4-Year-Old Child Hit in Carlsbad Pedestrian Accident

On the evening of July 7, 2009, a 4-year-old girl from Carlsbad was hit by a car and flown to San Diego’s Rady Children’s Hospital after the accident to treat serious injuries.

Carlsbad fire Battalion Chief Mike Lopez reported that it had happened on the 3400 block of Monroe Street just near Carlsbad High School. The girl suffered from a broken leg when she was boarded onto the medical helicopter to be flown in for treatment, but that at the time she was conscious and alert.

The motor vehicle and pedestrian collision was ruled an accident, and the driver was not arrested. The girl was hit while chasing a ball out into the street as a northbound Chevrolet Suburban was approaching and struck her leg. As of last Wednesday, she was doing okay in the hospital.…

Three-year Old Run Over by a Lifeguard in Pacific Beach Truck Accident

A 3-year-old girl suffered injuries after being run over by a lifeguard on June 30, 2011, at Pacific Beach near Law Street. According to San Diego Police Department, the lifeguard drove Chevy Colorado pickup truck at 5 MPH when he hit the girl, who was covered with a towel.

Paramedics responding to the accident immediately transported the injured child to Rady Children’s Hospital where she received treatment for the minor injuries suffered. The lifeguard was experienced and said he did not see the child, because she was covered by a towel. Fortunately, the young child suffered only minor injuries. The father was surfing at the time of the accident.

The injured girl’s family members should consult with an experienced truck accident lawyer serving San Diego County to obtain compensation to cover treatment, hospital and medical costs, and other accident-related damages. A claim can be made against the lifeguard and his employer.…

Oceanside Motorcycle Accident Caused by Hit-and-Run SUV Driver

An Oceanside motorcycle crash on Highway 76 near the Interstate 5 onramp on June 28 was reportedly caused by a hit-and-run SUV driver who had fled the scene, along with his two passengers.

The accident occurred around 7 p.m. on Sunday when the driver of a GMC Yukon ran a red light on westbound 76 as they drove toward the onramp, which then caused the motorcycle coming towards them to broadside the SUV. The passenger on the motorcycle was a 20-year-old Escondido woman who was ejected and crashed through one of the Yukon’s windows and ultimately landing inside of the SUV. The driver of the motorcycle, known only as a man from Escondido, crashed into the SUV and landed on the road. Both riders from the motorcycle had to be flown to a San Diego trauma center with non-life threatening injuries…

San Diego Motorcyclist Killed in Accident Identified

A Wednesday evening motorcycle crash in San Diego County’s El Cajon last week had left one man dead who had been traveling on his motorcycle. The rider was recently identified by the San Diego Union-Tribune as 37-year-old Lance Michael Hagerty. Hagerty had been killed when his motorcycle rear-ended a pickup truck as it was attempting to turn into a driveway about 5 p.m. in El Cajon on West Bradley Avenue near Wing Avenue, according to the county Medical Examiner’s Officer. Hagerty had lived and worked in El Cajon.

Hagerty was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision and was riding a newer-model sports bike, according to El Cajon police. He was taken to a hospital after the wreck, where he died. The westbound traffic on Bradley Avenue had been diverted for about five hours as investigators examiner the scene, police said. The driver of the pickup truck had not been hurt.

If you or anyone you know has ever been injured or killed in a San Diego motorcycle accident, please contact San Diego motorcycle wreck attorney and the San Diego personal injury lawyers.…

Escondido Woman Suffers Critical Injuries in Dangerous Roadway Accident

A 23-year-old Escondido woman was critically injured recently when the car in which she was riding careened off the road on Calavo Drive and into a swimming pool, according to a recent news report from NBC San Diego. The road, known to the locals as “Rollercoaster Road,” has been a source of concern for many years due to the dangers it poses to drivers.

The car involved in the Escondido Rollercoaster Road crash was traveling down Calavo Drive near Nordahl Road when it left the roadway, crashed through a fence, and wound up inside a neighbor’s swimming pool. The pool’s owners and their neighbors rushed out to the scene when they heard the crash and pulled the injured woman out of the vehicle. The driver, a 33-year-old man, managed to climb free of the vehicle and swim to safety. He is expected to recover fully from his injuries.

According to locals, the stretch of road where the accident occurred consists of sharp turns and drops that make local teens compare it to a roller coaster. At sufficient speeds, the wheels of a car or truck will actually leave the road at some points. Other serious accidents have occurred during the road’s layout, including one in 2008 that left a local resident in a wheelchair after a car lost control and hit him.

Car accidents aren’t always the fault of a negligent or careless driver. Roadways that feature sharp turns, bad pavement, or insufficient warnings or guardrails can turn a normal day’s drive into a tragedy. That’s why our skilled dangerous roadway accident lawyers are dedicated to helping injured people and their families get the compensation they need when road engineers have failed. For a free consultation, call us today.…

Elder Pedestrian Killed In Victorville Hit-And-Run Crash

64-year-old Manuel Cadena was killed in a Victorville hit-and-run car accident that occurred on June 26, 2011, around 8:40 p.m. at Palmdale Road west of Borrego Road. According to San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office Officials, Cadena was crossing Highway 18 (SR-18), when a dark-colored SUV, possibly a green or black Toyota, fatally struck him.

The SUV driver turned right onto Borrego Road after hitting Cadena and left the scene. Officers responding to the accident immediately transported Cadena to Victor Valley Community Hospital in Victorville where he was pronounced dead a few hours later.

From the available information, it is evident that the negligent driving and irresponsible actions of the SUV driver lead to Cadena’s wrongful death. Leaving the accident scene is a serious violation under California law. California Vehicle Code 20001 (a) states:

“The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident.” Motorists are not only required to stop but also remain at the scene of the crash and wait until authorities get to the scene. In addition, if the driver stayed and aided the victim, Cadena may still be alive today.

There is a clear violation of traffic rules. Cadena’s family members should immediately seek counsel from a San Bernardino County pedestrian accident lawyer to know about their legal rights and options. An experienced lawyer would assure that the at-fault party is held liable and that the victim’s family members obtain timely and fair compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of love and companionship, and other accident-related expenses.

Our law office offers sincere condolences to all those who knew and loved Cadena for such a tragic loss.…

San Diego Police Department Officer Acquitted for Oceanside Car Accident and Road Rage Assault

The case involving off-duty San Diego Police Officer Frank White has finally been settled. On Monday, a jury found Officer White not guilty in this road-rage car accident that occurred in Oceanside in March of 2008 that culminated in the shooting of a woman and her young son. Officer White, 29, was acquitted of a felony count of grossly negligent discharge of a firearm and a misdemeanor count of exhibiting a firearm.

Prosecutors of the case argued that White was an easily-angered man who had no justification for not only displaying his revolver, but also firing five rounds into Rachel Silva’s car at night on March 15, 2008. Silva had been struck twice in the arm and her son was struck in the leg. Deputy District Attorney Jeff Dusek noted that as a trained police officer, White should have taken other steps to diffuse the situation that brought about the shootings. White had been off-duty and not in uniform at the time it happened, and his wife Jacquellyn was reportedly with him at the time.…

Medical Malpractice Protections Extended to EMTs While Driving

In February of this year, the California Court of Appeals extended the protections afforded to medical doctors under the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) to emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who are in the process of transporting patients for medical care.

In the opinion by Justice Madeleine Flier, the Court of Appeal held that such protections were warranted since the services provided by EMTs were “inextricably identified” with the health and medical care of their patients. Further, the Court rejected the argument by the plaintiff, a Los Angeles police officer injured while riding along in the ambulance when it was involved in a collision, that MICRA protections could only be extended to those services to which an EMT was licensed. The court held that EMTs were licensed to provide transportation by the Department of Motor Vehicles’ special license and, therefore, were still protected by MICRA when involved in traffic accidents while transporting patients.…

Whiplash Injury Risk Increases As Rear-End Crashes Become More Severe

When a rear-end crash occurs, there is always a risk that whiplash injuries to the head, neck, and back will become permanent. This risk increases along with the severity of the accident. The faster the rear vehicle is traveling in a rear-end accident, the more likely it is that the passengers in the front vehicle will suffer long-term or even permanent disabilities due to the resulting whiplash injuries.

Multiple studies have found that permanent head, neck, and back injuries from whiplash are more likely at higher speeds. A 2005 study from Sweden found that permanent whiplash injuries were rare when the rear vehicle was traveling under 10 miles per hour. Temporary pain and loss of mobility occurred in some patients, but these injuries usually resolved within a month.

At higher speeds, however, whiplash can cause permanent injuries or death. A 2002 German study looked at nine cases in which drivers or front-seat passengers were killed after their vehicle was rear-ended at a speed of 100 miles per hour or more. Fractures of the spine, internal bleeding, and severe soft tissue damage proved fatal in each fatal car crash. At speeds between 60 and 90 miles per hour, deaths were less common, but permanent injuries from whiplash were likely.

Rear-end accidents present specific injury risks that differ from other kinds of accidents. Our skilled Southern California car accident attorneys have experience representing those who have been injured in rear-end accidents, as well as other types of car crashes. To discuss your case with us and learn more about your legal rights, call us today.…

Elderly Chino Pedestrian Injured in San Bernardino County Car Crash

67-year-old Luis Octavio Castillo was seriously injured in a Chino pedestrian accident that occurred on June 15, 2011, around 7:37 a.m. along the 3300 block of Riverside Drive. According to police officials, Castillo was walking through a construction area when he was struck by a 2007 Scion TC driven by 21-year-old Lissette Carolina Menijvar.

Due to a county construction project, the eastbound lanes of Riverside Drive had been temporarily diverted to the westbound lanes. Castillo was immediately airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for medical treatment. The investigating officers need to determine if the diversion of roads and construction area had proper signs to guide drivers along.

From the facts set forth in the news story, it appears that Menijvar may have been at fault for causing this serious pedestrian crash. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21950(a), “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection….”

However, the construction company may be held liable for the damages as well after a further investigation. Castillo needs to consult with a San Bernardino County pedestrian accident lawyer to obtain compensation to cover treatment, medical and hospitalization costs, and other accident-related damages.

Our personal injury law office sincerely hopes and prays that the injuries suffered by the pedestrian heal soon and do not prove life-threatening.…