5 out of 5 on
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/
Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguard Tragedy Will Not End In Criminal Charges
https://www.ocregister.com/2009/11/09/no-criminal-charge-in-junior-lifeguard-tragedy/
The Orange County District Attorney’s office will not pursue criminal charges in the tragic incident which claimed the life of an 11 year old junior lifeguard in July, the Orange County Register reports.
Alyssa Squirrell was participating in a lifeguard training program that required her to jump off the back of a boat and into the ocean when the boat, driven by Marine Safety Lt. Greg Crow, struck Alyssa. According to the Orange County District Attorney, Alyssa’s death was simply a terrible accident and, however unfortunate, no crime was committed.
My heartfelt thoughts and wishes are with Alyssa’s family and Lt. Crow in this painful time.
Boating accidents can be devastating as they are often the result of recklessness. Although clearly not the case in this particular incident, many boating accidents involve alcohol and leisurely fun that goes too far and endangers the lives of other boaters, water skiers, jet skiers, and fisherman in the water. Furthermore, the lack of traffic laws on the water intensifies the potential risk for accident, serious injury or death.
If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of another boater’s negligence, please exercise your right to an attorney today. Experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated personal injury attorneys will pursue your case aggressively until you see outstanding results.
Metrolink Officials Partner with Law Enforcement to Cut Down on Pedestrian and Motorist Traffic Violations on Train Tracks
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/smith-people-tracks-2636881-starr-stop
Metrolink teamed up with several Orange County Law Enforcement organizations this morning to conduct a widespread traffic citation sweep as part of the California Operation Lifesaver Program, the Orange County Register reports.
Operation Lifesaver is a national non-profit program with individual chapters in many states whose goals are education, enforcement and engineering of California’s rail-crossing stops, according to the California Operation Lifesaver website. The program often gives presentations to school groups and emergency responder organizations in addition to aiding law enforcement in conducting traffic sweeps. In this morning’s sweep, 233 citations were issued and six people were arrested for violating rail-crossing laws.
One of the most common ways that pedestrians break the law and put themselves at risk is by crossing train tracks as a short cut. This is especially dangerous because trains cannot stop quickly, and the noise emitted from a train is often heard to the side of the train tracks, not to the front. Motorists too are at risk, when they try to beat the flashing lights that signal an approaching train.
The problem of pedestrian-train and motorist-train collisions can be reduced by taking the safety precautions (and following the law) that Operation Lifesaver and Orange County law enforcement promoted today by their sweep. Please protect yourself and your loved ones by avoiding the use of train tracks as a short cut on foot and by stopping behind the flashing rail crossing lights as soon as they start to flash when driving.
Sometimes safe, law-abiding pedestrians and motorists still find themselves the victims of serious train accidents. Train accidents have a higher likelihood of resulting in serious injuries than car accidents due to their sheer size and weight. If you or someone you know has been injured in a train accident and believe that another party is responsible, please contact experienced personal injury attorneys who understand how train accidents can disrupt and damage your life and fight aggressively to recover the maximum compensation that you need to move on.
Chemical Spill in Ralphs Sends Six to the Hospital
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/people-spill-ralphs-2635911-authorities-store?orderby=TimeStampDescending&showRecommendedOnly=0&oncommentsPage=2#slComments
Exposure to a toxic chemical spill at Irvine’s Ralphs grocery store sent six people to the hospital last night, the Orange County Register reports. Four of those hospitalized were Orange County firefighters who were called to Ralphs after an automatic alarm sounded shortly after the spill occurred at 7 p.m.
USA Today reports that Freon was leaking from a refrigerator, producing a haze of toxic fumes inside the store that sickened those exposed. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Freon exposure can cause immediate symptoms of heart palpitations, dizziness, and irritation of the mouth, throat, lungs, and nose.
While in this particular incident toxic chemical exposure fortunately did not result in serious or permanent injuries, in other cases such exposure can result in permanent health conditions. Long-term exposure to harmful chemicals can be especially serious, and lead to disease and neurological and cognitive problems.
In some instances of toxic chemical poisoning or exposure, another person or entity may be held liable for their failure to maintain a safe living or working condition. If you have been a victim of toxic chemical exposure, please contact an experienced Southern California attorney today to learn more about your rights.
Woman Sues City of Huntington Beach after Trip and Fall Incident
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-medina-lawsuit-2633058-pipe-claim?orderby=TimeStampDescending&showRecommendedOnly=0&oncommentsPage=5#slComments
A Huntington Beach woman who injured her leg after tripping on an unmarked pipe in Huntington Central Park is suing the City for negligence, the Orange County Register reports.
The woman, identified as Elizabeth Medina, filed a claim for $450,000 for her medical expenses, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering in July 2008. Her claim’s basis was that the City of Huntington Beach was responsible for fixing the exposed pipe and properly covering it so as to prevent accidents.
The City has countered that they could not fix a problem they were not aware of.
Victims of trip and fall accidents should contact a skilled personal injury attorney with experience in trip and fall cases. We will identify the responsible party and get you the compensation you deserve.
Family of Santa Ana Hit and Run Victim Seeks Answers, Asks Driver to Come Forward
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/driver-huang-amormino-2629413-light-pickup
The driver who struck and killed a Santa Ana wife and mother as she crossed the street at a marked crosswalk remains on the loose today as the woman’s family pleads for him to come forward, the Orange County Register reports.
Zhen Huang, 48, was struck in the crosswalk and dragged for 15 feet by a light blue pick up truck that was turning left onto the street she was crossing, Magnolia Avenue. Huang was less than a block away from her home when she was hit. Investigators have determined that the truck was traveling at approximately 25 m.p.h, and may have been trying to beat a yellow light before it turned red. Authorities believe the driver was a male, whose truck had a work rack in its bed. If you have information regarding this accident, please call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 866-TIP-OCSD.
I offer my support and wishes for the Huang family as well as the OCSD as they continue their investigation, and I hope the individual that caused this terrible incident is found and held fully liable for his actions.
When a loved one dies because of the negligent actions of another person, family members need experienced and compassionate wrongful death attorneys who can protect their legal rights, pursue compensation, and guide families in recovering from their loss so that they can move forward with their lives. If you find yourself in this situation, call Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand today for a free consultation.
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 Driver Causes Deadly Crash in Anaheim
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/freeway-early-crash-2623541-eastbound-way
An unidentified woman who was traveling the wrong way on an Anaheim freeway struck another vehicle early this morning, the Orange County Register reports. The driver and front-seat passenger of the other vehicle were killed. Two back-seat passengers, who have been identified as minors, were hospitalized with serious injuries.
The crash occurred at about 3 a.m. this morning when the suspected drunken driver was traveling westbound in the eastbound FasTrack lane of the 91 freeway near the 55 freeway.
In 2007 alone, there were 3,669 injuries and 106 fatalities due to drunken driving accidents in Los Angeles County according to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. If, after investigation, police determine that the woman who caused this accident was driving while intoxicated, she can be held both criminally and civilly responsible for her negligence.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a drunken driving accident, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney who has your best interest in mind and will help you recover damages from the accident. We firmly believe that drunk drivers should be held liable for their actions and will fight to ensure this until you are fully compensated.