San Diego City Council Takes on Pedicab Accidents and Injuries

The highly publicized death of a San Diego tourist by a pedicab driver last month has given way to new regulations being put in place on pedicab drivers by the San Diego City Council, who met on Tuesday, July 28, 2009, to re-regulate many of the rules.

The council approved a long list of changes that they find will help to improve safety as well as protect the customers. The Council also was adamant that they were not done with the regulations, and would be making more as they continued to research and find what was best to improve the entire oversight.

New regulations will cap the number of pedicabs allowed to operate in high-traffic zones and will require drivers to display fares in a prominent location. It will also ban the three-wheeled bikes from sidewalks and streets with speed limits of more than 25 mph, unless they safely use a bicycle lane. They will no longer be allowed to take up metered parking space and must carry proof of insurance and require their passengers to wear seat belts. All regulations will be taking effect in 30 days.

Many pedicab owners are very upset about the new laws, as it is projected to hurt their business by having to cut their workers by as much as 60 percent. Currently, 430 pedicabs are legally registered to operate in San Diego, and 817 people have received operator permits to drive the pedicabs within the past year. You can read more about the San Diego City Council’s hearing and proposed new laws to regulate pedicab safety in this SignOnSanDiego.com story.

If you or anyone you know has ever been injured or killed in a San Diego pedicab accident, please contact San Diego personal injury lawyer and the San Diego injury attorneys.…

Valley Center Man Killed in San Diego County Bicycle Accident

On July 21, 2009, a bicyclist was fatally injured on a rural road in North San Diego County when the bike he was riding was struck by a pickup truck.

The victim, Angel Guadalupe Galvez, 37, had been cycling southbound along Cole Grade Road in Valley Center as the 1992 Chevrolet pickup approached from behind, around 8:15 a.m. according to California Highway Patrol. As the driver tried to pass Galvez just by Fruitvale Road, the struck intercepted the bicycle. Medics that had arrived on the scene took Galvez to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, where Galvez, a Valley Center resident, was pronounced dead a short time later.…

4 Year Old Killed, Father Injured, After Bicycle Hit by Trolley

A 4 year-old girl, identified as Veronica Ramirez, was killed and her 34 year-old father injured when the bicycle they were riding was struck by a San Diego trolley in Chula Vista on July 26, 2009.

The Chula Vista bicycle accident occurred on westbound L Street near Industrial Boulevard. According to witnesses, the trolley signals were already activated and the barriers were lowered when the young man attempted to cross the tracks as the trolley approached. The trolley struck the bicyclists, sending them flying about 40 feet.

The young girl was taken to Rady Children’s Hospital but died a short time later from her head injury. Her father was taken to UCSD Medical Center with a broken hip and internal injuries.…

Fatal San Diego Car Accident Kills Motel Worker

An unidentified 60-year-old motel worker in El Cajon was struck and killed in a serious car accident that occurred on July 14, 2011, around 1 p.m. at the Villa Embasadora on 1556 E. Main Street. According to authorities, a 75-year-old female motorist accidentally pressed on her gas pedal by mistake, plowing into a motel maid and pinning her against a wall.

Authorities responding to this auto accident pronounced the victim dead at the accident scene. The elderly car driver was in the parking lot when she stepped on the accelerator instead of the break and killed the maid.

From the available information, it is evident that the negligent actions of the motorist led to this serious crash that claimed one life. The driver, as well as possibly the motel, may be held responsible for the maid’s wrongful death. The family of a deceased car crash victim can file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of love, care and companionship, and other accident-related damages.

An experienced San Diego pedestrian accident lawyer will be able to better advise the victim’s family about their legal rights and obtain suitable compensation as well.…

Escondido Fourth of July Party Turns Deadly

A private residence house party in Escondido celebrating the Fourth of July last Saturday turned fatal when one party-goer was ultimately shot and killed at the festivities. The victim was identified as Daniel Eugene Alexander, 26, of Escondido.

Escondido Police reported that Alexander had been shot in the head while at the party taking place on Vine Street near West Ninth Avenue. Police had been called to the scene at 11:35 p.m. about a fight on the property. Officers arrived on the scene within three minutes and then heard gunshots. They then found Alexander lying in the driveway, and he later died at the scene. SWAT officers were later called in and searched the house but were not successful in finding a suspect.…

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.…

Was Pitchman Billy Mays Killed by MTBI; Second Celebrity Head Injury Death After Natasha Richardson?

Did Billy Mays, the 50-year-old celebrity pitchman, die of a Minor Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) following a “hard” landing by a US Airways flight between Philadelphia and Tampa, Florida?

That is the question buzzing around the internet right now.

Mays had been flying home to Tampa after filming an OxiClean commercial in Philadelphia when the front tire of his US Airways flight exploded following the hard landing. Initially, no serious injuries were reported and Mays posted on his Twitter feed about the hard landing saying it was par for the course with US Airways. After the landing, objects fell from the ceiling, although it is unclear what those objects were, and hit Mays in the head.

After landing, Mays told a local news crew about the hit to his head:

“All of a sudden as we hit,” Mays said. “You know it was just the hardest hit. All the top…you know the things from the ceiling started dropping and it hit me on the head, but I got a hard head.”

Mays was found dead at his home the next day by his wife, Deborah. Reportedly, Mays did not feel well when he went to bed later that night. No other major health problems have been disclosed.…

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.…

Downtown San Diego Trolley Accident Kills Pedestrian

An eastbound San Diego trolley in Downtown San Diego struck and killed a pedestrian over the weekend on the afternoon of July 12, 2009, authorities say.

The fatal trolley accident occurred on the trolley line on C Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, shortly after 3 p.m., Sgt. Ramona Hastings of the San Diego Police Department said. A dispatcher of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said that the victim died at the scene and that streets in the immediate surroundings were closed for investigations, which had not been concluded as of Tuesday morning. The victim’s name had not been released.…

Ventura County Bicycle Accident Involving SUV Leaves Camarillo Man Dead

76-year-old Camarillo resident John H. Dillingham Jr. was killed in a Ventura County bicycle accident that occurred on June 11, 2011, around 1:15 p.m. on Pleasant Valley Road. According to California Highway Patrol Sgt. Bob Granieri, Dillingham was attempting to make a turn onto Freedom Park Drive when he accidentally veered into the eastbound lane and was struck by an SUV driven by 63-year-old Oxnard local Eva Labrador.

Dillingham was immediately transported to Ventura County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead two hours later. An investigation is under process. Though the victim mistakenly rode into the wrong lane, the driver failed to see the victim and safely move her car away. The investigating officers need to determine whether Labrador was speeding or distracted. If Labrador is at fault, then she may be held liable for Dillingham’s wrongful death.

Dillingham’s family members should immediately seek counsel from a Ventura County bicycle accident lawyer to obtain timely compensation to cover funeral and burial expenses, loss of love and companionship, and other accident-related damages.

Our law office offers sincere condolences to all those who knew and loved John H. Dillingham for such a heart breaking loss.…