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Thirteen Year old Pedestrian Struck and Killed By Car on the PCH
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/04/fatal-malibu-pedestrian-accident.html
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials are continuing to search for witnesses to a fatal car to pedestrian accident on the Pacific Coast Highway on Saturday. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, 13-year-old Emily Rose Shane was walking northbound on the right side of the Pacific Coast Highway near Kanan Dume Road when she was struck and killed by a car driven by Sina Khankhanian, 26.
Authorities believe Khankhanian may have purposefully crashed his vehicle, although he did not intend to strike the victim. Anyone who witnessed the accident or has information may call the investigating Sheriff’s Department at (323) 890-5500.
This article does not give many details on how the accident occurred. Many questions arise from the lack of information, such as whether the driver was distracted, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or facing road conditions that may have caused him to swerve suddenly. As the Sheriff’s Department continues their investigation, some of these details may come to light and help piece together why this terrible accident occurred.
If you have lost a loved one in a car to pedestrian accident, please contact wrongful death and car accident attorneys who can answer your questions and explain your legal rights.
Apellate Panel Overturns Ruling in Fatal Los Angeles Car Accident
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-trucker7-2010apr07,0,6659360.story
An appellate panel from the 2nd District Court of Appeal overturned a ruling by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge regarding second degree murder charges in a 2009 big rig to car accident on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Marcos Barbosa Costa, 44, of Everett, Massachusetts, drove a big rig on the Angeles Crest Highway into La Cañada Flintridge on April 1, 2009 despite the fact that his brakes were not working properly. Costa passed two truck turnouts, where he could have safely stopped his truck, before his brakes eventually gave out and his truck struck a compact car, instantly killing its driver and passenger.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench dismissed second-degree murder counts against Costa in October, however the prosecution appealed her ruling and the three justice appellate panel found there was sufficient evidence that Costa was aware of the condition of his brakes and continued to operate his vehicle despite the risk it presented to himself and others.
This tragic car accident could have been prevented. Each day, there are hundreds of car accidents in Los Angeles that could be averted by taking basic safety precautions. When someone else’s negligence or lack of precaution causes you to be the victim in a car accident, contact experienced personal injury attorneys to learn more about your legal options and how we will fight for you to recover compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, and future care and treatment.
Ventura Teen Struck by Car
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/mar/05/police-identify-buena-high-school-student-struck-c/
17-year-old Candice Fulcher was struck and critically injured by a vehicle while running across an intersection to catch a school bus on Thursday, the Ventura County Star reports.
According to witnesses, Fulcher, of Ventura, was crossing north Telephone Road in a crosswalk against a red light when a car driven by 24-year-old Monique Rodriguez, also of Ventura, struck her. Rodriguez was not cited for the crash and was fully cooperative with authorities. Fulcher is currently being treated at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
One witness to the incident noted that he often sees students crossing the same intersection against a red light in order to catch the school bus on Petit Avenue, highlighting an area in which school district and city officials may need to improve student safety and facilitate discussion on student bus stops.
I wish the victim a full and speedy recovery from her injuries.
Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand has successfully handled numerous cases involving pedestrians and motor vehicles. If a car has injured you as a pedestrian, please contact experienced personal injury attorneys today to discuss your legal options. We offer free consultations and there are no legal fees to pay unless you win.
Amtrak Train Collides with Pick Up Truck in Moorpark
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/mar/01/train-hits-truck-near-moorpark/
36-year-old Joseph Tillery was killed Monday morning when the pick up truck he was driving collided with a westbound Amtrak train on Highway 118 near Hitch Boulevard at the Peach Hill Soils crossing, the Ventura County Star reports.
Tillery’s car was pushed a quarter mile down the tracks after being broadsided by the Amtrak surfliner train, which was carrying 125 passengers at the time of the crash. There were no injuries reported onboard the train.
The Peach Tree Soils crossing, which is a private railroad crossing with no signals or railroad gates, had already been scheduled to receive public funding to improve the crossing’s safety –including installing devices to warn drivers who cross the tracks of oncoming trains. According to the Ventura County Transportation Commission, two other private railroad crossings have already been improved thanks to public funding in the past five years.
This is a terrible tragedy and I offer my deepest sympathies to Mr. Tillery’s loved ones in this time of loss.
If you have lost a loved one in a train accident, I encourage you to contact compassionate, veteran personal injury and wrongful death attorneys to learn more about your legal options. Our experienced attorneys expertly determine whether another entity is responsible for your losses, and will fight to obtain compensation for funeral expenses as well as pain and suffering. Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand offers confidential, free consultations.
Woman Injured on Huntington Beach Sidewalk Files Claim for $100,000
https://www.ocregister.com/2010/02/26/woman-who-fractured-femur-on-sidewalk-wants-10000/
A seventy-one year old Huntington Beach resident has filed a claim against the city of Huntington Beach following a sidewalk fall, the Orange County Register reports.
Sharon R. Peterson fractured her femur when she fell while walking on Modal Drive on October 7, 2009, the claim states. An uneven portion of sidewalk caused Peterson’s fall. She claims the city was negligent in its maintenance and proper care for the sidewalk.
This incident is a clear example of a premises liability case. These cases occur when an injury is caused by hazardous property conditions or property owner negligence. In this situation, the city of Huntington Beach was negligent in maintaining the city sidewalks, and therefore may be held liable for the injuries sustained on city property.
If you have been injured due to dangerous property conditions, please contact experienced premises liability attorneys today for a free consultation.
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.
21 Year Old Found Guilty of Second Degree Murder Following DUI Crash
https://www.ocregister.com/2010/02/16/woman-21-guilty-of-murder-in-fatal-dui-crash/
Twenty-one year old Brittany Schuetz of Santa Ana was found guilty of second-degree murder following a car crash that killed twenty-six year old April Whang in February 2009, according to the Orange County Register. Schuetz was driving with a blood alcohol level of five times the legal limit when she ran a red light at Beach Boulevard and Imperial Highway in La Habra, slamming into Whang’s car as it passed through the intersection on a green light. Schuetz already had a previous drunken driving conviction from 2007. She will receive up to 15 years in prison at her sentencing on April 30.
Deputy District Attorney Susan Price expressed relief at the verdict, stating that because Schuetz was a young woman she feared the jury would give her a lesser punishment than she deserved for her actions.
Drunken driving is a serious crime. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident by a drunken driver, please exercise your legal rights and contact an experienced personal injury attorney to learn more about obtaining monetary compensation for your injuries and damages.
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.
Bail Set in Fatal San Diego Hit and Run
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/11/bn11hitrun/
Bail has been set for $2 million in the case of a fatal San Diego hit and run, the San Diego Tribune reports. The defendant, Tiffany St Ives, is accused of striking and killing 17-year-old Marlene Resendiz in 2007, as Resendiz crossed East Grand Avenue near Rose Street on foot. After striking the victim, St. Ives drove for 400 yards with the victim on the hood of her car. After the victim fell off of her car, St Ives continued driving and did not stop, allegedly going to great lengths to hide guilt through secret car repairs. Since this incident, St Ives has been involved in four other traffic collisions.
St Ives has pleaded not guilty to hit and run driving with death, which carries a sentence of up to four years in prison.
The Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand represents wrongful death victims and their families in civil court. Our wrongful death cases include car accidents, bike accidents, train accidents, and dangerous property conditions. If you have lost a loved on to any of these conditions, please contact experienced and aggressive wrongful death attorneys who will fight for the fullest and fairest compensation possible.
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.