Blog
Laser Surgery Malpractice — Eye Injuries from LASIK or PRK
Ophthalmologists perform LASIK surgery to improve focusing power by removing corneal tissue and reshaping eyes. LASIK is short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. An older procedure, known as PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), is performed with the same kind of laser. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, about 800,000 LASIK or PRK procedures are performed each…
Medical Malpractice in Ambulatory Surgery Centers
The recent settlement of a medical malpractice lawsuit concerning the wrongful death of Joan Rivers raises questions about the safety of ambulatory surgery centers. Unlike hospitals, most outpatient surgery centers are owned by doctors. That gives them an incentive to recommend that their patients have surgery in the center they own rather than the safer…
California Hotel Injuries
The Bay area hosts more than 17 million visitors every year. With more than 200 hotels in San Francisco, about 70 in San Jose, and many more in surrounding communities, travelers have a variety of short-term housing options. While visitors hope to enjoy a safe and productive stay in the Bay area, too often they…
Juries Find that Talcum Powder Causes Ovarian Cancer
In the first five months of 2016, two juries have awarded multi-million-dollar verdicts to women who suffered from ovarian cancer caused by long-term use of talcum powder manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. The women relied on studies that link the use of talcum powder in the pubic area to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.…
Accidental Deaths of Children in Santa Clara County Swimming Pools
When a child accidentally drowns in a swimming pool, determining fault requires a detailed analysis of the facts. That determination must be made so that responsible parties can be held accountable. Wrongful death lawsuits achieve justice by winning compensation for grieving parents, but they also send a message to other pool owners about the importance…
Personal Injury Compensation for Pain and Suffering in California
Accident victims usually understand that they are entitled to compensation for financial losses caused by another person’s carelessness. They reasonably expect their medical bills to be paid and their lost wages to be reimbursed. Financial losses that result from a personal injury are known as “economic damages.” Injury victims may also have heard that they…
Can I Make a Personal Injury Claim for a Job-Related Injury?
We are sometimes asked whether an injury that occurs on the job can be pursued as a personal injury claim rather than through the worker’s compensation system. The answer is, “it depends.” In most cases, worker’s compensation is the exclusive remedy for job-related injuries. That means if you are injured on the job, you are…
California Dog Bite Injuries
Dog bites, particularly when suffered by children, can produce life-shattering injuries. Dog bites rarely cause rabies, but they can lead to other painful infections and can produce such debilitating diseases as meningitis and endocarditis. In addition, facial scarring and other disfigurements caused by dog bites can lead to years of cosmetic surgery. Dog bite facts…
Is Your Home Safe?
Every year, ordinary people in California are injured because common household items that they assume to be safe turn out to be dangerous. Fans overheat and start fires. Hairdryers deliver serious electrical shocks to their users. Water heaters produce scalding showers when their thermostats fail. Products that are not in themselves dangerous can endanger occupants…
An Introduction to California Wrongful Death Law
A wrongful death is any death that is caused without legal justification. Self-defense is an example of legal justification. California law allows certain family members of a wrongful death victim to sue for compensation. Wrongful deaths can be caused intentionally or negligently. Since insurance policies do not cover murder and since murderers do not usually…
