California Injury Blog

Jasmine Alexi Garcia, 19, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after the driver of the car in which she was a passenger, lost control and crashed. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that the fatal car crash occurred the night of March 11, 2010 in the 700 block of Atlantic Boulevard in Monterey Park. The driver, a 19-year-old man, lost control of the 2007 Toyota Scion while traveling south on Atlantic, and went across all lanes of traffic The Scion then crashed into a tree. Firefighters used the Jaws of Life to extricate Garcia and the driver from the mangled wreckage. The driver was hospitalized in critical condition. Garcia died at the scene. Officials say speed may have been a factor, but are still investigating.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jasmine Alexi Garcia for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. My heart also goes out to the young driver and his family for what they are going through at this time. Please keep these injured victims and their families in your prayers.

Continue reading "Fatal Los Angeles Car Accident" »

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.

Continue reading "San Bernardino DUI Collision Causes Critical Injuries " »

John Bisnar, partner of the BISNAR | CHASE California personal injury law firm, has just been named as a 2010 Top Southern California Attorney by Los Angeles Magazine. The 32-year law veteran has received this honor following his appointment as a 2010 Southern California Super Lawyer by Orange Coast Magazine, his third year in a row.

John is a native of Southern California, earning his JD from Pepperdine University of Law and being admitted to the State Bar in July of 1978. He has served in the Army and been named a "Community Hero" by The United Way.

John has received wide recognition in 2010 already: he was recently featured in Newsweek's "The Best of Los Angeles Law" as part of an issue that included interviews with notable figures such as Henry Kissinger, Hillary Clinton, Bill Maher and Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com.

Continue reading "John Bisnar Named a 2010 Top Southern California Attorney by Los Angeles Magazine" »

The debate about pit bulls is getting louder in one Southern California community after a vicious dog bite incident in Fontana involving five pit bull mixes almost killed 5-year-old Destiny Colon and injured three of her siblings. Also, recently, a 3-year-old Apple Valley boy was fatally attacked by the family's pit bull. A Hesperia woman recently suffered a broken arm after her own pit bull attacked her in October. With these and other recently recorded cases, there appears to be no shortage of dog attacks involving pit bulls.

Why is that? Some say that it is not the dogs' fault. Pit bull advocates say that this breed gets a bad rap because of "neglect by irresponsible owners." However, according to a recent article in The San Bernardino Sun, many in the local community, who have witnessed vicious behavior by pit bulls and pit bull mixes, say that pit bulls have a natural "mean streak" compared to other breeds of dogs.

Continue reading "Should Pit Bulls be Regulated as a Breed?" »

If you have been injured in Kentucky accident, especially if you live in the Louisville area, you should be seeking out Mike Schafer. Here's why. I've worked with Mike on a number of occasions on jointly improving our delivery of legal services to catastrophically injured accident victims. In my opinion, Mike is a legal genius in recovering compensation for the seriously injured and for the families of deceased car accident victims.

Continue reading "Mike Schafer, Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Kentucky" »

According to a communication I received from Consumer Watchdog founder Harvey Rosenfeld, Mercury Insurance has sued him, former Attorney General John Van De Kamp and former Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi. Why? The car insurance company wants to stop them from warning Californians in the Official State Voter Guide about the huge premium increases to come under Mercury's Prop 17 for millions of drivers.

Prop 17 is fully funded by Mercury Insurance, apparently with the goal of jacking up Californians' auto insurance premiums. Prop 17 would surcharge drivers, including soldiers, students and seniors, who have had a lapse in car insurance coverage virtually for any reason during the last five years. This would penalize even those who have had no car accidents, citations or violations.

Continue reading "Mercury Insurance Wants to Increase Premiums, But Does Not Want Voters to Know about It" »

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" »

Oscar Rodriguez, a bilingual fourth grader from Los Angeles, has emerged a wounded hero in the catastrophic Arizona bus accident on the Interstate 10 near Phoenix early morning on March 5, 2010, which killed six people and critically injured several others. According to an Associated Press news report, the 11-year-old Oscar, although injured in the crash himself, lay on an ambulance stretcher as he translated from Spanish to English and English to Spanish for busy emergency workers who were trying to save lives at the scene of the disastrous crash. Paramedic Kenneth Leslie tells the Associated Press: "The kid stayed calm and was brave more than any veteran that I've worked with."

Continue reading "Boy Hero Helps Emergency Personnel in Fatal Arizona Bus Accident" »

A driver who caused a Fresno car accident that killed a family -- Donald Fisher, 77, his wife Arlene, 74, and their son, Brian Fisher, 55 -- is likely to face criminal changes. According to a KFSN news report, the fatal accident occurred March 9, 2010 when 32-year-old Manuel Casillas crossed into opposing traffic lanes on Jensen Avenue and struck the Fishers' vehicle head-on. Officials are still looking into what caused Casillas to go over the center divide of the roadway.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the Fishers who were apparently very active and popular in their community. Tragic! My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved the Fishers. Please keep this grieving family and community in your prayers.

Continue reading "Fresno Car Accident Kills Three" »

San Rafael police have arrested a Novato man in connection with a hit-and-run San Francisco car accident in which a teen pedestrian was injured. According to a CBS News report, two girls -- ages 15 and 16 -- were crossing Second Street in San Rafael, in a marked crosswalk, the evening of March 8, 2010, when a maroon van southbound on B Street, hit them. One of the girls sustained leg injuries. The driver did not stop and continued east on Second Street.

Hit-and-Run Suspect Apprehended

However, a witness wrote down the van's license plate number and reported it to authorities. A Marin County Sheriff's deputy driving north on Highway 101 near Lucas Valley Road, spotted the suspect vehicle, and arrested 48-year-old Gbayere Germain Any on charges of felony hit-and-run and failure to yield to a pedestrian, which is an infraction, a much lesser crime.

I hope and pray that neither of the two young victims was seriously injured. I wish the injured girl the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Continue reading "Man Arrested in San Francisco Area Hit-and-Run Car Accident" »

Khuong Nguyen, 42, was injured in an Orange County car accident after he was struck by an out-of-control car in the parking lot of a Garden Grove hotel. According to a news report in The Garden Grove Journal, the incident occurred at the Ramada Inn Plaza on Garden Grove Boulevard, the night of March 5, 2010, when a Jeep Liberty SUV that was being driven into the hotel parking lot by 58-year-old Dzung Truong, hit Nguyen.

Truong told police officials that he tried to stop, but his brakes failed and that the car continued forward, striking Nguyen and pushing him against a wall. Nguyen sustained major leg injuries. He was transported to a local hospital. Police do not believe alcohol or drugs were involved. No citations have been issued pending a police investigation.

I sympathize with Nguyen, who has apparently been seriously injured in this collision. I hope he has not suffered any catastrophic injuries and wish him the very best for a quick and full recovery. He will be in my prayers.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Injured in Orange County Car Accident" »

Steven Anthony Kelley, 18, was killed in a San Diego car accident after he was struck by a two cars while crossing El Camino Real, in Carlsbad, the night of March 5, 2010. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the second driver waited at the scene, but the driver who initially struck Kelley drove away. The following day, a woman called police and told them that she may have struck Kelley. She told officials she drove away because she thought she had "struck an object" and did not realize that she may have hit a person. Kelley was crossing the northbound lanes of El Camino Real, near Camino Vida Roble.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Steven Anthony Kelley for their tragic and untimely loss. I offer my deepest condolences to them. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "San Diego Car Accident Kills Pedestrian" »