California Injury Blog

Published on: February 26, 2009

Pit Bull Dog Attacks Still Rampant in Different Parts of the Country

By Brian Chase

I came across this blog posted by Dogsbite.org that talks about two dog attack victims – both adults — in Texas who got their eye ripped out in separate pit bull dog bite attacks. The first incident apparently occurred in Houston on February 22, 2009 when a man named Junior lost an eye after two pit bulls broke out of a kennel and attacked him in the front yard of his neighbor’s home. It was so gruesome that Junior’s eye was popping out of its socket! Neighbors also said the dog chewed out a part of his face.

A similar incident happened in Dallas where two people were seriously injured after two pit bulls that had gotten out of their yard, attacked them. The victims – Helen Fuller and Clarence Webber – were hospitalized. Helen Fuller is expected to lose an eye and her brother says that he knows her life “is going to be changed from this point.” She also suffered severe facial injuries. In the Dallas dog attack case, the pit bulls were picked up by animal control for roaming in the neighborhood, but were later returned to their owner.
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Published on: February 25, 2009

Los Angeles County Street Intersection Pedestrian Accident Injures Man

By Brian Chase

A 35-year-old Whittier man was seriously injured in a car versus pedestrian accident February 22, 2009, the Whittier Daily News reports in this article. The incident happened when a compact car driving eastbound on Leffingwell Road collided with the pedestrian as he crossed the road near Kibbee Avenue, officials say. Apparently the man, who has not been identified yet, lost consciousness after being hit by the vehicle. He had suffered a 12- to 16-inch wound ton his arm that was open to the bone. But Los Angeles County Fire Department officials say that he had stable vital signs when he was flown by helicopter to an area trauma unit.

I’m relieved that this man did not suffer catastrophic injuries in this crash. Auto versus Pedestrian accidents can have fatal consequences for pedestrians because the victim gets thrown by the impact and could possibly end up with multiple fractures, leg injuries and blunt force trauma. I wish this injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System (http://www.chp.ca.gov/switrs/pdf/2006-sec8.pdf), there were no Los Angeles pedestrian accident related fatalities reported in Whittier in 2006. There were, however, 20 injuries reported that year involving pedestrian accidents. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 214 deaths and 4,904 injuries were attributed to pedestrian accidents in 2006.
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Published on: February 25, 2009

San Diego Man Injured in Bicycle Accident

By Brian Chase

A man suffered serious head injuries after the bicycle he was riding was struck by a pickup truck on Sea World Drive, ABC News reports in this article. The accident occurred the morning of February 16, 2009 near Friars Road when the eastbound pickup driver apparently looked down to pick up something and then drifted into the bike lane, hitting the cyclist from behind. Officials have not arrested the driver of the pickup driver but say that he may be cited for not paying attention.

My heart goes out to the injured bicyclist who is suffering now and possibly fighting for his life because someone else was negligent and not paying attention to his surroundings and the road. I wish the injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2006 statistics, in the city of San Diego, there were three fatalities and 390 injuries as a result of bicycle accidents. In San Diego County as a whole, there were seven deaths and 800 injuries as a result of bicycle accidents during the same period. Bicycle accidents are hardly ever solo accidents. Almost all bicycle accidents involve a collision either with a passenger vehicle, bus, big rig or some other type of moving vehicle. In most cases, the accident occurs because the bigger vehicle fails to see the bicyclist for whatever reason – inattention, negligence, impaired driving or dangerous roadway condition.
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Published on: February 25, 2009

San Bernardino County Man Killed in Pedestrian Accident

By Brian Chase

Wallace “Wally” Bradfield, a 76-year-old Twentynine Palms resident was killed in a San Bernardino County pedestrian accident and 86-year-old Joseph Perez, suffered major injuries after both elderly residents were hit from behind by a motorist. According to this news report in the San Bernardino Sun, Bradfield and Perez were taking a walk on El Paseo Drive the morning of February 23, 2009 near Yucca Avenue when a woman driving a Chevrolet Cavalier drifted across both, the westbound lane and the bicycle lane, striking the two men.

The driver was identified as Peggy Burke. She apparently suffered minor injuries. Bradfield was pronounced dead at the scene. Perez was taken to a local hospital with severe injuries. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials say alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this crash.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Wallace “Wally” Bradfield for their tragic loss. It is heartbreaking to lose a loved one as a result of someone else’s negligence. I also wish Joseph Perez the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them all in your prayers.

According to 2006 statistics from California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, in Twentynine Palms there were no pedestrian accident related deaths and six injuries relating to pedestrian accidents. During the same period in San Bernardino County as a whole, 57 fatalities and 448 injuries involving San Bernardino County pedestrian accidents were reported.
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Published on: February 24, 2009

Woman Injured in Los Angeles County DUI Accident

By Brian Chase

A 65-year-old woman in San Gabriel is in serious condition after she was struck the morning of February 20, 2009 by a man who police say was driving under the influence. According to this news report in the Pasadena Star News, the crash occurred on Valley Boulevard near Prospect Avenue. The woman, whose name was not released, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her daughter.

The daughter apparently parked her car on Valley Boulevard legally while her mother got out to mail a letter. As she mailed the letter and was returning to the vehicle, the suspected drunk driver Robert Garcia, rear-ended the daughter’s car, jumped the curb and struck the mother. The injured victim was taken to an area hospital and the daughter was treated for minor injuries. Robert Garcia has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of narcotics.

I’m relieved that this victim did not suffer life-threatening injuries in this accident that was obviously caused by a negligent and irresponsible driver. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – be it recreational or prescription drugs – is a violation of California law. California Vehicle Code section 23152 (a) states: “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.” California Highway Patrol 2006 statistics show that out of 748 total auto accident deaths in Los Angeles County, 276 were caused by an impaired driver. These statistics also show that 5,057 people in Los Angeles County were injured in 2006 in DUI accidents.
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Published on: February 23, 2009

Five-year-old Girl Injured in Riverside County Pedestrian Accident

By Brian Chase

A 5-year-old girl suffered serious injuries in a La Quinta pedestrian accident after a driver who rolled past a stop sign struck her, according to a news report in The Desert Sun. The girl had apparently gotten off a bus and was walking behind a group of children the afternoon of February 19, 2009. She was walking eastbound on Miles Avenue when a 43-year-old woman driving a Hummer rolled past a stop sign on Seeley Avenue and hit the girl.

Police say the woman told them that she simply did not see the girl walking on the street. Officials also say there is no indication that the woman was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. She was not speeding either, they say.

I’m extremely relieved that this girl did not suffer any catastrophic or fatal injuries as a result of this pedestrian accident. Please keep this little girl and her family in your prayers. I hope and pray that she will have a quick and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol’s statistics, there were two fatalities and four injuries relating to Riverside County pedestrian accidents in La Quinta in 2006. During the same period, in Riverside County as a whole, 48 deaths and 436 injuries were attributed to pedestrian accidents.
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Published on: February 22, 2009

Kern County Nursing Home Staff Forcefully Drugged Patients, Officials Say

By Brian Chase

Three nursing home staff members in Kern County have been arrested on suspicion of forcibly drugging patients for their own convenience, an act which resulted in the death of three residents. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the three victims were identified as Fannie May Brinkley, a patient in her 90s; Joseph Shepter, 76; and Alexander Zaiko, 85.

Attorney General Jerry Brown announced the arrests of Gwen Hughes, a former nurse, Debbi Hayes, a pharmacist and Dr. Hoshang Pormir, a physician at Kern Valley Healthcare District in Lake Isabella. All three face elder nursing home abuse charges while Hughes and Hayes face assault with a deadly weapon charges as well. According to the charges filed, among the drugs these so-called professionals used for “chemical restraint” were Zyprexa, Depakote and Risperdal. The families of all three victims have also filed civil complaints against the nursing home.

Apparently, Hughes who took over as Director of Nursing, ordered that Alzheimer’s and dementia patients at the skilled nursing facility be given high doses of psychotropic medications so they would be easy to handle and control. She ordered the forcible drugging of patients who argued with her or were noisy, disruptive or inconvenient to deal with.
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Published on: February 20, 2009

Tour of California Continues After Initial Crash and Rough Start

By Brian Chase

The Tour of California is apparently drawing thousands of cycling fans who are getting to see some world-class riders such as Lance Armstrong. The seven-time Tour de France victor is carrying on in spite of a personal bicycle accident injury involving more than a dozen riders. Andy Jacques-Maynes, a Watsonville native, had to drop out of the race after he was injured and hospitalized as a result of the accident. The roads were slippery and dangerous because of the recent rain. Our source for this blog was this news report in the San Jose Mercury News.

Riders and race organizers had to deal with flooded streets and mud on the roadway – even rock slides on Highway 1. Caltrans supervisor Russell Ellingworth said that he and his crew cleaned up a long stretch of the highway to prevent riders from having more accidents. I’m glad to see that Caltrans is concerned with the safety of these bicycle riders. Hopefully Caltrans efforts for the cyclists will improve the safety for the rest of California’s motoring and cycling public as well.
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Published on: February 19, 2009

San Diego Nursing Home Fined for Negligence

By Brian Chase

A nursing home in Lemon Grove has been cited and fined $80,000 by the state for failing to properly supervise a 74-year-old woman who caught fire last year while smoking at the facility and later died of burn injuries. The “AA” citation against Lemon Grove Care & Rehabilitation Center is the most severe under California law and was issued by the California Department of Health, which inspects nursing homes for code compliance. Our source for this blog was this news report in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The 158-bed nursing home has apparently received two minor citations last year and one in 2005, all with fines of $1,000 or less. The nursing home’s administrators have said they plan to challenge the AA citation and penalty in California Superior Court. They are also denying that they did anything wrong that contributed to the resident’s injury or death.

The state’s report says that no staff members were monitoring the woman and two other residents as they smoked on March 31, 2008 in the facility’s gazebo. The woman, who was seated in an electric scooter, pulled a nylon jacket over her head to block the wind as she lit her cigarette. The jacket caught fire and burned her head, chest and arms, the report states. She died of the San Diego nursing home burn injuries 10 days after this incident. The woman, who apparently suffered from memory loss, had lived at that Lemon Grove nursing home for more than a year. She smoked everyday, but needed to be reminded constantly to smoke only in designated areas.
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Published on: February 19, 2009

Teenager Killed in San Bernardino Bicycle Accident Involving Drunk Driver

By Brian Chase

A Rancho Cucamonga boy was killed in a bicycle accident February 15, 2009 after he was run over by a suspected drunk driver, according to this news report. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested 40-year-old Sandra Kent on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter. Kent apparently ran over the teenager as he rode his bike across the intersection of Jasper and 19th streets. The boy was transported to a local hospital where he died.

My heart goes out to the boy’s family for their tragic and untimely loss. Here was a young boy out on his bike when he gets struck and killed by a negligent driver. Heartbreaking! I offer my deepest sympathies to his grieving parents, family members and friends. Please keep them in your prayers. The boy’s family has spoke to me personally and requested that his name be removed from this article.

I hope that our judicial system does its job with regard to Sandra Kent, the arrested driver. If she in fact is responsible for this tragic accident, I hope that our justice system treats her accordingly. Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a crime under California law.
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