California Injury Blog

Published on: April 29, 2009

California Tour Bus Accident Kills Five

By Brian Chase

A California tour bus accident turned deadly when five people died and dozens were injured in a Soledad bus accident on the Highway 101 the afternoon of April 28, 2009. The Orion Pacific tour bus based out of Orange County was carrying French tourists when the bus crashed and rolled over on a freeway overpass, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The accident caused several passengers to be ejected from the bus and onto the overpass as well as the freeway below, California Highway Patrol officials said. The number of deaths is expected to increase, as many of the personal injuries are believed to be life threatening. Traffic investigators are looking into what may have caused the fatal California bus accident.

My heart goes out to the family and friends who were involved in this horrific tour bus crash. According to officials, this is one of the worst bus accidents this area has ever seen. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved the victims of this tragic accident. I am praying for the victims who are fighting for their lives in hospital beds and their families that are making arrangements to fly out from France to be with their loved ones. I hope and pray that the victims of this bus crash make a quick recovery.

The group of French tourist began their trip in Los Angeles and was apparently on an eight-day sightseeing trip. According to CHP officials, 34 of the tour bus passengers are French nationals, one was an American bus driver and the other was a Canadian guide. The group was headed from San Francisco to Santa Maria when the California bus accident occurred. Of the passengers four were under 18. Officials of concluded that no other vehicles were involved.
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Published on: April 28, 2009

Riverside County ATV Accident Kills 10-year-old Boy

By Brian Chase

A 10-year-old boy from Rialto died in a Riverside ATV accident after he fell out of a moving ATV in Reche Canyon the evening of April 26, 2009, according to a news Web site. California Highway Patrol officials said the fatal personal injury accident was reported on Reche Canyon Road near Smiley Boulevard close to Moreno Valley. It is not known whether the boy, who has not yet been identified, was driving or a passenger in the Polaris ATV. It is also not known whether he was wearing safety gear.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of the young boy for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this child. Please keep them in your prayers.

Hundreds of young people, especially children 16 years or younger are catastrophically injured or killed in ATV accidents each year. According to a recent study done by the Children’s Hospital of Ohio, more than 136,000 people nationwide go to emergency rooms each year as a result of ATV accident related injuries. One-third of these crashes usually involve children who are 16 years old or younger.
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Published on: April 27, 2009

Orange County Woman Killed in Glen Avon Ambulance Crash

By Brian Chase

Catherine Quigley, 94, of Irvine died after the Premier Medical Transport ambulance she was in, crashed into a tree the afternoon of April 25, 2009, according to a CBS News report. The fatal Orange County car accident was reported on the Van Buren Boulevard onramp to the westbound Highway 60. Quigley was taken to Riverside Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Traffic investigators are still looking into why the Premier Medical Transport driver lost control of the ambulance.

I offer my deepest condolences to Catherine Quigley’s family for their tragic loss. Here was an elderly woman who was being transported to the hospital and her ambulance crashes on the way to the hospital! This is tragic! Please keep Quigley’s family and friends in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were 279 fatalities and 9,925 personal injuries relating to traffic accidents in Riverside County.

The news report does not provide much information about what went wrong here. It is best in such situations to rely on skilled California personal injury attorneys, who will be able to analyze this fatal ambulance accident from every angle. The driver of the ambulance could have lost control of the emergency vehicle because he was driving under the influence. If that is the case he could be criminally charged and his employer, Premier Medical Transport, could be held liable.
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Published on: April 24, 2009

Los Angeles County Nursing Home’s Negligence Penalized

By Brian Chase

A recent Los Angeles nursing home accident has caused officials to investigate a Pico Rivera nursing home. The nursing home was fined $100,000 after a wheelchair-bound resident caught on fire and died while trying to light a cigarette in an unsupervised dining room, according to a CBS News report. The California Department of Public Health issued the AA citation and the fine on April 22, 2009 to the Riviera Healthcare Center. The fatal nursing home accident apparently occurred on December 23, 2008 when the resident tried to light a cigarette without anyone present in the dining room.

The victim was burned over 40 percent of his body and died 18 days later. California health officials stated in their report that the nursing home neglected patient safety by failing to come up with a safety plan. Also, nursing home staff did not use a nearby fire blanket and extinguisher to put out the flames.
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Published on: April 23, 2009

Orange County Car Accident Injures Man

By Brian Chase

Anaheim car accident attorneys are evaluating a man who was hospitalized with injuries in an Anaheim car accident after a woman who allegedly ran a red light struck two cars at an intersection, The Orange County Register reports. The car collision occurred the afternoon of April 21, 2009 when a woman driving a gold Mercury Sable west on Katella Avenue ran a red light and struck an Orange couple –Ken and Luz Kleinberg — who were in a black Chevy Tahoe and another man who was driving a white Toyota Sequoia. The driver of the Sequoia was taken to the hospital with back injuries.

I’m glad that no one was critically injured in this street intersection multiple car crash. I wish the injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to the California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 30 deaths and 2,006 personal injuries reported in Anaheim as a result of traffic accidents. In all of Orange County, in 2007, 178 deaths and 14,185 injuries were reported as a result of traffic and car accidents.
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Published on: April 23, 2009

Raptiva Recall Attorneys: Deadly Side Effects Lead to Recall and Consumer Outrage

By Brian Chase

Raptiva recall attorneys are counseling Raptiva users and their families regarding the side effects of Raptiva use. Raptiva was sold as a treatment for psoriasis. It has been linked to a fatal brain infection. Raptiva’s maker, Genentech, pulled Raptiva off the market after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in February in response to three deaths linked Raptiva to Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), a brain infection.

Brain infection is not the only serious side effect that Raptiva is causing patients. Other more serious conditions associated with Raptiva treatments include anemia (low blood cell counts); psoriatic arthritis (damage to the joints); and low platelet counts. If PML is not treated right away, it can turn fatal.

Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys Raptiva recall attorneys will provide Raptiva users and their family members a complimentary, confidential consultation to evaluate their legal rights against the maker of this defective drug. We are hearing of horrible and heartbreaking Raptiva side effects that have destroyed lives and devastated families. These patients and their families deserve justice, accountability and appropriate compensation.
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Published on: April 22, 2009

Orange County Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident Causes Fatality

By Brian Chase

Authorities have identified the man killed in a Santa Ana car accident on April 11, 2009, as 43-year-old Isidoro Villalba Garcia. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Garcia was crossing West First Street outside of a crosswalk near North Jackson Street when he was struck by a car headed west on First. Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the suspect vehicle, described as a black sedan and possibly a Honda, did not stop at the scene of the pedestrian versus car collision, Santa Ana police officials said. If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Santa Ana Police Department’s traffic division at 714-245-8214.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Isidoro Villalba Garcia for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

I sincerely hope that this hit-and-run driver is apprehended and brought to justice. Hit-and-run is a serious criminal offense and in California the law requires motorists to stop and show identification and render aid to the victims in case of an personal injury accident. In this Santa Ana pedestrian accident, obviously, the driver did neither. The law requires you to stop irrespective of whether you were at fault or not.
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Published on: April 21, 2009

Orange County Fatal Construction Accident

By Brian Chase

Daniel Varela Jr., 59, of Santa Ana died in a Dana Point construction accident as he fell from the fourth floor of a Marriott hotel where he was working, The Orange County Register reports. The fatal construction accident occurred the morning of April 18, 2009 as Varela was working on the new wing of the hotel at 25135 Park Lantern in Dana Point, Orange County Sheriff’s Department officials said. Varela fell down four stories. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Daniel Varela Jr. I offer them my deepest sympathies for their sudden and tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal-OSHA) statistics, there were 84 construction accident related fatalities in California in 2005. A total of 59 people died in California in 2005 in construction and industrial accidents involving falls from a higher elevation.

This newspaper report does not give too many details about how or why this tragic on-the-job accident occurred. Were there scaffolds, guardrails or other safety features installed at this hotel construction site? These safety features are required both by Cal-OSHA and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. I hope someone’s negligence did not cost this man his life.
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Published on: April 20, 2009

Los Angeles County Bicycle Accident Caused By Drunk Driver

By Brian Chase

A 44-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed in an Los Angeles car accident the morning of April 19, 2009, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. The victim, whose name has not yet been released, was hit early morning by 22-year-old Alejandro Hidalgo of Panorama City. Hidalgo was in a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant with a passenger, driving south in the 1200 block of North Glendale Boulevard near Park Street when he hit the victim, who was riding a 10-speed bicycle south on Glendale Boulevard. Police said Hidalgo fled the scene of the accident.

An individual, who witnessed the fatal car accident was, however, able to jot down the hit-and-run vehicle’s license plate number. Los Angeles Police Department detectives tracked Hidalgo down at a Panorama City home. The passenger, who was riding with Hidalgo, provided a statement and was released. Police arrested Hidalgo on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and felony drunk driving.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of the victim, who was tragically killed because of this driver’s negligence and lack of concern for human life. Please keep the victim’s family and friends in your prayers.
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Published on: April 20, 2009

Orange County Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Accident Causes Fatality

By Brian Chase

Henry Franco Jr., 25, of Anaheim was killed in a Garden Grove pedestrian accident the morning of April 19, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. Franco was apparently found lying in the middle of a street in the 7300 block of Orangewood Avenue. Several vehicle parts were also found on the street. No witnesses to this pedestrian versus car crash have been located yet, Garden Grove police officials said. If you saw this car crash or have more information about it, please call Garden Grove police investigator Jason Perkins at 714-741-5823.

My heart goes out to the family of Henry Franco Jr. for their tragic loss. Here is a young man who was killed because of the negligence of an irresponsible driver. I offer my deepest sympathies to Franco’s family and friends. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 49 pedestrian accident related injuries in Garden Grove. In Orange County as a whole in 2007 there were 41 deaths and 726 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents.
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