Head on Crash Critically Injures Two

By Renee Nordstrand on January 27, 2010

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.

Marine Sentenced in Drunken Driving Accident

By Renee Nordstrand on January 25, 2010

https://www.ocregister.com/2010/01/22/former-marine-sentenced-for-killing-doctor/

Former Marine Elijah Ferguson was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison on Friday for causing a car accident that killed Dr. Michael Sein and severely injured his wife, Grace Sein, the Orange County Register reports.

Ferguson rear-ended the Sein’s stopped vehicle at 75 miles per hour on February 22, 2008 in Orange County.  Toxicology reports indicated that Ferguson’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit at the time of the collision. Ferguson, a Marine at the time who has since been discharged, had been playing drinking games with fellow Marines shortly before driving.  His friends attempted to hide his keys to prevent him from driving, however Ferguson ordered a lower-ranking Marine to return his keys so that he could visit his wife and baby.

This terrible incident clearly illustrates how many lives a single drunken driving accident can affect, as both families involved continue to grieve.   If you or a loved one has been the victim of a drunken driver, you need clear answers and aggressive representation to ensure fair compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering.  Please contact personal injury and wrongful death attorneys today to learn more about your legal options.

Driver Strikes and Kills Wheel-Chair Bound Man

By Renee Nordstrand on January 21, 2010

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jan/20/charges-recommended-wheelchair-accident/

San Diego police officers are considering misdemeanor manslaughter charges against a driver who ran a red light, struck another vehicle, drove up onto the sidewalk, and crashed into an elderly man in a wheelchair, the San Diego Tribune reports.

After extensive surgeries, 69-year-old Willie Robinson died from his injuries in late November, six weeks after the accident occurred on Ninth Avenue and E Street in San Diego on October 13, 2009.

 Reports have not yet been confirmed that the driver was talking on a cell phone at the time of the incident. Although these reports are still pending confirmation, cell phone use while driving is a serious problem that causes an increasingly high number of accidents each year. Should the driver be found to have been using a cell phone at the time of the crash, he or she may also be found negligent and criminally liable for causing the crash and Mr. Robinson’s subsequent injuries and tragic death.

If you have lost a loved one due to another driver’s negligence, please schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal options with compassionate, experienced wrongful death attorneys today.

Dog Attack in Laguna Niguel

By Renee Nordstrand on December 18, 2009

http://www.ocregister.com/news/police-224728-woman-friend.html

An unidentified Orange County woman was attacked by a 7-year-old Shiba Inu dog on Wednesday afternoon, the Orange County Register reports.  It is unclear as to whether the woman was in her own yard or a neighbor’s yard when the attack occurred on Via San Sebastian in Laguna Niguel.

Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed the dog after arriving at the scene, while the woman was hospitalized with extensive injuries that will require several surgeries.

As California is a “strict liability state”, the dog’s owner is liable for the injuries inflicted by the Shiba Inu, even if the owner was not negligent in the circumstances of the attack.   California law states (CCP 342 (a)) :

The owner of a dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place, or lawfully in a private place, including the property owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog, or the owner’s knowledge of such visciousness…

If you’ve been the victim of a dog bite attack, please contact experienced dog bite attorneys to discuss your legal options.  At your free initial consultation, our attorneys will answer your questions with care and concern, while ensuring that you receive the best possible representation throughout the duration of your case.

Bicyclist Struck and Killed by Car in Camarillo

By Renee Nordstrand on December 16, 2009

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2009/dec/16/morning-report-cyclist-hit-by-car-in-camarillo/

A 39-year-old Camarillo bicyclist was hit by a sport utility vehicle while riding on Lewis Road in Camarillo Tuesday night, the Ventura County Star reports.

Mario Tamayo was taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, where he later passed away from his injuries.  Authorities say Tamayo, who was wearing dark clothing, did not have lights on his bicycle and was not wearing a helmet while riding on a busy street after dark.  Because of these factors, the driver, Michael Brigmac, did not see Tamayo until he collided with him.  From the article, it is unclear as to whether there are bicycle lanes on the road where Tamayo was riding.

This incident highlights the importance of bicycle safety, especially in the winter months when the sun sets early at around 5:30 pm.  If you routinely use a bicycle as a means of transportation, please take precaution and where a helmet wherever you are riding.  Additionally, if you must ride at night, please purchase a bike light to protect yourself and alert drivers on the road.

If you have been injured while biking and believe a driver may be at fault, please contact skilled bicycle accident attorneys immediately for a free consultation to assess your situation and legal options.

Two-Year-Old Boy Injured by Bull

By Renee Nordstrand on December 16, 2009

Two-year-old Daniel Munoz was injured by a local bull while playing in his backyard on Monday afternoon in Mead Valley, myfoxla.com reports. The child was playing with an older sibling when they noticed a bull through their yard’s chain link fence in a field next to their backyard. The children approached the fence, and, shortly thereafter, the bull charged the children, ramming the fence that separated them. The older child escaped, while Daniel was knocked down by the force of the bull against the fence.

Fortunately, although he was hospitalized, Daniel did not suffer life-threatening or serious injuries in this situation. I wish him well as he continues to recover from such a frightening situation.

According to myfoxla.com, the bull’s owner will be cited for allowing the bull out of his stockyard.

If you or someone you know has been injured by another person’s animal or pet, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney right away. You may be legally entitled to compensation if the animal-owner’s actions were negligent.

Nine Year Old Boy Struck and Killed on Bike

By Renee Nordstrand on December 9, 2009

http://www.ocregister.com/news/truck-223066-nicholas-mortley.html

Nine year old Nicholas Vela Mortley was killed Thursday afternoon after being struck by a raised pick up truck while riding his bike home from school in Anaheim, the Orange County Register reports. The driver, who was stopped at a stop sign when Nicholas started to cross in front of him, never saw Nicholas or his red bicycle as he proceeded through the intersection of Orangewood Avenue and Loara Street after completing the stop.

Sergeant Rick Martinez of the Anaheim Police Department explained the incident, stating “The height of the truck may have obscured his [the driver’s] vision. The child may have assumed that since the truck was stopped it would have remained stopped.” Although the driver has not been cited by the Anaheim Police Department, some question whether the truck exceeded legal height limits. If so, the driver could potentially receive a citation or violation.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a bicycle to car accident, please call experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorneys today to learn about your legal right to compensation.

San Joaquin Valley Residents Seek Answers On Toxic Landfill

By Renee Nordstrand on December 8, 2009

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/12/cleft-palates-raise-concern-about-toxic-landfill-in-san-joaquin-valley.html

Residents of Kettleman City, a small town in the San Joaquin Valley, have called for an appeal on a proposed landfill expansion project on the grounds that the hazardous site caused birth defects and three infant deaths in a 14 month period, the LA Times reports.

In the town of 1,500, 20 babies were born from September 2007 through November 2008.  Of the 20, three were born with a cleft palate and died shortly after birth. Two more babies were born with a cleft palate that survived.  Residents cite the nearby landfill which accepts carcinogenic PCB’s as the cause of the strangely high number of birth defects.

The Kings County Board of Supervisors disputes the allegations, and plans to proceed with an expansion of the landfill, which generates $20 million annually for payroll, purchases, fees and taxes for the county.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to toxic chemical exposure, please contact qualified and experienced personal injury attorneys who will explain your legal rights and ensure that your case is handled satisfactorily, from start to conclusion.

2nd San Diego Pedestrian Killed by a Drunk Driver

By Renee Nordstrand on November 24, 2009

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/23/poway-pedestrian-second-fatally-hit-sidewalk/

For the second time in three days, a San Diego pedestrian has been killed by a drunken driver, the San Diego Tribune reports.

Kristen Ann Bedard, 36, was walking at approximately 7 a.m. in Poway when a car driven by 44 year-old Becky Anderson drove up onto the sidewalk, striking and killing the mother of 2.

Anderson was arrested under suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence causing great bodily injury.  A similar situation in East County killed a young walking mother on Saturday night.  In that situation the driver was arrested for identical charges, as well as an additional hit and run charge.

Please call compassionate and skilled personal injury attorneys if you have been victimized by a drunk driver.  First consultations are free of charge and attorneys are ready to help you find the answers and justice that you deserve.

Pedestrian Killed by Drunken Driver

By Renee Nordstrand on November 23, 2009

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/22/bn22pedkilled-el-cajon/

A San Diego pedestrian was struck and killed by a suspected drunken driver in East County Saturday night, the San Diego Tribune reports.   The unidentified 35 year old pedestrian was walking on Pepper Drive at about 9:20 p.m. when Deborah Felix, 51, who was driving a Dodge pick-up truck, struck her and continued driving.

Felix went on to hit several mailboxes, a car, and, eventually, a home before she was stopped and apprehended by police.

Every day drunk driving causes terrible tragedies that affect thousands of Americans.  If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to a drunken driver’s actions, experienced Southern California attorneys can help.  We will we aggressively pursue compensation and guide families in recovering from the loss so that they can move forward with their lives.