California Injury Blog

Soledad, California, tour bus accident driver of an Orion Pacific tour bus had been involved in pedestrian accident seriously injuring a woman in a Las Vegas crosswalk four years ago, the Associated Press reports. The driver, 69-year-old John Egnew of Corona, died after he crashed the tour bus loaded with French tourists, into a guardrail on Highway 101 on April 28, 2009. Egnew himself was ejected from the tour bus and died of head and neck injuries.

In the 2005 Las Vegas pedestrian-bus accident, Egnew said he did not see 71-year-old Joan Smith when he hit her with a bus, as she and her husband were crossing the street. Smith was knocked backwards and struck her head on the pavement. The bus continued rolling on top of Smith before backing off. Smith apparently suffered brain injuries and a fractured pelvis in that tour bus accident. The bus company involved in the pedestrian accident reached a $750,000 agreement with Smith and her husband last year. Egnew also pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of "starting improperly from a stopped position." Investigators are still looking into what might have caused Egnew to lose control of the bus this week that cost him and four others their lives.

The Associated Press reports that Weeks Enterprises, an Orange County-based company owns the tour bus operator, Orion Pacific. The company has had a solid safety record in the two years leading up to the Soledad bus crash. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which is the federal agency that regulates commercial interstate travel, this particular carrier has not been involved in accidents in any state for the last 30 months. The agency also conducted 14 random roadside inspections. There were reportedly no driver issues or problems with any of the company's 12 buses. The National Transportation Safety Board also announced that the California Highway Patrol will take the lead on investigating this fatal Soledad bus crash.

Continue reading "Soledad, California, Tour Bus Accident: Passengers Suspect Mechanical Problems" »

A California tour bus accident turned deadly when five people died and dozens were injured in a Soledad bus accident on the Highway 101 the afternoon of April 28, 2009. The Orion Pacific tour bus based out of Orange County was carrying French tourists when the bus crashed and rolled over on a freeway overpass, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The accident caused several passengers to be ejected from the bus and onto the overpass as well as the freeway below, California Highway Patrol officials said. The number of deaths is expected to increase, as many of the personal injuries are believed to be life threatening. Traffic investigators are looking into what may have caused the fatal California bus accident.

My heart goes out to the family and friends who were involved in this horrific tour bus crash. According to officials, this is one of the worst bus accidents this area has ever seen. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved the victims of this tragic accident. I am praying for the victims who are fighting for their lives in hospital beds and their families that are making arrangements to fly out from France to be with their loved ones. I hope and pray that the victims of this bus crash make a quick recovery.

The group of French tourist began their trip in Los Angeles and was apparently on an eight-day sightseeing trip. According to CHP officials, 34 of the tour bus passengers are French nationals, one was an American bus driver and the other was a Canadian guide. The group was headed from San Francisco to Santa Maria when the California bus accident occurred. Of the passengers four were under 18. Officials of concluded that no other vehicles were involved.

Continue reading "California Tour Bus Accident Kills Five " »

Pamela Cole, 44, of Stillwater was injured in an Washington motorcycle accident after her 2004 Yamaha motorcycle went off the road the afternoon of April 25, 2009, the Post Star reports. Cole was heading south on State Route 40 in Easton when her motorcycle went off the right shoulder striking the guard rail. Cole was ejected from the motorcycle. Both she and the vehicle rolled down a steep embankment. Cole was transported to a local hospital. She had suffered severe personal injuries to her arm and leg.

My heart goes out to Pamela Cole who suffered serious personal injuries as a result of this motorcycle accident. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery from her injuries.

Apparently, the number of Washington State motorcycle accidents is increasing at an alarming rate, particularly the number of fatal motorcycle accidents. Just in the early part of 2009, there have been five fatal motorcycle accidents in Washington State. The total number of motorcycle accident deaths reached 75 in 2008, which is an increase of nine incidents from 66 in 2007. Totally, Washington State troopers have investigated 584 motorcycle accidents in 2008 resulting in 200 injuries.

Continue reading "Washington Motorcycle Accident Injures Woman" »

A 10-year-old boy from Rialto died in a Riverside ATV accident after he fell out of a moving ATV in Reche Canyon the evening of April 26, 2009, according to a news Web site. California Highway Patrol officials said the fatal personal injury accident was reported on Reche Canyon Road near Smiley Boulevard close to Moreno Valley. It is not known whether the boy, who has not yet been identified, was driving or a passenger in the Polaris ATV. It is also not known whether he was wearing safety gear.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of the young boy for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this child. Please keep them in your prayers.

Hundreds of young people, especially children 16 years or younger are catastrophically injured or killed in ATV accidents each year. According to a recent study done by the Children's Hospital of Ohio, more than 136,000 people nationwide go to emergency rooms each year as a result of ATV accident related injuries. One-third of these crashes usually involve children who are 16 years old or younger.

Continue reading "Riverside County ATV Accident Kills 10-year-old Boy" »

Catherine Quigley, 94, of Irvine died after the Premier Medical Transport ambulance she was in, crashed into a tree the afternoon of April 25, 2009, according to a CBS News report. The fatal Orange County car accident was reported on the Van Buren Boulevard onramp to the westbound Highway 60. Quigley was taken to Riverside Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Traffic investigators are still looking into why the Premier Medical Transport driver lost control of the ambulance.

I offer my deepest condolences to Catherine Quigley's family for their tragic loss. Here was an elderly woman who was being transported to the hospital and her ambulance crashes on the way to the hospital! This is tragic! Please keep Quigley's family and friends in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were 279 fatalities and 9,925 personal injuries relating to traffic accidents in Riverside County.

The news report does not provide much information about what went wrong here. It is best in such situations to rely on skilled California personal injury attorneys, who will be able to analyze this fatal ambulance accident from every angle. The driver of the ambulance could have lost control of the emergency vehicle because he was driving under the influence. If that is the case he could be criminally charged and his employer, Premier Medical Transport, could be held liable.

Continue reading "Orange County Woman Killed in Glen Avon Ambulance Crash" »

A recent Los Angeles nursing home accident has caused officials to investigate a Pico Rivera nursing home. The nursing home was fined $100,000 after a wheelchair-bound resident caught on fire and died while trying to light a cigarette in an unsupervised dining room, according to a CBS News report. The California Department of Public Health issued the AA citation and the fine on April 22, 2009 to the Riviera Healthcare Center. The fatal nursing home accidentapparently occurred on December 23, 2008 when the resident tried to light a cigarette without anyone present in the dining room.

The victim was burned over 40 percent of his body and died 18 days later. California health officials stated in their report that the nursing home neglected patient safety by failing to come up with a safety plan. Also, nursing home staff did not use a nearby fire blanket and extinguisher to put out the flames.

Continue reading "Los Angeles County Nursing Home's Negligence Penalized" »

Jeff Tabor is the best southern California commercial real estate broker I have ever met and I used to be one. Jeff bugged me to give him to a chance to review my office space lease here in Newport Beach to look for issues with my building operating expenses, for free. Come on! I was born at night, but it wasn't last night. So what's the catch? Nobody who is any good at what they do does it for free.

As it turns out, I let Jeff Tabor review my lease. The offer was just too good to pass up. He went over my lease with a fine-tooth comb. I was very impressed. He brought to my attention a number of items of concern and pointed out that my landlord was not living up to the lease agreement. The items Jeff brought to my attention will save me a ton of money on my present and future leases. He did a great job.

Continue reading "Commercial Real Estate Offer I Couldn't Refuse" »

Raptiva recall attorneys are counseling Raptiva users and their families regarding the side effects of Raptiva use. Raptiva was sold as a treatment for psoriasis. It has been linked to a fatal brain infection. Raptiva's maker, Genentech, pulled Raptiva off the market after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in February in response to three deaths linked Raptiva toProgressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), a brain infection.

Brain infection is not the only serious side effect that Raptiva is causing patients. Other more serious conditions associated with Raptiva treatments include anemia (low blood cell counts); psoriatic arthritis (damage to the joints); and low platelet counts. If PML is not treated right away, it can turn fatal.

Bisnar | Chase Raptiva recall attorneys will provide Raptiva users and their family members a complimentary, confidential consultation to evaluate their legal rights against the maker of this defective drug. We are hearing of horrible and heartbreaking Raptiva side effects that have destroyed lives and devastated families. These patients and their families deserve justice, accountability and appropriate compensation.

Continue reading "Raptiva Recall Attorneys: Deadly Side Effects Lead to Recall and Consumer Outrage" »

Anaheim car accident attorneys are evaluating a man who was hospitalized with injuries in an Anaheim car accident after a woman who allegedly ran a red light struck two cars at an intersection, The Orange County Register reports. The car collision occurred the afternoon of April 21, 2009 when a woman driving a gold Mercury Sable west on Katella Avenue ran a red light and struck an Orange couple --Ken and Luz Kleinberg -- who were in a black Chevy Tahoe and another man who was driving a white Toyota Sequoia. The driver of the Sequoia was taken to the hospital with back injuries.

I'm glad that no one was critically injured in this street intersection multiple car crash. I wish the injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to the California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 30 deaths and 2,006 personal injuries reported in Anaheim as a result of traffic accidents. In all of Orange County, in 2007, 178 deaths and 14,185 injuries were reported as a result of traffic and car accidents.

Continue reading "Orange County Car Accident Injures Man " »

Authorities have identified the man killed in a Santa Ana car accident on April 11, 2009, as 43-year-old Isidoro Villalba Garcia. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Garcia was crossing West First Street outside of a crosswalk near North Jackson Street when he was struck by a car headed west on First. Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the suspect vehicle, described as a black sedan and possibly a Honda, did not stop at the scene of the pedestrian versus car collision, Santa Ana police officials said. If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Santa Ana Police Department's traffic division at 714-245-8214.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Isidoro Villalba Garcia for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

I sincerely hope that this hit-and-run driver is apprehended and brought to justice. Hit-and-run is a serious criminal offense and in California the law requires motorists to stop and show identification and render aid to the victims in case of an personal injury accident. In this Santa Ana pedestrian accident, obviously, the driver did neither. The law requires you to stop irrespective of whether you were at fault or not.

Continue reading "Orange County Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident Causes Fatality" »

Daniel Varela Jr., 59, of Santa Ana died in a Dana Point construction accident as he fell from the fourth floor of a Marriott hotel where he was working, The Orange County Register reports. The fatal construction accident occurred the morning of April 18, 2009 as Varela was working on the new wing of the hotel at 25135 Park Lantern in Dana Point, Orange County Sheriff's Department officials said. Varela fell down four stories. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Daniel Varela Jr. I offer them my deepest sympathies for their sudden and tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal-OSHA) statistics, there were 84 construction accident related fatalities in California in 2005. A total of 59 people died in California in 2005 in construction and industrial accidents involving falls from a higher elevation.

This newspaper report does not give too many details about how or why this tragic on-the-job accident occurred. Were there scaffolds, guardrails or other safety features installed at this hotel construction site? These safety features are required both by Cal-OSHA and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. I hope someone's negligence did not cost this man his life.

Continue reading "Orange County Fatal Construction Accident" »

A man is in serious condition after he was injured in a Seattle car accident while riding on his motorcycle, the Seattle Times reports. The accident occurred the night of April 15, 2009 when the man was riding with two other motorcyclists on the Duwamish Avenue South access road. When the group turned south on to Duwamish Avenue South, one man lost control of his motorcycle, skidded along the road and landed along the jersey median. The man suffered head injuries and became unconscious. Other motorcyclists attempted CPR on him until paramedics arrived. The injured motorcyclist was taken to a local hospital where he is said to be in critical condition.

My heart goes out to this motorcyclist who is fighting for his life. I hope and pray that he recovers quickly and completely from his serious head injuries. Please keep him in your prayers.

The number of motorcycle accidents in Washington State is apparently increasing at an alarming rate. Washington State Troopers say they are concerned about the high number of fatal motorcycle crashes occurring so early this year. So far, just in the first part of 2009, there have been five fatal motorcycle accidents in Washington State. Total motorcycle fatalities reached 75 in 2008, an increase of nine incidents from 66 in 2007. In all, Washington State Patrol troopers have investigated 584 motorcycle collisions in 2008 resulting in 200 injuries.

Continue reading "Seattle Washington Motorcycle Accident Attorneys: Man Suffers Severe Head Injuries in Seattle Motorcycle Accident" »

Henry Franco Jr., 25, of Anaheim was killed in a Garden Grove pedestrian accident the morning of April 19, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. Franco was apparently found lying in the middle of a street in the 7300 block of Orangewood Avenue. Several vehicle parts were also found on the street. No witnesses to this pedestrian versus car crash have been located yet, Garden Grove police officials said. If you saw this car crash or have more information about it, please call Garden Grove police investigator Jason Perkins at 714-741-5823.

My heart goes out to the family of Henry Franco Jr. for their tragic loss. Here is a young man who was killed because of the negligence of an irresponsible driver. I offer my deepest sympathies to Franco's family and friends. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 49 pedestrian accident related injuries in Garden Grove. In Orange County as a whole in 2007 there were 41 deaths and 726 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents.

Continue reading "Orange County Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accident Causes Fatality" »

A 44-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed in an Los Angeles car accident the morning of April 19, 2009, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. The victim, whose name has not yet been released, was hit early morning by 22-year-old Alejandro Hidalgo of Panorama City. Hidalgo was in a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant with a passenger, driving south in the 1200 block of North Glendale Boulevard near Park Street when he hit the victim, who was riding a 10-speed bicycle south on Glendale Boulevard. Police said Hidalgo fled the scene of the accident.

An individual, who witnessed the fatal car accident was, however, able to jot down the hit-and-run vehicle's license plate number. Los Angeles Police Department detectives tracked Hidalgo down at a Panorama City home. The passenger, who was riding with Hidalgo, provided a statement and was released. Police arrested Hidalgo on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and felony drunk driving.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of the victim, who was tragically killed because of this driver's negligence and lack of concern for human life. Please keep the victim's family and friends in your prayers.

Continue reading "Los Angeles County Bicycle Accident Caused By Drunk Driver" »

King County officials have agreed to pay $3.5 million to Jeffrey Totten, a Seattle resident who was injured in a bicycle accident on a county bike route. According to an article in the Seattle Times, Totten's injuries have left him with a permanent brain injury so severe that he needs full-time care. The county has agreed to pay $3.5 million for Totten's care for the rest of his life.

Totten, 31, a veteran of the U.S. Navy and an endurance athlete, was biking with friends down Novelty Hill Road on Sept. 4, 2006 when the front wheel of his bicycle dipped into a depression abruptly stopping the bike and throwing him headfirst onto the pavement. Totten has since spent time in a hospital, a nursing home, a rehabilitation center and is now in a group home. His wife, Danielle Leavell, says she has "lost her husband". Totten will never work again and will need 24/7 professional care for the rest of his life.

Totten's personal injury lawyers argued that King County was at fault because it showed Novelty Hill Road as a bike route on printed and online maps, but failed to maintain it in safe condition. Totten's bicycle struck a hole surrounding a survey marker that had grown deeper with successive paving jobs. Totten was wearing a helmet, but his fall was so bad that it didn't help.

Continue reading "Seattle Washington Bicycle Accident Attorneys: King County Will Pay $3.5 Million to Brain-Injured Bicyclist " »

Humberto Diaz-Guzman, 34, died in a Fontana on-the-job injury accident, according to news reports and the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office. Diaz-Guzman died the night of April 13, 2009 of injuries he suffered in an April 6, 2009 workplace accident. He was apparently struck in the head with a piece of metal that flew off a tire balancing machine. The Fontana Sheriff's Department and the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (CAL-OSHA) are investigating this incident.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Humberto Diaz-Guzman for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to Cal-OSHA's 2005 on-the-job fatality accident statistics, 48 workers in California died that year after being struck by a flying object. Totally, 453 California workers died on the job in the year 2005, Cal-OSHA reports.

In this particular case, it is not quite clear what caused the piece of metal to fly off the machinery. As always in such cases, there are many questions. Was Diaz-Guzman properly trained by his employer to handle this machine? Was the machine in some way defective, which caused the metal to come off it? Did someone else's negligence (contractor used for maintaining the machinery or another worker/contractor) cause the accident? The answers to these questions will help determine what exactly happened and who should be held responsible for it.

Continue reading "San Bernardino County Fatal Industrial Accident" »

Richard Bohannan, 42, was killed April 14, 2009 in a Chino pedestrian accident while he and his 13-year-old son were getting mail from their mailbox, according to a news report. California Highway Patrol officials say Bohannan was walking on his driveway with his son when a driver lost control and veered into the driveway striking Bohannan. His son was not hit or injured. The driver fled the scene of the crash without stopping.

CHP officials are identifying the suspect's vehicle as a dark Honda or Acura-type vehicle. It could also be an import vehicle with a possible modified exhaust. Officials say the hit-and-run vehicle sustained severe front-end damage and was leaking fluids. The vehicle is also missing an amber front turn light. If you witnessed this fatal pedestrian accident or have more information, please call the California Highway Patrol at 909-980-3994.

My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved Richard Bohannan, especially his 13-year-old son who saw his dad getting struck by a vehicle, whose driver took off without hesitation. I offer my deepest sympathies to Bohannan's family and friends. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Continue reading "Chino Fatal Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accident" »

Gordon Lykins, 48, of Winterhaven, California, has died recently from injuries he suffered in a March 28, 2009 vicious dog bite attack in the community, which is located in the California-Arizona border. Lykins was apparently mauled by a pack of dogs that were running lose in the Bard area, near White Road, the Yuma Sun reports. A surgeon at Yuma Regional Medical Center reportedly said it was the worst case of trauma he had ever seen.

Police are still investigating and are yet to file charges against the dogs' owner who apparently owned 11 of these mixed breeds dogs. All the dogs were removed from his home and taken to an animal shelter. Those dogs are believed to have been loose at the time of the attack, but police are trying to piece together evidence. The main challenge, officials say, is to prove that the dogs taken from that owner's property were the ones that attacked Lykins. Police are also looking for any eyewitnesses who can identify the dogs. The unidentified dog owner, who lives near the area where Lykins was attacked, called in the dog attack.

My heart goes out to the family of Gordon Lykins and Lykins himself for the extreme trauma, pain and suffering he must have endured the last couple of weeks. I offer my deepest sympathies to them.

Continue reading "Fatal California Dog Attack: Man Dies After Being Attacked by Loose Pack of Dogs" »

An 11-year-old boy was killed in an ATV rollover crash in an unincorporated area of Alameda County the afternoon of April 13, 2009, according to a KTVU News report. The boy, who has not been identified, was riding an all-terrain vehicle on a dirt road on private property at 27309 Fairview Ave. north of Hayward when the rollover accident occurred. Officials say the 11-year-old was driving the vehicle down a hill when he lost control and the vehicle began to roll over.

The boy may have been partially ejected from the vehicle as it tumbled down the hill, California Highway Patrol officials said. He was taken to an area hospital where he died. CHP officials are also inspecting the ATV to check if any mechanical problems could have caused this tragic ATV crash. The news report does not specify the brand or model of all-terrain vehicle the boy was driving.

My heart goes out to the family of this 11-year-old boy for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this young boy. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue reading "ATV Rollover Accident Killed 11-year-old Boy in Alameda County " »

Four people were injured in a Bakersfield car collision that was caused by a driver who police say was under the influence of drugs. According to an article in the Bakersfield Californian, Brandon Cortez,27, Alejandro Marin, 22, Tommy Dowell, 56 and Moon Cortez, 26, were injured in the five-car crash. Others – German Rosas, 40, Ignacio Marin, 68, Angel Garza, 21, and Sergio Marin, 47, escaped without injuries in the April 11, 2009 rear-end car accident. Brandon Cortez was later arrested on suspicion of a felony charge of causing personal injuries while driving under the influence of drugs. He also faces a separate charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance.

The crash occurred when Cortez, who was driving a Honda Accord at 70 mph east on Niles Street, rear-ended a car stopped at a red light at Descanso Street. The collision caused a chain reaction crash. The newspaper found online court records, which indicate that Brandon Cortez had several recent brushes with the law including prior jail time for assault, drug possession and a DUI.

I'm relieved to hear, based on this newspaper report, that no one suffered major injuries in what could have been a real tragedy. I wish the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were eight fatalities and 141 injuries involving car crashes in Bakersfield that were related to someone driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In Kern County there were 42 deaths 507 injuries reported in 2007 involving DUI car accidents.

Continue reading "Bakersfield DUI Car Accident Injures Four" »

The driver who ran a red light and caused the Fullerton car accident that killed 22-year-old Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, 25-year-old Henry Pearson and 20-year-old Courtney Stewart, will face murder charges, The Orange County Register reports. A fourth victim, Jon Wilhite, remains in critical condition. Anthony Thomas Gallo, 22, is being held for murder, vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and drunk driving involving fatalities and great bodily injury. At the time of the April 9, 2009 fatal car crash, Gallo was also driving with a suspended license. His license was apparently suspended after a prior DUI conviction.

The fatal car accident occurred when Gallo ran a red light and struck a Mitsubishi car at the intersection of Orangethorpe Avenue and Lemon Street. Gallo attempted to flee the scene of the crash, but was arrested shortly afterward. Fullerton police say Gallo's blood alcohol level was over the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Gallo was also driving at 50 to 60 mph – way over the posted speed limit of 45 mph.

My heart goes out to the families of Henry Pearson, Courtney Stewart and Nick Adenhart for their tremendous loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to their families and friends. My prayers are also with young Jon Wilhite who is a former Cal State Fullerton baseball player. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Continue reading "Fatal Orange County Car Crash Driver Charged with Murder" »

Funeral Home Abuse of Deceased Veterans

A Virginia funeral home responsible for the caring and handling of deceased veterans before they are buried at the Arlington National Cemetery is being accused of funeral home abuse by leaving the corpses lying around, unattended and unrefrigerated on garages, hallways, makeshift gurneys and even cardboard boxes, the Associated Press reports. A former embalmer, Steven Napper, who worked for nine months at this Service Corporation Inc. (SCI) funeral home apparently blew the whistle.

Napper told authorities that National Funeral Home in Falls Church, Virginia, had as many as 200 corpses not properly cared for during the time he worked there. The Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers is reportedly investigating these allegations based on the documentations received from Napper, three other employees and a grieving son, who saw bodies overflowing out of a lukewarm cooler at this funeral home and extremely unsanitary conditions including feces and urine in the room the bodies were stored.

The funeral home has denied any wrongdoing saying that their company treats all human remains "with the utmost dignity and respect at all times." However, one of Napper's photos shows coffins stacked on a rack in an unrefrigerated garage. Another photo shows a body wrapped in a white sheet on top of a cardboard box. This is not the first allegation of funeral home negligence or cemetery abuse against SCI. In 2003, the company reached a $100 million settlement with hundreds of families over allegations involving two cemeteries in Florida. Families accused them of digging up graves and burying people in the wrong lots.

Continue reading "Funeral Home Abuse " »

San Diego Chevy Tahoe Rollover Accident

Two people were injured in a California SUV rollover crash north of Lakeside the morning of April 8, 2009, 10news reports. The rollover accident occurred on southbound Highway 67 near Slaughterhouse Canyon Road, California Highway Patrol officials said. The driver of the Tahoe apparently lost control of the SUV, which overturned and rolled 50 to 60 feet down an embankment along the highway. Rescue crews freed two people who were trapped inside the Chevy Tahoe. The sport utility vehicle was smashed and the roof of the vehicle was completely crushed and caved in. CHP traffic investigators are looking into what caused this rollover crash.

The nature of the injuries suffered by the two people is not exactly known. I hope they did not suffer major injuries in this rollover accident. I wish these SUV roof crush victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 10,698 rollover fatalities in the United States in 2006. That accounts for 35 percent of vehicle occupants killed in traffic accidents, according to government statistics compiled by consumer rights group, Public Citizen. That was up from 9,379 rollover deaths in 1996, which then accounted for 29 percent of all vehicle-occupant fatalities.

Continue reading "San Diego Rollover Accident" »

Fatal San Diego Motorcycle Accident

Kenneth Charles Sully, a 58-year-old Pacific Beach man, was killed in a San Diego motorcycle accident the morning of April 6, 2009, according to reports in the San Diego Union-Tribune and the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Web site. Sully was riding his 2009 Ducati motorcycle northbound on Pacific Highway when the driver of a 2006 Toyota Corolla going south on Pacific Coast Highway made a left turn at Cedar Street in front of the motorcyclist. Sully sustained severe motorcycle head injuries although he was wearing a helmet. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman driver of the Corolla was uninjured.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Kenneth Charles Sully for their terrible loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were 12 motorcycle accident fatalities and 293 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in San Diego. In San Diego County as a whole, there were 50 deaths and 985 injuries involving motorcycle accident during the same period.

In this case, based on the newspaper report, it appears that Sully had the right of way and the driver of the Toyota Corolla did not. It seems to me that she was at fault here and should be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries and damages. I would be interested to find out how she missed Sully although this is an extremely common occurrence. A number of people who drive passenger vehicles don't look for motorcycles at intersections.

Continue reading "San Diego Motorcycle Accident" »

San Diego County Minivan Accident Injures Two

Robert Johnson, 62, and his wife, Margaret, 57, were reported to have suffered critical injuries in a Southern California car accident after their Dodge Caravan minivan went off the road and into the San Diego Bay the night of April 6, 2009, 10news reports. The couple was not breathing when they were pulled from the minivan, San Diego Harbor Police officials said.

Emergency personnel performed CPR on the injured victims before they were taken to an area hospital. They are both still in critical condition. Officials say the van was traveling on a road that forms a T and went straight ahead in the water instead of turning left or right. Harbor police are trying to determine why the van did not turn.

Please keep Robert and Margaret Johnson in your prayers. I wish them the very best and hope they will make a quick and complete recovery. Given the amount of time both victims were in the water, I hope they have not sustained any catastrophic injuries.

Continue reading "San Diego County Minivan Accident " »

San Diego County DUI Pedestrian Accident Injuries Boy

A 7-year-old boy suffered a broken leg in a pedestrian versus car accident after a suspected San Diego drunk driver struck him the evening of April 4, 2009, 10news reports. Phillip Jones, 48, was driving west in the 2900 block of Imperial Avenue when the boy, who was chasing a basketball, ran out into the street in front of his car, San Diego police officials said. Jones was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence.

I'm glad that the boy did not suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries as a result of this terrible San Diego DUI accident. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to the California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 25 fatalities and 575 injuries relating to pedestrian accidents in San Diego. Also during the same year in San Diego County, there were 116 fatal traffic accidents and 2,068 injury traffic accidents that were alcohol-related.

It is illegal in California to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): "It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle."

Continue reading "San Diego County DUI Pedestrian Accident" »

Los Angeles Fatal Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Driver Arrested

Los Angeles police have arrested 30-year-old Claudia Cabrera, who they believe struck and killed 18-year-old Adrianna Bachan and seriously injured 19-year-old Marcus Garfinkle in a hit-and-run crosswalk accident near USC, the Associated Press reports. Cabrera fled the scene of the accident. Apparently her husband, Josue Luna, and 7-month-old son were also in the car at the time. Authorities suspect Luna was the person who removed Garfinkle from the hood of Cabrera's car before leaving the scene of the March 29, 2009 fatal hit-and-run pedestrian accident.

Cabrera was also driving with a suspended license for failing to pay a ticket for a routine traffic violation. She has been arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run. The arrest came from tips after authorities announced $235,000 in rewards.

California Penal Code section 191.5 (a) states: Gross vehicular manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle… and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence."

Continue reading "Los Angeles Hit-and-Run " »

West Hollywood Fatal Pedestrian Accident Victims Identified

Officials identified the two women killed in a West Hollywood crosswalk pedestrian accident as Alina Sheyman of West Hollywood and Maria Velasquez of Glendale. Both women were in their 70s, according to a KABC news report. One other male pedestrian was critically injured in this March 31, 2009 pedestrian crash. He has not yet been identified.

The fatal auto versus pedestrian accident apparently occurred at the intersection of Fountain and La Brea avenues. It happened when one car, a Toyota, clipped another, a Honda, at the intersection while making a left turn from La Brea. The Honda spun out and hit Sheyman, Velasquez and the other man, who had just stepped into a marked crosswalk. Both drivers also suffered major injuries in the collision. No one has been arrested yet in connection with this accident, pending a police investigation.

Several neighbors say La Brea is not only an extremely busy corridor, but there are also constant problems with drivers speeding or running red lights. There are photographs from the traffic cameras at that intersection, which traffic investigators are looking at closely to piece together the facts of this fatal accident. Obviously, this is a dangerous intersection. The question is what the city of Los Angeles did to improve the dangerous condition on this roadway.

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Justice for Service Members Who Are Victims of Negligence

Our friends at the American Association for Justice (AAJ) are now fighting for the rights of service members who died not in combat, but because of medical negligence. One case in particular that is coming before a House judiciary subcommittee involves the tragic death of Marine Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez.

Sgt. Rodriguez served his country with honor for nearly a decade including a tour of duty in Iraq. Tragically, he died of medical negligence. His death should not have happened. When Rodriguez enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, he received a routine medical exam. Doctors diagnosed a blotch on his buttock as melanoma, but did not inform him of their diagnosis. Over the next eight years, the melanoma continued to grow. During his service in Iraq, Rodriguez had it examined again. This time he was told that it was "just a wart" and that he should have it examined upon his return to the United States. But when he actually got around to doing that, it was too late. Rodriguez died 18 months later from skin cancer, leaving behind his 7-year-old son.

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Teenager Killed in San Diego ATV Crash

Christian Don Stover, a 16-year-old boy from Alpine, died in a San Diego ATV accident on the Barona Indian Reservation just south of Ramona, according to a news report in the San Diego Union-Tribune. Christian and some of his friends were driving the off-road vehicles the evening of April 1, 2009 near Wildcat Canyon Road and Featherstone Canyon Road when he lost control and was ejected. Christian Don Stover was pronounced dead at the scene.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of young Christian Don Stover for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this young man. Please keep them in your prayers.

Hundreds of young people, especially children 16 years or younger are catastrophically injured or killed in ATV accidents each year. According to a recent study done by the Children's Hospital of Ohio, more than 136,000 people nationwide go to emergency rooms each year as a result of ATV accident related injuries. One-third of these crashes usually involve children who are 16 years old or younger.

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Chino Rear-End Auto Accident Injures Six

Several people were injured in a San Bernardino auto accident on March 30, 2009, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports. Injured in this traffic collision were: 23-year-old David Deseran; Justin Longe, 41, Ryan Harris, 22; and Mike Hernandez, 26. Two children – a 9-year-old and a 12-year-old – also suffered injuries.

The accident occurred when Deseran, Harris and Hernandez were in a 2004 Toyota Tacoma heading west on Edison Avenue. As the Tacoma approached Oaks, Deseran, the driver, attempted to merge into a left-turn lane and was rear-ended by a black 2003 Lincoln Navigator driven by 32-year-old Robert Saucedo. The impact from the collision caused the Toyota to spin out of control, become airborne and land in the center lane of Edison. A 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by Longe also collided with the Toyota.

Both Deseran and Harris suffered head injuries and were taken to an area hospital in critical condition. Hernandez suffered a broken left leg. Longe had cuts on his head and left leg. A 9-year-old child suffered from stomach pain and a 12-year-old had a fractured elbow. Saucedo and a 10-year-old child were reportedly uninjured. The children were all occupants of the Chevy truck.

I wish all the victims who were injured in this horrific Southern California car crash the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. They will certainly be in my prayers.

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Thousand Oaks Dangerous Intersection Causes Concern

The grandmother of an toddler whose aunt threw him out of the way before she was struck and critically injured at a Thousand Oaks intersection accident on March 10, 2009, is urging the City Council to make that dangerous intersection safer for pedestrians. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, 2-year-old Mitchell Ito was crossing the intersection of Westlake Boulevard and Devonshire Avenue in a marked crosswalk with his aunt, 49-year-old Argelia Rojas, when they were hit. Mitchell suffered minor injuries, but Rojas is still in the hospital in critical condition.

Ito's family says this intersection has long been a problem for pedestrians. They and other parents have taken the matter to the City Council. Neighbors say motorists speed along the four-lane road. Drivers don't pay attention to the crosswalk and do not slow down for pedestrians who are crossing the street, many say. Other neighbors said the crosswalk needs some type of signals to get the attention of motorists. Parents of children who attend a school nearby said they want to see a flashing light and yellow pedestrian signs. Police, who have been doing targeted enforcement at the intersection, apparently cited 21 drivers for failing to yield to a pedestrian during a 90-minute operation

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Two Killed in West Hollywood Pedestrian Accident

Two women were killed and a man was critically injured in an auto versus pedestrian accident in West Hollywood the night of March 31, 2009, according to a CBS News report. The fatal street intersection accident occurred at 7079 W. Fountain Avenue near La Brea Avenue on the border of West Hollywood and Los Angeles. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said that a 65-year-old woman, a 50-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man had entered a marked crosswalk to begin walking across the street when they were struck by a vehicle.

Police say three vehicles were possibly involved in this pedestrian accident, but they detained only the driver of the primary vehicle that hit the pedestrians. Officials say they are looking closely at images obtained from a red light camera at the intersection, which they hope will help determine who caused the fatal accident.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of the two women who were killed in this horrific Los Angeles County accident. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved them. I also hope and pray that the injured man, who is fighting for his life, makes it through this ordeal. Please keep all the injured victims and their families in your prayers.

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