Practice Areas / Litigation

Motor vehicle accidents

Let’s face it. A lot of things can go wrong on the road. Sorting out the cause of an accident can be tricky. There are many variables to consider, including road conditions, the condition of the vehicles involved and negligence on the part of other drivers. If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, the last thing you want to do is fight through all the red tape. That’s where I come in. I can help you get the medical assistance you need, investigate the accident to determine who’s at fault, and handle the communication between you and the insurance companies involved. Once we determine the cause of your accident, I will work tirelessly to ensure you are compensated for everything you’ve been through. The sooner we can get started, the better. If you’ve recently been involved in an accident, please call me for a free consultation.

Truck accidents

Evaluating the factors that contributed to an accident involving a truck can be challenging and complex. Simply because of its size, a truck can cause a lot more damage than a car. To mitigate accident risks, the trucking industry must comply with stringent — and complicated — safety regulations and laws. If those standards or laws have been violated, and depending on the type of violation, both the truck driver and the trucking company could be held responsible. Issues that must be considered in a trucking accident include subcontracting of drivers, driving records, driver training, driver logbook, maintenance records, GPS records, permits, route approvals and weight limits. When an accident occurs, it’s in your best interest to hire a lawyer who can sort through the red tape on your behalf. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a trucking accident, please call me as soon as possible for your free consultation.

Pedestrian accidents

Walking is healthy, green, and fun. But sadly, it's sometimes dangerous. Each year, thousands of Californian pedestrians are killed or injured in accidents involving motor vehicles. Many of these accidents are caused by driver negligence. Drivers must at all times exercise “reasonable care under the circumstances.” If they don’t — say, they’re distracted, disobey a traffic signal or disregard the weather conditions — their actions are considered negligent and they can be held liable for any resulting injury. It’s also important to note that a driver must exercise even greater care when children are present.

Pedestrians might also be injured as a result of substandard property maintenance. In these cases, the owner of the property where the injury took place may be responsible. If you have been a victim of a pedestrian accident, I can help you find your way through the obstacle course that no doubt will be set up by the insurance company of the driver or property owner involved. Call me as soon as possible so we can begin working toward a full and fair compensation.

Defective products

Think for a minute about all the different products you come into contact with at home on a daily basis: food, medicines, kitchen appliances, cleaning products, furniture, electronics — and don't forget your car! Basically, any product has the potential to cause injury. Sometimes a product just isn't designed in a way that makes it safe. In other cases, the product is designed well but some corners were cut during the manufacturing process and the product didn't turn out exactly the way it was supposed to. And if a company knows a risk of injury exists if its product is used incorrectly and doesn't warn consumers about that risk, the company's liability may be increased when injury occurs. If you've been injured as a result of a defective product, save the product (or however much of it remains) and if at all possible, keep the packaging the product came in. Then call me. There is only a certain amount of time during which you have the right to claim damages as a result of a defective product, so the sooner you get in touch with me, the better!

Injuries to children

In general, children are more susceptible to injury. One reason is that they haven't developed the common sense necessary to detect and avoid dangerous situations. Another reason is that their bodies are small and not yet fully developed, making it more likely that consequences of an injury to a child will be more devastating than a similar injury would be for an adult. If your child has been the victim of an motor vehicle accident, medical malpractice, a defective product, or any type of abuse, you have a lot to worry about right now. You shouldn't have to worry about where the money is going to come from to make sure your child gets the care they need. Please call me as soon as possible so we can work together not only to bring the responsible party to justice, but also to limit the possibility of the same thing happening to another child.

Catastrophic injuries

Many of the situations discussed elsewhere on this site — premises liability, defective products, vehicle and pedestrian accidents — can result in catastrophic injury, which are those injuries that result in long-term consequences. Victims of catastrophic injury may require medical care for the rest of their lives. Life expectancy may also be shortened as a result of their injuries. These types of cases are complicated because current and future financial needs (which can be overwhelming) are addressed and included in any compensation. Victims of catastrophic injury also suffer such intangibles as pain, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. I can help ensure that your medical expenses are covered and that you are compensated fully and fairly for your financial losses and the intangibles mentioned above. If you've suffered a catastrophic injury, please call me. I hope you'll give me the opportunity to fight for justice on your behalf.

Wrongful death

Losing a loved one is a traumatic experience. If the loved one's death was caused by another's conduct or negligence — whether in a motor vehicle accident, or as a result of a defective product, medical malpractice, or any other reason — surviving family members are entitled to be compensated for the "wrongful death." Obviously, money isn't going to bring your loved one back, but the financial consequences of a family member's death can be devastating and you really do need a lawyer to ensure that you're compensated fairly. Wrongful death damages typically include compensation for funeral expenses, medical expenses, future lost wages and benefits, and emotional losses, which, believe it or not, a lawyer can help you put a dollar value on. If you've recently lost a loved one and you believe it was a wrongful death, don't — under any circumstances — sign a settlement agreement before you talk to me.

Medical malpractice/therapist abuse

Thousands of people are killed, injured or disfigured each year as a result of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice can stem from something as trivial as a medical professional misrepresenting his or her credentials; yet it can have far-reaching and serious consequences. We've all heard stories of doctors operating on the wrong part of patients' bodies. Thankfully, these kinds of cases are extremely rare. But what about prescribing a drug a patient is allergic to? Or failing to diagnose a condition that could be treated and make a huge difference in a patient's quality of life if caught early? Doctors these days are under a tremendous amount of pressure, which can result in less time being spent on each patient. Frankly, some doctors today just can't work effectively under this kind of pressure.

Unfortunately, therapist abuse is also a problem these days. Therapists practice under clear ethical guidelines and are bound by California law, which provides — in no uncertain terms — that therapists may not have sexual contact with their patients.

The statute of limitations on medical malpractice cases is relatively short. If you've been a victim of medical malpractice or therapist abuse, please call me today so we can get started working toward a just solution to your situation.

Construction site injuries

Construction sites are obviously dangerous. But the general contractor, the subcontractors and site supervisors are all responsible for minimizing the inherent dangers. If any of these parties fail in their pursuit to make the construction site as safe as possible, or if they have been negligent in the maintenance of any of the machinery on the site, they are responsible for any injuries that occur as a result of that negligence. If you've been injured on a construction site, you may be eligible to be compensated for lost wages, pain and suffering, and the cost of any medical treatment. If the accident you were involved in can be categorized as "catastrophic" (that is, it results in long-term consequences), it's even more important that you hire an attorney today. Please call me so I can start investigating your claim and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Premises liability

Business and property owners are obligated to keep their premises safe or to warn visitors or guests if an unsafe situation exists. If they have failed to do so and that failure results in an injury, they can be held liable for the costs associated with the injury. Not just limited to a slip-and-fall, injuries in this category include swimming pool accidents and dog bites. Other property hazards that can result in personal injury include broken glass, falling objects, lack of security, or even exposure to toxic chemicals. If you suffered an injury while on someone else's property, please call me. I will investigate the circumstances and ensure that your medical expenses and other damages are paid by the party responsible for your injury.

Brain injuries

The consequences of a sudden impact or physical force to the head can be tragic and often are not discernible until well after the injury takes place. Even a mild concussion can cause changes in a person's mood, memory, ability to sleep and capacity to concentrate. Sometimes these changes are extremely disconcerting to the person experiencing them, though indiscernible to an outside observer. If you have been struck in the head as a result of a falling object, a car accident—or for any other reason, get immediate medical attention. It's also important to hire a lawyer to put together the witnesses and medical information required to build a strong case that will result in fair compensation for what you've gone through. If you have been the victim of this type of injury, you need a skilled attorney who understands the potential magnitude of your injury and can convey that information when it counts. I hope you'll call me as soon as possible.

Paralysis/spinal injury

When a person suffers a spinal cord injury (whether or not the injury results in paralysis), that person's life is changed forever. In addition to the emotional and psychological difficulties a spinal cord injury causes, the financial burden can be overwhelming. Medical bills, future medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, necessary home modifications. The expenses keep growing and many costs will be lifelong. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, it's important for you to hire a skilled attorney who can thoroughly investigate your case and help you obtain the compensation you will need going forward. Your attorney must work hard to generate a comprehensive picture of both the immediate and long-term effects of your injury in order to ensure that you get the compensation you need. Please call me. I look forward to helping you get the compensation you deserve.

Molestation/clergy abuse

The psychological consequences of sexual abuse can last for years. And victims of sexual abuse often keep their experiences to themselves, which only increases their torment. If you've been the victim of sexual abuse — or if you suspect that you have been but are not completely sure — you need to talk to someone you can trust. Of course, trust is likely in short supply after going through something so frightening and, perhaps, confusing. But talking it over with the right person can make a world of difference. A lawyer might not be the first person you think to call, but at some point in the process, it could really help. Nothing can change what happened, but financial compensation can help you pay for the counseling you need and there's a lot to be said for bringing the abuser — whether a family member, a stranger, or a member of the clergy — to justice. When you're ready, I hope you'll call me and give me the opportunity to help you heal.

Bicycle/motorcycle

San Francisco is a great place to ride a bike. But being out on the road with drivers who don't pay attention to you — and without the benefit of seatbelts or airbags — makes bicycling a dangerous mode of transportation. A minor unsafe road condition that wouldn't even be noticed by someone driving a car could be extremely dangerous for a bicyclist. And just like drivers of other types of vehicles, you may be unaware that your bike has some type of defect that makes you at risk of injury. Injuries sustained by a bicyclist in a collision with a motorized vehicle are often severe. And they are not always immediately apparent. The plight of motorcycle riders is similar to that of bicycle riders — and other drivers often show remarkable prejudice against both groups. If you've been involved in a bicycle or motorcycle accident, you need a lawyer. Even if the police report states that you were at fault, the incident needs to be investigated by someone who's on your side. Please call me and give me the opportunity to help you achieve the result you deserve.

Burn injuries

Burn injuries can result from a number of situations, including motor vehicle accidents, defective products and unsafe property conditions. The severity of the injury may ranges from a first-degree burn, which may take only a few days to heal on its own, to a devastating third-degree burn that will require years of medical treatment and leave the burn victim unable to earn a living. In addition to medical expenses and lost wages, burn victims can suffer extreme psychological and emotional consequences. For many burn victims, the path to healing is, very expensive. That's where I can help. I will thoroughly investigate your case and work hard to ensure that whoever caused the circumstances leading to your burn injury is held responsible. If you've suffered a burn injury, please call me.