San Mateo Personal Injury Attorneys Blog | California Car Accident Lawyer

Puncture wounds are more likely to get infected

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Animal Bites on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

Any type of cut or abrasion can get infected. You absolutely want to clean any wound thoroughly and keep an eye out for swelling and redness, which can both be signs of infection. The same is true for a wound that will not heal, that fills with pus or that seems tender and painful long after it should have healed.

That said, medical experts note that puncture wounds are more likely to get infected than common scrapes and bruises. There are a few reasons, the first of which is that it's very difficult to fully clean a puncture wound. While running it under soap and water may clean the surface, it may not do much for the deeper damage below the skin.

Drivers who are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, June 12, 2019.

A driver who falls asleep at the wheel, or even one who just drives under extreme fatigue, is really no better -- from a risk standpoint -- than a drunk driver. That person's reaction times tend to get worse, they make more mistakes and they could pass out and send the car careening into oncoming traffic. These are the same issues that make drunk driving so dangerous.

Even so, many people do drive when they're tired. Some of those who are most likely to do this include:

Those who are on medicines that create fatigue
Those who try to function on too little sleep
Those who work extra-long shifts, like hospital workers or those who work night shifts
Those who drive for a living, such as bus drivers, taxi drivers, rideshare drivers and truck drivers
Those who have sleep disorders, especially if they have never gotten treatment

Tesla faces lawsuit after man dies in fiery crash

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

A 38-year-old man recently passed away when the 2017 Tesla Model X he was driving allegedly steered itself into a median near Mountain View, which is about 20 minutes from San Mateo, on U.S. Highway 101. According to the man's wife, the vehicle's autopilot malfunctioned right before the March 23 crash, causing the vehicle to speed up and slam into the concrete barrier.

The family has filed a lawsuit against Tesla in Santa Clara County court. Caltrans is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The suit states that Caltrans did not repair the median that was damaged. The family alleges that if the median had been repaired, then the impact of the car into the median would have been less.

Could your teen's after-prom party leave you liable for damages?

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

If your teenager is in the late stages of "senioritis," about the only thing that might rouse them from their state of lassitude is the anticipation of prom. However, along with selecting the perfect outfit and making nail and hair appointments, there are also bound to be plenty of plans for the after-prom festivities.

Many parents, seeking some semblance of control over their child's activities on prom night, offer to host after-prom parties for their teenagers and the teens' friends. While that is certainly an option, parents must also realize the potential liability they undertake when there are young people celebrating in their homes.

Baby delivered 3 months early after alleged DUI crash

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Monday, April 22, 2019.

A woman was six months pregnant when she was involved in an accident with a driver who is suspected of having been under the influence at the time of the crash. She had to deliver her baby three months early as a result.

Per reports, the woman was standing next to a Chevy Impala at the time. It was parked, and she was in front of it. At about 8:05 p.m., on Monday, April 8, a 23-year-old man came down the street in his Jeep. He drove off the road and hit the car. That impact smashed the car into the woman.

Do early school start times put students at risk?

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

School starts early for your teenage children. They complain about it and often refuse to get out of bed when you wake them up, and it gets frustrating. Eventually, though, you manage to get them up and out the door so that they can drive to school.

But should you be worried about more than just the effort it takes to get the day started? Are those early start times actually putting them in danger?

What are common occupational illnesses?

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in workplace injuries on Monday, March 25, 2019.

Anyone can catch a cold at work when a co-worker comes in with a nasty cough and miserable congestion. These transient illnesses hit California workers and may render them unable to work for a few days, but in time they clear up and the workers return to their full strength and health. An illness, such as a cold or flu, would not be considered an occupational illness for although it may originate at one's place of employment, it is not contracted due to the performance of their work.

Occupational illnesses are disorders and diseases that affect men and women because of the nature of or conditions in which they must work. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention track common occupational illnesses and this post will highlight some of the most common medical illnesses that American workers contract.

Why do rabbits bite?

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Animal Bites on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.

With Easter approaching, if your kids are begging for their own bunny, remember that rabbits aren't a holiday toy. They're a pet and a long-term commitment. You may be caring for that rabbit long after your kids have left for (and maybe graduated from) college.

Whether you head down to the local animal shelter to adopt a rabbit or you or your kids are around a friend's or neighbor's bunny, it's important to remember that they can and do bite.

Injured workers may be entitled to immediate medical care

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in workers' compensation on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

After a workplace accident or injury a California resident should notify their employer of the harm that they have suffered immediately or as soon as they can safely do so. This is because the notification requirement triggers an employer's workers' compensation response and the injured employee's opportunities to receive the medical care that they need. Under the state's system of workers' compensation, injured individuals have the right to be given medical care within one day of filing their claim with their employer.

This rule applies even if a claim for workers' compensation benefits is under investigation and a person whose claim is still being reviewed may still receive up to $10,000 in medical care. If the administrator of an injured worker's claim fails to process their documentation and the worker is not provided with timely medical assistance they may push for the help they need by communicating through their supervisor or management within their employing organization.

Parents keep setting a bad example for teen drivers

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Laws will not stop teens from getting distracted while driving. They can cut back on it -- in theory, a teen who gets a citation for a dangerous driving behavior will refrain from doing it in the future -- but those teen drivers still have choices to make. They have to choose to be safe.

That starts at home, experts claim. Parents set examples that kids follow. Parents need that to be a good example, showing teens how to drive safely. If not, it puts everyone at risk.