Northern California Personal Injury Blog

Kelly Balamuth, Volunteer Mediator for the Congress of Neutrals

By Kelly Balamuth on May 14, 2015

Kelly Balamuth is a volunteer mediator of the Congress of Neutrals, providing services to the Contra Costa County Court Program. The Congress of Neutrals is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation which grew out of comparative studies of community dispute resolution methods used in Japan and the United States. As a mediator for the Small Claims Court in Contra Costa County, Ms. Balamuth meets with parties before their matter is heard by the judge and helps them come to a neutral agreement, if possible.

Small claims court mediations are held on the day of the trial in three of the local branch courts and are confidential, voluntary, and free of charge. The three local branch courts are Concord, Pittsburg, and Walnut Creek. The judgment that any party may get is limited to $10,000. Read the rest »

Oakland Radio Host Killed in Hit-and-Run

By Kelly Balamuth on April 29, 2015

A long-time local radio host in the Bay Area was killed in Oakland on April 18 just after 2 a.m. in a hit-and-run. He was driving on the 5900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and struck by a speeding Dodge Charger, causing his car to flip over, killing him at the scene.  At this time, the driver is still being sought with $10,000 in reward money being offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest. The popular radio host leaves behind a wife and three young children.

Auto accidents make up the majority of personal injury claims in the U.S. This isn’t surprising, given that there were 5,615,000 police reported car crashes in 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As stated by the American Automobile Association, the leading causes of fatal car accidents are: Read the rest »

Protecting Elder Loved Ones from Injury Accidents

By Kelly Balamuth on March 31, 2015

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.“ —Mark Twain

This is a good quote, but perhaps not accurate. When an older adult suffers a life-changing injury, it is difficult not to mind. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to accidents like tripping and falling or being knocked over. When such accidents occur, broken hips or other bones are not uncommon and can be devastating. Injuries can take away your comfort and self-sufficiency, requiring added care costs and stress. It is frightening to lose independence. Frankly, getting older is difficult enough without the added insult of getting hurt. Read the rest »

Oakland Mother Killed By Gunfire

By Kelly Balamuth on March 26, 2015

A 30-year-old Oakland mother was killed last week when she was caught in the crossfire of a gun battle less than half a block from her home. She was returning home with her 7-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter when the stray bullet hit her in the back of the head.  The mother screamed at her children to run for safety, and they escaped into their house, hiding in fear as their mother died in front of their home.

Oakland police have arrested four men thus far, one 19-year-old who is recovering from a gunshot wound in the hospital, and three 29-year-olds.  This killing marks the 19^th gun slaying in Oakland this year. Read the rest »

Young Santa Rosa Girl Struck By Car, Critically Injured

By Kelly Balamuth on March 10, 2015

A 6-year-old girl was severely injured after a vehicle hit her as she was crossing the street with her family in Santa Rosa Sunday night around 9:20 p.m. The girl was walking east across Petaluma Hill Road at Breeze Way in a marked crosswalk when struck by a 67-year-old Santa Rosa man driving a 2001 Ford Focus.

The driver immediately pulled over and is cooperating with police. At this time, it is unclear what caused the accident.

The vast majority of fatal pedestrian/motor vehicle collisions occur on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in later evening hours. Unfortunately, based on population, children under the age of 16 are more likely to be struck by motor vehicles. Pedestrian accidents leave their victims in terrible pain and often with permanent physical disabilities. Read the rest »

What to Do after a Truck Accident

By Kelly Balamuth on February 18, 2015

After a truck accident you will probably be scared and disoriented, not knowing what to do, as it is an overwhelming situation. The first order of business is to check to see if you or anyone else at the scene needs medical attention. Due to the size and mass of a semi-truck, it is more likely to cause life threatening injuries and catastrophic damage in a collision compared to a car. For example, a fully loaded commercial truck can weigh upwards of 70,000 pounds, whereas a car usually weighs 3,000 pounds. The most important step after an accident involving a big rig is to get medical help right away.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), large trucks are only responsible for 3 percent of motor vehicle accidents. Read the rest »

Fatal Hit-and-Run in East Oakland

By Kelly Balamuth on January 29, 2015

On January 23, 2015, an 84-year-old woman was struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident in East Oakland. She was found at the intersection of 18th Avenue and East 15th Street at 8:08 a.m. Friday morning and transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

A home security camera captured the accident, which showed the victim crossing the street when the car failed to slow down, hitting her in the middle of the road, which threw her several yards away. The car only paused for two seconds before simply taking off. The driver, a 30-year-old woman from Oakland, was arrested later that day at 9:40 p.m. after her car was found abandoned near where the crash occurred. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor, according to authorities. Read the rest »

Accident on Highway 70 after Driver Falls Asleep

By Kelly Balamuth on January 13, 2015

On January 6 at 5:40 a.m., a two-vehicle collision occurred when a 37-year-old woman fell asleep while driving her Mazda 6, allegedly crashing into the SUV in front of her. The 37-year-old driver of the Explorer then lost control, crashing his Explorer into the center divider. Both suffered only minor injuries.

All drivers have a legal obligation to drive safely while looking out for the safety and well-being of others. Unfortunately, falling asleep while driving is an all too common occurrence, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 2.5 percent of fatal crashes and 2 percent of injury crashes involve drowsy driving. In addition, the AAA Foundation’s most recent survey for Traffic Safety shows that 21 percent of fatal crashes involve tired drivers. Read the rest »

Cyclist Killed in Contra Costa County Crash

By Kelly Balamuth on December 29, 2014

A 40 year old Dublin man, cycling as part of a large group of at least 50 cyclists, was killed on December 27, 2014, when his bicycle collided with a water truck, according to ABC 7 News.

According to Officer Greg Hartt, there was a collision at the front of the pack, and as other riders were swerving to avoid the collision, the man crossed over the double yellow lines and collided with a water truck. The dead cyclist was wearing a helmet and riding a specialized bicycle, according to the CHP. Read the rest »

Balamuth Law Spread Holiday Cheer with Brighter Beginnings

By Kelly Balamuth on December 22, 2014

Balamuth Law – including Kelly Balamuth and her three kids, Grady, Piper and Truitt, – are spreading holiday cheer this year by adopting a family through Brighter Beginnings.

Brighter Beginnings is an organization devoted to helping parents and children who have limited resources year round in the Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Not only does the organization help provide food and supplies to families in need, but it also offers family healthcare services, childhood development programs, and family-strengthening education groups. Read the rest »