California Injury Blog

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.

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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" »

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" »

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" »

Michael Harris, 67, of San Carlos was one of two people killed in a Los Angeles car accident that occurred the evening of March 3, 2010 on the northbound 605 Freeway in Cerritos. According to a news report in The Press-Telegram, a Ford van containing seven people was going north in the number two lane and was near the Artesia (91) Freeway, when the van tried to move into the carpool lane nearly hitting a Mitsubishi Lancer traveling in the number one lane.

Continue reading "Two Killed, Five Critically Injured in Los Angeles Car Accident" »

A man was seriously injured in a San Francisco pedestrian accident after he was run over by the Muni bus he was trying to catch. According to an ABC News report, the accident occurred the afternoon of February 23, 2010 on Stanyan Street, near Fulton Street. Initial reports indicate that the pedestrian tripped and fell while running to catch the 33-Stanyan bus as it was moving away from the bus stop. The bus then ran over him. The pedestrian sustained a major leg injury. His injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

My heart goes out to this critically injured pedestrian. I hope and pray that he makes it through his serious injuries and makes a complete recovery. It seems that this victim may have sustained catastrophic injuries. Please keep this injured victim in your prayers.

Continue reading "Bus Accident in San Francisco Critically Injures Pedestrian" »

Authorities have identified an off-duty police officer who was killed in a Los Angeles car accident the evening of February 25, 2010, as 37-year-old Jacqueline Montalvo. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that the accident occurred when Montalvo's vehicle crossed a median and careened into oncoming traffic. Three other vehicles were involved. One man was taken to a hospital in serious condition while three others sustained minor injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jacqueline Montalvo for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep this family in your prayers during their time of grief. I also wish the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Continue reading "Fatal Los Angeles Car Accident" »

A man was killed in a Los Angeles car accident involving a hit-and-run driver on the 10 Freeway. According to a CBS News report, the fatal car accident occurred the night of February 18, 2010 in the westbound 10 Freeway in West Covina near Azusa Avenue. The victim, a West Covina resident, died at the scene. Police are still searching for two suspects who California Highway Patrol officials say, fled the scene of the crash.

I offer my deepest condolences to everybody who knew and loved this man. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers during their time of grief.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Hit-and-Run Car Accident Kills Man" »

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.

Continue reading "San Francisco Area Car Accident Caused by Suspected Drunk Teen Driver" »

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.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Accident Caused by Suspected Drunk Driver" »

Brian Chase of the BISNAR | CHASE (www.bestattorney.com) Southern California personal injury law firm has been named a Super Lawyer and Top 50 Orange County Attorney by Orange Coast Magazine. This is the 5th year in a row Chase has received this recognition.

Since Brian graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law, where he was the associate editor of the Pepperdine Law Review, he has been in the public eye as a superior personal injury lawyer for over 17 years. He has tried dozens of jury trials and has recovered seven- and eight-figure amounts from a variety of automobile manufacturers on behalf of people who have suffered catastrophic injury from auto defects.

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Dr. Jeffrey Gross is a special combination of medical doctor, neurological surgeon to be precise, and a medical advocate. Jeff and I recently met and discussed sports, scuba diving, patient care and the role of medical expert witnesses in personal injury cases. We discussed a range of medical/legal issues, treatment of trauma victims and his love of being a doctor and healing people.

Continue reading "Best Neurological Surgeon For Treating Patients with Personal Injury Claims" »

Madeline Mezger, 19, was seriously injured in a car accident after she was struck by a vehicle while walking with friends in San Luis Obispo. According to a news report, Mezger was walking across California Boulevard from the railroad tracks on February 21, 2010, when she had stopped in the middle of the street. A 2009 Nissan Cube driven by 21-year-old Anthony Micheal Colicchio struck her. The driver told police that Mezger was wearing black and that he did not see her in time to avoid the collision. Mezger was taken to a local hospital in serious condition. Officials do not believe Colicchio was under the influence of alcohol. An investigation is ongoing.

I hope Mezger's injuries were not catastrophic and wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. She will be in my prayers.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Woman Seriously Injured in Car Accident" »

A bicyclist who was killed in a Los Angeles car accident the morning of February 15, 2010, has been identified by local authorities as 40-year-old Ovidio Morales. KTLA News reports that Morales was hit near the intersection of Compton Boulevard and Dwight Avenue by a driver who was possibly distracted by a cell phone. Those who witnessed the accident told police that the driver while talking on the cell phone, ran a red light, struck the victim, quickly examined the victim and drove away from the scene. Police are now looking for this hit-and-run driver. The vehicle they are looking for is a 1990s silver or gray Ford passenger van, likely an Aerostar. If you have information, please contact 310-605-6500.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Ovidio Morales for whom this must be a devastating loss. I offer my deepest condolences to his family. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Hit-and-Run Car Accident Kills Bicyclist" »

Tom Atkinson, 56, was injured in a dog bite incident in an Escondido gated community, according to a news report in the North County Times. He was apparently finishing a jog on Rock View Glen in the Emerald Heights development when he noticed what looked like two loose pit bull mix dogs growling at a neighbor and his leashed dog. As Atkinson walked on, the dogs lunged at him. He fought them off and they ran away, but returned and bit him several times. Atkinson sustained a bite to the forearm and another deep bite to the thigh. The report states that the owners of the dogs have chosen to euthanize the 5-year-old dogs, which have been the subject of prior complaints.

My heart goes out to Atkinson, who is dealing with dog bite injuries. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Continue reading "Jogger Attacked by Dogs in San Diego" »

Orange Coast magazine has named John Bisnar, partner of the BISNAR | CHASE California personal injury law firm, a Super Lawyer for the third consecutive year.

John is a native of Southern California and a 32-year law veteran. He has represented, to date, 6,124 clients with a 97.8% success record, which has helped victims and families of victims recover hundreds of millions of dollars. John graduated cum laude from California State University, Long Beach with a B.S. degree in Finance/Investment and received his JD degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. Since he was admitted to the California State Bar in July of 1978, his superior skill as a personal injury lawyer has been noticed by many reputable sources and publications, including The United Way, who have called him a "Community Hero."

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Written February 14, 2010 by John Bisnar

The first real dive of a scuba diving adventure for 14 divers aboard the Galapagos Aggressor II ended in the death of E.G., a 23-year-old kindergarten teacher from Galveston, Texas and New York.

Due to the numerous requests for more information about what happened and how E.G. died, the following account is provided. First, my deepest condolences to E.G.'s family and friends. I have no words that will alleviate your pain or give you back what you have lost. E.G. will, however, live in our hearts and memories. But for a twist of fate, both my wife, Kimberly and I could have been with E.G. today.

Continue reading "Scuba Diving Fatality - Galapagos - February 12, 2010 - E.G." »

The question comes at a time when cheerleading accidents has seen a major increase in the number of disabling injuries since the 1980s. "Right now, cheerleading is out of control," says the director of the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research at the University of North Carolina, and the available statistics do show that the occurrence of disabilities and deaths from cheerleading incidents is higher than all the other female-player sports combined.

The lack of training for coaches and cheerleaders, the lack of regulations consistently overseeing each team within each state or school district, and the continuous competition are causing this once cheerful pastime to be a huge personal injury risk.

Continue reading "How Can Cheerleading Team Spread the Spirit Safely?" »

Cara A. Lee, 20, was killed in a Costa Mesa car accident after the driver of a Toyota pickup truck ran a red light and broadsided the vehicle in which Lee was a passenger. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal car accident occurred early morning on February 14, 2010 at the intersection of Sunflower Avenue and Sakioka Drive. Police said the driver of the Tundra pickup truck, 22-year-old Gustavo A. Vega, was fleeing an earlier traffic collision in Santa Ana.

Continue reading "Orange County DUI Car Accident Kills Woman" »