California Injury Blog

San Diego Bicycle Accident Injures Man

A bicyclist suffered head injuries in a San Diego bicycle accident after he was struck by a drunk driver, 10 news reports. The accident occurred on March 30, 2009 on Balboa Avenue near Charger Boulevard and Interstate 805, San Diego police officials said. Paramedics took the bicyclist to an area hospital where he is said to be recovering. Officers arrested the 42-year-old motorist, Jeffrey Althoff, on suspicion of driving under influence of alcohol.

It is indeed a miracle that this bicyclist survived this horrific crash apparently caused by a negligent and drunk driver. I wish the injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery and hope his head injuries were not severe.

According to the 2007 California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were four fatal bicycle accidents and 392 injuries related to bicycle accidents in San Diego. In San Diego County as a whole, 11 deaths and 797 injuries were reported in 2007 as a result of bicycle accidents.

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Los Angeles County Pedestrian Accident Injures Teenager

A 16-year-old boy was injured in a Duarte pedestrian accident after he was struck by a car while crossing the street on his way to school, the Pasadena Star News reports. The boy was walking through the intersection of Central and Duncannon avenues near Duarte High School the morning of March 27, 2009 when he was struck by a motorist who said he was blinded by the sun's glare. The boy suffered injuries to his hands and legs, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said. The driver of the car, who has not been cited pending an investigation, told officials that the glare from the sun blocked his vision and that he did not see the boy until it was too late.

I'm glad that the teenager did not suffer fatal injuries in this auto accident. I hope that his head injuries are not serious. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery. He will be in my prayers.

According to the California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were 210 pedestrian accident fatalities and 5,095 injuries relating to pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles County. In Duarte, there were no fatalities and three injuries reported in connection with pedestrian accidents in 2007.

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California Nursing Home Negligence Could Increase with Lack of Oversight

A watchdog group, which is tracking nearly 1,600 nursing homes and assisted living facilities in northern California, is saying that it expects to see an increase in California nursing home negligence and abuse statewide. According to a News 10 report, Ombudsman Services of Northern California has lost two-thirds of its staff because of California budget cuts and the program's administrator, Joan Parks, is saying that she is already seeing evidence of nursing homes and assisted living facilities taking advantage of this lack of oversight.

This is not something that's happening only in northern California. In October, we reported about the loss of funding at the Orange County Council of Aging. Their ombudsmen have been doing an excellent job of making unannounced visits to local nursing homes and have detected cases of nursing home abuse and negligence. This group lost 55 percent of its program funding for the year and was forced to lay off almost all of its paid part-time field ombudsmen. This happened after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed $3.8 million in state funding for long-term care ombudsman programs across California.

Apparently, even unpaid volunteers are being affected by this cut in funding. Some volunteers say they had to quit because they were no longer being reimbursed for mileage. Assemblyman Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) has co-authored legislation to restore funding for these ombudsmen. AB 392 would direct money to the programs from fines levied against nursing home operators who violate the law. We can only hope that this legislation passes and restores funding to this worthwhile group of people who were rendering invaluable service to California's seniors and their families.

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USC Student Killed in Los Angeles Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident

Adrianna Bachan, 19, a freshman at USC was killed in an auto versus pedestrian hit-and-run accident in Los Angeles, according to a CBS News report. The fatal pedestrian accident occurred at the street intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Hoover Street the morning of March 29, 2009. Bachan and another male student, Marcus Garfinkle, were walking in a marked crosswalk when both Bachan and Garfinkle were struck by a dark-colored car. Los Angeles police officials say, the car stopped and a passenger got out to remove Garfinkle, who was stuck on the hood of the car. The driver then drove away.

Police are describing the hit-and-run driver as a man driving a black Toyota Corolla or a Honda Accord. Bachan, who is originally from Santa Barbara, was pronounced dead at an area hospital. Garfinkle, who is from Scottsdale, Arizona, is still in the hospital in critical condition.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Adrianna Bachan, for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Adrianna Bachan. I also hope Marcus Garfinkle survives his critical injuries and offer my best wishes to him for a speedy and complete recovery. The driver in this case not only struck and killed a person, but also in an absolutely cold, calculated and despicable act paused while his companion removed one of the victims from the hood of the car and then took off. I pray the hit-and-run driver is apprehended and brought to justice.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 90 pedestrian accident fatalities and 2,690 injuries involving vehicle versus pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County as a whole, there were 210 deaths and 5,095 injuries related to pedestrian accidents in 2007.

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Los Angeles County DUI Accident Kills Man

Maximino Angeles Hernandez, 41, a Los Angeles Times delivery truck driver was killed in a North Hills head-on collision after his pickup truck was hit by a suspected drunk driver. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, Hernandez was on his way to work the morning of March 29, 2009, when a Hyundai driven by 23-year-old Sueng Lee crossed the dividing lane and struck Hernandez's Mazda pickup. The fatal auto accident occurred on Woodley Avenue near Parthenia Street. Lee was driving under the influence of alcohol, police said. He was treated at an area hospital for minor injuries and then arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Maximino Angeles Hernandez for their tragic loss. Here was a hard-working man who suffered an untimely death because a negligent motorist decided to drink and get behind the wheel! My heart goes out to the family, friends and co-workers of this victim. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were 712 auto accident fatalities in Los Angeles County out of which 268 were alcohol-related. There were also 5,169 injury auto accidents that involved alcohol in Los Angeles County during that time period.

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Fatal Construction Accident In Atwater

Gregory Moore, a 50-year-old Stockton man, was killed in a northern California construction accident on March 25, 2009. According to a news report in the Modesto Bee, Moore, an employee of Bay City Construction, was with a crew rebuilding Highway 99 near Atwater. Moore was bending over to pick up some debris when he was knocked down and run over by a tractor. Moore was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Moore's team was working on the southbound lane near Grove Avenue, which is being built under contract with Caltrans.

My hear goes out to the family and friends of Gregory Moore who was killed in this tragic on-the-job accident. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction accidents accounted for 1,226 fatal work injuries in the United States in 2006, the most of any industrial sector. Construction accident fatalities increased by 3 percent in 2006 compared to 2005. According to the California Department of Occupational Health and Safety there were 92 construction accident fatalities in California in 2005.

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Santa Rosa Crosswalk Accident Kills Man in Wheelchair

Richard Trenam, a 58-year-old man, died after being critically injured in a Santa Rosa auto accident, the Press Democrat reports. Trenam was on life support after being struck and injured by 24-year-old Antonio Salano Villa, 24, in a Guerneville Road crosswalk near Coddington the morning of March 20, 2009.

My heart goes out to all those who knew and loved Richard Trenam. Apparently, he survived an earlier auto accident that left him brain-injured and in a wheelchair. I offer my deepest sympathies to all who will miss Trenam.

The newspaper reports that Villa told police he had the green light when the collision occurred. I would definitely treat that with skepticism. Officials say there was no indication Villa was not speeding at the time of the crash. It would be very important for officials to interview eyewitnesses who saw the collision and can testify to what happened here. Something doesn't quite add up.

Continue reading "Santa Rosa Pedestrian Accident " »

Jury Awards $1.2 Million to Newport Beach Cop in Employee Rights Case

An Orange County jury recently awarded $1.2 million to a Newport Beach police officer because he endured on the job discrimination based on rumors and gossip that he was gay. According to an article in The Orange County Register, Sgt. Neil Harvey, a 27-year veteran of the department, also faced retaliation for flagging misconduct among his fellow officers and was passed up for promotions because of rumors about his sexual orientation.

Jurors have spoken out in no uncertain terms that they believe the Newport Beach Police Department has serious issues when it comes to treating their employees fairly. What do Harvey's superiors have to say? They claim that his lack of progress in the department was his own fault – that he alienated his colleagues with his "hypercritical" style. Harvey's resume includes advanced college education and a top award for bravery. A disturbing image of the Newport Beach Police Department has emerged as Harvey's civil case against his own department progressed.

Apparently, Harvey endured constant gossip about him being a "fag" and comparisons to Lt. Dangle, a short-shorts-wearing gay officer on Comedy Central's "Reno 911." Jurors awarded Harvey $1.2 million for economic damages and enduring mistreatment.

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Placer County Family Sues Cemetery over Lost Body

A California family has filed a lawsuit against a Placer County cemetery after their loved one's body was missing from his burial plot and another woman was buried in the space reserved for his wife. According to an Associated Press news report, the family of Frank Farinha is suing Lincoln Cemetery questioning their record-keeping practices. Farinha reportedly died in 1947.

The family started to suspect something when Farinha's wife, Mary, died at age 105 and the family wanted to bury her next to her husband beneath a double tombstone. But as it turned out, the cemetery had sold the plot to someone else and when cemetery workers tried to disinter Frank Farinha, his body could not be found. The family's lawsuit also names Placer County Cemetery District No. 1, the agency that runs the public memorial park.

My heart goes out to the Farinha family that had to go through the nightmarish process of trying to exhume their loved one. It is indeed shocking to find out that the place you thought was your loved one's final resting place was not in fact his final resting place! Unfortunately, these mix-ups in cemeteries are quite common all over the country including in California. These heartbreaking incidents that cause severe emotional distress and pain to families not only occurs at cemeteries, but also in funeral homes where all of us expect to be treated with sensitivity and dignity.

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Los Angeles Fatal Forklift Accident

Andrew Guipanay Bagsiao, 86, died in a Los Angeles pedestrian accident after he was run over and crushed by a forklift whose operator was part of a crew working in the ambulance entrance of the former County-USC Medical Center in Boyle Heights, The Press-Enterprise reports. The fatal forklift accident occurred the afternoon of March 24, 2009. The forklift operator was not injured, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said.

I offer my deepest condolences to everybody who knew and loved Andrew Guipanay Bagsiao. Obviously, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers at this difficult time.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates there are about 85 forklift accident fatalities that occur each year. This number includes workers as well as pedestrians and bystanders. OSHA also estimates that each year in the United States, about 35,000 people are seriously injured in forklift accidents. Also according to the Industrial Truck Association, there are about 855,900 forklifts in the United States, so over 11 percent will be involved in some type of accident each year. Most forklift fatalities occur in manufacturing facilities and construction zones.

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San Diego County Fatal Freeway Accident

Raymundo Ambrosio-Vasquez, 53, was killed in a San Diego County auto versus pedestrian accident on the Interstate 15 in Poway the morning of March 25, 2009, according to a news reports in the San Diego Union-Tribune and 10news. The fatal accident occurred when Ambrosio-Vasquez, who was driving a white Toyota Tercel, had pulled over to the right shoulder and was standing outside his car. Ambrosio-Vasquez was struck by an Acura that had just entered the freeway from Poway Road, California Highway Patrol officials said.

The driver of the Acura stopped right away because he thought he had hit something and couldn't see what he had hit in the dark. When he found the body of Ambrosio-Vasquez in the left two lanes of the northbound Interstate-15, the Acura driver started directing traffic to keep others from hitting Ambrosio-Vasquez.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Raymundo Ambrosio-Vasquez. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

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Los Angeles Fatal Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accident

The victim of a hit-and-run pedestrian accident in Van Nuys has been identified as 34-year-old Bobby Ray Rowe, a homeless man in the area. According to a CBS News report, Rowe, who had only one leg, was found dead behind a Bank of America branch near Haynes Street in Van Nuys on March 18, 2009. The coroner's office identified him two days later. Los Angeles police found him lying half on the street and half on the sidewalk and believe Rowe was the victim of a hit-and-run crash. Officials are asking for the public's help in finding the driver who struck and killed Bobby Ray Rowe and fled the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call the Valley Traffic Division at 1-818-644-8010.

My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved Bobby Ray Rowe. It is appalling that a driver would not only strike anyone, let alone a disabled man, but leave him lying on the street to die. I offer my deepest sympathies to Rowe's family and friends. I hope police find this hit-and-run driver and prosecute him or her to the fullest extent of the law.

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Ventura County Pedestrian Accident Injures Girl

A 7-year-old girl was injured in an Oxnard pedestrian accident the afternoon of March 21, 2009, the Ventura County Star reports. The girl was hit in the 4400 block of Terrace Avenue. She was transported to an area hospital for treatment of her injuries, but her condition has not yet been reported or updated. The driver of the vehicle that hit the girl stopped, Oxnard police officials say. The neighborhood where the girl was hit is west of Oxnard College in South Oxnard.

I'm relieved that this little girl survived this pedestrian versus auto accident. I hope she did not suffer catastrophic injuries. Please keep this child in your prayers. I hope and pray that she has a quick and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there was one pedestrian accident fatality and 64 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Oxnard. In Ventura County as a whole, eight deaths and 186 injuries were reported in connection with pedestrian accidents.

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Los Angeles County Dog Attack Injures Three

Three people including a 79-year-old woman were injured in a Chatsworth dog attack, KTLA News reports. The incident occurred on March 19, 2009 in the 11900 block of Hiawatha Street in Chatsworth when the elderly woman with a walker was attacked by two large boxer dogs. The dogs bit the woman and knocked her to the ground. Two men, who heard her screams for help, tried to get the dogs away from her. The dogs attacked the Good Samaritans as well.

One of them – a 58-year-old man – was bitten on the right wrist and suffered "serious injuries that are potentially debilitating," according to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials. Another 51-year-old man got a three-inch cut on his arm as he struggled with the dogs. Firefighters eventually managed to confine the dogs to a nearby yard. The animals have been impounded and the dogs' owner has been identified but not cited or arrested.

I'm extremely relieved that this vicious dog attack did not result in any fatalities. I shudder to imagine what might have happened to the elderly woman had it not been for these two men who came to her rescue. They are the real heroes here and I commend both for their courage in trying to stop this Los Angeles dog attack. I wish all three of the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

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Delivery Truck Gas Tank Explosion in Pasadena Injures Three

Three people suffered major on-the-job injuries in a Pasadena explosion the afternoon of March 16, 2009. According to an article in the Pasadena Star News, the explosion apparently ripped apart a delivery truck that was fueled by compressed natural gas. The accident occurred while employees of California Linen Services on 40 E. California Blvd. were refueling a delivery truck that operates on compressed natural gas. Officials believe a gas tank exploded, destroying the truck.

The gas tank reportedly flew up about 1,000 feet in the air and landed 200 feet away. One person suffered critical injuries and two others are said to be in serious condition. The California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (CAL/OSHA) is looking into what caused this accident.

I'm relieved that no one was fatally injured in this horrific workplace accident. My heart goes out to the three workers who have been seriously injured. I wish them the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

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Orange County Industrial Accident Kills Two Workers

Two employees at a Rancho Santa Margarita manufacturing plant were killed and two others were seriously injured in an explosion the night of March 19, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. The explosion occurred just after 11:30 p.m. at Solus Industrial Innovators located in an industrial area at 30152 Aventura Ave. The powerful blast injured two employees who were standing outside the building, Orange County firefighters found two other employees dead inside the building. The injured workers were taken to an area hospital. Investigators say an industrial process water heater may have been the cause of the fatal explosion.

My heart goes out to the families, friends and co-workers of these two workers who were killed on-the-job. I offer my deepest condolences to them. I hope the two other workers did not suffer major injuries. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

According to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health's (CAL/OSHA) industrial accident statistics for 2005, 14 workers died that year of fires and explosions at their workplace or manufacturing facilities. Totally, 253 deaths relating to industrial accidents were reported in California in the year 2005.

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New California Bill May Help Reduce Boating Accidents

The California Senate is reviewing a new bill, which if passed, will give authorities the power to suspend boaters' licenses when they are caught operating a boat while intoxicated. According to a news report in the Daily Pilot, the bill introduced by Senator John Benoit, is looking to reauthorize the California Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend boating licenses if boaters are convicted of BUI or boating under the influence. The DMV had been treating BUIs like DUIs or driving under the influence since the 1990s, but an appellate court ruling last year deemed they do not have the authority to do that.

We at Bisnar|Chase support this new bill 100 percent. Numerous people suffer catastrophic injuries or death each year in California especially in the spring and summer months because of boating accidents caused by negligent boaters operating under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Boating accidents are apparently on the rise and most of them involve recreational vessels such as personal watercraft. According to the U.S. Coast Guard's 2007 boating statistics, the number of boating-related deaths fell from 710 in 2006 to 685 in 2007. But the number of boating accidents increased from 4,967 to 5,191. Boating related injuries rose from 3,474 to 3,673 and damages increased from $43 million to $53 million during that period

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Fatal Dog Attack in Riverside County

Hill A. Williams Jr., 38, of Rancho Mirage was killed in an apparent Riverside dog attack after his own mastiffs mauled him to death, according to an article in The Desert Sun. Williams, apparently lived alone with his dogs and was found dead in his backyard on March 16, 2009. The dogs that weighed 115 pounds and 90 pounds each were turned over to animal control officials by Williams' girlfriend and were euthanized. Officials still do not know what triggered this vicious dog attack.

Neighbors told officials that Williams may have been trying to breed the two mastiffs. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services confirmed that neither dog was spayed or neutered and said the behavior of any animal is highly unpredictable when it is focused on mating.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Hill A. Williams Jr., who was tragically killed in this vicious dog attack. I offer my deepest sympathies to them.

I'm relieved that no one else was hurt or killed by these animals. In such a situation, the attack could easily have been on someone else – a young child who was visiting, a neighbor, someone who came to work for him. This is how dog attacks occur. And it is well established that a pair of dogs or more are more likely to attack than a single animal.

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Improper Maintenance Blamed for Amusement Park Ride Accident

A Yo-Yo Chair Ride that crashed during the Calaveras County Fair in May injuring 21 children was not properly maintained by its owner, the California Department of Industrial Relations has ruled. According to an Associated Press news article, the state department's report found a damaged washer had failed to hold a pair of nuts in place on the Yo-Yo Chair Ride. That apparently caused the ride's swing arms to collapse causing 21 amusement park ride injuries on the Yo-Yo Chair Ride.

The report also said that the ride's owner, Brass Ring Amusements Midway of Fun, operated the ride without the required inspections, certifications and documentation that was needed to make sure the ride was safe. The ride owner is based in Oroville, California.

The amusement park accident at Calaveras County Fair was one of two California ride accidents that led Chance Rides Manufacturing Inc. to recall 85 defective Yo-Yo rides in October. The other accident occurred in Angels Camp, California injuring 23 people. In addition, a third incident in March 2006, involved a Yo-Yo ride in Six Flags in Arlington, Texas, that malfunctioned. Nine people suffered bruises as well as back and neck injuries in that ride accident. The Wichita, Kansas based amusement park ride manufacturer recalled the rides to repair defects.

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Long Beach Girl Injured in Los Angeles Dog Attack

A 2-year-old Long Beach girl has been hospitalized with dog bite injuries after she was attacked by the family's cocker spaniel. According to this news article in the Los Angeles Daily News, the dog attack occurred at the home in the 1800 block of Gardenia Avenue on March 16, 2009. Long Beach fire officials and animal control officers, who responded to the emergency call, say the girl suffered deep cuts to her face.

The dog was taken into custody. It will be quarantined for 10 days when the dog will be evaluated for signs of disease. Depending on the results, officials will decide what to do with the dog. Officials say the girl's mother is "upset" and has not made a request to get the dog back.

My heart goes out to the family of this young girl who must be going through a tough time with their daughter's injuries caused by their own dog. I will pray for her quick and complete recovery.

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Orange County Auto versus Pedestrian Accident

James Casey, 70, suffered major injuries in a Costa Mesa pedestrian accident after he was hit by a car. According to a news report in the Daily Pilot, the accident occurred the night of March 14, 2009 when Sheldon Dobkins, 73, struck Casey, who witnesses say, was walking off the center divider at the intersection of Newport Boulevard and 17th Street. Casey was rushed to an area hospital with serious injuries, but he is expected to survive. Dobkins was uninjured. He wasn't cited or arrested in connection with this pedestrian accident.

I'm relieved that James Casey is going to survive and that he is expected to recover from his injuries. This Costa Mesa pedestrian accident could have been a lot worse. I wish Casey the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to the California Highway Patrol's 2006 traffic accident statistics, there were no fatalities associated with pedestrian accidents in Costa Mesa. There were, however, 47 pedestrian accident related injuries in Costa Mesa during that time. In Orange County as a whole, 45 deaths and 802 injuries were reported in connection with pedestrian accidents in 2006.

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Escondido Nursing Home's Negligence Leads to Man's Death

An Escondido nursing home has been fined $90,000 after a resident apparently choked to death at lunch. According to a news report on San Diego's Channel 6, Escondido Care Center was also cited on March 12, 2009 for poor treatment and supervision of its patients. The California Department of Health states in its report that the man was supposed to be on a strict diet because he had trouble chewing and swallowing. But he was eating a lunch of beef with barbecue sauce, mashed potatoes, steamed cabbage and carrots last November when he coughed several times and slumped over in his wheelchair. Nursing home staff members were not able to revive him. Escondido Care Center has apparently appealed this citation.

My heart goes out to the family of this nursing home negligence victim. It is no doubt a tragic, heartbreaking event for this man's loved ones who believed that they had entrusted him to the care of professionals. They probably never doubted for a second that he would receive anything but the best level of care and attention at this San Diego County facility.

Unfortunately, nursing home negligence and abuse occurs far more commonly and frequently across the country. A lot of cases involving California nursing home negligence and abuse are due to understaffing and the lack of qualified, trained caregivers in these facilities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in a 2000 report, found out that about 54 percent of the nation's nursing homes were understaffed. The report also found that, at the time of the study, residents in 31 percent of the nation's nursing homes were receiving care for only about 12 minutes a day from registered nurses.

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Huntington Beach Pedestrian versus Auto Accident

A 67-year-old Garden Grove man was killed in a Huntington Beach pedestrian accident after he was struck by a vehicle on Warner Avenue near Bolsa Chica Street, The Orange County Register reports. Jorge Salazarleon was driving a 2008 Land Rover the morning of March 13, 2009 when he struck the pedestrian, Orange County Coroner's officials said. Salazarleon was uninjured, but the pedestrian suffered major head injuries from the collision. He was transported to a local hospital where he died.

The victim remains unidentified pending notification of his family. Huntington Beach police say drugs or alcohol don't seem to be a factor in this fatal Orange County auto accident. No charges have been filed against Salazarleon pending an investigation. Anyone who saw this fatal Huntington Beach pedestrian accident is asked to call Huntington Beach Police Traffic Division at 714-536-5666.

My heart goes out to the family of this pedestrian accident victim. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the California Highway Patrol's 2006 traffic accident statistics, there were four pedestrian accident fatalities and 55 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Huntington Beach. In Orange County as a whole, 45 deaths and 802 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents.

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Child Killed By Ice Cream Truck

Diana Morales, a 1-year-old girl, died in a pedestrian accident in Muscoy on March 11, 2009, after she was struck by an ice cream truck on her first birthday. According to this news article in the Riverside Press-Enterprise, Diana apparently crawled out of her family's Muscoy home and in front of a parked ice cream truck whose driver, 47-year-old Cleo Tilde, hit the child and drove away, California Highway Patrol officials said. The baby's siblings located her on the street unresponsive. Diana died soon after her mother took her to the hospital.

Apparently Tilde had been selling ice cream to the children in the 2500 block of West Second Avenue, right in front of Diana's home. Officials said Tilde did not see Diana crawl up in front of her truck. None of the child's family members noticed the baby go out of the house either. After running over the baby, Tilde continued driving the 1998 Ford E-350 truck unaware that she had hit little Diana until CHP investigators caught up with her. Tilde was not cited or arrested after investigators determined that this was a tragic and unfortunate accident.

My heart goes out to the family of little Diana Morales for their heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to them. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue reading "Riverside County Pedestrian Accident" »

Victoria Santos, 60, who died in a pedestrian versus truck accident near the Cal State Northridge campus, is one of many victims who have been killed in similar accidents on the dangerous roadways and intersection around the university's campus. According to a news article in the Los Angeles Daily News, Victoria Santos was trying to cross Zelzah Avenue at Lassen Street early morning on March 9, 2009 when she was struck by a pickup truck driver who was traveling east on Lassen and had turned right on Zelzah.

My heart goes out to the family of Victoria Santos for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Santos. Please keep them in your prayers.

In the last six months, seven pedestrians have been hit by vehicles on streets near the Cal State Northridge Campus, killing two, leaving two others with life-threatening injuries and three others with serious injuries. According to the Daily News, in 2007, the area had 88 pedestrian accidents – a 21 percent jump from 2005. Local residents and neighborhood councils have apparently made attempts to educate pedestrians and motorists in the area about pedestrian safety. Residents are looking at how feasible it would be for the city to install crosswalks with flashing lights. In addition to Victoria Santos, the following pedestrians were stuck by vehicles near Cal State Northridge:

• Olivia Almalel, 33, suffered severe spinal cord injuries in a December 25, 2008 accident at Reseda Boulevard and Devonshire Street
• Three men in their 20s suffered serious injuries on December 12, 2008 at the intersection of Louise Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard
• Yao Lu, a 22-year-old CSUN student from China was in a coma for eight days and suffered internal bleeding after being struck by a hit-and-run driver on November 3, 2008 at the intersection of Reseda and Superior Street
• Johoney Lobos, a 19-year-old student died in a September 23, 2008 hit and run accident as she crossed Lindley Avenue near Devonshire Street.

Northridge apparently falls under the City of Los Angeles' jurisdiction. The question here is: Why is the City of Los Angeles not doing anything about these dangerous roadways and intersections around Cal State Northridge despite an overwhelming number of catastrophic injuries and deaths relating to pedestrian versus vehicle collisions.

Continue reading "Northridge Pedestrian Accident Fatal Crash Concerns Lawyer" »

Argelia Rojas, 49, was critically injured in a March 10, 2009 Thousand Oaks pedestrian accident after she was struck by a car while crossing at the intersection of Westlake Boulevard and Devonshire Avenue. According to this news report in the Ventura County Star, Rojas who was crossing the street in a crosswalk with a 2-year-old child managed to get the toddler out of the path of a Toyota Corolla driven by 60-year-old Linda Ellsworth an instant before the car versus pedestrian collision occurred. The child, Mitchell Ito, was uninjured.

Traffic investigators apparently measured the skid marks that went across the pedestrian walkway and down to Ellsworth's Toyota Corolla, which was parked on Westlake Boulevard with its windshield smashed. Officials also say there were no obvious signs of anything that would have obstructed the Ellsworth's vision as the car approached the intersection.

My heart goes out to Argelia Rojas, who suffered critical injuries in this Thousand Oaks pedestrian accident. I hope she has a quick and complete recovery. I'm relieved that the young child, Mitchell, was uninjured. Rojas and her family will be in my prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 statistics, there was one pedestrian accident fatality in Thousand Oaks and 24 injuries related to pedestrian accidents. In Ventura County as a whole, there were 11 deaths and 189 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents.

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Police in Rancho Cucamonga have identified a woman injured in a March 4, 2009 drunken driving rear-end auto accident as Carol Lee Santa Cruz. According to the Inland Empire & Inland Valley Breaking News, Santa Cruz, who was driving a blue Hyundai SUV, was stopped at a red light at Haven Avenue near 19th Street when she was rear-ended by a red Chevrolet sedan driven by Deanna Anderson. San Bernardino Sheriff's Department deputies arrested Deanna Anderson on suspicion of felony DUI. Santa Cruz was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries.

I'm relieved that Carol Lee Santa Cruz did not suffer major injuries in this Rancho Cucamonga DUI auto accident. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery from her injuries.

If this report is accurate and Anderson, the driver of the Chevy sedan, was intoxicated at the time of the collision then, she must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 statistics there were 23 auto accident fatalities in Rancho Cucamonga out of which six were alcohol-related crashes. In San Bernardino County as whole there were 133 fatalities and 1,202 injuries involving alcohol-related traffic collisions.

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We have all read recent news reports that talk about the devastating effects of the economic downturn and the housing market crash in Orange County and the rest of California. A recent article in The Orange County Register, reports that the Orange County Food Bank has been forced to cut several of its food distribution programs because it is lacking in funds and donations.

As a personal injury law firm that has been based in Newport Beach, Orange County, for the last three decades, we believe that it is our duty to step up to the plate and contribute to the Food Bank. We may not be able to bring back their lost programs, but we can at least help add to their food reserves that are helping out tens of thousands of Orange County residents who are struggling through the current economic crisis.

Our office has done food drives for the last five years. So this is nothing new to me or my staff. We did our most recent food drive for the Orange County Second Harvest Food Bank last month during which we collected several 55-gallon drums of food. We participate in the food bank's food drive annually because we strongly believe that we need to give back to the community.

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Patrick Ellis, 54, was killed in a March 8, 2009 motorcycle accident in Apple Valley after he crashed into a horse trailer on Central Road. According to the Inland Empire & Inland Valley Breaking News report, Ellis was riding north on Central at Nisqually Road when he struck the trailer, which was being towed by a truck. Ellis was thrown from the motorcycle on impact. He was flown to an area hospital where he died a few hours after the motorcycle accident.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Patrick Ellis for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the California Highway Patrol's 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there was one fatality and six injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Apple Valley. In San Bernardino County as a whole, in 2006, 39 deaths and 507 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents.

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The family of 79-year-old Shirley Marion Renner has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a Yuba City nursing home alleging negligence and abuse. According to this news report in the Appeal Democrat, Renner’s daughter and son – Valeree Espinoza and David Vestal -- allege that their mother was horribly neglected at the Yuba Skilled Nursing Center. They say Renner suffered neck and spine injuries, severe bedsores, broken and missing teeth, “physical and emotional pain, desperation, abandonment, feelings of helplessness, anguish, shock, fear of imminent death” and eventually – death.

Although a Placer County death certificate lists heart attack and lung problems as causes of death, the Renner family complains that improperly treated bedsores, malnutrition and dehydration contributed to Renner’s failing health and death in November 2007. Renner has stayed about two years at the Emmanuel Health Care Center, which is now known as the Yuba Skilled Nursing Center and owned by Yuba Care & Rehabilitation Center Inc.

Renner’s son and daughter were also not informed about Renner’s poor condition including the bedsores, missing teeth and bruises on her arms and legs. Renner’s children eventually removed her from the nursing home because their mother thought she would die there. Although medical records have not yet been subpoenaed, Renner was apparently also given inappropriate psychotropic medications to treat dementia and Alzheimer’s. Yuba Skilled Nursing Center gets only a rating of two out of five stars from the Medicare Nursing Home Compare Web site. The nursing home also received eight complaints and two California Department of Public Health deficiencies in 2008.

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Leonard Harders, a 56-year-old postal service mechanic in San Diego, was killed on-the-job after he was run over by a mail truck he was trying to fix. According to the 10 News report for San Diego, Harders was working on the Isuzu delivery vehicle in the 13500 block of Evening Creek Drive North on March 4, 2009 when the truck began to roll way. Harders tried to jump inside the truck to stop it, but slipped and fell. He ended up underneath the vehicle, which ran over him, San Diego Police Department officials said. Harders was pronounced dead at the scene.

What a tragic accident! I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Leonard Harders. Here was a man who was just trying to do his job. Please keep the Harders family in your prayers.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Web site, there were 754,958 employees who worked for the U.S. Postal Service in 2007. During that year USPS reported 50,271 on-the-job injuries out of which nine were fatalities. About 16,800 cases involved injuries where workers had to take time off work.

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Gregory Willis, 46, of Hemet was killed in a Bloomington pedestrian versus big rig accident on March 5, 2009, according to the Inland Empire & Inland Valley Breaking News Web site. Willis was apparently using a crosswalk in the 18000 block of Slover Avenue to the trucking company that he worked for when a big rig driver started the truck, made a right turn and hit Willis. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital where he was taken after the accident. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CAL/OSHA) is investigating the incident.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Gregory Willis for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everybody who knew and loved Willis. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were a total of 316 traffic accident fatalities and 10,514 injuries related to auto accidents in Riverside County. There were 48 deaths and 436 injuries reported in 2006 in Riverside County involving pedestrian accidents.

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Several people were injured February 27, 2009 after an accident involving a boat that came loose from a trailer on the Interstate 5 in Sacramento, according to this KCRA News report. The accident occurred when the boat got unhitched from a pickup truck that was towing it southbound on the freeway, crossed a median into the northbound lanes and smashed into an oncoming car.

I’m relieved that this California auto accident did not result in major injuries or fatalities. There is no question that this could’ve turned out a lot worse. I wish the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue reading "Loose Boat on Interstate 5 in Sacramento Causes Injury Auto Accident" »

Helen Shannon, 87, suffered critical injuries in a Moorpark pedestrian accident after a delivery truck driver backed over her and struck her, the Ventura County Star reports. Shannon was apparently walking down the sidewalk to her senior apartment complex on Park Lane the morning of March 4, 2009 when a truck driver failed to see her as he was backing out of a driveway.

A passerby who saw the Ventura pedestrian accident told the trucker that he had run over the woman. The truck driver then pulled forward, removing the large truck from Shannon’s legs. The injured victim was taken to an area hospital where she was listed in critical condition. Ventura County Sheriff’s Department officials say they don’t suspect the truck driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The 37-year-old driver from Fillmore had just finished making a delivery to a construction site when the pedestrian accident occurred.

What an unfortunate chain of events for this elderly woman! I understand she’s in critical condition and hope and pray she will have a speedy and complete recovery.

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Selective Imports, a Los Angeles company that imported 80,000 tubes of toxic toothpaste from China, has pleaded no contest in court and agreed to pay $33,000 in fines to a local charity, according to this news report. The poisonous toothpaste, which was made in China, was apparently sold in the United States as Cooldent. The contaminated Cooldent toothpaste contained diethylene glycol (DEG), which is commonly used to make brake fluid and antifreeze. It is a known liver and kidney toxin. The company continued to sell the toxic toothpaste even after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had issued a product recall warning consumers about this dangerous and toxic toothpaste product.

The biggest concern is that a majority of the 80,000 tubes of the toothpaste remains unaccounted even as the recall remains in effect. A recent investigation by Channel 10 revealed that the toothpaste was on sale and on shelves in three stores in California. Owners apparently were not aware of the recall. Selective Imports pleaded no contest to selling an adulterated drug product and will be placed on three years probation.

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Cruz Marina Hurtado, 61, of Palm Desert died in a Rancho Mirage auto versus pedestrian accident after she was hit by a vehicle on Highway 111. According to this news report in The Desert Sun, Hurtado tried to cross Highway 111 at Rancho Las Palmas Drive the afternoon of February 28, 2009 when the accident occurred, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department officials said. Police investigators say Hurtado was not using a crosswalk when she was hit by the vehicle, which was northbound on the highway. The investigation is still continuing and anyone who saw this incident is asked to call the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at 951-836-1600.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Cruz Marina Hurtado for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were two Riverside pedestrian accident fatalities and six injuries involving pedestrians in Rancho Mirage. In Riverside County as a whole, 48 fatalities and 436 injuries were attributed to pedestrian accidents during the same period.

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A 2-year-old boy nearly drowned after he fell into a backyard swimming pool in Rialto the afternoon of February 27, 2009, the San Bernardino Sun reports in this article. The toddler’s family members told Rialto fire officials that the toddler fell into the pool in the 1900 block of North Joyce Avenue while playing with another child. The other child then got a sibling to pull the toddler out of the swimming pool. An adult started doing CPR on the child. The children apparently got to the pool area through a sliding door.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, the toddler had a pulse, but wasn’t breathing. Thankfully, he started recovering on the way to the hospital. Fire officials told the newspaper that people should be watchful especially in California where good weather keeps families using their pools through the year. San Bernardino swimming pool accidents do not happen only in the summer, especially in California. Swimming pool safety cannot be overemphasized in Southern California.

It is extremely fortunate that this little boy survived this swimming pool accident. Young children, if they do not drown, can be left with catastrophic injuries to the brain after a near-drowning because very often this cuts off oxygen supply to the brain. The cost of treating these brain injuries can be extremely high and could run into millions of dollars. I hope this child in Rialto wasn’t seriously injured and I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

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Mohamed Abdirahman Husien, 82, was killed in a San Diego pedestrian accident after he was struck by an unlicensed driver on his way to prayer services at a nearby mosque. According to this news report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Husien was walking across University Avenue in City Heights the morning of February 28, 2009 when he was hit by a Honda sedan. The driver told San Diego police officials that he did not see Husien because it was dark.

Officials are also wondering whether to consider this a hit-and-run because the driver of the Honda did not stop after the accident. He told officers that he drove home soon after the accident, picked up his wife and drove back to the scene of the accident to explain the situation to officers. It is also not clear whether the driver of the Honda had any auto insurance coverage.

My heart goes out to the family of Mohamed Abdirahman Husien, who was tragically killed in this San Diego pedestrian accident. Apparently, he was a beloved and popular member of Masjid Alnasar, a neighborhood mosque. I offer my deepest sympathies to Husien’s family and friends. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 25 fatalities and 518 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in San Diego. In San Diego County as a whole, there were 65 deaths and 940 injuries related to pedestrian accidents during the same period.

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A scaffolding company was responsible for the collapse of a wooden walkway cover in downtown San Diego that killed one man and injured 14 others in August, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has ruled after a lengthy investigation. According to this news report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Paramount Scaffold Inc. will be fined $10,120 for two serious violations of state safety regulations. The company created a hazard when workers stacked scaffolding planks and metal frames against the pedestrian canopy.

The August 28, 2008 San Diego wrongful death scaffolding collapse incident sent many to the hospital and critically injured 49-year-old Taylor Allen, who died February 12, 2009 of injuries he suffered. The company erected the canopy to protect pedestrians from debris from construction of an apartment complex on Imperial Avenue. Cal-OSHA’s report said four Paramount Scaffolding workers stacked planks and frames against the walkway the morning of Aug. 28. Later in the morning a crane operator saw the walkway buckling under the weight of the planks and warned others, but nothing was done about it. At about 12:20 p.m. the walkway collapsed.

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