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Fatal Car Accident on the 22
http://www.ocregister.com/news/-236224–.html
A tragic car accident in Orange killed 30-year-old Lorena Mancinas Wednesday, the Orange County Register reports.
According to the news article, Mancinas was driving westbound on the 22 at around 4:20 p.m., when another car, driven by Young Woo Lee, 26, switched into Mancinas’ lane and clipped her right rear wheel, causing Mancinas’ vehicle to spin off the roadway and go over the guardrail. Mancinas was pronounced dead at the scene.
I extend my deepest condolences to the families of all parties involved in this terrible accident.
The Fatality Analysis Reporting System Encyclopedia reports that in 2008 alone there were 34,017 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States. Of these crashes, 18.9% occurred in areas where the speed limit was 60 M.P.H. or higher, as it is on the 22 highway.
If you’ve lost a loved one due to a car accident, and you believe someone else is responsible for causing the crash, please contact experienced car accident attorneys today to determine your legal options. At Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand, our attorneys have decades of experience in handling personal injury and wrongful death claims that arise from car accidents, and we will fight aggressively to pursue fair and just compensation for accident victims and their families.
Studies Shows Half of America’s 20 Most Dangerous Roads Are Located in California
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/feb/06/simple-steps-for-staying-alive/
A recent study by the Scripps Howard News Service finds that 10 of America’s 20 most dangerous roads (in terms of highest number of fatalities) are located in California, the Ventura County Star reports. The top three most dangerous roads are all in Los Angeles. What makes California susceptible to so many dangerous roads and traffic deaths? According to the California Department of Transportation; speeding, drinking, and unfastened seat belts are the common causes for California’s high ranking.
Statistics
According to the Star, there have been nearly 320 drunken-driving related deaths from 1994-2008 in Ventura County. In the same time period, over 260 deaths have involved unfastened seat belts, and 220 have involved speeding. 37.6% of all traffic fatalities occurred on state highways, and nearly 200 fatalities occurred on Saturday- the most fatalities of any day of the week.
Your Legal Options
The best way to practice driving safety is to take simple steps to ensure that preventable accidents caused by the most common factors do not occur. However, even the safest drivers, who always wear a seatbelt, drive within the speed limit, don’t drive intoxicated, and limit driving distractions such as cell phones or eating while driving, aren’t immune to car accidents. Sometimes accidents are simply unavoidable due to the conduct of other drivers and road conditions. When an accident occurs beyond your control, you may be entitled to monetary compensation to cover your injuries and damages. Experienced, aggressive personal injury attorneys will pursue legal action to obtain compensation for medical appointments, missed time from work, and future care and treatment. Call today to set up a free consultation.
Ventura County Seeks to Address Number of Traffic Fatalities, Raise Awareness
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/feb/06/a-chance-we-all-take-daily-asdfasdfaaaaaaaaaa/
A comprehensive examination of car accidents by the Ventura County Star and the Scripps Howard News Service reveals that three factors contribute time and again to traffic fatalities across the country, as well as in Ventura County.
In the Star’s study of 627, 433 nationwide traffic fatalities over a span of 14 years (1994 through 2008), thirty percent of fatal accidents involved drunken drivers. Thirty- two percent involved drivers who were traveling at an unsafe speed. Forty-three percent of traffic fatalities were not wearing seat belts. Further, many accidents involved a combination of two or all three factors. These statistics correspond with the countywide statistics of 1,096 deaths from traffic incidents during the same time period.
According to the article, driving is one of the most dangerous activities of daily living, however, awareness of its inherent risks is low and often ignored. As the number of distracted drivers on the roads continues to rise with the onset of cell phone applications, text messaging, and a culture consumed by busyness and activity, cars and commutes have shifted from simply a means of transportation to extensions of one’s life at the office or home. Distracted drivers will surely factor into future statistics on the primary causes of traffic accidents.
In the midst of overwhelming statistics, please do your part to eliminate car accidents by driving undistracted, wearing a seat belt, and maintaining the speed limit.
Serious car accidents can severely affect a person’s life, through physical injuries, medical expenses, a loss of transportation, and emotional stress. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, exercise your legal rights and call Los Angeles Car Accident Attorneys today. If you’ve lost a loved one in a traffic collision, experienced car accident attorneys can help. We will protect your legal rights so that you are free to focus your attention on the grieving process and family. Call today for a free consultation.
Trolley, Mail Van Collide and Injure Two
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/03/two-injured-in-trolley-vehicle-crash/
A trolley and U.S. postal service van collided Wednesday morning, injuring two people, including a man in a wheelchair, the San Diego Tribune reports.
The crash occurred at Park Boulevard and G Street in downtown San Diego when the trolley was proceeding through a green light, northbound on Park Boulevard, trolley passenger John Lyman reported. The mail van, which was traveling on G Street, did not stop with the rest of traffic at the intersection and struck the trolley, the witness recounted.
While police are still investigating the official cause of this incident, it appears that the postal van may have been at fault for failing to stop at a red light at the traffic intersection of Park Boulevard and G Street. Contributing factors such as inattention, use of a cell phone, or the use of alcohol and drugs are still unknown.
If you have sustained injuries in a car accident due to another driver’s negligent actions, please contact aggressive car accident attorneys to pursue your claim today.
Head on Crash Critically Injures Two
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jan/26/head-crash-reported-state-route-67-lakeside/
A head on car collision has critically injured two in Lakeside, the San Diego Tribune reports. The accident occurred today on Route 67, north of Willow Road, at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Initial reports describe a grey sedan swerving into oncoming traffic and colliding head-on with another vehicle. The reports also states that at least two people were extricated from their vehicles following the crash.
In this particular situation, there are many details that we do not yet know. The report does not state if the driver who swerved was speeding, using a cell phone, or under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Initially, we do not know if the road conditions contributed to the crash. The road could have been wet and slick from recent rain, or another obstruction could have blocked the sedan’s path, causing the driver to swerve into oncoming traffic.
Whatever the case may be, I wish a fast recovery to all injured parties.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, and you believe another party is at fault, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney today to learn more about your legal rights and how you may be entitled to compensation.
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.