September, 2015 | Dolan Law Firm

How Do You Get Out of Jury Duty?

Jury

As I write this I am in trial. The Jury in our case, tried in front of Judge Susan Bollanos in Department 504, will be deliberating, or even done, when this is published. I want to thank them for their jury service.

Bryan L. From Oakland asks; “How do I get out of jury duty.”

Dear Bryan; seriously, shame on you. Simple answer DON’T.

One sure way to get out of being on a jury is to be a criminal defendant- then you don’t have to sit on a jury and, at the same time, you will hope to God that you will have a group of people who didn’t try and evade their civic responsibility who can sit and fairly hear your case and defense. Another way is become a convicted felon and be deprived of your constitutional rights such as bearing arms, being free from unlawful search and seizure and the ability to sit on a jury or vote.

Pedestrians with headphones are getting into more accidents

Sporty woman taking a break after running outdoors

A lot of people love wearing headphones when they walk or go for a jog. It helps them pass the time. It’s a way to listen to music, podcasts or books without disturbing anyone else; gone are the days of having a boombox on your shoulder.

However, as enjoyable as this can be, some studies have shown that it’s also dangerous. More and more often, pedestrians are getting into accidents while they have these headphone in.

Should You Have Underinsured Motorist Coverage?

Insurance

This week’s question comes from Carey C. in the Sunset: “I have a scooter that I use to commute to work Downtown, but I am thinking about getting a car, so I can get out of The City sometimes. I know I have to have liability insurance. A friend said I should also have uninsured-underinsured motorist coverage on my insurance policy. Is it really necessary, if I already have health insurance?”

Dear Carey: I talk with clients about uninsured-underinsured motorist coverage all of the time. Attorneys and people in the insurance industry often refer to it as “UM-UIM” insurance. Unfortunately, by the time clients come to me they have already been injured and it’s too late for the UM-UIM discussion. The best time to think about insurance is before you need it.

How can you protect your loved ones from elder abuse?

Unfortunately, some of society’s most vulnerable are often neglected and abused. Elderly people in California, and elsewhere, are commonly mistreated by those charged with their care, including nursing home staff and family members. People frequently ask us at The Dolan Law Firm what they can do to keep their loved ones safe. In this post, we will give you some tips to help protect those you care about from elder abuse.

One of the most important things you can do to help keep your loved ones safe is to know the signs of elder mistreatment. In addition to obvious, unexplainable physical injuries, there are a number of other signs that a person is being neglected or abused. According to the California Department of Justice, some common signs of elder mistreatment include the following:

Teen killed when truck passed too close to his bike in California

Top California Bicycles Laws From San Francisco Bay Area Bike Accident and Crash Attorneys at the Dolan Law Firm

If you’re a cyclist, you know how dangerous it can be if vehicles pass too close to you. You can be bumped off your bicycle or lose control. If you suffer injuries, you then have to work with your attorney to make a claim against the driver, and then you have to prove that the driver was at fault. Your situation may mirror this one, which resulted in a community questioning the safety of the area.

Is A Job Leave of Abscence Allowed To Care For A Grandparent?

Jonathan S. of Cow Hollow asks: “My grandfather just suffered from a stroke and I want to take time off from work to care for him while he recovers. I work at a large company, but my employer does not allow time off to care for grandparents, only parents. My manager told me if I take the time off, she could not guarantee I would have a job to return to. Are there any laws that would protect my job and allow me to take a leave of absence to care for my grandfather?”

You can claim compensation for your injuries after a crash

During the hot, sunny days of summer in San Francisco, you’ve probably enjoyed many days out on your motorcycle. Maybe you were cruising when you were struck by a dangerous driver, or you were hit while you were stopped at a light. Whatever happened, someone else’s negligence is to blame for your accident, and that means you have a right to make a claim for compensation.

Determining Liability in Driverless Car Accidents

Today’s question comes from Wallace D. in Knob Hill who asks: “I read your article on the driverless vehicle. Isn’t this just sci-fi? Will they ever actually hit the market and if they do, what will they look like and who will be responsible if there is a crash?

According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2011 America’s 212 million licensed drivers crashed over 5.3 million times, injured 2.2 million people and killed another 32,367. Road traffic injuries have become the leading killer of young people aged 15 to 29. According to a World Health Organization Report, almost 1.3 million people die each year on the world’s roads making this the ninth leading cause of death, globally.

Worldwide, road crashes cause between 20 million and 50 million non-fatal injuries every year.

How can we keep kids safe during school days?

The start of the school year means you’re going to be spending much more time around schools with heavy flows of traffic during several points during the day. Buses, trucks, cars, motorcycles and other vehicles will be entering the area, which may be congested, to care for students and to take care of the premises. As a pedestrian, these high-traffic areas can be dangerous for you. It’s important to know how to keep yourself safe by being aware of your surroundings and what to do if you’re injured in order to obtain compensation for your injuries.