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San Diego Teen Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Fatal Crash that Killed Friend
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/11/teen-pleads-guilty-manslaughter-fatal-crash/
A seventeen-year-old high school student, who caused a car accident that killed his friend while driving under the influence of alcohol, has pled guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter, the San Diego Tribune reports.
The youth, who was not identified, was traveling at speeds of up to 79 mph in a 45 mph zone when the crash occurred. His blood alcohol content was 0.11; the legal limit for adults over the age of 21 is .08.
Adults who plead guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter are normally sentenced to 12 years of jail time. Because he is a youth, he will most likely receive less than 12 years of custody, if any jail time at all.
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), drivers aged 15 to 20 have nearly 20 more fatal crashes than any other age group. Additionally, drunk driving traffic crashes have costs an estimated $19 billion dollars in the United States.
If someone you or someone you know has been the victim of a drunk driving accident, please call an experienced and compassionate attorney who will explain your options and fight to recover compensation.
Two Car Accidents in Oxnard Claim the Lives of Four People
Two Oxnard car accidents killed four people Tuesday night, the Ventura County Star reports.
The first incident, which occurred when a vehicle carrying three passengers spun out of control and struck the center median and a palm tree, trapped the driver and passengers inside the car. All three passengers died at the scene and the driver remains in critical condition as of this morning at St. John’s Regional Medical Center.Oxnard,
The second incident involved a 73-year-old pedestrian who attempted to cross the street outside of a marked crosswalk and was struck by a car. The pedestrian later died at St. John’s Regional Medical Center.
Police are still investigating the cause of both of the crashes. In each incident, there are many unanswered questions that could help determine the cause of the accident. For instance, did alcohol, drugs, or the use of a cell phone play a role in either incident? Recent studies have shown that the cause of one-third of car accidents today is distracted drivers. Oftentimes, cell phone calls or text messaging are the sources of such distraction that can result in deadly accidents. Other questions to ask are whether there were hazardous road conditions or construction that prevented the drivers from safely operating their vehicles, whether all traffic signals and streetlights were working properly (both accidents occurred after dusk) and whether there where any maintenance problems with either car that hindered the drivers from safely operating their vehicles. In the case of the pedestrian-car accident, another question to ask is whether or not the pedestrian was hindered from safely crossing the street due to any of the previous circumstances.
As these questions begin to be answered by police investigators, I offer my sympathies and wishes to the families of those victims who tragically lost their lives.
If you have lost a loved one as a result of a car accident and you believe someone else may be responsible for causing the accident, please contact an Oxnard injury attorney today for a free consultation.
Source: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2009/nov/11/morning-report-4-killed-1-critical-in-2-oxnard/
Family Files $75 Million Claim Against City of Westminster
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/adam-wilhite-accident-2627369-intersection-street
Kurt Wilhite, the father of a Westminster teen who remains in a coma after being struck by a car over one year ago, has filed a $75 million claim against the city, the Orange County Register reports. The claim alleges that the intersection where Adam Wilhite, 17, crossed illegally and was struck by a car did not have proper signage or lighting and was thereby a dangerous road condition and safety hazard to pedestrians.
Adam, who once aspired to be a Navy Seal, remains in a level three coma and will require constant care for the rest of his life.The City of Westminster has denied the claim. The woman who hit Adam has not been cited or criminally charged. The police report indicates that the street was well lit at the time of the incident, and that Adam caused the accident by crossing illegally and failing to yield to oncoming traffic.
However, supporters of the Wilhites argue that the intersection where Adam crossed was very close to a local high school where many Westminster students cross the street illegally on a daily basis just to get to school. Because there are no nearby crosswalks, the road conditions are dangerous and pedestrians do not have a safe way to cross the street.
The City is responsible for maintaining safe road conditions that protect both pedestrians and drivers. Failure to install proper safety measures, including “Don’t Walk” signs in areas where it is unsafe for pedestrians to cross, are indicators of dangerous road conditions that can lead to traffic accidents, and terrible tragedies such as this.
Experienced personal injury attorneys can help you determine who is liable when situations involving unsafe road conditions arise. Please contact a Southern California law office if you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident for a free consultation.
High Speed Crash Leads to Toyota Recall
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/oct/26/bn26saylor13229/?metro&zIndex=189353
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report released on the San Diego car crash that killed four people this summer has revealed that the accelerator and gas pedal design were significant factors in causing the crash. The family was driving a loaner Lexus vehicle from Bob Baker El Cajon at the time. Investigators believe that the floor mat may have been incorrectly installed and stuck to the pedal, causing acceleration of speeds of up to 120 m.p.h.
The crash, which occurred on August 28, killed a veteran CHP officer and his wife, daughter, and brother-in-law. Just seconds before crashing, one of the passengers called 9-1-1, stating that their gas pedal was stuck and they were traveling at 120 m.p.h. Witnesses reported seeing flames coming from the front and back tires, indicating significant amounts of breaking.
Shortly after the crash, Toyota, which manufactures Lexus, recalled 3.8 million vehicles, citing floor mats that could cause uncontrollable acceleration.
In this situation, both the manufacturing company, Toyota, and the dealership, Bob Baker El Cajon, could potentially be held liable for the unwanted acceleration that caused this terrible tragedy. In continuing the investigation, it is important to determine whether the floor mat was installed by the manufacturer or at the dealership, as well as to uncover any other factors that could have led to the crash, such as a technological problems or a system malfunction. The surviving family members can contact expert wrongful death attorneys, who have the knowledge, experience, and skill to fight for and achieve monetary compensation for medical and funeral expenses.
Wrong Way Pick Up Driver Causes Crash on the 101 Freeway
http://www.independent.com/news/2009/sep/23/accident-101-kills-one-snarls-traffic/
A Verizon truck going southbound on the northbound 101 freeway caused a six-car crash and one death yesterday in Santa Barbara, according to the Santa Barbara Independent.
At approximately 6 a.m., the Verizon truck entered the 101 heading the wrong direction near near Glen Annie Road in Goleta. Ten minutes after entering the freeway, the truck struck a white van, killing the driver. Six other vehicles were involved in the crash, leaving two people moderately injured and three others with minor injuries.
According the U.S. Department of Transportation, an average of 350 people are killed annually due to wrong-way freeway crashes. The Transportation Department’s website lists California as one of the few states taking initiative to combat this serious problem with ramp design, signage, and other safety improvements.
A 1989 California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) study found that drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol were responsible for 76.8% of fatal wrong way car crashes. In a crash such as this, one of the first questions to ask is whether drugs or alcohol impaired the wrong-way driver. Officials who are still investigating the accident have not said publically whether alcohol or drugs were a factor.
The crash victims and their families deserve answers. With knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorneys, those injured in the crash can be compensated for medical expenses and lost earnings from work. The family of the deceased victim may be able to file a wrongful death claim as well.
Bride-to-Be Injured in Head on Collision on Highway 126
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/sep/18/two-people-injured-in-highway-126-head-on/
A twenty-four year old Piru woman scheduled to be married last Sunday was seriously injured in an automobile collision last Saturday afternoon on Highway 126 near Powell Road and Piru.
Suzy Yoguez, 24, was driving westbound on Highway 126 when a 25-year-old driver who was heading eastbound drifted into oncoming traffic and struck Yoguez’s car. Yoguez had to be extricated from her car and was taken to the Ventura County Medical Center.
The other driver was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, also with serious injuries.
At present, the crash is still under investigation.
In 2007, there were 19,943 injuries due to head on collisions in California, according to the California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.
Ms. Youguez’s family should seek a personal injury attorney who can determine why the other driver drifted into oncoming traffic. Was he driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Did he fall asleep at the wheel? Was he distracted by a cell phone call or text message? There are many possible explanations as to why the driver swerved into the westbound lane. An experienced attorney can determine the facts surrounding a case and pursue your right to fair compensation.
Accidents are Number #1 Threat to Young Children
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/sep/13/accidents-are-no-1-killer-young-kids/?metro&zIndex=165082
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, approximately 25 children (under the age of 15) are killed annually in San Diego County due to drowning, motor vehicle accidents, and falls.
Especially notable are the 30 drowning incidents in San Diego County in the month of July alone. Drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1-4.
After age 4, motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death.
These statistics are nerve-wrecking to any parent. You can take steps to ensure your child’s safety. Never leave a child alone or unattended at the pool. Children under the age of 14 should not sit in the front seat of a car and always wear their seat belt correctly.
If your child has been injured in a drowning or motor-vehicle accident, Santa Barbara child injury lawyers can help.