California Injury Blog

A passenger was killed and a driver was injured in a Los Angeles car accident when a vehicle travelling about 100 mph crashed. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the high-speed car accident happened the afternoon of August 30, 2010 on Turnbull Canyon Road in Hacienda Heights. Eyewitnesses told officials that a black Honda Accord and a blue Honda Civic were racing on the roadway.

The Accord, which was traveling at nearly 100 mph, crashed. The Honda Civic left the scene of the crash without waiting for authorities. The driver of the Accord sustained moderate injuries while the passenger died. Authorities are searching for the driver of the blue Civic. An investigation is ongoing.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Car Accident Caused by Suspected Street Race" »

Jesus Heredia Calixto, 18, and Candice Ann Bustamante, 32, a 16-year-old girl and another 19-year-old man were killed in a violent car accident in Long Beach, which officials say, was caused by two cars racing each other on a public roadway.

The Press Telegram reports that the horrific crash happened on the Long Beach Peninsula the morning of August 22, 2010 when a Ford Mustang and a 1997 Ford Taurus collided. The Mustang then hit a stone marker. All four of the fatally injured victims were occupants of the Mustang. The two teens in the Taurus fled the scene, but were later apprehended. They are expected to be charged with felony hit-and-run and murder.

Continue reading "Four Killed in Long Beach Car Accident" »

A man, who was fatally injured in a pedestrian accident in the Lakeview Terrace area, has been identified by local authorities as 49-year-old Alberto Sandoval. According to a City News Service report, the fatal collision occurred on Foothill Boulevard when 58-year-old Paula Larene Dautremont lost control of her vehicle, struck a parked truck and then collided with Sandoval. He died as a result of injuries sustained in this crash. No one was cited or arrested pending an official investigation.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Alberto Sandoval. I offer my deepest sympathies to them. They will be in my prayers.

Continue reading "Fatal Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident " »

Four people, identified as James Donald Anderson, 49, Emma Gabriela Anderson, 44, and Andrew David Anderson, 15, and James Edward Rowell, 40, were killed in a Modesto car accident the evening of August 24, 2010. According to a news report in The Modesto Bee, the fatal crash occurred when a Chevrolet van ran a stop sign at the intersection of East Las Palmas and Elm avenues in Patterson and crashed into a green Ford SUV. The van was northbound on Elm and the SUV was traveling east on Las Palmas. Another passenger in the SUV, 24-year-old James Anderson, sustained major injuries in the crash. Officials are looking into whether alcohol or drugs were involved in this crash.

Continue reading "Car Accident in Modesto Area Kills Four" »

Jerry Yates, 69, was killed in a dog bite incident after he was mauled on his own property by two large pit bulls that belonged to a neighbor. According to an ABC News report, Yates's body was found with large bite marks and torn flesh, the afternoon of August 22, 2010. Authorities say Yates' wounds suggest that he died trying to fight off the dogs. The owner of the dogs, Sheryl Sellers, has been arrested on a single felony charge of allowing vicious animals at large. Officials say she held the dogs in an enclosure, which was clearly inadequate to restrain dogs of that size. Sellers surrendered the pit bulls, which have since been euthanized.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jerry Yates. Apparently, Yates was a Marine Corps veteran who served three combat tours in Vietnam. Tragic! Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Man Killed in California Dog Attack" »

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.

Continue reading "Fatal Orange County Car Accident Involves Suspected Drunk Driver" »

Three people were killed and four sustained injuries in a Fresno car accident on Highway 140 the afternoon of August 14, 2010. According to a news report in The Fresno Bee, the deceased victims were identified as Chowchilla residents Deana Smith, 39, Michael Smith, 43, and Sharon Law, a 55-year-old woman from El Portal. Officials say the fatal crash occurred in Mariposa County near Colorado Road when a Ford Bronco driven by 18-year-old Marissa Fuqua, crossed a double yellow line and collided with a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a Ford Escape. The driver and passenger of the motorcycle were killed, as was the driver of the Ford Escape. Fuqua and three passengers in the Bronco were injured.

I offer my heartfelt sympathies to everyone who knew and loved these deceased victims. I also hope the victims who have been injured in this crash make a quick and complete recovery. Please keep these accident victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Fresno Area Car Accident Leaves Three Dead " »

Ted Consoli, a 58-year-old man from Seaside, was killed in a car accident the evening of July 30, 2010. The Monterey Herald reports that Consoli was driving east on Holman Highway in his 2004 BMW Z4, when a 2000 Ford Explorer struck him. The Explorer was heading west when it crossed over to the eastbound lanes and hit Consoli's BMW. After colliding with the BMW, the Ford then crashed into a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado that had been driving behind the BMW.

Thomas Littlefield, the 61-year-old driver of the Ford SUV, told officials that he might have fallen asleep at the wheel. Andrew Kennedy, 32, and Heather Lauren, 33, the occupants of the Silverado, sustained minor to moderate injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

Continue reading "Prominent Chef Killed in Car Accident " »

A Sacramento car accident that occurred the evening of July 11, 2010 resulted in two fatalities and three injuries. However, according to a CBS News report, Milton Pastran, the driver of a pickup truck on the Highway 99 that was in the path of a falling Honda Civic, is happy that he and his two young daughters have not sustained major or fatal injuries.

A Honda Civic was traveling at a high rate of speed on Elk Grove Boulevard, lost control and went airborne on the highway. Pastran said he accelerated the pickup. Had he not done that, the car would have fallen on the cab of the pickup crushing him and his daughter. Two people in the Honda Civic, a 44-year-old driver and an 80-year-old passenger died at the scene. An investigation is still ongoing.

Continue reading "Fatal Sacramento Car Accident " »

A 39-year-old man sustained fatal injuries in a Los Angeles car accident the night of July 7, 2010, according to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune. California Highway Patrol officials say that the crash occurred on the westbound 10 Freeway near State Street. The man, an El Monte resident, was found in his 2005 Toyota car, which had rolled over on its roof. A 33-year-old motorcyclist, riding a 2008 Harley-Davidson was involved in the crash, but was uninjured, officials say. The driver of the Toyota was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries shortly after the crash. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my heartfelt sympathies to this deceased motorist's family and friends for their tragic and devastating loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Man Killed in Los Angeles Car Accident " »

A car accident in Los Angeles proved fatal for an elderly man and resulted in injuries for five others the morning of July 5, 2010. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that the fatal crash happened when a driver ran a red light at the intersection of East Orange Grove and Sierra Madre boulevards. The elderly man, who was a passenger in one of the vehicles, suffered fatal injuries while five others were injured, one of them seriously. Officials are investigating the incident.

My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this elderly victim. I also wish the injured victims the very best for a quick and full recovery. They will be in my prayers.

Continue reading "Red Light Violation May Have Caused Fatal Los Angeles Car Accident " »

A woman in San Diego is facing murder charges in connection with a fatal DUI collision that killed 95-year-old Benjamin Friedman on April 21, 2010. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that 47-year-old Melanie Rebecca Flores is accused of driving under the influence and causing a multi-vehicle accident in Coronado, which killed Friedman who was a passenger in one of the vehicles.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Benjamin Friedman for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Woman Charged with Murder in San Diego Car Accident " »

The incidents of elder abuse, neglect and wrongful death have risen in this country. One of the best ways to protect your loved ones is to be extremely careful when choosing a nursing home. This decision is usually an emotional one and it is also one that all members of the family should partake in, especially the elderly person needing care.

The first step is to determine exactly what level of care your family member needs. Oftentimes the amount of care needed is small and could be provided by a home health aide or in an assisted living facility. The family also needs to determine what the elderly person can afford, what Medicare covers and if there is long-term health insurance or other assets that can be used for this care. A lower priced nursing home is not always a bad one and high priced ones have their share of elder abuse and neglect problems.

Continue reading "How to Avoid Abusive Nursing Homes" »

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.

Continue reading "Motion To Move Los Angeles Angels Pitcher's Murder Trial To a New Venue" »

The following is a guest post by the Chicago wrongful death attorneys at Dolan Law Offices:

A 31-year old man was killed early morning on Sunday in a hit-and-run accident along 405 Freeway in Culver City. The crash injured several other people but police authorities have not disclosed the extent of their injuries. California Highway Patrol officers are now trying to locate the owner of the SUV that was involved in this fatal car crash.

Continue reading "Wrongful Death Lawsuit Can Be Filed Over Hit-and-Run Culver City Crash" »

A worker at an alternative fuel plant in Simi Valley sustained fatal job injuries after an explosion shook the facility and an entire neighborhood the afternoon of June 17, 2010. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, the worker, who has not yet been identified, was working in Realm Industries' facility at 480 E. Easy Street in Simi Valley. Fire officials say the blast caused a partial collapse of the building and put a hole in the roof.

Continue reading "Industrial Explosion Proves Fatal for Worker" »

A pedestrian accident on June 6, 2010 in the Midtown area of San Diego claimed the life of a 52-year-old man, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. California Highway Patrol officials say the man was crossing an on-ramp to the 5 Freeway on West Washington Street when he was struck by a vehicle. The pedestrian died at the scene. No arrested have yet been made. An investigation is ongoing. Officials have not identified the victim.

My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved this deceased accident victim. I offer my deepest sympathies to his grieving family. They will be in my prayers.

Continue reading "Fatal San Diego Pedestrian Accident " »

Cynthia Guerra, 30, was killed in a San Bernardino car accident after the minivan she was driving was hit head-on by another vehicle. According to a news report in The San Bernardino Sun, Guerra was driving a 2004 Nissan Quest minivan the afternoon of June 7, 2010 on Highway 395 near Eucalyptus Street, in Victorville. San Bernardino County Coroner's officials report that a 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup truck drifted from a nearby lane and crashed into Guerra's van. She was airlifted to an area hospital where she died shortly after the crash. An investigation is ongoing.

Continue reading "Fatal Car Accident in Victorville" »

A 45-year-old man was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after his SUV crashed into a disabled vehicle on the 101 Freeway the morning of June 1, 2010. According to a KTLA News report, the fatal car crash occurred in the southbound lanes of the freeway, near Highland Avenue, and involved three vehicles.

Continue reading "Man Killed in Los Angeles Car Accident" »

A Chino police officer who killed a bystander she mistook for an armed robbery suspect was legally justified, despite her tragic error, prosecutors wrote in a report. Cpl. Claudia Lisner shot Daniel Balandran, a 23-year-old Rubidoux resident, outside a Papa John's pizzeria on Feb. 1, 2009. The victim happened to leave a nearby McDonald's with a friend and walk into a shootout between police and two men who had robbed the Papa John's. Balandran was wearing a black shirt, like one of the suspects and came from the general area where shots had been fired. Lisner said she believed Balandran and his friend were the ones exchanging fire with her colleagues on the other side of the pizzeria. In a poorly lit parking lot, Balandran continued to approach her and then ducked behind a car. When he emerged, Lisner noticed him holding something. She said she asked him to show his hands but he did not, according to the report. . The victim "suddenly turned" with the item, the prosecutor noted. Still hearing gunfire, and believing she was in danger, Lisner shot Balandran once in the chest. Under all the circumstances, her "split second" decision was reasonable and legal according to the DA. The item turned out to be a McDonald's food container.

Continue reading "Officer Justified in Fatal Shooting, DA says-- Robbery Suspects to Face Murder Charges for Cop's Mistake " »