Personal Injury

This is the question a lot of people are asking as thousands of Californians continue to reel from the devastating wildfires this year and last. Read the rest »

Simply put, you should never try to represent yourself in a California legal proceeding, whether you face a criminal charge against you, a lawsuit that you wish to file against someone else, or a lawsuit filed against you. The stakes are high, and you should always speak to a lawyer first about your situation. We may advise that there are steps you can take to help your own case, but generally, hiring a lawyer will ensure the best outcome. Read the rest »

When children are exposed to lead through the water in their school drinking fountains, the consequences can be disastrous. Read the rest »

Going to the ocean with children is a uniquely fun experience, where kids and adults alike can play in the waves and enjoy the warm sand under their toes.

The beach is not without its risks, however, so it is important to keep kids safe both in and out of the water. When you trust someone else to take your kids to a Santa Barbara beach, make sure they understand the responsibilities they have. Read the rest »

Yes, failing to perform a C-section when necessary, or performing one too late into a delivery, can certainly be considered medical malpractice. The details of each specific case will impact whether such an event is legally malpractice, but it is worth investigating and considering a civil suit when appropriate. There are numerous medical reasons to perform a C-section, including fetal distress and extended labor, placenta previa, and if the mother has had a C-section in the past. If a doctor in California fails to notice these factors in a reasonable time and either fails to perform a C-section or does so too late to prevent birth injury, then it can be grounds for a malpractice lawsuit. Read the rest »

Depending on the specific details and nature of your injury, you may have a number of options available to you regarding a civil lawsuit after an injury in Santa Barbara County. In order to win a suit, you typically need to prove that you were injured, that someone else acted in a negligent way, or failed to use due care, and that their negligence was a substantial cause of your injury. That means there may be liability on the part of whoever caused you to be injured as well as the owner of the property on which you were injured.

While popular culture publicizes frivolous lawsuits running rampant in America, in reality, there are very strict grounds in California for winning a civil case. Of course you can file a lawsuit against someone if you feel they were at fault, but in order for your case to proceed, you must meet specific criteria. That is why you need an experienced personal injury lawyer to look at your situation and help you understand your options.

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It is no stretch to say that the Internet has changed the way we live our lives and the way we communicate. So it is not surprising that people who have suffered injuries from defective medical devices or have experienced adverse affects from a prescription drug are turning more and more to online support groups to help them deal with the mental and physical pain they must endure.

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With school out for the summer, children are outside and enjoying the southern California sunshine. Many children will end up playing at local playgrounds, which can be a bittersweet experience if the playground equipment is defective or the playground is out-of-compliance with safety standards.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year some 200,000 children under the age of 14 sustain playground-related injuries severe enough to require emergency care. About 70 percent of those children injured were at public playgrounds when the accident happened. More than a third of these injuries are severe, with children sustaining concussions, fractures internal injuries, and amputations.

Sadly, about 15 children die each year due to a playground accident. Read the rest »

A recent news story about the tragic drowning death of a three-year-old boy in a Paso Robles swimming pool reminded the pool accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand that summer is here and that homeowners, parents and institutions need to take precautions to prevent drowning deaths and injuries.

Last year, during the traditional summer season from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 137 children younger than 15 years old drowned in pools and spas, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). An additional 168 children of that age required emergency treatment for near-fatal incidents during the same time period.

Nationwide, some 390 children under 15 drown in pools and spas each year and some 5,200 are treated by emergency crews for submersion injuries. Most of the fatal drownings and injuries occur during the summer months.

California ranked second in the nation in pool and spa drowning deaths of children less than 15 years of age in 2012.

The CPSC has labeled child drowning accidents a “serious public health problem.”

The state of California passed the Pool Safety Act in 2007, which requires homeowners to have at least one of seven required safety features for pools and spas. Those safety features include: enclosures around a pool, self-closing safety latches on pool enclosures and in homes, alarm doors, pool and spa covers, and safety alarms that sound when an unauthorized person is in a pool or spa.

Another important safety feature is vigilance. A parent or caregiver should never leave a child unattended at a pool or anywhere else where there is standing water. A drowning can happen quickly. An infant or toddler can drown in just inches of water in an inflatable pool.

But the simplest safety feature you can implement is perhaps the most effective: teach your children to swim.

The Santa Barbara swimming pool injury attorneys Law Offices of Reneé J. Nordstrand know that summer fun comes with the summer heat. Pool and Spa drowning deaths are 100 percent preventable if people just take the proper precautions, remain vigilant and follow the laws concerning pool and spa safety.