Teen Driver Safety Week & Summer Safety
This week is the National Safety Council’s Teen Driver Safety Week, and it comes right in time for summer, the most dangerous set of months for teens behind the... Read More
DriveCam Technology Reduces San Francisco Muni Bus Accidents
It’s always fun to write about good news related to traffic safety in San Francisco. That pleasure comes this week as the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency reports that... Read More
California Judges Debate Social Media Use
Social media is a great way to stay connected with friends and family members. But as a professional development tool, the purpose of social media platforms like Facebook and... Read More
Anti Distracted Driving Accident Campaign Targets Auto Technology
Everyone knows that distracted driving is dangerous. There’s simply no safety replacement for staying focused on the road at all times. But when it comes to improving road safety,... Read More
Contra Costa County Named Most Dangerous for Bay Area Bike Accidents
Since The Bay Citizen began publishing local news little more than a year ago, their Bike Accident Tracker app has been one of my favorite features. First, the app... Read More
California Teen Drivers Face Daunting Summer Safety Statistics
We’re constantly reminded that teen drivers are the demographic most likely to cause car accidents. Scientific studies on teen brain development show that the brain doesn’t even reach full... Read More
Would Automotive Black Boxes Clarify Car Accident Lawsuits?
There are certain procedures that car accident attorneys use to learn the full story of a collision. An investigator typically speaks to the drivers involved and eye witnesses, accident... Read More
California Motorcycle Events Stress Safe Summer Rides
Summer is a great season for motorcyclists. Having more daylight hours and better road conditions assures that motorcyclists can take long drives up the California coastline or through the... Read More
San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Injury Highlights Urgent Need For Street Safety
Early this morning, Wednesday May 25, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle on the corner of Pierce Street and Lombard Street in San Francisco’s Marina District.... Read More
GJEL Accident Attorneys Recognize National Bike Safety Month in May
Orinda, CA May 19, 2011 As part of National Bike Safety Month, GJEL Accident Attorneys, a catastrophic injury and wrongful death law firm in the San Francisco Bay area,... Read More
Senior Drivers May Cause More Car Accidents
Taking away the keys from senior drivers is a difficult decision that often causes conflict between family members and friends. But scientists and safety advocates have repeatedly shown that... Read More
Infrastructure Spending Could Reduce California Car Accident Costs
California is broke, and with budgets stretched thin across the board, it’s difficult to make an effective argument for increasing spending, even if the result is increased safety on... Read More
5 Great California Bicycle Safety Plans
There's no doubt that National Bike Month has been a resounding success here in California. The extended May cycle-centric holiday has lead to major safety campaigns statewide. But the... Read More
National Youth Traffic Safety Month Prepares Teen Drivers for Summer Safety
As we’ve learned in past weeks, May is an important month for traffic safety nationwide. May marks National Bike Month, Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and National Youth Traffic Safety... Read More
Bike to Work Day Events in San Francisco, East Bay, San Jose & Contra Costa County
May is National Bike Month, which means that bicycle advocates and lawmakers throughout California are boosting efforts to increase bike ridership and improve bicycle safety. Thursday May 12 marks... Read More
San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Death Proves Need for Masonic Avenue Safety Plan
Last Friday, 61 year-old James Hudson was killed by a drunk driver while crossing San Francisco’s Masonic Avenue, one of the city’s busiest and most dangerous arteries. The suspect,... Read More
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Targets Motorcycle Accident Injuries
We’ve been writing a lot about National Bike Month. The cycle-centric holiday, hosted by the League of American Cyclists, has placed a large emphasis on increasing ridership and teaching... Read More
California Bike to Work Day Benefits San Francisco’s Market Street
San Francisco is getting serious about reducing bicycle accidents. The upsurge in bicycle and pedestrian fatalities in past months has lead the city’s Municipal Transportation Authority to improve safety... Read More
National Bike Month Supporters Get Serious on Sacramento Bicycle Accidents
Both here in California and nationwide, residents and lawmakers are boosting bicycle safety awareness during May, National Bike Month. Many of these initiatives take aim at helping children learn... Read More
National Bike Month Focuses on Reducing Youth Bicycle Accidents
As National Bike Month rolls around, we’re reminded that too many cyclists currently on the road maintain bad habits on city streets. Many adult cyclists don’t wear helmets, obey... Read More
GJEL Accident Attorneys Reveals Five Worst Road Safety States to Highlight Distracted Driving Awareness Month
GJEL Accident Attorneys Reveals Five Worst Road Safety States to Highlight Distracted Driving Awareness Month Orinda, CA In recognition of April 2011 Distracted Driving Awareness Month, GJEL Accident Attorneys... Read More
Parents: Congress Considers Sidewalk Safety Bill For School Zones
There’s no question about it: when it comes to reducing car accidents, pedestrian accidents, or bicycle accidents, states and local governments have been proposing the most interesting plans to... Read More
Reducing California Pedestrian Accidents Saves Lives (And Money!)
For some reason, the fact that nearly 650 people are killed in pedestrian accidents each year in California alone, has not prompted state lawmakers to get serious about cutting... Read More
Ray LaHood to Expand Auto Safety Laws After Distracted Driving Awareness Month
As Distracted Driving Awareness Month comes to a close this week, it’s helpful to look back at what lawmakers and safety advocates have accomplished over the past few years,... Read More
Drop in Motorcycle Accident Deaths Looks Optimistic
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is clearly doing something right. Earlier this month, the Department of Transportation boasted a major drop in car accident deaths in 2010, the... Read More
California Distracted Driving Editorial Misses the Point: Just Put Down the Phone
No one ever said the law was simple. That’s a tense subject for Silicon Valley Mercury News columnist Gary Richards, who penned an editorial yesterday on California’s “confusing” distracted... Read More
Police Cite Obstacles to Reducing Distracted Driving Car Accidents
When it comes to distracted driving, laws have come a long way in a short time. Just two years ago, states were just starting to ban handheld devices, and... Read More
5 Great Cell Phone Apps to Prevent Distracted Driving
With the rise of distracted driving, cell phones are often cited as villains that facilitate dangerous driving practices. But while distracting phone calls, text messages, and games are certainly... Read More
San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Highlights Urgent Need For Action Plan
Jogging across San Francisco’s busy Masonic Avenue Monday, a pedestrian was blindsided by driver going 30 miles per hour, sending the jogger flying through the air and later to... Read More
Distracted Driving Highlights Major Problems with San Francisco Muni Bus Accidents
What would you do if your bus driver was texting while driving? If you’re anything like San Francisco resident Shawn Higgins, who saw a bus driver texting on the... Read More
Parents Rate Safest Cars for Teen Drivers
The discussion of what car to buy a new teenage driver is always touchy. Teens want something that looks cool and isn’t too slow, while parents want something affordable... Read More
Texas & North Dakota Join California to Reduce Distracted Driving Car Accidents
Since it’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we’ve been writing a lot about efforts to curb distracted driving here in California. Statewide, 225 local police agencies have teamed up with... Read More
DOT Boasts Drop in Car Accident Deaths
Based on preliminary data, the Department of Transportation estimated last week that 32,788 people were killed in car accidents in 2010, the lowest number in more than 60 years.... Read More
Distracted Driving Awareness Month Ignites Driver Safety Debate
As April and Distracted Driving Awareness Month rolls around, you can expect safety advocates and lawmakers to discuss the many dangers of distracted driving. But despite reports that distracted... Read More
California Boosts Driver Safety Laws For Distracted Driving Awareness Month
For years, the California Highway Patrol has done a fantastic job keeping our roads safe from dangerous drivers and reducing vehicle injuries and fatalities. That job has grown more... Read More
San Francisco MTA Continues Plan to Reduce California Bicycle Accidents
So far, 2011 has been a great year for San Francisco pedestrian safety and bicycle safety. Facing troubling pedestrian and bicycle accident statistics, city lawmakers have enacted programs that... Read More
States Boost Safety Laws Before Distracted Driving Awareness Month
April is distracted driving awareness month, which means that safety advocates and lawmakers will put the issue front and center, trying to find a solution to eliminating distracted driving,... Read More
PG&E Fined “Chump Change” Following San Bruno Pipeline Explosion
The California Public Utilities Commission fined PG&E $6 million last week for September’s devastating pipeline explosion, which many consumer advocates and San Bruno representatives call a major win for... Read More
Better Late than Never to Reduce San Francisco Pedestrian Accidents
Safety advocates throughout San Francisco have been pleased over the past few weeks with the city’s apparent goal to boost programs that would reduce pedestrian accidents in the coming... Read More
Can We Control the Distracted Driving “Arms Race”?
With just about every driving-related sector trying to make distracted driving less prevalent, is dashboard Facebook access necessary? Clearly, no. But that’s the newest development in a distracted driving... Read More
Pediatrics Organization Alters Car Seat Advice to Reduce Accident Injuries and Fatalities
One of the country’s foremost child safety organizations announced this week that it has changed its tune when it comes to child car seats. Previously, the American Academy of... Read More
Man injured in a rear-end car accident
$100,000 for man injured in a rear-end car accident Read More
Congress to Consider Federal Teen Driving Law
Teenagers here in California eagerly await their 16th birthday, that all-important landmark that means they can now drive a car. In South Dakota, the situation is much different, since... Read More
Distracted Driving Awareness Videos Stress Human Connections
Just about everyone knows that distracted driving is dangerous, but almost no one knows how to stop it. Technology is only growing more prevalent, and although cell phone and... Read More
Task Force Plan Intends to Tackle San Francisco Pedestrian Accidents
As pedestrians in San Francisco and throughout the country become more active, some increase in pedestrian accidents is inevitable. Especially when it comes to senior citizens, children, and people... Read More
Appeals Court Rules for Workers in California Personal Injury Lawsuits
Even when employers compensate victims for personal injuries, the legal battle often isn’t over. That was the case for California port workers suffering injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, reports... Read More
Senior Driver Safety Checklist Highlights Eyesight and Motor Skills
It’s fortunate for road safety that every state has a minimum age at which teenagers receive their drivers’ license. Before teenagers reach that age, they are simply not developed... Read More
Can National Bike Summit Reduce Preventable Bicycle Accidents?
Lawmakers, cyclists, and safety organizations nationwide traveled to Washington DC this week for the annual National Bike Summit, hosted by the League of American Bicyclists. In past years, the... Read More
DePuy Orthopedics President Resigns Following Hip Implant Recall Lawsuits
Since DePuy Orthopedics announced that it would recall its ASR hip implants last July, the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary as been barraged by bad news and even worse public... Read More
National Bike Summit Highlights Crossroads for Bicycle Safety
Bicycle use is in the midst of a major national resurgence. Due to crowded city streets, troubling environmental problems, and a call for healthier lifestyles, more people are choosing... Read More
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Talks Distracted Driving Laws & Enforcement
Consumer Reports is absolutely killing it when it comes to distracted driving coverage. Last week, I reviewed their April edition, in which Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, a tireless... Read More
San Francisco & Los Angeles Launch Plans to Reduce California Bicycle Accidents
As bicycle use continues to grow more popular, commuters remain vulnerable to bicycle accidents due primarily to the fact that city infrastructure for safe bicycle use lags far behind.... Read More
California DePuy Hip Implant Lawsuits May Come to San Francisco
Since DePuy Orthopedics announced a recall of one of its popular hip implant models last August, lawsuits have piled up against the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary. Most recently, it... Read More
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to Advocate Federal Distracted Driving Law
Like drunk driving and wearing a seat belt, avoiding distracted driving is becoming more and more of a no brainer. The Department of Transportation has reported that there were... Read More
Are California Traffic Tickets Too Easy on Dangerous Drivers?
Most penalties for dangerous driving tickets are designed to prevent the perilous behavior from reoccurring. If you’re fined for driving 80 miles per hour in a 60 mph zone,... Read More
What’s Happening at the PG&E San Bruno Pipeline Explosion Hearing?
The pipeline explosion sent waves of concern throughout the San Francisco Bay Area when it unexpectedly destroyed a San Bruno neighborhood, killing 8 people and injuring more than 50... Read More
SCOTUS Clears Way for California Defective Seat Belt Lawsuits Against Mazda
For the past twenty years, car manufacturers were faced with a choice: install lap-only seat belts, or “type 2” seat belts, which include a shoulder strap and have been... Read More
DePuy Hip Implant Short Approval Process Faulted for Major Recalls
Even after a heavy year for medical product recalls, medical device companies have vamped up their criticism of government regulation, and are actively seeking to undermine efforts to make... Read More
Legal Aid Clinics Spared in Obama’s Proposed Budget Cuts
Due to the ever-dwindling coffers of legal aid clinics over the past decade, and the “everything must go” approach to the national budget this year, most observers expected the... Read More
Motorcyclists and Pedestrians are Most Vulnerable on California Streets
Whether you’re driving a passenger car, a motorcycle, or simply walking on the sidewalk, individuals don’t have much control over whether they will be involved in a deadly car... Read More
Senators Join Plan to Reduce Car Accident Deaths
For the past decade, many states across the country have worked hard to implement auto safety laws designed to reduce the number of car accident deaths. On the national... Read More
Medical Companies Seek Lax Regulation on Devices Like DePuy’s Faulty Hip Implants
It’s true: regulation is often not good for business. The American food industry no doubt took a hit when the government decided to test products for poisons before they... Read More
Avoid Kissing and Driving on Valentines Day
Everyone knows that texting or typing on your cell phone while driving is very dangerous. Last year, distracted driving accounted for 5,500 traffic fatalities and nearly 500,000 injuries nationwide.... Read More
Plaintiff Law Firms Charge Ahead Despite Toyota Report
n what has widely been considered a rebuke to plaintiff law firms taking on Toyota for personal injury and economic claims resulting from the company’s unintended acceleration problems, a... Read More
Safety Record of Older Drivers Scrutinized After Freeway Accident
Have you ever turned the wrong way on a one-way street? How about entered the freeway going the wrong direction? That’s what happened to 83 year-old Clarence Kinney yesterday,... Read More
San Francisco Bicycle Accidents Rising Faster than Ridership
When the New York Times announced that it would devote a print section and webpage entirely to the Bay Area, residents were ready to step into the national limelight.... Read More
Driver Convicted in Portland Bus Accident Lawsuit
Fired Trimet driver Sandi Day was found guilty last week on three counts including careless driving that led to the death of two pedestrians and serious injury of three... Read More
New Distracted Driving Gizmo Could Make it Easier to Text
Distracted driving has become a major problem nationwide, killing approximately 5,500 people and injuring nearly 500,000 each year. For that reason, safety advocates, policy makers and scientists have adopted... Read More
Report: Red Light Cameras Reduce Fatal Car Accidents
You know those annoying cameras that catch you accelerating through the end of a yellow light and send you a fat bill? In addition to eating a portion of... Read More
Cyclists Included in Proposed California Distracted Driving Law
Since Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood made reducing distracted driving one of his top priorities, the dangerous practice has been the subject of heated debate among safety advocates, policy... Read More
Can Social Media Use Get You Fired? Interview with Employment Lawyer Laura Maechtlen
If you work in an office, the chances are that you've used social media at work before. Hopefully, you keep personal use of social media communities like Facebook and... Read More
New Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against PG&E for Pipeline Explosion
Jessica Morales was watching Thursday Night Football at her boyfriend’s house in San Bruno when a pipeline explosion resulted in the deaths of Jessica and seven other San Bruno... Read More
Car Accident Settlement: $275,000 Recovery Despite Pre-Existing Condition | GJEL
$275,000 for professor injured in freeway car accident. Read More
San Francisco Easy on Drivers Responsible for Preventable Bus Accidents
As I’ve said before, getting hit by a bus has to be one of the worst nightmares imaginable. Clearly, much of the responsibility lies with pedestrians to be careful... Read More
Distracted Walking Law Proposed to Ease Uptick in Pedestrian Accidents
In the past year, public opinion has nearly coalesced around the fact that distracted driving is dangerous and should be eliminated. But what about distracted walking? A new law... Read More
Proposed Bay Area Trail Could Improve Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety
One of the main goals of smart urban development is to grow within the existing confines of a city rather than expanding outwards. That’s what Alameda County’s transportation agency... Read More
California Tops 2010 Pedestrian Accident Fatalities
As part of its ongoing campaign to assess pedestrian safety, the Governors Highway Safety Association has released preliminary data from each state regarding pedestrian fatalities in 2010. Based on... Read More
Will Auto Technology Increase or Decrease Distracted Driving Car Accidents?
At this point, just about everyone is on the anti-distracted driving bandwagon. Safety advocates, major celebrities, cell phone companies and more have joined Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to... Read More
Report Links High School Football to Undiagnosed Head Injuries
It’s no surprise that high-school football is a dangerous sport. Allowing your child to play means accepting the increased risk of torn ligaments, broken bones, and head injuries. But... Read More
Report: PG&E Pressure Tests Could Lead to Future Pipeline Explosions
Since 2003, California-based energy company Pacific Gas & Electric has spiked pressure on gas pipelines nearly a dozen times, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. PG&E claims the practice is... Read More
Most Unlikely Courtroom Dramas
I’m a total sucker for legal dramas. When done well, it’s a great format to build suspense and make important social statements. When done poorly, courtroom dramas can range... Read More
Does New Distracted Driving Study Stretch the Facts on Auto Safety?
Over the past year, the national consensus about distracted driving has solidified as safety advocates, cell phone companies, and celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, agree that it is a dangerous... Read More
VIDEO: Cell Phone Companies Take On Distracted Driving Car Accidents
The fight against distracted driving started with parents who had lost a teenager to the dangerous practice. Soon, the fight picked up steam, earning high profile supporters like talk... Read More
California Motor Caution Calendar
Fresh into the new year, it is common to make resolutions about attitudes or actions you would like to change this time around. These commonly relate to weight loss,... Read More
Toyota Launches Safety Institute to Reduce Car Accidents, Boost Sales
In 2010, Toyota was the only major auto brand to post reduced sales in the American marketplace, due largely to the company’s failing safety record following a string of... Read More
Senator Urges Investigation to Boost Helmet Safety and Reduce Head Injuries
In high school contact sports, parents are often comforted that despite whatever risks a sport entails, their child’s safety equipment will reduce the chance of serious injuries. Last October,... Read More
San Francisco Muni to Pay $2 Million Settlement to Passenger Injured in Train Accident
Serious accidents involving city public transportation agencies always draw major headlines. After all, there are fewer fates more terrifying than being hit by a train or bus. In the... Read More
Airbags, Economy Praised for Major Decrease in Car Accident Fatalities
A report released this week in the Journal Traffic Injury Prevention found that over the past five years, the United States has enjoyed the greatest decrease in car accident... Read More
Report: FDA Allowed Major Oversight Loopholes for DePuy Faulty Hip Implants
Late last year, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would recall hip implants manufactured by DePuy Orthopedics, a division of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson due to... Read More
Woman with head injury following truck accident
$515,000 for woman with head injury following truck accident. Read More
Driver injured in rear end car accident
$575,000 for driver injured in rear end car accident. Read More
Woman who suffered serious ankle injury after car accident
$250,000 for a woman with serious ankle injury following Vallejo car accident. Read More
Boarding care patient who suffered serious accident injuries
$410,000 for boarding care patient who suffered serious accident injuries. Read More
Student who suffered head injury in car accident
$290,000 for student who suffered head injury in car accident. Read More
Disabling injuries in car accident
$100,000 from insurance company for disabling injuries in car accident. Read More
Shopping mall back injury
$705,000 for shopping mall slip-and-fall injury. Read More
Young man with burn injuries from barbecue
$270,000 for young man with burn injuries from barbecue. Read More
Student with permanent injury after truck accident
$195,000 for student with permanent injury after truck accident. Read More
Severe back injuries in car accident
$1.5 million from insurance companies for severe back injuries from car accident. Read More
Hit and Run Car Accident Settlement
$250,000 for woman injured in hit-and-run car accident. Read More