Los Angeles Property Injury Law Blog

Third-party liability in construction site accident injuries

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in construction site accident injuries on Tuesday, February 26, 2019.

Construction sites are inherently dangerous locations. Most construction workers employed in California understand these dangers and take steps to protect themselves. However, as we all know, mishaps can occur anyway, leaving workers suffering from construction site accident injuries.

You probably know that federal programs allow workers to acquire benefits after a work injury, but sometimes, these benefits do not meet all of the injured worker's needs. When the negligence of one or more third parties contributes to a work injury, victims can pursue other avenues to increase the amount of compensation they are due. We offer the following examples of third-party liability in work injury cases.

Negligent design or manufacturing of construction equipment
Presence of substandard or shoddy materials in safety equipment
Negligence by a third-party subcontractor leading to injury
Faulty brakes or other auto parts in construction vehicles
A negligent motor vehicle accident caused by a private motorist
Failure on the part of the property owner to provide a safe work site

Veterans sue over defective combat earplugs

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes on Tuesday, February 19, 2019.

Hundreds of U.S. veterans are suing over earplugs they claim 3M sold to the military despite knowing they were defective.

The lawsuits state that the earplug design was defective, causing the plugs to come loose and allow dangerously loud sounds to damage the wearer’s hearing. Now veterans are suffering from hearing loss, tinnitus, loss of balance and other pain and suffering, the lawsuits claim.

How dangerous are accidents resulting in slip and falls?

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in slip & falls on Tuesday, February 12, 2019.

Any accident can be dangerous, but those involving slip and falls are sometimes more dangerous than you might think. In most cases, these accidents are more embarrassing than they are harmful, but victims would still be wise to get a medical opinion. Doing so can rule out a serious injury that may have delayed symptoms (e.g. traumatic brain injury). At the same time, seeking medical help can put you as close as possible to immediate care if a severe injury has occurred.

Some of the most common injuries slip-and-fall victims in California suffer include broken bones, deep or severe bruising and the previously mentioned brain injury. If you need more reasons to take slip and falls seriously, take a look at some facts about fall incidents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

One out of every five falls results in a serious injury
Over 95 percent of hip injuries occur falling, usually a sideways fall
If you fall just once, your risk of falling again doubles
Falling is the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries
Annually, about 3 million older people receive emergency treatment for falls
Fall injuries hospitalize more than 800,000 victims each year

Here's the scoop on dog bite laws in California

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in dog & animal bites on Monday, January 28, 2019.

It is said and widely believed that dogs are humankind's best friends. Dogs and even other pet animals are companions, buddies and part of the family. Unfortunately, these furry friends come equipped with an arsenal of weapons including claws and teeth. When people suffer serious dog and animal bites, the first thing they want to know is who is liable for these injuries.

According to California dog bite law, the owner of the animal is strictly liable for the victim's bite injuries. This means that it may be possible to hold the owner legally responsible so that you can acquire financial compensation for your suffering.

Catastrophic injuries come with long-lasting consequences

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in catastrophic injuries on Monday, January 14, 2019.

Any injury serious enough to require medical attention can disrupt your life, but catastrophic injuries are particularly devastating. When such injuries occur due to negligence, many victims experience financial difficulties on top of the injury's physical effects. Unfortunately, all of the effects associated with catastrophic injuries can continue for weeks, months or even an entire lifetime.

Most California residents dealing with catastrophic injuries do not know that they may be able to find a legal remedy for their suffering. Unless the injuries occurred because of a negligent vehicle accident, these victims feel that no solution exists for them. As attorneys serving victims in the Los Angeles region, we want you to know that you can find a satisfactory solution for many other injuries caused by negligence. Examples include:

Injuries suffered on another person's property
Dog attacks and other pet-related injuries
Third-party catastrophic injuries suffered while working

Nanotechnology in the construction industry

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in construction site accident injuries on Friday, January 11, 2019.

Nanotechnology has a growing presence in many industries. This includes construction. There are a range of new construction materials that contain such technology.

Recently, the Center for Construction Research and Training conducted a survey of over 250 unionized construction workers here in California. Around 44 percent of the polled workers reported that they have worked with or recognize the names of materials that are on a list of nano-enabled products.

Dangerous Valentine’s day dates

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes on Monday, December 17, 2018.

After the last of the Christmas fruitcake and New Year’s fireworks have faded it comes time to look forward to another holiday. Valentine’s Day.

While some may dread a holiday that celebrates couples, others see it as an opportunity to spend quality time with someone who has brought joy and companionship to an otherwise lonely life. Valentine’s Day might also seem like an opportunity to push yourself and your significant other to do something you only dreamed of doing.