Erik L. Peterson Law Blog

In the last several months, three separate fatal pedestrian accidents have occurred, and as reported in the San Francisco Examiner, these deaths have prompted a variety of different responses. As provided by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, "each of the incidents included acts of negligence" but the public reactions... Read More

A global pre-term birth study conducted by the March of Times, entitled Born Too Soon: the Global Action Report on Preterm Birth evaluated the extent of national, regional and global pre-term births.  The report revealed that the number of pre-term births is increasing in most countries, and now ranks as the second leading cause of death globally for children under... Read More

Cerebral palsy is a type of birth injury that is caused by trauma to the brain. It occurs at or close to the time of birth and the severity of the condition is based on the kind of damage to the brain of the newborn. The condition is chronic and will not get better or worse over time.If you believe your child has suffered any type of birth injury, speaking to an experienced California birth injury... Read More

A Hawaii circuit court judge has found the state of Hawaii liable in a fatal 2005 wrongful death lawsuit. The fatal accident occurred when a vehicle drive by Denise Callo plunged over the side of a scenic overlook, killing Callo and one passenger, James Makekau, as well as causing serious injuries to another, Tiffany Romena who suffered minor injuries after the vehicle driven by Callow went over the side of the scenic overlook.   The overlook was in disrepair – it was an... Read More

Recently, a study published in Pediatrics showed a link between the use of epidural anesthesia and birth injury.   The epidural anesthesia study revealed that maternal fevers sometimes caused by the anesthesia could result in birth trauma including brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

This risk is cause for concern, with more than 60% of women who give birth each year receiving an epidural.   Epidurals are administered during labor in the lower back to... Read More

A new study reveals that patients who suffer medical malpractice and classify themselves as “poor” are less likely to sue their doctor than patients who are wealthier.   This finding contradicts what many physicians think who may have an “unconscious bias” against low -income patients.   Researchers believe that this bias may lead some physicians less willing to care for poor patients or to provide different treatment to those with limited means. Read More

A Missouri woman has died in a tragic Hawaii hiking in north Maui.  Reports indicate that the vacationer fell about 25 feet off a waterfall.  Susan Stephens of Chesterville, Missouri sustained massive head injuries as a result of the fall and died on the way to the hospital.  No foul play is suspected, but the accident remains under investigation.

Many times, tourists and other visitors are injured while exploring Hawaii’s many beautiful – and often... Read More

Jury selection has begun in a multimillion-dollar medical malpractice lawsuit  arising out of a birth injury.  The birth injury lawsuit against Indian River Medical Center arose out of the actions undertaken by medical staff and two physicians at the hospital.   In 2008, the infant at the center of the case was born dead.  She was resuscitated, but now suffers from cerebral... Read More

The Contra Costa Times reports that L.A. County is expected to settle a medical malpractice lawsuit this week arising out of actions at the County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.  The birth injury lawsuit alleges that physicians and staff at hospital in question failed to perform an emergency cesarean section after a pregnant woman showed signs of fetal distress.  The infant was later diagnosed with neurological... Read More

Numerous factors can lead to car accidents ¿ from disregarding road signs to recklessly speeding through intersections, to failing to pay attention to others on the road.  But one of the top fears of California motorists when it comes to concerns regarding car accidents is driver distraction.  In fact, San Francisco drivers worry more that their fellow drivers are texting or talking on their cell phones than that they have been drinking.

According to a California Office of Traffic... Read More