Yes, that's right -- rocks combusted in her pocket.
]]> Now, obviously, these cannot just be any sort of rock. After they burned a hole in the woman's pocket, they continued to burn the wooden floor of her house and burned her husband's hands as he tried to help his wife. Clearly, these "rocks" were something strange and unusual.But what? No one is sure right now, but what remains of the rocks are being tested by Orange County health officials. At the moment, it is believed the rocks contained phosphorous, a highly flammable substance and that the friction of the rocks rubbing against one another in the woman's pocket caused them to ignite.
It's possible that these rocks are some sort of strange-yet-natural substance, but given what we know so far, it is also possible that they are some sort of material that a person irresponsibly lost track of or tried to dispose of illegally by dumping on a deserted beach. If that were the case, this woman might be able to seek recompense for her injuries against whomever disposed of these "rocks" in such an unethical manner that an innocent person was able to find them and be hurt by them.
Source: The Los Angeles Times, "Beach rocks that burst into flames in O.C. woman's pocket tested," May 17, 2012
]]>The car accident occurred near the 11100 block of De Soto Avenue around 6:30 a.m. Police believe that a 21-year-old woman lost control of her vehicle and collided with a delivery truck. The collision sent her vehicle spinning into oncoming traffic, where she was struck again. She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead a short time later. The driver of the delivery truck was also hospitalized, but his condition is not known.
]]> Authorities have said the accident remains under investigation. A witness said she thought it seemed like the woman was chasing a white vehicle that was just ahead of her, but police have not commented on that claim.We do not know what caused this particular accident, but frequent causes of car accidents include distracted driving, intoxication or negligence on the part of one of the drivers. It is certainly true that there are some accidents in which fault cannot be pinpointed, but it is equally true that there are many in which it is either clearly someone's fault or a jury can decided where the blame lies. This can be important because many people who are hurt in car accidents or have loved ones die in tragic crashes choose to file lawsuits to seek compensation for lost wages, loss of income, pain and suffering and/or medical expenses. Of course, it would be better if the accident never occurred in the first place, but lawsuits seeking those types of recompense can at least help make a bad situation not as terrible as it could be.
Source: The Los Angeles Daily News, "21-year-old Simi Valley woman killed in Chatsworth crash," Susan Abram, May 14, 2012
]]>Seau's death brings more attention to a growing concern over the long-term effects of repeated brain injury in sports such as football and boxing. Researchers say repeated brain trauma impacts memory, thinking and reasoning and control of emotions, which can lead to chronic problems such as depression, violent and erratic behavior, dementia and even death.
]]> Just last year, NFL player Dave Duerson committed suicide after making sure his brain would be donated to science to be studied to uncover the long-term effects of repeated brain injuries, called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).There is much speculation that Seau may have shot himself in the chest so that his brain also could be studied, though his intentions are unclear because he left no written instructions. It's reported that Seau's family is currently considering and is likely to donate his brain to science for further study.
As with any injury that is suffered during a sport or other activity, there is always the question about whether more could have been done to prevent serious trauma like brain injuries. In these types of cases of serious injury, not only is a person's physical life impacted but also his or her emotional and social lives.
We must consider that these athletes willingly participate in a dangerous sport with a high potential for serious injury. However, it is also very important for athletes to fully understand the risks they face so they can make informed and confident decisions every time they step on the field or court.
Source: The Los Angeles Times, "Junior Seau: Apparent suicide follows deaths of athletes with brain trauma," Amina Khan, May 2, 2012
]]>USAA Property & Casualty Insurance Group found a 13 percent increase in car accidents where a military veteran was at fault. People enlisted in the Army and Marines had the highest increase in auto accidents in the six months after returning to the U.S., with Army vets increasing 23 percent and Marine vets increasing 12.5 percent.
]]> The three-year study looked at the driving records of almost 160,000 troops in the six months before being sent overseas and compared them to records in the six months after returning home. It also found that military officers had lower rates of car crashes than enlisted troops, and troops under 22 years old had more accidents than older troops.So, what is the reason for the increased incidence of serious car accidents caused by military members?
Researchers say that they are probably "engaging in survival driving habits," which are very necessary in a war zone but cause serious trouble on the streets of our country. These survival tactics include not stopping in traffic, driving too fast and making sudden or unpredictable turns. Military vets followed in the study often reported feeling anxious in heavy traffic, when someone appeared to be following them, or when seeing some object near the roadside.
If the U.S. military spends much time training troops how to drive to stay safe in war zones, as is reported, shouldn't it also spend adequate time helping veterans re-condition themselves to driving in their safer home states? After all, our veterans deserve to be safe, as do other innocent drivers.
Our decorated and hard-working veterans certainly deserve our thanks for their service, but what should be done if they are proving to be a danger to other motorists on California's and the nation's roads?
Source: The Los Angeles Times, "Troops back from deployment more likely to cause car accidents," Jerry Hirsch, April 24, 2012
]]>The man and woman suffered third-degree burns when they were unable to escape the subsequent wildfire. They claim they have each had to undergo dozens of surgeries and have racked up nearly $4.6 million in medical costs. They were able to settle their suit for $6 million.
]]> The couple alleges that the owner of the parcel of property near their home knew that college students and young people frequently gathered amid the abandoned structures to have bonfires. In 2008, one of those bonfires went out of control and started what became known as the Tea Garden Fire (the parcel of property where it started was known as the Tea Garden). The fire went on to consume 210 homes and hurt more than 25 people.The man and woman also have pending lawsuits against the 10 college students they believe started the fire. They settled their lawsuit against the owner of their rented home for $1 million.
We do not know the extent of this couple's injuries, but we are happy they have received some remuneration. Not being able to escape a raging wildfire must be a terrifying ordeal, and you do not incur almost $5 million in medical costs without the injuries being devastating. Burn injuries tend to be very difficult to treat, so we wish this couple the best as they continue their long journey to recovery.
Source: The Los Angeles Times, "Couple get $6-million settlement in 2008 Santa Barbara County fire," Kim Christensen, May 2, 2012
]]>Recently, 31 former NFL players sued the professional football league, alleging that the NFL had concealed the connection between concussions and permanent brain injury from the players and did not do enough to keep the players safe. The lawsuit joins about 50 other similar lawsuits, which represent a grand total of 1,200 or so former athletes.
]]> In this case, the chief element of the plaintiff's claim is that the NFL conducted "irresponsible and dangerous" activity because it did not explore the risks associated with multiple concussions and so did not inform the players about the hazards, nor did it take reasonable precautions to keep them safe. As a result, all the plaintiffs say they now have conditions like depression, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's.One of the plaintiffs, who played for the NFL in the 1960s and 1970s, said at that time, brain injuries and concussions were not considered "real injuries" like twisted ankles or sprained knees because the victim could still run.
Based solely on what has been described here, how do you feel about the NFL players' lawsuit?
Of course, no one asks to be seriously injured, but then again, isn't it common knowledge that football is a dangerous sport? This is one of those issues on which reasonable minds could disagree.
Source: The Houston Chronicle, "Former players file concussion lawsuit against NFL," David Barron, April 24, 2012
]]>The 52-year-old Vallejo resident was trying to light a fire in her fireplace when she somehow lit herself on fire. It is estimated that she has burn injuries on about 25 percent of her body.
The woman ran to the bathroom and tried to extinguish the flames herself, but this did not have the desired effect. She was taken to a hospital in Vallejo and her present condition is not known.
]]> At this point, we do not know what happened to cause this terrible incident, but obviously something was amiss because people do not normally get so badly burned when lighting a fire.It is possible that this woman did something ill-advised in lighting the fire and so is to blame, but is also possible that there is some other factor at play. Perhaps the fireplace was poorly designed, or the woman was using some sort of lighter or artificial log that malfunctioned and caused her burns. If the latter scenario is true, the woman could be able to sue and seek recompense for her injuries.
Either way, the woman faces an uphill battle as she tries to recover from the burns. Burn injuries are terrible because they compromise a victim's immune system and leave him or her vulnerable to infection. Even once that risk is over, there is the issue of scarring and the chance that because of the burns, the person will never be able to resume a normal life. On top of that, a burn victim may feel self-conscious about his or her appearance if plastic surgery is not an option, which it sometimes is not.
Source: The San Jose Mercury News, "Vallejo woman hospitalized after setting herself on fire while trying to light fireplace," April 23, 2012
]]>Recently, three people were injured when an ambulance and a garbage truck collided near the 700 block of Soto Street in Los Angeles. At the moment, we do not know what caused the crash and do not have much information on the surrounding circumstances.
]]> However, we do know that two Los Angeles firefighters who were in the ambulance were taken to a hospital afterwards with serious injuries and that a man who was in the garbage truck was also hurt. Regardless of who, if anyone, is found to be at fault for the accident, we wish them all the best as they try to recover.The accident happened at 2:15 p.m. and the ambulance had its lights and sirens on. This adds to the puzzle, since it sounds like it would be easy to see the ambulance and be aware of its proximity.
In cases like this, where it is not immediately evident what led to the accident, a good personal injury lawyer will act swiftly to preserve evidence of the accident scene and then will be very diligent about interviewing witnesses and otherwise learning what he or she can about what happened. That way, once the picture is as clear as it can get, the attorney can set about seeking a just and fair outcome on behalf of his or her client.
Source: The Los Angeles Times, "L.A. firefighters seriously hurt in collision with trash truck," April 23, 2012
]]>The plaintiff had been in the VIP section of the California venue to see the concert. The plaintiff alleges that while she was in the VIP area, Johnny Depp's bodyguards physically removed her from the concert venue and caused the injuries.
]]> The plaintiff claims that when she reentered the VIP area the body guards did not allow her access and told her to use a difference entrance. The plaintiff told the bodyguards she was disabled and the body guards then permitted her to enter.At the time of the incident, the woman had a disability that required her to walk with a cane. Later, the bodyguards grabbed the plaintiff without warning, physically restricted her and restrained her wrists. The bodyguards dragged the plaintiff to another area in the building and forcibly took her cell phone. The plaintiff eventually returned to her seat and the bodyguards approached her again, grabbed her and handcuffed her in a forcible manner.
The plaintiff claims the bodyguards pulled upwards on the handcuffs, dragged her on the floor, removed her pants and forced her out of the building. The plaintiff claims she incurred a back injury, spinal cord injury, a dislocated elbow and nerve damage as a result of the bodyguard's actions.
The plaintiff filed a lawsuit that with multiple claims against Johnny Depp -- who employed the bodyguards -- and the Hollywood Palladium. The plaintiff claims she cannot work as a result of the incident and seeks unspecified damages.
Source: Opposing Views, "Handicapped Woman: Johnny Depp Told Bodyguards to Attack Me," April 18, 2012
]]>Local firefighters responded to an emergency call at approximately 4:27 p.m. The emergency call requested firefighter assistance for a house fire. The house that was on fire was a multifamily house and had multiple residents in the house. Two of the house residents were able to flee from the house without injury, but one resident was trapped in the burning house.
]]> After the firefighters arrived at the location of the house fire, they were able to extract one of the residents from the house and carried him down an exterior stairway. The man extracted by the firefighters suffers from burn injuries that were categorized as life-threatening and he continues to be in critical care in a local hospital.It has been determined that the fire started in one of the rooms in the house, but the cause of the fire is still being investigated. It was reported the house fire was not the result of criminal activity but could still have been caused by negligence. Although there may not be any criminal culpability for the house fire, the victim may still be entitled to damages related to his burn injuries. Burn victims incur physical, emotional and financial damages from what are considered very serious and painful injuries. The victims may be entitled to financial recovery for the damages that are caused by another's negligence.
Source: Norwichbulletin.com, "Norwich burn victim remains critical," Greg Smith, April 5, 2012
]]>Gary Sinise had been a passenger in a vehicle traveling through Palm Desert when the collision occurred. The 57-year-old actor may play a character without a wide range of personality on CSI: NY, but he seems to be a little more open in real life. The actor is a member of the group, Lt. Dan Band -- aptly named after one of his most famous characters from the film Forest Gump.
]]> His band was to play at the charity event in Palm Beach, but that event was cancelled. Another appearance in Martinsville, Virginia, will be rescheduled. His television series was unaffected by the accident because filming had already completed.The fact that an actor's charity events had to be rescheduled may not affect many individuals' lives. However, the accident is an example of how lives can be affected after an accident. For the average person, it may not have been a charity event, but your everyday job, the income of which your family relies on. You may have been forced to miss out on your daughter's dance recital or your son's graduation while you received treatment for your injuries. You may be an avid jogger who is forced to live their lives in a wheelchair after a leg or spine injury. What is all of that worth to you?
Source: USA Today, "Gary Sinise hurt in car accident," April 4, 2012
]]>The 41-year-old father and his 9-year-old daughter had been riding on a sidewalk, a place that was supposed to keep them separate and safe from oncoming traffic. It was not the sidewalk that failed the father and his daughter; it was the 17-year-old driver of an SUV that broke the rules meant to keep everyone safe.
]]> According to witness reports, the teen driver lost control of his vehicle and swerved to the side of the road. When the vehicle hit the curb, it bounced up and continued moving forward, slamming into the father and son. Police suspected that the teen driver had been on his phone at the time of the crash and sought to obtain the cellphone records.The teen arrested the young man on suspicion of manslaughter. While criminal charges are aimed at punishing an individual, civil charges are a different way to hold them liable. For a family who was forced to say goodbye to both a husband and a daughter, the emotional pain is not the only kind that they can suffer. Survivors who file a civil lawsuit are not "in it for the money."
Imagine losing your spouse, the person you talk to every single night and wake up next to every morning. Imagine losing your father, the person who was supposed to walk you down the aisle on your wedding day. What is that worth to you? Now, imagine having to deal with that knowledge and face tomorrow without the income to pay your mortgage, with medical costs not covered by your insurance. This is only a fraction of what accident victims and surviving families of serious or fatal accidents face.
Source: Daily Democrat, "Police check cell records in fatal Concord crash," April 9, 2012
]]>The original lawsuit against the stun gun manufacturer resulted in a $10 million award for the wrongful death of the teenager. The manufacturer has recently received a reduced judgment. The reduced judgment is $4.4 million. The reduced judgment reflects the manufacturer's claim that multiple factors were not considered in the initial judgment.
]]> The stun gun manufacturer has not faced many wrongful death lawsuits, but the reduced award is similar to a result that occurred in a California case against the manufacturer. In the California case the manufacturer received a judgment against them for $7 million, which was reduced to a $200,000 judgment.The plaintiffs in the wrongful death lawsuit have 30 days to accept the reduced judgment. If the plaintiffs do not accept the new lower judgment, the decision may result in a new trial. Although the stun gun manufacturer was not directly involved in the incident between the police officer and the teenager, the manufacture can still be liable in a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim is based on a death that happened as a result of negligence, carelessness or recklessness and the manufacturer's involvement through the manufacturing of stun gun creates civil liability if defective or dangerous.
Source: Phoenix Business Journal, "Taser judgment in wrongful death case dropped to $4.4M," Patrick O'Grady, March 28, 2012
]]>A wrongful death lawsuit stems from an altercation that occurred at a nightclub. Although the nightclub was not in California, the scenario behind the patron's death could occur in any nightclub. The scenario began when an intoxicated patron physically touched a patron that was part of a private party. The host of the private party identified the intoxicated patron and requested the nightclub security to escort the intoxicated patron out of the private party.
]]> The nightclub security refused to escort the intoxicated patron out of the private party and requested that the private party instead accept the behavior. Later, the intoxicated patron made a gun gesture at the host of the private party and physically hit the party host. The nightclub's security forcibly removed the intoxicated patron, the host of the private party and the guest of the private party and escorted them into a back alley. The intoxicated person then retrieved a gun. The intoxicated patron aimed at one of the private party's guests. The gunman then pulled the trigger and the guest was shot several times. He did not survive the incident.The wrongful death lawsuit claims the nightclub security did not perform their duty when they failed to keep the intoxicated patron away from the private party. The lawsuit continues by alleging that the nightclub failed to contact the local police when it was required. The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $90,000.
Source: The Southtown Star, "Lawsuit: Dolton nightclub failed to prevent man's death," April 3, 2012
]]>A dangerous area that causes child injuries is around pools, which are common in California. A young girl who incurred a brain injury from a pool accident was able to recover from the use of her cord blood.
]]> The young girl was walking around the edge of a swimming pool when she fell in. California swimming pools can be a potential danger to anyone around the pool. The young girl was unconscious following her fall into the swimming pool. The unconsciousness caused the young girl to be deprived of oxygen for approximately 45 minutes. The loss of oxygen caused the young girl to suffer a severe brain injury. The brain damage caused her to go into a vegetative state, which meant she could not speak.Prior to the accident, the parents of the young girl banked her blood cord. A blood cord is a part of the child's umbilical cord that contains blood after the umbilical cord is cut. It is collected and stored after the child's birth.
The young girl's doctors were able to re-infuse the child's blood cord to help her recover 15 months after her accident. After the blood cord was re-infused, her mother stated he could notice a difference by the next day when the young girl began to talk. Doctor's claim the young girl recovered from her brain injury due to her blood cord.
These types of medical treatments do not come cheap. High medical bills can devastate a family, which is why the law provides a route to compensation for victims of negligent accidents.
Source: Fox News.com, "Cord blood cures girl's brain injury," March 16, 2012
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