July 2018

Before you and the family hit the local public pool to cool off on a hot San Jose summer’s day, take a few precautions to avoid coming away with more than just a suntan. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pools and water playgrounds contain parasites – waterborne diseases that cause outbreaks and illnesses. One type of parasite can survive and thrive even in well-maintained swimming pools. Take these steps to minimize your chances of getting sick from public pools. Know What You’re Up Against Knowledge is power when it comes to combatting diseases in public pools. In the past 15 years, there have been about 500 documented parasite outbreaks linked to swimming pools, water playgrounds,...

It surprises many plaintiffs to discover that winning a personal injury lawsuit or accepting an insurance settlement offer doesn’t exactly mean “case closed.” There is still the matter of receiving the settlement or judgment check from the defendant…and then dealing with the extra money come tax season. The State of California and the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may impose taxes on some or all of a personal injury settlement, depending on the circumstances. Here’s what you need to know about settlement taxation in California. Federal Settlement Taxes Most personal injury settlements include payments for different types of damages. For example, a car accident settlement may involve recovery for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, emotional distress, and attorney’s fees....

It’s no coincidence that July is National Medical Malpractice Awareness Month. July is a particularly dangerous month for patients in teaching hospitals around the U.S. In academic medicine, July is the month where new students and trainees start practicing on patients. This translates into a higher margin of human error and greater risk for malpractice and poor patient health outcomes during the month of July. In fact, a Johns Hopkins study found medical malpractice to be the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Learn more about the “July Effect” to better protect yourself from medical errors as a patient in San Jose. Is the July Effect Documented Statistically? In July, teaching hospitals and academic medical centers in America turn...

Summer is the season for getting out of the house, going on vacation, taking adventurous excursions, and…getting injured? Heat strokes, playground injuries, bug bites, animal attacks, fireworks, swimming pool accidents – summertime increases the risk of all of these common accidents and injuries. That doesn’t mean you have to be a shut-in all season long: it only means you should increase your awareness of personal injury risks and take steps to stay safe this summer. Beat the Heat Summers in San Jose reach average temperatures in the 80s. Running errands, hiking, and camping during summer can run heat-related risks such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The heat is especially dangerous for pets: never leave pets or children inside vehicles,...