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Man Struck and Killed by Train in San Diego

By Renee Nordstrand on April 28, 2010

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.

Bicyclist Injured in San Diego Crash

By Renee Nordstrand on April 21, 2010

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.

DUI Hit and Run Kills San Diego Man

By Renee Nordstrand on April 16, 2010

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/06/family-man-mourned-family-friends/

27-year-old Oscar Lopez was killed Sunday night after being hit by a drunken driver on the Interstate 5, the San Diego Tribune reports.  Lopez was sleeping in the back seat of while his wife, Angela Lopez, drove their 2004 Ford Explorer, when 43 year old William Romero struck the Lopez’ car after drifting into their lane.

Oscar Lopez was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The Lopez’ son, Oscar Jr., was also ejected from the back seat of the vehicle but sustained only minor injuries.  Angela Lopez and a front seat passenger Ashley Lopez, Oscar’s sister, were uninjured.

Romero, who was driving while intoxicated, fled the scene of the accident and was later caught by authorities and arrested.  He is being held on bail with felony charges of drunken driving and vehicular manslaughter.

If you have been forced to cope with sudden and wrongful death of a loved one due to a drunken driver’s negligence, please contact a wrongful death attorney today for a free consultation and to learn more about how Los Angeles and Santa Barbara wrongful death attorneys will competently and aggressively obtain compensation for funeral expenses and pain and suffering after your loss.

Bail Set in Fatal San Diego Hit and Run

By Renee Nordstrand on February 15, 2010

 

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.

Trolley, Mail Van Collide and Injure Two

By Renee Nordstrand on February 4, 2010

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/03/two-injured-in-trolley-vehicle-crash/

A trolley and U.S. postal service van collided Wednesday morning, injuring two people, including a man in a wheelchair, the San Diego Tribune reports.

The crash occurred at Park Boulevard and G Street in downtown San Diego when the trolley was proceeding through a green light, northbound on Park Boulevard, trolley passenger John Lyman reported. The mail van, which was traveling on G Street, did not stop with the rest of traffic at the intersection and struck the trolley, the witness recounted.

While police are still investigating the official cause of this incident, it appears that the postal van may have been at fault for failing to stop at a red light at the traffic intersection of Park Boulevard and G Street.  Contributing factors such as inattention, use of a cell phone, or the use of alcohol and drugs are still unknown.

If you have sustained injuries in a car accident due to another driver’s negligent actions, please contact aggressive car accident attorneys to pursue your claim today.

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.

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.

San Diego Teen Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Fatal Crash that Killed Friend

By Renee Nordstrand on November 13, 2009

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.

High Speed Crash Leads to Toyota Recall

By Renee Nordstrand on October 27, 2009

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.