California Injury Blog

Three people were seriously injured in a San Jose car accident, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a Bay City News report, the crash occurred early morning on August 29, 2010 on Highway 101 near Metcalf Road. The occupants of two cars, a Mitsubishi and a Toyota, were on the shoulder of the highway trying to fix a flat tire on a Toyota, when 18-year-old Eric Nun, driving a Mercedes, went off the roadway and crashed into the back of the Mitsubishi.

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Mai Hayakawa, 22, was killed in an Anaheim car accident which involved a suspected drunk driver, The Orange County Register reports. California Highway Patrol officials say that the fatal car crash occurred the night of August 22, 2010 on the southbound 57 Freeway's transition road to the 91 Freeway.

Hayakawa was a passenger in a Toyota Celica driven by 24-year-old Michael Keating, who officials say, was under the influence at the time. The crash occurred when Keating attempted to pass a semi-trailer by driving on the right shoulder of the road. He lost control of the car, went off the roadway and struck a palm tree. Hayakawa was killed. Another female passenger in the Toyota, 22-year-old Alyssa Unruh, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Keating was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving.

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Five people were injured in a Newport Beach car accident, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Daily Pilot, the injury collision occurred when Carol Nadine Quiroz, 18, of Santa Ana, lost control of her 1997 Acura Integra on southbound Newport Boulevard, near Hoag Drive. Quiroz crossed the center median and crashed head-on into a northbound Dodge truck. Quiroz is in critical condition and four others suffered injuries, which are believed to be non-life-threatening. Quiroz will likely face felony drunk driving charges.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was injured in this crash. I hope they all recover quickly and completely from their injuries.

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Three members of a Tahoe City family -- Heather Laboie, 42, Donna Howard, 66, Laboie's 6-year-old daughter -- sustained major injuries in a car accident after a suspected drunk driver crashed head-on into their vehicle. According to a news report in the Sierra Sun, the major injury collision occurred on July 21, 2010 on Highway 89. California Highway Patrol officials say 34-year-old Matthew Dubois drove his 1998 Chevy Silverado northbound on the highway and collided with a 2002 Acura occupied by the victims. The impact from the crash caused the Acura to go down an embankment and strike a bicyclist.

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Misty Duran, 20, sustained major injuries in a DUI collision the afternoon of July 18, 2010 in Willits. According to a report in The Willits News, Kayla Grace Chesser, 21, was driving a 2003 Honda Civic north on Highway 101 at a high rate of speed when she drifted off the road. California Highway Patrol officials say Chesser lost control of the car, crossed over four lanes of traffic and narrowly missed a vehicle before veering off the roadway.

The Civic then went down an embankment and rolled over coming to rest on its roof. Duran, who was the passenger, suffered several serious injuries including a broken neck and pelvis. She was transported to a regional hospital for treatment of those and other injuries. Chesser sustained minor injuries and was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving causing injury.

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Esther Bautista, 31, sustained injuries in a Ventura car accident after her car was struck by a suspected drunk driver the afternoon of June 15, 2010. According to a news report in the Santa Paula Times, the accident occurred on Highway 126 in Santa Paula, when 47-year-old Efren Carbajal, who was driving 1988 Ford F-350 pickup truck, rear-ended Bautista's 1995 Mercury Villager minivan. Bautista's minivan went off the freeway and rolled over. Bautista was transported to a local hospital. Her two children -- 5 and 7 years old -- who were in the van, were not injured. Carbajal was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI.

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A number of sports fans have been waiting to find out Will Angels' Pitcher Nick Adenhart Murder Trial Get Change of Venue?. A motion for a change of venue has been filed by the defense attorney of an alleged DUI offender who may have caused the death of Angels' baseball pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others. The Orange County Deputy District Attorney, Susan Price, argued that there is no need to move the fatal Los Angeles personal injury trial and that impartial jurors can be found locally for the trial.

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Several people were injured in a Modesto car accident after a suspected drunk driver drove his 2001 Chevy Silverado south in the northbound lanes of Highway 99 in Keyes. According to a news report in the Modesto Bee, California Highway Patrol officials arrested 30-year-old Fernando Martinez on suspicion of felony DUI and felony driving the wrong way causing injuries.

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Ruben C. Vasquez, 20, was killed in a San Bernardino car accident on the 60 Freeway after a suspected drunk driver rear-ended him, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports. California Highway Patrol officials say Vasquez was driving a 2006 Chevy Cobalt on the freeway, in Chino, the morning of June 20, 2010, when his vehicle was struck from behind by 33-year-old Daniel Rosas. Two minutes later, another suspected drunk driver crashed into Rosas' 2007 Nissan Frontier while he was still sitting in the car. That driver Alex Ruiz Leal, 23, as well as Rosas were arrested on suspicion of DUI. Vasquez was transported to a local hospital where he died from injuries sustained in the crash.

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Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a very serious criminal offense. A DUI conviction may result in substantial jail time and severe fines and fees. Being arrested for a DUI is just the beginning of a long process. Other than the criminal case you will face, you must also answer to the Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”), which will attempt to suspend or revoke your driving privilege.

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Bruce Bone, 42, was killed in a car accident after his vehicle was struck by a suspected drunk driver who was travelling the wrong way on Highway 50, close to the Red Hawk Casino in Placerville, the night of April 7, 2010. According to a news10 report, the fatal car accident occurred when 55-year-old Theresa Ghersanich drove her Toyota SUV east in the westbound lanes of the highway and crashed head-on into Bone's vehicle. Bone sustained fatal injuries. Ghersanich was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Bruce Bone for their tragic and devastating loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to his grieving family members. They will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.

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Two people were fatally injured in a car accident the morning of April 10, 2010 after their vehicle was hit by a suspected drunk driver on Highway 41 in Kings County. According to a news report in the Visalia Times Delta, police arrested Ruben Lopez, 65, in connection with the fatal car collision that killed two persons, ages 87 and 63. California Highway Patrol officials say Lopez was driving a 1994 Chevy Silverado south on the highway, near Newton Avenue, when the vehicle entered the northbound lanes. The Chevy then, struck the left front end of an oncoming 1997 Pontiac Grand Am. Both the occupants of the Grand Am died at the scene. Lopez sustained major injuries and was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of these two people who were killed because another driver chose to drink and drive. Tragic! Please keep their grieving family members in your thoughts and prayers.

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Two people were injured in a Ventura car accident after a man who was reportedly under the influence and trying to get away from the scene of a hit-and-run collision, crashed into their vehicle. The Ventura County Star reports that the accident occurred the morning of April 2, 2010, when John Allen Wilson, 47, rear-ended a vehicle occupied by its driver and a 3-year-old child near River Street, in Fillmore. Wilson was apparently trying to flee the scene of an earlier hit-and-run accident on Santa Fe Street. Wilson is facing DUI and hit-and-run charges. The driver and the child were taken to an area hospital, but the extent of their injuries is unknown.

I hope that the injured victims in this case have not suffered major injuries. I wish them the very best for a speedy and full recovery. They will be in my prayers.

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Three people sustained injuries 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 crash occurred the afternoon of March 12, 2010 on the State Route 67 near the San Vicente Reservoir. Jason Cooley, the 22-year-old driver of a Chevrolet Impala, who was northbound on the highway, crossed over into opposing traffic lanes and struck a Toyota Yaris. Sean Harkey, the driver of the Yaris, suffered a broken arm and leg. Cooley and his infant son sustained injuries that were described as "not serious." California Highway Patrol officials say Cooley was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

I wish Harkey, the most seriously injured victim in this crash, the very best for a quick and full recovery. Considering that an infant was involved in this head-on crash, it is indeed fortunate that there were no catastrophic injuries.

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David Matthews, 38, sustained critical injuries in a San Bernardino car accident, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. The San Bernardino Sun reports that the major injury collision occurred the morning of March 8, 2010 when 19-year-old Ryan Inglesby, who was driving a 2005 Chevy pickup north on Sunset Road in Joshua Tree, ran a stop sign on Highway 62 and broadsided a 1999 Dodge Caravan. Matthews, who was the driver of the Dodge, sustained critical injuries and was taken to a local hospital. Police arrested Inglesby on suspicion of felony DUI.

I hope David Matthews did not sustain any catastrophic injuries in this collision. I wish him the very best for a quick recovery. Please keep this injured victim in your thoughts and prayers.

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As a California personal injury lawyer who has been representing injured clients for more than three decades, a blog recently written by my friend and Dallas personal injury lawyer Jeffrey Rasansky, hit home. Jeff's touching article titled "A Tragic Reminder of Why I Do What I Do" reminds all of us why we got into personal injury law -- to help people and to hold wrongdoers accountable for their actions.

Continue reading "Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer Demands Justice for Grieving Family Devastating by a Drunk Driver" »

The driver of a Ford Econoline van sustained fatal injuries in a Los Angeles car accident that happened the morning of March 4, 2010 on the 405 Freeway, in Torrance. The Daily Breeze reports that police arrested the drunk driver suspected of causing the collision. Adriano Baek, 27, was booked on one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and two counts of DUI causing injury or death.

Baek was driving south on the freeway near the Crenshaw Boulevard off-ramp when he attempted an unsafe lane change and ended up rear-ending the Ford van at a high rate of speed. The van driver lost control of his vehicle, veered across lanes, hit another vehicle and went down an embankment.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to everyone who knew and loved the deceased van driver. Please keep this family in your prayers.

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Drunk driving commonly referred to as “Driving Under the Influence” or DUI is a term used to describe impaired driving or driving while under the influence of drugs or any other controlled chemical substance. Multiple terms are used to describe this offense, like DUI, DWI, OUI and OWI which all mean the same thing. Although different states use different terminology, the reference in which the terms are used is the same. Here is an explanation to differentiate between the different drunk driving charges:

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Gabriel Lanusse, 40, was injured in a San Francisco car accident after a teenager accused of driving under the influence, rammed head-on into his family's minivan. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports that the accident occurred the night of February 20, 2010 in Petaluma, when Lanusse was stopped at a light on Lakeville Highway and Frates Road. The teen lost control of her car as she drove on Lakeville Highway, crossed into oncoming traffic and struck the minivan occupied by Gabriel Lanusse, his wife Kristine and two children.

Thankfully, Kristine Lanusse and the two children were not injured although the minivan was totaled and Gabriel Lanusse sustained a broken arm. The teenager suffered head injuries and was taken to a local hospital. Officials found an empty tequila bottle in her car, determined she had been drinking and arrested her on suspicion of felony DUI.

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Authorities in Santa Maria have identified a man who was seriously injured in a car accident caused by a suspected drunk driver, the night of February 21, 2010, as 26-year-old Santos Quiros. According to a news report in the Santa Maria Times, 36-year-old Raymundo Reyes was driving north on Blosser Road when he struck Quiros who was walking eastbound on the roadway, near Donovan Road. Quiros sustained a fractured pelvis, multiple cuts and scrapes and was taken to a local hospital. Reyes was uninjured and later arrested on suspicion of DUI causing injury.

I sympathize with Quiros and his family. I wish Quiros the very best for a speedy and complete recovery from his serious injuries. Please keep him in your prayers.

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