San Mateo Personal Injury Attorneys Blog | California Car Accident Lawyer

Fatal dog attacks reach a record high in California

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Animal Bites on Friday, January 17, 2020.

Dogs are well known as a person's best friend, but a dog bite could be a person's worst nightmare. There is significant physical pain from the puncture wounds caused by dogs' teeth or the scratches from their paws. The emotional pain and the time spent during recovery can also add untold suffering to a bad experience.

California is home to many dog attacks every year, with a record number of fatal attacks in 2019. Certain breeds, like pit bulls, are often blamed for reacting badly to people, but some of the people who work to get dogs adopted into homes may not be fully honest with the adopters.

Off-duty detective struck and killed while assisting pedestrian

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, January 16, 2020.

A tragic accident on Jan. 12 left a sheriff's detective dead and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) in mourning.

The detective, who was not on duty, was stopped for a red light at an intersection in Valley Village (a neighborhood in Los Angeles) on Sunday morning. She saw an elderly woman fall as she was crossing the street. The detective left her car at the intersection and went to assist the woman in getting across the street.

Why driving at night is harder as we get older

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.

If you're having more difficulty driving at night than you used to, you're not alone. Many people have this problem as they get older. Even if you regularly see an optometrist, have the proper prescription lenses and don't have untreated issues like cataracts, you may not feel as comfortable as you used to behind the wheel after sunset.

The eyes go through a number of changes as we head in to our senior years. For example, our pupils don't dilate in the dark as much. That means less light can reach the retinas.

Premises liability lawsuit helps define reasonable expectations

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Premises Liability on Monday, December 23, 2019.

From the sidewalks of Los Angeles to the shops in San Francisco, there are a lot of public places where a person could get hurt. But what is the difference between someone getting hurt and someone having an accident or hurting oneself?

A Sunnyvale shopping center is the premises where a lawsuit is helping to decide when the owners and operators of a public place are liable for injuries suffered there. The plaintiff was attempting to stop a fight that he noticed occurring in the parking lot as he sat inside one of the surrounding businesses. He suffered serious injury after being hit in the side of the head.

You can overcome driving anxiety after a crash

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Friday, December 13, 2019.

If you've recently been involved in a car crash, you may feel anxious once you get behind the wheel again. Maybe you haven't been able to summon up the courage to do it yet. That's not at all abnormal. Even if the accident wasn't your fault, it's only natural to be back in the position you were in when it happened.

However, the longer you wait to start driving again, the more difficult it will be when you finally do. The key is to take things in small steps to help build up your comfort level. Just as when you first learned how to drive, the more you do it, the more comfortable you will feel.

When owner negligence leads to animal bites in California

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Animal Bites on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.

Suffering an animal attack can be a traumatic experience, even if you only suffer minor injuries. When these attacks lead to significant physical damage, the trauma runs even deeper and can result in emotional as well as physical harm. Making matters worse, serious animal bites can cause additional medical issues such as infections or exposure to disease.

Naturally, victims of serious attacks will need medical treatment to recover from their injuries and prevent further damage. The problem with this is that medical care, even at its most basic, can be very expensive. Why should you have to pay for the negligence of an animal owner who cannot or will not control a pet? We don't believe you should have to pay. Instead, we believe the pet owner should be the one to take legal and financial responsibility for damage suffered in an animal bite.

Tips for driving safely in smoky conditions

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

As wildfires become more frequent, widespread and serious in California, many of us find ourselves driving in smoky conditions even if we're nowhere near a blaze. Smoke can be as blinding as rain and snow. Moreover, people driving through smoke may be looking around to catch a glimpse of the fire, worried about getting home to their families or in the process of evacuating to a safe location.

Therefore, it's essential to exercise extreme caution when driving in smoky conditions. The following are some things to remember.

A premises liability claim may be the answer to daycare injuries

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Premises Liability on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

In most San Mateo families, both parents hold down full-time jobs. This means that the children of these families spend at least some time in a daycare facility. It is safe to say that most California daycare centers provide excellent care and strive to protect their vulnerable young clients. However, accidents can still happen, leaving children suffering from an injury.

Many daycare injuries are minor and require little more than a band-aid to treat. However, some injuries are much more severe and result in serious consequences for the entire family. Often, one parent must take time away from work to care for the injured child during recovery resulting in reduced income. This, combined with costly medical expenses, typically results in financial hardships.

Pedestrian struck by police car last month dies from his injuries

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

A man who was struck and seriously injured by a Redwood City police officer last month has died. The San Mateo County Coroner's Office released news of the 25-year-old man's death, but did not say specifically what day he passed away. He had been hospitalized in critical condition since the crash on Sept. 16.

The officer was responding to a call that morning regarding a home invasion robbery on Poplar Avenue. He reportedly lost control of his patrol car on El Camino Real because the road was wet. He hit the median where the man was standing. The car continued moving into oncoming traffic and struck two vehicles. It eventually stopped on a sidewalk.

Dealing safely with an off-leash dog

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Animal Bites on Tuesday, October 1, 2019.

You're a responsible dog owner. You always have your dog on a leash when you go for a walk. Unfortunately, many other people aren't so responsible. People walk their dogs off-leash all the time -- particularly in townhome and condominium complexes.

They're convinced that their dogs will remain by their side no matter what. Unfortunately, that's simply not true. Too often, the sight of another dog is too irresistible to pass up. Maybe the dog who's on a leash starts barking at them, and they take that as an invitation to fight.