Los Angeles Property Injury Law Blog

Addressing the Fatal Four improves construction site safety

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in construction site accident injuries on Thursday, November 7, 2019.

There are so many things that can go wrong at a construction site. It is imperative that all employers who have employees in these areas have a proper safety protocol in place to reduce the risk that something is going to happen that leads to a worker injury. While employees should take the necessary steps to stay safe, the onus is on the employer to ensure safety.

There are many hazards on these sites; however, there are four specific ones that account for the majority of the fatalities in this industry. If employers address these, they can greatly reduce the number of construction workers who don't make it home to their family members.

Do not run away from a charging dog

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in dog & animal bites on Friday, October 25, 2019.

When a dog that you do not know charges you on the street, your instinct is to run away. Don't do it. This is only going to make the situation worse.

For instance, imagine that you go out for a jog. You do not see the dog in the yard before you run by the house, but it's clearly not on a leash or a tether. Since you're running, the dog wants to chase you. Maybe it felt surprised. Maybe it thinks you're a threat. Maybe it's just following that natural chase reflex that dogs are born with.

Lesser known impacts of spinal cord injuries

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in catastrophic injuries on Wednesday, October 9, 2019.

Thinking about a spinal cord injury often conjures up thoughts of paralysis. What many people don't realize is that there are many things that happen beyond the inability to move the arms and legs that can occur in these cases. Sometimes, these are the effects that have the greatest impact on the person's life.

The areas of the body that are impacted by a spinal cord injury are always at or below the level of the damaged area. For example, an injury in the upper back or neck could lead to respiratory issues. Christopher Reeve had a respirator to help him breathe because he was unable to do so on his own after his cervical spinal cord was damaged in a fall. Individuals with this effect are more likely to suffer from pneumonia and respiratory infections.

Great risks come from falls, older Americans at an increased risk

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in slip & falls on Tuesday, October 1, 2019.

Slip-and-fall accidents lead to severe injuries. Unfortunately, many different things can lead to this type of incident. No matter how old the person who falls is, they might suffer from broken bones. The risk of this happening is more significant for older people because of the presence of osteoporosis or weakened bones.

Osteoporosis doesn't have any symptoms, so the victim of the fall might not know there was anything wrong. This means that they have weakened bones and aren't as strong as they could be. For older Americans, falls are a leading cause of accidental death, which is sad because many falls are preventable.

What compensation comes from a wrongful death lawsuit?

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes on Sunday, September 22, 2019.

California has robust laws in place to protect people who are the victims of corporate malfeasance, wrongful acts or neglect on the part of a business or an individual. Of course, you need to understand your rights before you can reasonably assert them.

When someone you love dies because of the actions or inaction of another person, you have the right to pursue compensation if you have a close familial relationship to that person. These claims, known as wrongful death suits, can offset the financial impact of a death. Spouses, children, parents or either an heir or an executor can bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party after a tragic, preventable fatality.

Falling merchandise and collapsing shelves are serious hazards

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in big box retail outlet injuries on Thursday, September 12, 2019.

Stores want to ensure that they have the merchandise that its customers want. Unfortunately, some of these retailers don't keep safety in mind when they are planning the storage of products. They may overload shelves, which can lead to very serious injuries to customers and employees alike.

There are three specific dangers that must be addressed when stocking shelves. One of the more common is that items can fall off the shelves and hit customers. When things are on higher shelves, this might lead to head injuries.

Know your options for dealing with catastrophic injuries

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in catastrophic injuries on Thursday, August 29, 2019.

A catastrophic injury can change the course of your life. It will impact your ability to live as you always have. It might even mean that you are unable to work. Because of this, you might choose to seek compensation after the accident. Compensation can help you to recover the money you had to spend because of the accident. It can also give you the financial backing to live your best life going forward.

Common types of catastrophic injuries include trauma to the brain and spinal cord. Traumatic amputations and near-amputations can also be catastrophic. These injuries require immediate medical care, so be sure you get it.

Three hidden dangers could risk your child’s safety in pools

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes on Monday, August 26, 2019.

Most children love swimming and will play in the water with friends and neighbors whenever they get the chance. Parents of young children may enforce rules for swimming, such as requiring the children to wear life jackets or swim only when supervised.

Rules like these can be important steps to help prevent a child from accidentally drowning while in the pool. However, it may also be advantageous for parents to pay close attention to the pools that their children are swimming in because there can be hidden risks if the pool itself is poorly maintained.

Third-party claims can arise from construction accidents

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in construction site accident injuries on Friday, August 16, 2019.

Construction workers count on specific tools to do their jobs every day. They should be able to use them without having to worry about the tools being defective. Unfortunately, there are times when a defective tool causes an injury on the job site. The interesting thing that differentiates these accidents from others is that the worker has the right to file a third-party claim.

A third-party lawsuit seeks to hold the manufacturer of the tool accountable for its negligence through the civil court system. Some workers dismiss this right out of hand because they assume that they can't do anything outside of the workers' compensation system. The difference is that when you are hurt on the job and there isn't a defective product, you can't sure your employer. That's why the employers carry workers' compensation coverage.

Type of spinal cord injury can impact recovery

On behalf of Law Offices of Carl D. Barnes posted in catastrophic injuries on Friday, August 2, 2019.

A spinal cord injury must be taken seriously so that you don't make it any worse. You have to find out as much as you can about the injury you have because you might need the information in the future. One instance in which this might be helpful is if you are working on a rehabilitation program to help you regain function or learn how to adapt to the abilities you have now.

The type of injury you have is one of the most important things that you have to think about. For the most part, an incomplete injury is associated with a greater possibility of regaining function below the level of the injury than what is possible with a complete injury.