California Injury Blog

Published on: August 2, 2008

Bakersfield Fatal Pedestrian Accident Involves Senior Driver

By Brian Chase

Marianne Harris, who was walking on a Bakersfield Street, died of critical injuries she suffered in a pedestrian accident after being struck by a car driven by 84-year-old Charles Nowatzki, the Bakersfield Californian reports. Nowatzki was driving a 1997 Crown Victoria east on Columbus Street and was passing the intersection at Baylor Street when he struck Harris, who was walking north across Columbus Street in the crosswalk, an earlier article states.

Nowatzki and a passenger in the car were uninjured. Police say speed, alcohol or drugs were not a factor in this pedestrian accident. Investigators are still trying to determine how and why the accident occurred. If you witnessed this accident, please call Officer Patrick Dillard at 661-326-3967 or Bakersfield Police at 661-327-7111.

My deepest condolences to Harris’ family and to Marianne’s friends.

What strikes me is the age of the driver’s age, 84-years old. If I were an attorney representing Harris’ family, I would look into Nowatzki’s driving record, his physical condition/health and more importantly, if he was fit enough to drive. I would want to know if in fact Nowatzki was capable of driving safely. If he wasn’t, was his family aware of the fact and let him drive anyway.

I would also investigate if their was something about the intersection where this California pedestrian accident happened that contributed to Nowatzki not seeing Harris in enough time to react appropriately. Is this a dangerous intersection? Did the intersection itself contribute to the accident?
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Published on: August 1, 2008

Canyon Country Dog Bite Victim Suffers Injuries

By Brian Chase

A woman in Canyon Country suffered severe dog attack injuries after both she and her Chihuahua were attacked by two Pit-Bulls during a walk. According to an ABC News report, Tempo Edwards was walking her dog when two pit-bulls attacked her. Edwards reportedly suffered bite marks on her hand and neck. The district attorney is looking at filing criminal charges against a Canyon Country man believed to be the owner of the two Pit- Bulls.

The pit-bulls first went after Edward’s dog and then her. One of the dogs locked its jaw around her neck and knocked her down. Neighbor Lillie Troncale, who came to her rescue, managed to scare the dogs and get them off Edwards, who reportedly had undergone a kidney transplant recently. Her doctors are now concerned about possible infection from the dog bites.

Thank goodness Troncale was near by and acted quickly. She probably saved Edward’s life. I wish Edwards a speedy recovery. I also hope the district attorney goes through with the prosecution of the dog owner.

According to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers accounted for more than half the fatal dog attacks between 1977 and 1998. Over two thirds of the people I have represented in dog attack cases were bitten by either Pit Bulls or Rottweilers.
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Published on: August 1, 2008

Helicopters Collide In Flagstaff, Six Dead

By Brian Chase

A Flagstaff, Arizona aircraft accident about 130 miles north of Phoenix, between two Bell 407 medical helicopters has killed six people and seriously injured a nurse, according to a report in The Examiner.com.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman Mark Rosenker stated this was the ninth accident this year involving emergency medical service (EMS) aircraft and called it a “disturbing trend.” An NTSB spokesman said EMS helicopter accidents accounted for six of the nine accidents this year and have killed 16 people.

Capt. Mark Johnson, a spokesman for the Flagstaff Fire Department said the helicopter collision happened between one helicopter coming out of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and another from the nearby community of Winslow. Both were carrying patients to the Flagstaff Medical Center. Air Methods from Englewood, Colorado and Classic Helicopters of Woods Cross, Utah were reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) to be the respective owners of the aircrafts.
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Published on: July 31, 2008

Family of Drowned Autistic Girl Sues Desert Hot Springs Caregiver

By Brian Chase

The father of an autistic 5-year-old girl, who drowned in an after-school program for special needs children in Desert Hot Springs, has filed a lawsuit against Angel View Crippled Children’s Center demanding answers and accountability in his daughter’s swimming pool accident death, according to this news report. Anyah Raven Glossinger of Cathedral City reportedly drowned in a mineral pool Jan. 23 after participating in a hydrotherapy session at the center.

The lawsuit filed by Micheal Glossinger, Anyah’s father, alleged that the school’s staff failed to place a life-saving vest on Anyah, who was legally blind, diagnosed with low-functioning autism and could not swim. Glossinger said in a news release that the Riverside County wrongful death lawsuit “won’t erase the pain or bring Anyah back, but it will help hold those responsible for Anyah’s death accountable for their actions.”

I offer my deepest condolences to Anyah’s family for their loss. The incident was ruled a fatal accident and no criminal charges were filed by authorities. The parents and their attorney believe that the caregivers at the school were not monitoring Anyah’s care and are seeking punitive damages in their wrongful death lawsuit.
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Published on: July 30, 2008

Honda Goldwing Motorcycle Accident Injures California Man

By Brian Chase

Dennis Garton, the Undersheriff of Tehama County, California, suffered severe injuries in an off-duty motorcycle accident in Nevada during a cross-country ride on his Honda Goldwing. According to a news report in the Corning Observer, the valve stem on the rear tire of Garton’s motorcycle was cut off resulting in a rapid loss of air. That reportedly caused Garton’s motorcycle to go into a wobble before he was forced to lay it down on the pavement.

Garton suffered severe injuries following the motorcycle accident including a concussion, fractured vertebrae in his back and neck, a broken foot, broken hand, fractured ribs and road rash. He is expected to recover, thankfully..

There have been no known recalls on Honda Goldwing tires or valve stems that I am aware of or could find in a cursor search, but there have been comments and reports of tire problems on Web sites for motorcycle enthusiasts. One motorcycle enthusiast website talks about a situation that seems identical to what happened to Garton. A consumer says that his friend’s mother-in-law died after the Goldwing that she was a passenger on suffered a tire valve stem failure, causing an immediate flat. The Goldwing reportedly had a right-angled valve stem.

Another site lists a complaint from a consumer in Mason, Illinois, that the tires on his 2003 Honda Goldwing were rough and vibrated when turning the motorcycle. The consumer also complained that in time tires may experience tread separation. The consumer added that when he contacted the dealer and manufacturer about the problem, they said there was nothing they could do about the tires.
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Published on: July 30, 2008

Discovery Bay Boating Accident Kills One, Critically Injures Another

By Brian Chase

Jill Hullen, 47, of Discovery Bay died and her 14-year-old son suffered critical injuries after their personal watercraft collided with a 23-foot boat in Discovery Bay, according to a news report in the Contra Costa Times. Rescue personnel airlifted the boy to an area hospital after the California boating accident and later found his mother’s body 60 feet from the shoreline.

The article quoted David Piepho, town director of Discoery Bay, who said the area where Indian Slough passes over the north end of Discovery Bay can be dangerous because of the heavy amount of recreational traffic. According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Marine Patrol office, the driver of the bigger boat and his passengers were uninjured.

The California Department of Boating and Waterways recently released its “2007 California Boating Safety Report” providing data about boating accidents, injuries and deaths reported in 2007. According to this report California ranks first among all states for boating accidents, and when you consider that there are 964,881 registered recreational vessels in California, it is a wonder that the number isn’t higher.

My heart goes out to the Hullen family. Let’s keep the Hullen boy in our prayers for a complete and quick recovery.
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Published on: July 29, 2008

Grandfather and Grandson Drown In Selma Community Pool

By Brian Chase

A 67-year-old man and his grandson drowned in a Selma swimming pool accident, according to an ABC News report. The drowning occurred at the McCall Village mobile home park on Dinuba near McCall. Police said the boy was swimming with both of his grandparents when his grandmother left for a short while to get some things from home. When she returned she saw her husband at the bottom of the pool and the grandson floating on top.

No one saw the drowning happen so police are still trying to figure out how it occurred. We’ll probably never find out how the boy and his grandfather drowned. I offer my deepest condolences to the family.

While swimming pools are fun, they can also be deadly. According to a release from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, there were 3,852 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States in 2005. More than one in four fatal drowning victims were children 14 and younger. And for every four who die from drowning, another four received emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries, near drownings. Nonfatal swimming pool injuries include brain damage that could result in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities and permanent loss of basic functions.
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Published on: July 28, 2008

Digitek (Digoxin) Product Liability Lawsuits Filed Against Actavis Totowa

By Brian Chase

An Ohio man has filed a federal product liability lawsuit against a West Virginia pharmaceutical company after he reportedly suffered severe side effects as a result of taking Digitek, a recently recalled pharmaceutical drug designed as a heart medicine manufactured by Actavis Totowa LLC. The medicine also known as Digoxin, is distributed by Mylan Pharmaceuticals, according to this news report. Earlier this year, Actavis Totowa LLC recalled all lots Digitek because the tablets contained twice the approved level of the active ingredient.

The lawsuit states that there have been at least 11 complaints relating to Digitek’s side effects, including illnesses and injuries, since 2006. Joe Supinski, who filed the lawsuit, said he started taking the drug for an irregular heart rhythm, but after taking the prescribed dosage, he reportedly experienced visual changes, blurred vision, loss of appetite, low blood pressure, breathing difficulties and other health problems.

Mr. Supinski was not alone in his suffering. Bobbie Dyal and Robert Dyal, an Alabama couple, are also filing a similar lawsuit against the drug manufacturer. According to this lawsuit, Bobbie Dyal suffered permanent heart damage because of digitalis toxicity, a lethal reaction to Digoxin overdose.

We have a number of clients who lost a family member to Digitek (Digoxin) overdose caused by the double dosage of the active ingredient by the manufacturer. We have been in contact with even more people who believe that they have suffered severe side effects from the drug and are considering filing lawsuits. We are in the process of gathering the medical evidence to substantiate their pharmaceutical litigation cases before filing our own lawsuits.
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Published on: July 25, 2008

Buena Park Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers

By Brian Chase

Buena Park, California is a city located in northwestern Orange County. This beautiful municipality is adjacent to the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana, Orange County’s two most populace cities. With tourist destinations like Knott’s Berry Farm, Medieval Times Dinner Theater, and a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum, the city is a popular destination for southern California residents. However, with this influx of people on the streets of this burg on a daily basis, comes the increased instances of Buena Park auto accidents.

The Buena Park personal injury attorneys at Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys have been helping those injured in this area find justice for over 30 years. The wealth of experience of the orange county personal injury attorneys at Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not limited to auto accident cases. Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys attorneys have helped assess, file and win all types of personal injury claims for their clients. Be it a Buena Park wrongful death claim, a product or premises liability case, or brain injury suffered during a slip and fall accident, the experienced California personal injury attorneys at Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys have the knowledge and resources to help insure the best result for your case.

The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys law firm exclusively represents injured people and wronged consumers. If this is the type of team you want on your side, call 1-800-598-6998.

Published on: July 25, 2008

Stockton Fatal Auto Accident Investigation Turns Murky

By Brian Chase

California Highway Patrol officials in Stockton are taking back their preliminary determination in an auto accident investigation where two men died in a broadside crash. Initially, based on some eyewitness reports, officials said that 21-year-old Alvaro Gutierrez was speeding, ran a red light and broadsided 28-year-old Jose Reyes who was driving a 1992 Acura.

But now, according to a news report in the Stockton Record, CHP officials are saying that they have been getting contradictory eyewitness reports about the accident and don’t know exactly who caused the accident, which occurred at the intersection of North Wilson Way, Newton and McAllen roads.

CHP Officer Adrian Quintero said officials now don’t know which direction or at what speed each vehicle was traveling or who even had the right of way. They won’t know until they take a closer look at the physical evidence, including a pending toxicology test that will tell them whether alcohol or drugs were involved in the auto accident.
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