5 out of 5 on
Santa Barbara Man Struck and Killed by Motorist
http://www.independent.com/news/2010/may/17/homeless-man-killed-traffic-accident/?print
A Santa Barbara man was struck by a car and killed on Saturday evening, the Santa Barbara Independent reports. The accident occurred at State and Islay Streets around 8:30 pm. The victim, who was homeless and whose identity has yet to be released, was crossing the intersection of State and Islay Streets as Javier Castillo, 23, proceeded northbound on State Street in a 2004 Mazda RX-8. Castillo told investigators he believed the man was going to make it across the intersection on foot before he reached it by vehicle; however, he miscalculated and struck the victim.
The victim sustained a broken leg and chest wounds before passing away from his injuries at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
According to police, witnesses have substantiated Castillo’s account of how the incident occurred, and to date no criminal charges have been filed against him. The investigation is still ongoing, however, and any witnesses to the accident should contact Officer Mark Hunt at (805) 897-3719.
If you’ve been forced to cope with sudden loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, we at the Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand understand your concerns and want to help. Our resources, experience, and depth of legal knowledge consistently result in successful settlements for families who have experienced tremendous loss. Contact Los Angeles and Santa Barbara wrongful death attorneys today for a free consultation.
Lawsuit Filed Against LAPD Following Deadly Crash
The parents of Devin Leigh Petelski, who was killed following a car crash with a Los Angeles Police Department Patrol car on October 15, 2009, have filed a lawsuit against the police department, the LA Times reports.
Petelski, who was 25 at the time of the incident and working as a substance abuse counselor, had entered the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Glyndon Avenue when a patrol car, driven by LAPD officers Ramon Vasquez and James Eldridge on Venice Boulevard, struck Petelski’s vehicle. The accident spun the police car, which slammed into a tree and traffic sign. Petelski was hospitalized and died two days after the accident from her injuries.
The Petelski’s lawsuit alleges negligence, citing that the patrol car was driving above the posted speed limit of forty miles per hour and that the officers were using neither lights nor sirens to warn other motorists as they sped. According to LAPD Commander Stuart Maislin, the police department had recently implemented a policy before the crash that required all officers to use both lights and sirens when exceeding the speed limit in response to an emergency. Vasquez and Eldridge were responding to a burglary call, however they had not told dispatchers that they were responding to the call, and there was another unit that had already been dispatched to respond.
If you have lost a loved one in an a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, please contact experienced and compassionated wrongful death attorneys who will fight for your legal rights during your time of need. At the Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand, we offer free consultations and you won’t pay legal fees until we successfully settle your case.
Dana Point Girl In Critical Condition Following Hit and Run Incident
http://www.ocregister.com/news/girl-248396-year-old.html
Seven-year-old Tabatha Cope remains in critical condition today after she was struck by a hit and run driver while skateboarding with friends on Monday evening, the Orange County Register reports.
Tabatha, of Dana Point, was playing in a group of fifteen to twenty children on Silver Lantern Street and La Paz Avenue at approximately 6:30 pm on Monday, when she was struck by a light-colored raised pick up truck. The truck’s driver did not stop following the collision and has not contacted authorities.
Tabatha sustained serious injuries in the incident, including a broken collarbone, broken ribs, the loss of most of her teeth, and a lacerated liver. Tabatha’s father, Joseph Cope, urged the hit and run driver to come forward.
Our thoughts and best wishes are with this Tabatha as she recovers from her injuries.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a hit and run driver, please contact experienced accident attorneys today to learn about your legal rights to monetary compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and future care and treatment. At the Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand, you pay no attorney fees until we win your case.
Motorcyclist in Critical Condition Following Crash
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/may/09/simi-valley-man-critically-injured-in-motorcycle/?print=1
Bill Williams, of Simi Valley sustained serious injuries in a motorcycle crash on Sunday, the Ventura County Start reports. Williams, age 35, was operating an off-road motorcycle on the 2500 block of Angela Street when he collided with a parked car and injured his head, leg, and arm.
Witnesses state that Williams was attempting a wheel stand when the accident occurred. He was not wearing a helmet.
According to the NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008, “5,290 motorcyclists were killed—an increase of 2 percent over the 5,174 motorcyclists killed in 2007. There were 96,000 motorcyclists injured during 2008”. Further, “NHTSA estimates that helmets saved 1,829 motorcyclists’ lives in 2008, and that 823 more could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.” These staggering statistics substantiate the need for helmets to protect motorcyclists during accidents.
May 2010 is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and we at the Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand urge both motorcyclists and vehicle drivers to be aware of motorcycle safety during this time. For example, motorcyclists may benefit from taking rider-training programs dedicated to lowering crash rates. Vehicle drivers and the general public can prepare for the summer months where the number of motorcycle riders will increase on busy highways and roads, necessitating an attitude of all drivers and riders to be willing to share the road.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact experienced motorcycle attorneys today for a free consultation.
Garden Grove Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Car
http://www.ocregister.com/news/hit-247500-street-car.html
A man was killed Wednesday afternoon following a pedestrian to car accident on Ward Street in Garden Grove, the Orange County Register reports.
According to the article, the pedestrian was crossing a marked crosswalk at approximately 4 pm when a car traveling northbound on Ward Street failed to stop at the cross walk and struck the unidentified pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident.
Police state that drugs and alcohol were not a factor in causing the accident, however, gave few additional details as to how the incident occurred.
If you have been the victim in a pedestrian to car accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for lost earnings, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Contact skilled personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation and to learn how Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand will fight for your legal rights.
Los Angeles Police Office Seeks to Crack Down on Distracted Drivers’ Destruction
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-lopezcolumn-20100503,0,4276097,full.column
Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez teamed up with Los Angeles Police Officer Kamaron Sardar this week on a mission to catch distracted drivers. Lopez’s editorial, which appeared in the Times on Monday, highlighted four of the many citations issued during his traffic observation with Sardar at Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz.
According to Lopez, it took only five minutes for the duo to spot their first distracted driver, who was talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device. Sardar went on to write four citations within a one-hour time period.
According to distraction.gov, a US Department of Transportation website, there are three primary types of distracted driving: Visual (taking one’s eyes off the road), Manual (taking one’s hands of the wheel), and Cognitive (taking one’s mind off of what one is doing). Distracted driving activities include talking or texting on a cell phone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading maps, changing the radio station, or using a navigational device. According to the website, there were nearly 6,000 deaths in accidents related to distracted driving in 2008, with an additional 515,000 injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident due to a distracted driver’s negligence, please contact experienced and aggressive personal injury attorneys today to learn about your legal options. At Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand, we offer free consultations and no fees until we win your case.
Learn more about our Personal Injury Law Firm:
Man Struck and Killed by Train in San Diego
http://www.latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/04/a-coaster-commuter-train-struck
The Los Angeles Times reports today that a man died Tuesday night after being struck by a train in the 1600 block of Coast Boulevard in Del Mar. The victim, whose name was not disclosed, was from the state of Washington and had been dog sitting in Del Mar.
According to the train’s engineer, the man continued to walk slowly across the train tracks even after he had sounded the horn. Although the engineer applied the brakes, the train, which extended four feet beyond the tracks on either side, clipped the man after he made it across the tracks.
At the Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand, we work aggressively to find answers and to recover maximum compensation for clients injured in train accidents. We understand that an accident can disrupt the lives of the injured and all those involved. Although we can’t undo the pain and suffering caused by an accident, we can work towards easing the financial burden associated with it.
Contact experienced train accident attorneys today for a free consultation.
Teenager Files Claim Against the City of Costa Mesa After Traffic Accident
An 18-year-old San Clemente resident has filed a $42,000 claim against the city of Costa Mesa following a traffic accident at Fairview Road and Fair Drive that occurred on November 18, 2009, the Los Angeles Times reports.
In her claim, Katelyn Obbards states that she was riding her bicycle eastbound on Fair Drive at the Fairview Road intersection, and, as she crossed the intersection through a green light, the traffic signal changed from yellow to red in a few quick seconds, causing her to be hit from behind by a car traveling northbound on Fairview who accelerated when the signal opposing Obbards turned green.
As a result of the incident, Obbards suffered injuries including the loss of several teeth, facial lacerations, a fractured back, and a herniated disc. According to Obbard’s attorney, a police officer that arrived at the scene of the accident had commented that the timing on the traffic signals was off.
It is the city’s responsibility to ensure that traffic signals function properly. If the signal was in fact off on the night of Obbard’s accident, the city of Costa Mesa may be held liable for her injuries and damages, including medical treatment, lost wages, and pain suffering.
If you have been injured on city property due to negligent conditions, please contact experienced, aggressive personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation.
Doctor Brings Suit Against Allergen Following Botox Injections
http://inyourface.freedomblogging.com/2010/04/18/doctor-sues-claiming-botox-caused-years-of-pain/16761/
An Oklahoma doctor has filed the second recent lawsuit against Botox manufacturer Allergen, the Orange County Register reports. Dr. Sharla Helton, 47, alleges that the Botox injections she received in 2006 to alleviate wrinkles caused physical symptoms that included weakness, shortness of breath, double vision, and arm, hand, and foot pain.
Allergen denies that Botox injections caused Dr. Helton’s symptoms.
There are at least five other plaintiffs who have filed suits against Allergen, according to the article. Helton’s attorney, Ray Chester, recently tried another case against Allergen regarding Botox injections and lost. In that case, a young girl stricken with cerebral palsy was administered Botox injections to relax her limbs. Allergen paid for the girl’s physician (and many other doctors nationwide) to be trained to inject an amount of Botox in patients that was equivalent to an overdose. The girl later died of respiratory failure, which Allergen’s attorney successfully argued could not be conclusively linked to the Botox injections as the cause of her death.
Court documents reveal that in 2005, a year before the girl began Botox treatments, Allergen reported 38 patients who had suffered seizures following Botox injections to the Federal Drug Administration, including nearly 20 children with cerebral palsy.
As Helton’s trial gets underway in the next month, Chester will seek again to prove Allergen’s negligence in disclosing the risks of using Botox.
If you or a loved one has suffered physical injuries after a drug manufacturer failed to disclose its side effects and risks, please contact compassionate, experienced product liability attorneys who will aggressively fight to bring your case to justice. All initial consultations are free, and you won’t pay attorney fees until we win your case.
Bicyclist Injured in San Diego Crash
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/17/woman-injured-in-bike-accident-by-utc/
A 24-year-old San Diego woman was seriously injured on Saturday in a bicycle to car collision on Genesee Avenue at La Jolla Village Drive, the San Diego Tribune reports.
The woman, whose name has not yet been released, was riding her bicycle northbound on Genesee when she was struck by a sedan traveling westbound on La Jolla Village Drive. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, although police have determined that alcohol was not a contributing factor.
Many details of this accident remain unclear. Which person had the right of way? Was distracted driving (eating, texting, talking on a cell phone while driving) a factor? Did dangerous road conditions cause either the biker or driver to swerve? By answering these questions, we may begin to see a clearer picture of who was at fault in this situation.
At the Law Offices of Renee J. Nordstrand, we put 20 years worth of knowledge, success and resources to work toward helping victims of negligence recover fair compensation for bicycle and car accidents. Call us today for a free consultation.