California Injury Blog

The last few years have been a free-for-all for auto product liability attorneys; Toyota put out the faulty gas pedals, Mazda has been cited for brake defects and General Motors has recalled several Buick and Impala models for safety issues. With all of the defective auto parts that are getting so much press these days, it seems strange that the ones that have been causing the most damage have been in vehicles for many years, sitting dormant until a tragic circumstance evokes it’s defective design. Jaklin Romine experienced one of these deadly auto defects first hand, but has now gained a form of closure as she attained a level of justice in the form of a substantial verdict.

Continue reading "Auto Defect Lawyers Attain 24.7 Million Dollar Verdict for Client" »

Robert V. Bryant was arraigned today in Lawrence District Court following a fatal drunk driving accident in Andover, Massachusetts on Sunday.

Bryant, 50, of Bradford, MA allegedly struck an unidentified 30-year-old Haverhill woman, with his truck in the Massachusetts State Police barracks parking lot in Andover. The woman suffered fatal injury and died at a Boston hospital on Sunday night.

Continue reading "Haverhill Woman Killed by Drunk Driver in Andover" »

Eight people were injured, two critically, in a Los Angeles car accident after a Metro Blue Line train collided with a minivan that was stalled in the train tracks. According to an ABC news report, the minivan versus train accident occurred at the intersection of East 41st Street and Long Beach Avenue the night of December 2, 2010 in South Los Angeles. The two occupants of the stalled minivan were able to get out of the way before the train struck their vehicle. The eight injured train passengers were taken to area hospitals. The driver of the minivan has been arrested on suspicion of felony DUI.

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Michael Daniel Noreikas Jr., 28, was killed in a Riverside car accident, which officials say, was caused by his brother, 25-year-old Daniel Noreikas, who was driving under the influence. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, Daniel Noreikas was driving his 2003 Ford F-150 pickup truck on Olivewood Avenue near Panorama Road early morning on November 20, 2010 when he lost control. The pickup hit a curb and rolled over. Michael Noreikas was transported to a local hospital where he died. Daniel Noreikas was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.

I offer my deepest condolences to the Noreikas family for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Arrest Made in Fatal Riverside DUI Collision" »

A suspected DUI collision in Watsonville resulted in the death of a 49-year-old motorcyclist and seriously injured his son, the San Jose Mercury News reports. The fatal motorcycle crash occurred the night of September 27, 2010 when the motorcyclist who was traveling south on Carlton Road was hit by a Toyota Camry going north on the roadway. Officials determined that the driver of the Camry, 51-year-old Maria Villegas de Munoz, was under the influence. She was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI. While the man died at the scene, his son was transported to a local hospital for treatment of multiple injuries.

I offer my heartfelt sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this deceased motorcycle accident victim. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Fatal Motorcycle Accident Caused by Suspected Drunk Driver" »

Susana Orozco and Erica Oliva, both 23, and another 34-year-old person died in a San Diego car accident, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the fatal DUI crash occurred early morning on August 13, 2010.

Continue reading "Vista DUI Collision Kills Three " »

Charles Heatherly, 77, sustained major injuries in a San Francisco car accident after his vehicle was struck head-on by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in the Napa Valley Register, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of Solano Avenue and Luke Drive in Napa, the morning of July 14, 2010. Police said 47-year-old James Fannin was driving south on Solano when he crossed over the center line and slammed into Weatherly's vehicle that was traveling north.

Continue reading "DUI Collision in San Francisco Causes Injuries" »

On Thursday May 20th, 2010, California personal injury and auto defect lawyer, Brian Chase, was featured on Los Angeles' FOX 11 Ten O'Clock News to discuss defective seatbacks in automobiles. Chase has represented victims of a variety of auto defects, but in recent years, two of his cases have dealt with people whose lives have been drastically changed by injuries resulting from seatback failure.

Continue reading "Dangerous Auto Defect Reported on by FOX 11 News and Brian Chase" »

Top California personal injury and auto defects lawyer, Brian Chase, will appear on Los Angeles' FOX 11 Ten O'Clock News Thursday night. He will be discussing defective seats in automobiles as part of a special report. The program is scheduled to air on the 10pm broadcast.

Brian Chase, of the law firm BISNAR | CHASE (www.BestAttorney.com), has represented many victims of auto defects, giving him a great deal of experience in the realm of defective auto parts and, specifically, defective seats.

Continue reading "Brian Chase Speaks with FOX 11 Ten O'Clock News, Los Angeles About the Dangers of Defective Automobile Seats" »

Adam Bajer, 45, was killed and a 35-year-old man seriously injured in a San Francisco car accident after their vehicle was struck by a suspected drunk driver on the I-680, near Fremont. According to a CBS News report, the crash occurred the morning of May 11, 2010 in the southbound lanes of the freeway near Andrade Road, when a pickup driven by 53-year-old Timothy Bartelt veered into another pickup truck. Both pickup trucks went out of control and rolled over. Bajer, the driver of the second pickup truck was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. Bajer's passenger, who has only been identified as a relative sustained severe injuries. Bartelt was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Adam Bajer, the deceased victim for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers. I also wish the badly injured passenger the best for a fast and successful recovery.

Continue reading "Man Killed in San Francisco Bay Area DUI Car Accident" »

Victims who have been injured from a defective product are well advised to seek the help of an experienced California products liability lawyer. The complexity of a defective product case will vary based on a number of factors.

Continue reading "How Long Does a Products Liability Case Take?" »

The Los Angeles Times published an article this week about the challenges faced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal auto safety agency that was created as a response to Ralph Nader's career-making book "Unsafe at Any Speed." Nader's 1965 book highlighted auto product defects and design defects, which plagued American automobiles. The NHTSA was the government's answer to Nader's valid questions.

But the Times article shows how in fact the agency has consistently failed since its inception. It takes the example of the seatback defect issue stating how NHTSA tried to fix the issue, but as always, buckled under pressure exerted by auto industry lobbyists. Like all other important auto product defect issues, the lack of seatback strength in most vehicles (American and Japanese), was also tabled by the NHTSA after auto industry lobbyists raised their meritless arguments.

Continue reading "Federal Auto Safety Agency Did Nothing about Seatback Defects, Report Says" »

Seven people were injured in a Riverside car accident on the 10 Freeway near Blythe the afternoon of September 9, 2009, The Desert Sun reports. California Highway Patrol officials say three people suffered major injuries while four sustained minor to moderate injuries. One person was thrown from the vehicle in the car crash that occurred on the westbound 10 Freeway close to Mesa Drive, CHP officials said.

My heart goes out to everyone who suffered injuries in this horrific rollover car accident. I wish them all the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue reading "Seven Injured in Riverside Rollover Car Accident" »

One person was reported killed in an Orange County car accident on the eastbound 91 Freeway the night of September 2, 2009. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the SUV went from the number one lane all the way across the freeway to the slow lane before crashing just west of Imperial Highway in Anaheim, California. The deceased victim's name has not been released.

Continue reading "Orange County Fatal Car Accident" »

The California auto product liability lawyers of Bisnar | Chase have filed a product liability wrongful death lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Sales, USA. The case stems from the death of Jeffrey Bachman in a rollover accident in April last year. The lawsuit alleges that Bachman's 1998 Toyota 4Runner SUV was improperly designed and failed to protect the young father during the car accident. Bachman left behind a loving wife and four children.

Bachman was driving his Toyota 4Runner on Interstate 95 when, attempting to simply change lanes, the SUV over-steered and caused the vehicle to rollover. This also led to a SUV roof crush which partially ejected Bachman. Bachman suffered open skull fractures, fractured vertebrae, multiple facial fractures and other injuries. He died just hours after the car accident.

Continue reading "California Auto Products Liability Lawyers File Wrongful Death Action Against Toyota" »

Toyota has announced a defective auto product recall involving about 95,700 Toyota Scions and Corolla that were sold in 19 U.S. states where cold weather could trigger a brake-related problem. According to a CBS news report, the recall affects some 2009 and 2010 Corolla and Corolla Matrix models as well as 2008 and 2009 Scion xD vehicles. If the cars are driven in extremely low ambient temperatures, there is a possibility that the condensed moisture from the positive crankcase ventilation port may seep into the brake system vacuum port and freeze, according to a company statement.

This ice build up in the brake system vacuum port can ultimately plug the vacuum port. As a result, power assist to the brakes would gradually decrease and lead to lengthened vehicle stopping distances. Owners of the recalled Toyota cars will begin to receive their safety recall notifications by mail next month. When the recall begins, Toyota dealers will install a newly designed air connector, which relocates the brake system vacuum port, for free. No other Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicles are involved. So far, no injuries have been reported as a result of this vehicle defect.

Continue reading "Auto Product Defects Lead to Toyota Recall" »

The California auto defects lawyers of Bisnar | Chase have filed a product liability injury lawsuit against Ford Motor Corporation, Continental Tire Corporation, TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, Chino Hills Ford, and Beceril Tire Shop.

The product liability injury lawsuit stems from injuries sustained by Griselda Bernardino during an August 2007 rollover car crash. Griselda was driving a 2003 Ford Expedition SUV when the car's left tire tread separated from the tire. This caused the Expedition to oversteer and eventually roll over. Griselda suffered severe and permanent spinal and head injuries while her passengers Ayari Martinez, Alonso Martinez, Diana and Bianca Orozco (both minors) and Maleni Elizardi (also a minor) were all seriously hurt.

Continue reading "California Auto Defects Lawyers File Product Liability Case Against Ford" »

The California auto defect lawyers of Bisnar | Chase recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Toyota Corporation and Courtesy Toyota of Brandon, Florida. The case stems from the death of Elisa Obediente in a May 2009 rollover crash.

The car accident occurred when Elisa, a loving wife and mother of four, lost control of a 1998 Toyota 4Runner SUV that had been sold by Courtesy Toyota. According to the lawsuit, Elisa was trying to avoid another vehicle when her SUV over steered.

"We're alleging that the lateral instability of the 4Runner made it impossible to regain control of the SUV by anyone but a professional driver," said John Bisnar of the Bisnar | Chase auto defects law firm.

Continue reading "Auto Defect Lawyers File Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Toyota" »

Charlotte Lorraine Winn, 73, was killed in a August 10, 2009 San Diego car accident after she lost control of her 2001 Ford Explorer SUV and crashed on Route 79, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Winn was heading north on the highway when she lost control of the Explorer, which ran off the pavement and rolled over several times. The SUV came to rest against a tree on the west side of the road, California Highway Patrol officials said. Winn was airlifted to an area hospital where she died. Her 68-year-old husband, who was a passenger in the SUV, reportedly suffered moderate injuries.

Continue reading "San Diego Car Accident Involves Ford Explorer Rollover" »

Five people were killed the morning of August 4, 2009 in a fiery Orange County car accident after their SUV reportedly blew a tire and rolled over a steep embankment on the southbound 5 Freeway in Mission Viejo, California. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, officials could not determine the age, identity or gender of the car accident victims because their bodies were burned beyond recognition. The single-vehicle car crash involved a Chevrolet Tracker, a small SUV, which veered off the freeway, hit a signpost before rolling over and catching fire.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of all these victims who were killed in this horrific Mission Viejo car accident. We don't know yet whether these victims were all adults or whether there were children involved or if they were all members of the same family. I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of these deceased victims. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue reading "Orange County Car Accident Kills Five In Mission Viejo" »