May, 2015 | Dolan Law Firm

Anti-Bullying Laws and Mixed Race Children

This article was written by Chris Dolan and published by The San Francisco Examiner. Click here to read more of Chris Dolan’s weekly articles at SFExaminer.com.

William B. from Diamond Heights asks writes, “My daughter is mixed race. She has been called names at school like mocha and dirty. She goes to public school. She is very hurt and ashamed and I understand that this is not the first time. She is coming home crying and not wanting to go back to school. What can I do to help her? What rights does she/I have?”

Inadequate Headlights Cause Safety Concerns

Well-lit city streets may lead many drivers to believe that their headlights are adequate to handle night-driving situations. Get a few miles outside of the city, however, and you might find your headlights are not quite as beneficial as you would like. Top of the line LED headlights might allow you to drive as much as 55 miles per hour on an unlit highway if they are on high-beam. Most headlights are unsafe at even slower speeds.

What should I know about post-traumatic stress disorder?

Being in an accident means that you will likely feel some mental and emotional changes after the accident. Those changes are normal; however, if they don’t abate as time goes on, you might be suffering from a serious mental health issue known as post-traumatic stress disorder.

How can pedestrians stay safe?

Walking around San Francisco is a lovely way to see the city. It is important, however, that everyone who decides to stroll about take appropriate steps to remain safe. It is also vitally important that all drivers take the necessary steps to keep pedestrians safe.

Dangerous Intersection Presents Risk of Injury to Pedestrians

This article was written by Chris Dolan and published by The San Francisco Examiner. Click here to read more of Chris Dolan’s weekly articles at SFExaminer.com.

Usually I respond to questions which are asked by Examiner Readers.

This week I am going to provide readers a warning about what I believe is a dangerous intersection: Fell and Van Ness. Crossing east or west on Fell over Van Ness presents a serious risk of harm or death to pedestrians because of the fact that there is no pedestrian signal which provides pedestrians information as to when it is safe to cross (white pedestrian) unsafe to cross (red pedestrian) or countdown information like that which exists at most major intersections including that just a block down the street at Market and Van Ness. I will be sending a copy of this article to Dennis Herrera, our City Attorney, Mayor Ed Lee, Supervisor Jane Kim, (Supervisor for District 6), and David Chiu, State Assembly Member for San Francisco. As Van Ness is State Highway 101, I will also send a letter to Bijan Sartipi, CalTrans District 4 Director.

Various injuries are possible when you are in a car accident

Anyone who has read our blog knows that car accidents can cause injuries. There is a variety of injuries that can occur during a car accident. The types of injuries that actually occur are different from one accident to the next. The severity of the injuries can also vary. Since some injuries might not be apparent right away, anyone who is involved in an accident should know about the different types of injuries that might occur.

City Cycling Safety: The Importance Of Green Bike Boxes

bike-box

Bike To Work Day is today and, according to the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Market Street is the most heavily bicycled road west of the Mississippi River.

In 2013, four bicyclists were killed on the streets of San Francisco, the highest annual figure since 2001, while 21 pedestrians were killed in 2013. In 2014, 18 pedestrians were killed as well as three bicyclists. In continuing efforts to make San Francisco roadways safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, in 2011 the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency began installing green bike boxes at some intersections along Market Street that are meant to safely separate pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.

Parent’s Medical Rights Often Unique in California

This article was written by Chris Dolan and published by The San Francisco Examiner. Click here to read more of Chris Dolan’s weekly articles at SFExaminer.com.

This week’s question comes from Mark in Oakland: “I was reading about the case of Jahi McMath on the internet. My child is going into Children’s Hospital Oakland and I wanted to get some additional information on the doctors so I did a search and saw the articles. Can you please explain to me why in California if someone is pronounced brain dead they can be disconnected over a parent’s objection but in New Jersey they can’t? “

Putting the emphasis on recovery in personal injury lawsuits

Regardless of how it occurs, being injured through no fault of your own is often a harrowing experience. Victims and their families suffer in several different ways from the injuries themselves to a temporary or permanent loss of independence to emotional or psychological trauma. Another way they suffer is through the loss of income due to missed work and treatment expenses.