5 out of 5 on
Sixth Grader Hit by a Car on His Way to Class
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/sep/24/oak-park-student-hit-by-car-in-stable-condition/
A sixth grade student at Medea Creek School in Oak Park was hit by a car on his way to class on Tuesday, according to the Ventura County Star. The eleven-year-old boy was hit only 300 yards away from campus as he exited his mother’s vehicle.
The driver who hit him was traveling at approximately 20 miles per hour when the boy got out of his mother’s vehicle and stepped in front of the driver, who swerved and narrowly avoided hitting him head-on, instead hitting the boy with the passenger side mirror.
The boy was in the intensive-care unit at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles as of Tuesday night.
This young boy’s family would do well to contact a California Personal Injury attorney who can help his family determine if he’s entitled to monetary compensation for his medical expenses and pain and suffering.
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.
Bride-to-Be Injured in Head on Collision on Highway 126
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/sep/18/two-people-injured-in-highway-126-head-on/
A twenty-four year old Piru woman scheduled to be married last Sunday was seriously injured in an automobile collision last Saturday afternoon on Highway 126 near Powell Road and Piru.
Suzy Yoguez, 24, was driving westbound on Highway 126 when a 25-year-old driver who was heading eastbound drifted into oncoming traffic and struck Yoguez’s car. Yoguez had to be extricated from her car and was taken to the Ventura County Medical Center.
The other driver was taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, also with serious injuries.
At present, the crash is still under investigation.
In 2007, there were 19,943 injuries due to head on collisions in California, according to the California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.
Ms. Youguez’s family should seek a personal injury attorney who can determine why the other driver drifted into oncoming traffic. Was he driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Did he fall asleep at the wheel? Was he distracted by a cell phone call or text message? There are many possible explanations as to why the driver swerved into the westbound lane. An experienced attorney can determine the facts surrounding a case and pursue your right to fair compensation.
Ventura Teen at Fault in Crash that Kills Woman, Dog
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/sep/15/teen-at-fault-in-fatal-august-crash-police-say/
A sixteen-year-old Ventura resident was determined to be at fault after he struck and killed a sixty-year-old woman, Susan Herman, and her dog on August 24 on Shoreline Drive.
Ms. Herman, who investigators believe was in the crosswalk when she was hit, died shortly after the accident at the hospital. Her dog was killed instantly. While the boy was traveling at a low rate of speed at 25 m.p.h, police believe inattention contributed to the crash.
Reactions to the police’s determination that the boy was at fault have been mixed. Some local residents have raised questions regarding the visibility of the cross walk sign on Shoreline Drive, near Surfer’s Point, expressing concerns that the cross walk is on a curved road and is not clearly identified.
For others, the situation leads to questions on the legal driving age. Some feel sixteen-year-olds aren’t ready to take on the roads on their own, and would like this situation to further the push for an older age of eighteen for driver’s license eligibility.
New Jersey, the only state which issues licenses at age 17, has consistently lower rates of teens killed in crashes than other states which issues licenses at 15.5 or 16.
According to theLowell.org, California had 524 accidents involving teenagers aged 16 to 18 last year.
While no legislation has been passed to raise the California driving age, California is leading the way in banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Further, California does not allow anyone under the age of 18 to drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
In the aftermath of a tragedy such as this, we offer our heartfelt thoughts to the families of both Susan Herman and the boy who hit her.
Labor Day Crash in the Central Valley
http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/57617157.html
A woman was killed this Labor Day weekend when she ran a stop sign while allegedly talking on her cell phone. She was hit head-on by a truck that had the right of way, ripping her car into two pieces. No one in the truck was hurt.
In 2007, there were 3,557 fatal accident collisions, according to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. Cell phone usage is often cited as one of the contributing factors to car accidents that result in serious property damage or personal injury. Besides avoiding cell phone use, there are several other simple steps you can take to prevent car accidents according to Edmunds.com, such as avoiding tailgating on the freeway, knowing your blind spots, and checking both ways twice before entering an intersection.
Sometimes even the most cautious and conscientious drivers are involved in accidents due to the negligent actions of others. If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident and you think another party may be responsible, Law Office of Renee J. Nordstrand can help. With our decades of experience, we aggressively pursue fair compensation for victims of negligent driving.
Simi Valley Car Accident
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jul/27/morning-report-major-injuries-in-simi-valley/
Two people were hospitalized with severe injuries after a suspected drunken driver and four other vehicles were involved in a crash on Highway 118 eastbound in Simi Valley on Sunday evening.
According to a report in the Ventura County Star, the suspected drunk driver had two previous hit and run crashes and the police plan to arrest him on suspicion of felony hit and run as well as DUI once he is released from the hospital.
I wish all those involved in the accident well as they recover from injuries and the emotional trauma of a serious collision.
The driver of the vehicle who caused this crash ought to be punished criminally and civilly for his actions. The victims of this incident can pursue legal action with a personal injury attorney to receive just and fair compensation for their injuries and damages.