Orange County Personal Injury Law

According to news report in the Ventura Country Star, a Los Angeles car accident which took place in the westbound lanes of the highway between Kanan and Reyes Adobe roads in the early morning of July 2, 2010 resulted in the death of Joshua Dubon 23, and Richard Vasques, 24. The cause of the accident was collision of their car with a tractor-trailer on Highway 101 in Agoura Hills. One other person Soe Dubon, 21, who was also in the car, sustained major injuries in the fatal crash. The families have already retained a personal injury attorney in Orange County .The truck was parked on the side of the road and the driver of the truck 45 years old Donald Swisher was inspecting the tires of the truck. After inspecting the tires, the driver was about to start the vehicle when Dubon’s car collided with the truck according to CHP officials. Dubon and Vasques, who was sitting in front, died on the spot. Soel Dubon however, was rescued from the wreckage and was admitted in the area hospital. These types of collisions are like waking up calls for the authorities. According to SWITRS – Statewide Integrated Traffic Records Systems, in Agoura Hills, there was one death and 82 injuries occurred due to car accidents. If we see the data of Los Angeles County in totality, around 667 people died and 52,229 people were injured in car accidents. Various news accounts state that the blame could go the tractor-trolley which was illegally parked on the freeway. If this was proved the blame of the accident would go the trucking company and its driver. The victims and their family could hire an experienced injury lawyer for further investigations and claims.

According to Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, a man supposed to be John Doe #107 died on 26 June 2010 after he was hit by two vehicles at Sepulveda Pass. The drivers of the vehicle fled the scene. After a thorough search the dead man’s finger prints were not recognized in the database maintained by coroner’s officials. The only hope remains now is for searching the missing persons records in an endeavor to identify the victim, informed Coroner’s Lt. Cheryl MacWillie. The victim has been identified as White and around 35 years of age. Coroner’s office came to know about the incident when drivers on the northbound 405 informed the California Highway Patrol about a disoriented man walking along the road near Getty Center Drive at 2:30 a.m. The initial report suggested the man was bleeding profusely from a gash on his forehead. As soon as the CHP officers arrived they found the body of the man in freeway lanes. In an effort to investigate the matter all lanes of the freeway were closed for five hours. The CHP described the incident as hit-and-run case. According to a personal injury attorney in South Orange County, any driver who is involved in any accident should immediately stop his or her vehicle and exchange identification and contact information with the driver involved in the accident. The driver is also required to help the injured driver and help the injured victims by taking them to the nearest hospital and provide medical aid. Any driver who fail on their duty causing injury or death or leaves the scene of an accident are subject to criminal charge of “felony hit and run”.

It was a tragic end for a couple vacationing in San Francisco from Ohio. The tragedy took place when the brakes on the Dodge Intrepid taxi failed abruptly at around 11:00 a.m. on June 14^th. The taxi rammed a steel and concrete freeway support pillar at around 40 mph, before coming to a halt against a steel mesh fence. The couple was travelling from SFO International Airport according to reports in San Francisco Examiner.  The man and women from Ohio who are still not identified took taxi took taxi from DeSoto Cab Co. taxi at the airport and just reached the Interstate 280 off ramp at Mariposa Street located in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, while going forward to the Mark Hopkins hotel. Following the car crash, it was reported that behind the taxi cab, there was an empty jail van which was being driven by the three sheriffs’, the taxi cab engulfed in flames as soon as the collision took place.

The deputies, however, tried to assist the couple and pulled out the two passengers out of the burning cab. The driver of the taxi cab suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was unhurt.  However, the woman died soon after being admitted at San Francisco General Hospital after arrival, the man died at around 4:20 p.m. the same day.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation. According to news report the correct cause transpired being due to brake failure, the taxicab company, DeSoto Cab co., should be liable for this accident, along with driver and other parties involved. Cases such as this are best handled by a accident attorney. California accident attorneys or Personal injury attorney’s can represent the family of the crash victims. According to an accident attorney in San Clemente many family members make decisions too quick after a traumatic experience such as a sudden death.  Following the crash the families of couple are advised to hire an experienced San Juan Capistrano accident attorney to further investigate the case.

According to news reports on June 5, 2010, a San Francisco car accident resulted in major injuries to Patricia McFarland 63. The reports reveal the vehicle struck the senior citizen by a suspected drunk driver, who absconded after injuring Patricia. The collision occurred at the intersection of Soda Bay and Mission Ram Cheria Roads in Lake County. According to California Highway Patrol officials the cause of accident was inattentiveness on the part of Thomas Mello 40 who was travelling east on Soda Bay Road in a 1990 Ford Explorer, when he was unable to yield right-of-way to Westbound 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by McFarland, who Came on his way directly thus resulting in a collision. McFarland was admitted in hospital with major injuries while Melo fled the accident scene. He was later arrested from Konocti Vista Casino, on suspicion of felony, hit-and-run, felony DUI and driving on suspended license. It is a pity Patricia McFarland sustained severe injuries in the crash with no fault of her. This type of accident’s take our mind to earlier accidents took place in the area. According to a accident attorney in San Juan Capistrano,  Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) there were three fatalities and 64 injuries involving DUI collisions in Lake Country. In countrywide there were 14 deaths and 292 people were injured due to car accidents. If this news proved to be accurate, there are so many cases against the irritant driver Melo with regard to driving under influence of alcohol and drugs. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152, it is unlawful for a person to drive under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident.

According to a Navy Times news report, a San Diego car accident resulted in the death of a 27 year old sailor, when his bicycle was hit by a van in Camp Pendleton. The accident occurred on May 25, when the sailor was riding his bike alongside Vandergrift Boulevard along the Wire Mountain housing area, when the van rammed into his bike. Soon after the accident, the sailor was airlifted to San Diego hospital where he succumbed to injuries. It is a pity that a sailor of excellence died in such a way. It would sure be a tragic and devastating loss to the sailor’s family. The sailor was being assigned the task of 1 st Marine Logistics Group at Pendleton. The fatal accident is being investigated by Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

These fatal accidents usually guide the authorities as to why this type of accident occurs, and what remedial measures could be taken to control their reoccurrence. According to an attorney in San Juan Capistrano, California Highway Patrol’s State-wide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reveal that these types of bicycle accidents involved 58 injuries with no fatality at all in the Escondido, California. If we take San Diego as a whole, there were seven fatalities while 959 people were injured as a result of the bike accidents. The news report has not answered the queries pertaining to the accident. Like what was the reason behind the accident? Was the driver impaired, negligent, and distracted at the time of crash? Or the accident occurred due to the fault of the van’s driver? According to California Personal Injury law claim against a governmental agency should be filled within 180 days of the incident.

With the increase in population and the number of vehicles on road, hit and run cases have become common.  Take for example, the case of a 7-year old girl who was severely injured while playing in front of her Dana Point home in Orange Country near La Paz Avenue and Silver Lantern Street on May 10, 2010.  The vehicle which hit and injured the girl was of a “military-style” truck.  The vehicle didn’t stop after hitting the girl and the driver fled from the scene of the collision.  After the incident the child was admitted to an area hospital.  There were not many people who witnessed the accident.  Police have requested information/clue from any eye-witness to the incident.

California Highway Patrol’s traffic accident statistics have revealed that around 17,158 hit-and-run collisions have resulted in injuries and fatality in California since 2008.  There were 247 deaths in the same year as compared to the year 2004 when 243 people died in these hit and run accidents.

John Anderson, an accident attorney in Dana Point said those drivers of the vehicles which were involved in an accident resulted in injury to a person or in the death of a person shall instantly stop the vehicle at the site of the accident.  According to lay they have to stop at the scene of the accident until authorities arrive and offer help to the injured victim, in this case the drive instead of stopping fled from the scene leaving injured child on the road. If wrongdoing is proved injured victim can take compensation which would cover medical expenses, surgery etc. An Orange County personal injury lawyer could assist the victim.

April 28, 2010 saw yet another San Diego pedestrian accident involving a woman who was badly injured at the corner of Second Avenue and Elm Street, reported the San Diego Union-Tribune.  Though the exact cause of the accident is not known, but accident occurred when a high speeding Ford Explorer SUV injured the woman when she was crossing the road. The woman was immediately shifted to a local hospital with hip injuries. Officials are on a look out for the exact cause of the accident.   The exact cause of the accident would be known through the eye-witnesses if any, but it is a pity that such an incident happened.  According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) there were 6,123 injuries occurred due to car accidents out of which 81 fatalities were involved in San Diego. If we take into account the whole San Diego country car accidents took 246 lives while injuring 13,527 people during the year 2008.

According to an accident attorney in San Clement California, Vehicle Code section 21950, the driver of vehicles ought to endure right-of-way to a pedestrian who is crossing the road via marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Thus drivers they should exercise due care and reduce the speed of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.

Injured victims or their families should consult an experienced California personal injury lawyer in an effort to know more about their rights. If the accident occurred due to the negligence of the governmental agency that is responsible for maintaining the roadway they should be held responsible.

An accident involving two cars near Trentron resulted in injury to three teens. This news was disclosed by Missouri State Highway Patrol. The accident took place due to overtaking. One of the cars 1996 make Toyota was driven by 19 year old Scott N. Ellison. The other car was 1992 make Toyota was driven by 18 years old Jacoby B Kanapp. During the ensuing overtaking Ellison’s car struck the 1992 Toyota through driver side door and came to a halt due to a sudden thud on the west side of the highway. The police didn’t find any breach of the safety measure on the part of Ellison as he was wearing the seat belt. While it was found that Kanapp was not wearing the seat belt and suffered moderate injuries. He was taken to Wright Memorial Hospital. On the other hand Mr. Nelson along with 16 years passenger named Leanna M. Nelson endures minor injuries as both were wearing seat belts. “People who suffer minor or major injuries during car crash often are bewildered by some of the injuries” according to an attorney in San Clemente.  While most of the injuries aren’t life threatening but you can still be entitled for auto accident injury compensation. After a car accident various things usually crop up in the mind of the sufferers. It is a good idea to be in touch with your doctor to know about the status of your injury from the doctor as most of the injuries include head, chest and whiplash. Don’t forget to get free consultation with an auto accident attorney.

A fatal Orange County car accident occurred on 30 March 2010 resulted in fatal injuries to Redondo Beach resident a 50 year old person, when the deceased motorcycle was crashed into a Hyundai.  The accident occurred close to the Interstate 5, according to news reports.  It was not known whether the car driver was injured in the melee or not.  Investigations are still going on. The exact cause of accident is also not known. Was the Hyundai driver rammed into motorcycle because he was speeding or driving recklessly or he was impaired or these were some other fault? Whether the auto parts of the vehicles were not fine tuned or the cause of the accident was defective road conditions. But it is a pity the family of motorcyclist has now to bear the brunt as they lost a family member. It is now up to the officials to investigate the exact cause of the accident, through which a precious life is lost.  When these accidents happens officials mostly turned towards the accident statistics.  However, in the Orange County according to records there were 35 fatalities and 801 injuries which involved motorcycle accidents.  But countrywide figure is 152, fatalities and 13,414 injuries because of the car accidents.

Who is at fault?

If the accident occurred due to the fault of the driver of the car, he should be held responsible. If it is proved that the accident occurred due to defective road conditions, the government agency should be held accountable.

In an effort to cross check the aspects of the accident victims or their families should hire an experienced attorney in Dana Point.

A 37 years old off-duty Police Officer II identified as Jacqueline Montalvo was killed in a Los Angeles car accident occurred on 25 February 2010 at Diamond Bar Area, reported the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.  The exact cause of accident couldn’t be identified.  According to news reports, Montalvo’s vehicle crossed over the center Median and rammed into the opposing lanes of ongoing traffic.  It is really a big question to ponder over, whether it happened due to the mechanical defect in the vehicle or the condition of the road was not up to the mark. Or it was caused due to the negligence of the Police Officer? There were three other vehicles involved in the accident.  The impact of the accident was such that besides Jacqueline who died, one person was seriously injured while three other people acquired minor injuries.

Alas! It is an untimely death of Montalvo.  She was a veteran officer with nearly 11 years of service. Now the onus is on the officials to investigate the matter. They should look into the pros and cons of the accident in this particular area. Like according to SWITRS till now six fatal accidents have occurred here involving 294 injuries. They should know the cause of the accident and do something to stop such fatal accidents.

Victims and their family should also contact the experienced personal injury lawyers who would investigate the matter and help protect the legal rights. If it is proved the accident was caused by the Montalvo, injured victims can seek compensation against her estate or insurance  company by retaining a personal injury attorney in San Juan Capistrano.