vehicles do not have these protections. So it is Rider Beware! Sudden movements on a bus, cable car or streetcar can produce forces that will cause standing passengers to fall down, or seated passengers to fall from their seats, if they are not holding on securely. It is more likely that a person will suffer a serious injury, such as a traumatic brain injury, knee injury, shoulder injury or back injury, in these accidents.

The message and the reminder to riders on the MUNI system, is HOLD ON for your own safety at all times.

And remember, if you are injured in an accident which is the fault of MUNI, there is only a 180-day period within which to file a governmental claim. How that claim is made is very important in cases of serious injury, and should be completed by an experienced lawyer practicing personal injury law.

Blackman Legal Group has been handling injury cases against the MUNI and the City of San Francisco since 1976, and there is no up front cost for handling a personal injury case against them. All fees are contingent and recovered only from the settlement.

Call 24/7 for a free consultation with a San Francisco personal injury lawyer at Blackman Legal Group, or visit our website at http://www.brain-injury-lawyer.com.

Injury Due To Defective Cars

Toyota Recall and Product Liability Claims

Toyota has recalled a large number of its cars, including the RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Tundra and Sequoia, for problems that cause the throttle to stick open.

This hazardous defect in the cars can result in the car accelerating when the driver does not want to accelerate, causing serious accidents, and in some cases, serious injuries.

Lawsuits against the auto manufacturer, based on products liability, can be brought for damages (money) for personal injuries sustained because of an accident that was caused by the throttle sticking in the open position (forced acceleration). Products liability lawsuits against Toyota, or any car manufacturer, for injuries caused by the defect, can result in significant verdicts and settlements. Plaintiffs (injured parties) can sue for their medical expenses, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering, including loss of enjoyment of life.

Plaintiff lawyers who sue manufacturers on behalf of injured consumers work on a contingency fee. This means that the consumer does not pay the attorney anything, and the lawyer only gets paid from the settlement funds when they are recovered for the client.

If you or someone that you care about has been seriously injured in a Toyota vehicle as a result of the sticking throttle causing forced acceleration, it is very important to know that the vehicle must be stored and kept available for testing as it is important evidence in the case. Experts for the plaintiff and the defendant need to examine and test the vehicle to be able to prove the case, i.e. prove that the vehicle was defective, that the defect caused the accident, etc.

Time is very important in bringing a product liability case. It is therefore very important to contact an experienced law firm as soon as possible after such an accident.

Blackman Legal Group handles products liability cases in California, with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and throughout the state. They can be reached via its nationwide toll-free number, 1-888-395-3551.

Child Safety Issues

IMPORTANCE OF CHILD SAFETY

Protecting your child while you are out in a public place is very important because there are many ways in which your child can get hurt if not being watched over closely. Young children are very curious and love to explore new things so it is very easy for a child to put him or herself in harms way without realizing they are doing so. It is the parent/care givers responsibility to ensure that their children are protected from dangerous objects and avoiding situations that increase probability of children getting hurt.


PROTECTING YOUR CHILD IN PUBLIC PLACES

For example, one public place that all parents/care takers experience is taking children to the grocery store. It is very important that caregivers watch their children closely while at this place because there are many opportunities where a child can be injured. For instance, in the store there are numerous isles and if the child is not watched carefully he/she could easily become lost. Additionally, it can be dangerous to let children sit alone in the shopping cart while you are gathering food items because they might fall out or grab things that could possibly fall onto them.

To address these issues in the grocery store here are a few suggestions:
· Always keep your children at your side while in the store by either holding their hand, if the child is too young to walk keep them in the grocery cart (but always keeping an eye on the cart)
· If the child is older, have them help you collect the groceries so that they feel engaged and are not bored, so they do not feel the need to wonder around and get lost in the store.


Another common public place that poses a threat for children is traveling, whether it is by train, bus or plane. All of these locations tend to be very crowded and it can be very easy to lose your child if one does not watch them closely. For instance, at the airport do not leave your child alone to watch the luggage at any time regardless of how short. Of course once children reach an older age (12+) it may be appropriate to allow the child to be left alone for a short amount of time (i.e. going to the restroom). To address this issue it is ideal to travel with 2 adults per child so the child is never left alone. However, this is not always the situation so if an adult is traveling alone with a child, prepare yourself to keep the child with you at all times while in crowds. Force the child to hold your hand while walking no matter how much they protest the arrangement.

WHO IS HELD RESPONSIBLE?

Even under the watch of the most cautious parent/caregiver children get hurt. This raises the issue of who will be held responsible for the child’s injuries. Is it the parent/caregiver? Is it the property owner of the place where the child was injured? Is the child old enough to take any responsibility for the injury? These are very important questions that will be asked if legal action is taken regarding an injured minor. In some situations it is easy to determine the responsible party, while in others it is not as easy to answer these questions for the answer is not clear. For example, if a child is walking down a sidewalk, trips and falls because there is a defect in the cement, who is responsible for paying for the children’s injuries? Is it the parent? Were they being negligent and not watching their child with enough care? Or is the person who owns the house/property where the child fell? Or does responsibility fall to both parties? Another issue that may be raised is whether the injury would have occurred if it were an adult involved instead of a child.

BUY MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVERAGE ON YOUR HOMEOWNER'S OR RENTER'S POLICY

An optional coverage on your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy is Medical Payments insurance. It is a good idea to have $10,000 or more coverage. This will pay for 100% of needed medical or dental care for someone injured on your property, including children. This pays regardless of fault! Inquire about adding or increasing your Medical Payments coverage, and you will have added protection for all visitors to your home. It does not pay for treatment for you or your family that lives in the house, however.

When a serious accident occurs it is a good idea to call an attorney as soon as possible to advise you. Blackman Legal Group is a law firm that handles accidents involving children. The initial call is always free and confidential, and if there is a valid case, there is no need for money, as cases are handled on contingency (fees are paid only from the settlement). They have offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento in California. Their toll-free number is
1-800-444-5602.

Improve Your Case Value

Can I improve the value of my case?

Injured people who have lawyers and are pursuing a settlement for personal injuries can affect the value of their own case. Delaying in getting treatment can cause value to decline. Too much treatment will also have that effect. The right care, without gaps in treatment, will help the value of the claim.

Watch this video by personal injury lawyer Cliff Blackman of San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Watch other videos by Mr. Blackman on personal injury topics at Blackman Legal Group.

Horrific Car Wreck in Napa July 25th

As we were driving home from Napa late last night we were suddenly stopped on Highway 29 southbound. Emergency vehicles fought to get through from both directions, including Sheriff, Fire Department, Paramedics, and virtually everyone in the county who responds to major accidents. The wreckage strewn across the highway covered the entire road surface, and the vehicle was horribly damaged. As I drove past the remains of the car involved, I snapped this photo of the fire rescue worker responding at the scene.

This was yet one more scary reminder of the risks of drinking and driving. This appeared to be a one-car accident, and may have been due to losing control of the vehicle and rolling over and over. As Californians, we love visiting the Wine Country of Napa, Sonoma, St. Helena, and the other gorgeous towns that encompass the region. We may taste wines at several wineries and wind up the evening with a fine dinner at one of area's many splendid restaurants, especially on a beautiful summer weekend in July. Underestimating the effects of alcohol, drivers brave the roads to get home, tired and under the influence, and horrible and fatal accidents can be the result.

I was glad that I had been driving cautiously, keeping the speed between 50 and 60, at or below the speed limit, and with a large distance between our car and vehicles ahead. Keeping adequate distance while driving on the highway is the safety rule most drivers ignore as they tailgate and try to pass the cars ahead of them. Remember, a distance of 3 to 4 seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you on a highway provides you with the time you need to see a risk ahead, slow down and stop without a problem. This is particularly true on weekend evenings during the summer, wherever you may be, and particularly in the Wine Country of Northern California.

Cliff Blackman, personal injury attorney

http://www.blackmanlaw.com/

What Do I Tell My Doctor About My Injuries?

So, you were in a car accident and now you are having pain in your neck, back, head and have numbness and tingling down your main right arm. But, as fortune would have it, you had some neck problems for the past six months before the accident for which you had been seeing a chiropractor once a week after you had sprained your neck playing basketball with some friends at the club.

Now you are going to see your primary care physician who you haven't seen since you had that terrible sore throat a year ago. What should you tell him about your accident and the injuries from the accident? What should you tell him about the neck problem and the chiropractic care you have been getting?

You know that you are making a claim against the other driver's insurance company. Should you feed the doctor the information you think is best for your claim? Should you omit the prior neck problem?

Many people believe that since they are going to the doctor just for the accident related injuries that they should not tell the doctor about the pre-existing problems or other treatment they have been getting. Actually, it is the opposite that is true.

Tell the doctor about all your problems, including ongoing treatment for another injury.

It is important that you tell the doctor about the previous neck problem and the treatment you have been getting from the chiropractor for it. Explain how your neck problem has worsened after the car accident, however, and if the pain is different in the neck, explain the difference. It is likely that later on when the attorneys involved in your accident claim question the doctor they will already know about the prior neck problem and chiropractic care. If they can "trap" the doctor into making statements such as "all the neck problems came from the car accident" or that "he had no neck problem before the car accident" then the doctor will lose his credibility. It is much more important for the doctor to have all the known information before he gives his opinions so that they cannot be attacked for being based on limited or incorrect information.

When you go back to your chiropractor be sure to tell him how the neck problems have changed since the car accident. He will be asked later on to "apportion" the problems with your neck and the treatments for them between the pre-existing problem and the accident-related problems.

The best approach is always to provide the doctors and therapists who are treating you with an accurate and complete medical history. Their opinions in your case will be worth a lot less if they are based on inaccurate or incomplete information. If they know everything about you and your medical history their opinions in your case will be much more believable and persuasive.