Pedestrian Struck by Car at University and 10th Street, Berkeley, on 5/7/13

On Tuesday evening, May 7, 2013 around 8:30 p.m., a male pedestrian was walking near the intersection of University Avenue and 10th Street in Berkeley when he was struck by a car. The unfortunate pedestrian was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Police are investigating.

The personal injury attorneys at the Weber & Nierenberg law firm are well-experienced in pedestrian accidents and serious injury claims, as well as auto, motorcycle, bus, truck and bicycle accident cases, and wrongful death cases, and will work hard and competently to obtain complete compensation for your injuries and losses.

If you or someone you know needs to know their rights regarding an auto accident, bus accident, motorcycle accident or other type of personal injury, call the attorneys at the Weber and Nierenberg law firm. Personal injury attorneys at Weber & Nierenberg will work hard to make sure your rights are vindicated. For a free consultation or to make an appointment, call 1-866-288-6010.

Safety Tips While Using Public Transportation

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Public transportation has improved and certainly expanded over the last several years. However, there is still great potential for accidents and injuries on public transportation. If you have been injured in a public transportation accident, an experienced San Francisco personal injury attorney can help you determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.

To help prevent an accident or injury while using public transportation the following safety tips may be helpful:

  1. Do not rush to board a bus or subway, this way you can avoid falling or slipping and becoming injured.
  2. As the bus or train approaches stand back from the edge of the platform or curb and stay a bit to the side to avoid being accidentally pushed or shoved off balance.
  3. Do not try to enter a subway car when the doors are closing and ensure packages, pocketbooks and backpacks are clear of closing doors after you have entered the train.
  4. Only use the emergency cord to prevent an accident or injury.
  5. Do not run or walk on escalators—stand, hold the rail and face forward. Improper use of escalators can cause serious injuries.
  6. Do not run for the bus—you can slip, trip or fall and sustain serious injuries.
  7. Do not stand in stairwells or lean against doors while traveling on a bus—sudden stops could cause you to fall and become injured.
  8. When boarding or leaving a bus watch for slippery surfaces, icy sidewalks or other hazards, which may cause you to fall.

A San Francisco personal injury law firm can help

Unfortunately, no matter how many advances have been made in transportation, accidents still happen and individuals can become seriously injured. If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a public transportation accident contact us online or call 866-288-6010 to discuss your injury case.

Safety Tips to Prevent Gas Explosions

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Gas explosions frequently occur on construction or other industrial sites due to the proximity of chemicals and other combustible materials. However, gas explosions can also happen at home. Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) is commonly used for home barbecues, RV appliances, and heating and cooking appliances. And while LPG has proven to be exceedingly useful for domestic purposes, it is also a frequent cause of gas explosions at home.

Depending on the nature and location of the explosion, the consequences can be devastating including:

  • Property damages—to vehicles, appliances and homes
  • Burn injuries—from minor to severe
  • Traumatic/emotional distress—such as PTSD or other psychological reactions
  • Death—from smoke inhalation and severe burns

To help avoid the risk of a gas explosion you should:

  • Keep LPG tanks or any other type of combustible away from flammable materials such as matches, lighters, lit candles, campfires, etc.
  • Turn off gas tanks when not in use.
  • Check tanks or other combustible material containers regularly for cracks, leaks or other potential hazards.
  • Do not leave cooking food unattended, including barbecue grills.
  • If you detect the smell of gas, do not turn on any type of electrical appliance because any kind of spark can ignite an explosion.

Gas explosions whether domestic or industrial can cause severe damage and injuries and give way to numerous San Francisco personal injury claims. By practicing preventative safety measures, the life you protect may be your own.

Contact a San Francisco personal injury law firm

All too often negligence and/or product malfunction cause gas explosions resulting in serious injuries and even death. If you or a loved one has been injured in a gas explosion, contact us online or call 866-288-6010 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Light Rail Safety Tips

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Muni Metro is San Francisco’s light rail system and serves over 150,000 passengers daily. In fact, it is the third busiest light rail system in the United States. The line consists of over 70 miles of track, seven lines and transports passengers throughout San Francisco and surrounding areas. With so much activity, it is not surprising that serious accidents can sometimes happen. If you become involved in a light rail accident, an experienced San Francisco personal injury attorney can help you determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Observing the following safety tips can help you avoid the risk of a light rail accident:

  • Stand behind the caution strip as your train approaches. Refrain from touching the sides of the train while it is moving and wait until the train has stopped completely before pushing the button to open the doors.
  • After leaving the train, always wait until your train has pulled out to cross the tracks—watch for approaching trains coming from the opposite direction.
  • Never walk along the light trails or trespass on the bridges or underpasses.
  • When boarding or exiting with children, always hold their hand so that you are not separated.
  • Always obey blank-out signs because they signal an approaching train.
  • Refrain from listening to personal music players and texting or talking on a cell phone when near the tracks.
  • Motorists and trains share the road and trains always have the right of way, remain alert and look for approaching trains.
  • Never drive around lowered crossing gates.

When accidents happen contact a San Francisco personal injury law firm

Even the most conscientious person can have a light rail accident and often through no fault of their own. If you or a loved one has been injured in a light rail accident, contact us online or call 866-288-6010 to discuss your light rail accident case.

Public Transportation Safety Tips for Seniors

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Unfortunately, as we age we begin to notice a loss of balance, agility and strength making us more vulnerable to injuries. Seniors may also take advantage of public transportation more than younger individuals may and so employing the following safety tips can help ensure they stay healthy and uninjured.

  1. When boarding or leaving a public vehicle look for uneven or slippery pavement or other hazards that could cause a fall.
  2. Before boarding a bus, have your fare ready to avoid losing your balance while looking for change.
  3. When boarding or leaving a subway car pay attention to the gap between the edge of the platform and the door and step cautiously.
  4. Before boarding a bus or subway car, stand to the side and let others get off first—this is not only polite but helps prevent being pushed and thrown off balance.
  5. Remain alert to your surroundings and steady yourself when the vehicle is slowing or turning.
  6. Never board a bus or subway car with too many packages, leave one hand free to hold onto railings or straps.
  7. In bad weather and at night, allow for extra time to cross intersections to ensure you are seen by motorists and do not slip and injure yourself.
  8. Wear light colored or reflective clothing at night or carry a flashlight to make yourself visible to motorists and other pedestrians.
  9. When you riding in a taxi, fasten your seat belt to ensure your safety—just because it is a cab doesn’t mean you should neglect vital safety measures.

Talk to a San Francisco public transportation accident lawyer today

Unfortunately, too many seniors are injured because of negligence and the failure of others to employ basic safety precautions. If you have been injured in a public transportation accident, an experienced San Francisco public transportation accident lawyer can help. Contact us online or call 866-288-6010 to discuss your public transportation accident case.

Forklift Safety | Tips for Keeping Workers Safe

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Forklift accidents kill hundreds of people and seriously injure thousands more every year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces strict requirements on forklift operation as well as other industrial machinery and equipment. These requirements are meant to protect the operator, other workers and the public. Unfortunately, when safety practices are not observed or equipment is faulty individuals can become injured and need the help of a San Francisco personal injury attorney.

Many forklift accidents are the result of a tip – over which is caused by excess loads. When a forklift operator takes on too large a load, he can risk tipping over the forklift. Tip-overs are a common cause of accidents.

Another common cause of forklift accidents is related to visibility, when an operator’s line of vision is blocked by the load, other equipment or even the vehicle itself.

Further, because forklifts do not operate like automobiles and has rear steering, when entering a turn the vehicle swings wide which can result in collisions.

To avoid accidents and injuries operators and employers of forklift operators should observe the following safety practices:

• All operators should be thoroughly trained, evaluated and tested before operating a forklift.
• Do a safety inspection of forklifts before each shift.
• Forklift operators should always wear safety belts to avoid being thrown from the vehicle.
• Never take on a load beyond the forklift’s rated capacity.
• Always secure the load before operating the forklift.
• Always slow down and sound your horn at intersections or areas where vision is obstructed.
• Never drive toward anyone even in an unloaded forklift, the machine cannot stop quickly and could tip or drop debris from the load and injure the person.
• Always place loads as far back as possible to ensure stability.
• Always drive, turn, and stop slowly and smoothly when operating a forklift.
• When operating a forklift on grades, ramps or inclines, slow down to avoid tipping or casting off debris.

Contact Weber & Nierenberg

Contact us online or call 866-288-6010 to schedule a free consultation. We handle all heavy equipment accident injury claims on a contingency basis, which means that we only charge legal fees if we recover compensation for your losses.

PG & E Record Flaws Exposed in San Bruno Explosion Investigation

Months after an explosion in a Pacific Gas & Electric pipeline killed eight people in San Bruno, maintenance documents released by the utility to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) show conflicting information about repair work performed along the line for decades, according to a report in the San Francisco Examiner.

The discrepancies concern the details of a 1998 leak a few miles away on the same high – pressure gas line. PG & E workers who repaired that leak reported problems and remedial steps different from those reported by the utility. In the wake of last year’s San Bruno explosion, the California Public Utilities Commission ordered the turnover of thousands of PG & E documents concerning safety, maintenance and repair records.

Comparing the documents to the utility’s previous statements, it appears that PG & E itself is yet to get a handle on the causes of leaks along its pipeline. For example, PG & E has previously stated that the pipeline was seamless, but the records show numerous welds and other repairs along lengthwise seams.

Complex Accident Investigation Depends on Careful Records Analysis

The San Bruno pipeline explosion case illustrates the complexity of investigating accidents involving public utilities. In civil actions for damages by the individuals and families most directly affected, it will be necessary to prove negligence on the part of the utility or its contractors in the design, installation or maintenance of the transmission line.

Because the most reliable and specific evidence of the causes of an accident will generally come from the records maintained by the utility itself, the failure to maintain proper maintenance and repair records can complicate the investigative efforts of plaintiffs’ lawyers as well as those of regulators. In some cases, however, proof of inadequate record – keeping practices by itself can help establish the plaintiff’s case for negligence.

Call Weber & Nierenberg for a Free Consultation: 866-288-6010

At the Bay Area law firm of Weber & Nierenberg, our experience with the investigation and proof of complex personal injury claims against corporate and public agency defendants can make the decisive difference in the outcome of a catastrophic personal injury or wrongful death case.

Contact us for a free consultation in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose or San Rafael if you need advice about your legal options in the aftermath of a public utility accident, a bus or train crash, or an accident on government property. You can also visit our website.

 
 
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