Expert Advocacy

SSDI Benefits: Increasing Dependence on Disability Will Exhaust Funds by 2016

The combination of increasing Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries, fewer beneficiaries terminating their benefits, and a smaller workforce contributing into the fund through payroll taxes has taken a major toll on America’s disability insurance trust fund.

In 2011, the Trustee’s Report concluded that the disability insurance fund would be completely gone by 2018. In April 2012, just one year later, the Trustee’s Report concluded that the fund would be exhausted by 2016. If we keep going at that rate, next year we can speculate that the funds may be exhausted by 2014!…

Young Child Struck In Corona Car Accident

An unidentified 10-year-old girl suffered serious injuries in Corona pedestrian accident that occurred on September 30, 2011, around 7:30 a.m. in Corona. According to Corona fire Battalion Chief Mike Porter, the child was crossing Sixth Street at Main Street in the crosswalk when an eastbound vehicle struck her.

The girl suffered serious injuries and was immediately transported to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment from where she was later moved to Loma Linda University Medical Center. It appears that the car driver’s recklessness led to this serious crash. The driver did not stop after hitting the child and instead, fled the scene.

The injured victim’s parents should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County hit-and-run car accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights and options and assure that the at-fault car driver is brought to justice. The injured pedestrian’s parents can also file a personal injury claim against the motorist to obtain a timely compensation to cover treatment, medical and hospital costs, and other accident-related damages.

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

What are My Employer’s Duties Regarding Workplace Safety?

In California, workplace safety in most places of employment is regulated by Cal/OSHA, the government agency responsible for enforcing health and safety regulations. When Cal/OSHA regulations are violated, workers can file reports with the agency that will trigger an investigation and correction, if necessary. These reports can be filed anonymously: although Cal/OSHA will know which worker filed the report, the worker can request that their name be kept confidential from the employer.

Under requirements established by Cal/OSHA, employers have certain responsibilities toward their workers. These include:

• Making employees aware of their rights and responsibilities under Cal/OSHA rules
• Creating and using an effective written illness and injury prevention program for employees
• Staying aware of the hazards each employee faces on the job and training each employee to safely approach specific job hazards
• Correcting any hazardous conditions that may result in serious injuries to employees
• Never allowing employees to do work that violates Cal/OSHA rules
• Never allowing employees to be exposed to hazardous substances or conditions without proper protective equipment, tools, or training
• Never allowing untrained employees to do hazardous work

Employees have the right to point out Cal/OSHA violations and to refuse to do any work that would expose them to a hazardous situation in violation of these regulations. If your workplace is investigated by a Cal/OSHA investigator, you have the right to point out dangerous conditions to the investigator.

If you’ve been injured on the job, don’t wait: call the skilled San Diego personal injury attorneys for a free and confidential case evaluation.…

Woman Dies In Linda Vista Pedestrian Accident

57-year-old Tina Vang was struck and killed in a San Diego car crash that occurred on June 18, 2011, around 9:50 p.m. in the 7700 block of Linda Vista Road. According to San Diego Police Officer David Stafford, Vang was crossing the street to her car when she was struck by a Chevrolet Impala traveling southbound on Linda Vista Road.

Vang was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, where she was later pronounced dead. An investigation is on to determine the exact cause of the accident. It would be interesting for the investigating officers to determine whether the motorist was speeding, distracted, driving under the influence of drugs, or was talking on the phone.

If it is found that the motorist was speeding or driving negligently, then he may be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. The victim’s family members should consult with a San Diego pedestrian accident lawyer who would assure that the at-fault party is held liable and brought to justice. Vang’s family members may be eligible to obtain compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of love, care and companionship, and other accident-related damages.

Our law office offers sincere condolences to all those who knew and loved Vang for such a heart rendering loss.…

North Park Bicycle Accident Causes Head Injuries

An unidentified 25-year-old cyclist suffered serious injuries when he was struck by an open car door on September 28, 2011, around 7 p.m. outside 2800 University Ave. According to the San Diego police Officer David Stafford, the bicyclist was riding westbound on University Avenue when a 35-year-old man opened the door of his parked Dodge, knocking the cyclist to the ground.

The biker suffered serious head injuries and was immediately transported to a local trauma center. Based on this news report, it is clear that the car driver’s negligence contributed to this serious bicycle wreck. This is the most basic sense that one exercises when the opening door of cars parked on a road. The car driver should have acted cautiously and looked in both directions before opening his door.

As this time, the injured bicyclist should immediately seek counsel from an experienced San Diego County bicycle accident lawyer who would educate him about his legal rights and assure that the at-fault motorist is brought to justice. The injured bicyclist can file a personal injury claim against the motorist to obtain compensation to cover treatment, medical and hospital costs.

Our personal injury law office sincerely hopes that the injuries suffered by the bicyclist heal soon.…

Bicyclist Killed In Los Angeles Hit And Run Car Accident

A teenager was killed in a Los Angeles County bicycle accident that was caused by a man driving under the influence of alcohol on October 2, 2010, around 2:11 a.m. The teen boy was riding his bike when a 2007 Saturn driven by Shawn Fields, 26, struck him. This car accident occurred at the intersection of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Chamberlain Street in Pacoima, approximately 100 miles north of San Diego in the San Fernando Valley.

The teenaged boy was thrown off his bike across the intersection. Fields fled from the accident scene but were later tracked down by the authorities with the assistance of witnesses. The injured bicyclist was transported to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. According to officials, Fields was driving under the influence at the time. That could have been the reason why he fled from the accident scene without even stopping to help the injured teenager, who was lying in the middle of an intersection. Fields, if found guilty, will definitely be held accountable both, criminally and civilly for his unkind, selfish, and negligent actions.

Fields, in this case, violated one major law. California Vehicle Code Section 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.”

The family of a victim killed in an auto accident caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing is advised to seek the guidance of an experienced Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyer, who will make sure that the family’s legal are protected. The family in such a situation could file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver seeking compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of love and companionship and other related damages.

We offer our deepest condolences family and friends of the fatally injured teenager who lost his life in this bicycle accident.…

Chula Vista Pedestrian Accident Injures Partygoer

One person suffered serious injuries when he was struck by Juan Zermano, 23, with his car outside a party in Chula Vista around 1 a.m. on October 3, 2010. According to the Chula Vista Police, Zermano was arrested on suspicion of felony drunken driving and assault with a deadly weapon. This Chula Vista pedestrian accident occurred near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Moss Street in Chula Vista, a city in South San Diego County.

Chula Vista police Lt. Fritz Reber said that a 16-year-old boy, who was part of an argument, called his brother, Zermano, to pick him up. Zermano picked up his brother and others and drove away from the argument. He then made a sudden U-turn, drove up on the curb, and struck the victim badly.

The injured victim was taken to UCSD Medical Center for treatment from where he was released after two hours. If Zermano is determined to have been at fault in this case, then he could face not only criminal DUI charges and charges of assault with a deadly weapon (using his truck as a tool to attack and strike the victim), but could also be held financially responsible for the injuries and damages he caused. The injured victim could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, and other related damages. In addition, if the accident was deemed intentional, then the injured victim might be entitled to punitive damages from Zermano.

We sincerely hope and pray that the injured victim did not suffer any catastrophic injuries and recovers to his health soon.…

Porterville Man Suffers Injuries In A Strathmore Car Accident

Joshua Plunk, 32, from Porterville sustained major injuries in a Strathmore car accident that occurred on September 27, 2010, around 6:40 p.m. According to the California Highway Patrol, this auto accident occurred when a 2007 Honda Accord collided with the 2004 Ford F-250 which Plunk was driving east of Strathmore, approximately 200 miles north of San Diego.

Plunk was driving his pickup truck eastbound on Avenue 196 when a westbound Accord driven by Dustin Reed, 24, initiated a left hand turn into the path of the pickup truck at Road 256. Plunk suffered major injuries in this car accident and was transported to Kaweah Delta Hospital in Visalia for treatment. Two other passengers in the pickup truck, Danny Delussa, 38, and Rhett Mason, 29, sustained minor injuries in this car accident.

The Accord driver, Reed, fortunately, escaped unhurt. This traffic collision appears to be caused by an unsafe left-turn initiated by Reed, who failed to yield to the right-of-way to Plunk’s Ford truck. The law that applies to left turns is stated in California Vehicle Code Section 21801: “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety.”

In such situations where another driver is likely responsible for a car accident resulting in major injury to another vehicle’s occupant, the injured victim would be well-advised to speak with an experienced Visalia car accident lawyer about the accident and the victim’s legal rights. An auto accident attorney can help victim acquire compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other accident-related expenses.

We sincerely hope and pray that Plunk, Danny Delussa, and Rhett Mason recover completely from their injuries.…

Huntington Beach Auto Accident Injures Driver

A 38-year old man suffered critical injuries in an Orange County car accident that occurred at Goldenwest Street on September 28, 2010 around 6:00 p.m. According to Huntington Beach Police Lt. Gary Faust, the injured victim was thrown out of his pickup truck after it collided with a BMW.

Faust said that the pickup truck rolled over and the man was thrown out of it. The injured man suffered serious head and internal injuries and was transported to UCI Medical Center for treatment. The BMW driver also complained of pain and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The names of both the car drivers have not been released.

Police are still investigating the cause of this car accident to determine who was responsible for causing the accident, but it is believed that one of the drivers might have crossed into the intersection against a red light. If any of the car drivers is determined to have caused this traffic collision, then he might be held liable to pay the other with compensation to cover cost of hospitalization and pain and suffering.

The injured pickup driver should consult with a car accident lawyer in Orange County who could help them get a just compensation for the pain they suffered.…

Drugs and Driving Don’t Mix in Seattle Car Accident Case

A drug prescribed by a physician makes people generally feel more at ease about taking it- since the drug is recommended by a doctor it surely must be safe. But as a San Diego dangerous drugs lawyer, I have seen the destruction these drugs can bring on the roadways. Prescription drugs have taken on a new role in recent years with 6 million Americans using prescription narcotics such as Vicodin for non-medical purposes. For most of the population, this would be considered better than abusing illegal narcotics, but these drugs have just as disastrous consequences.

Recently a Seattle car accident case proved how dangerous these medications are whether prescribed or taken illegally. Bellevue personal injury law firm, Premier Law Group closed a car accident case involving a driver asleep at the wheel. The drowsy driver ran over and drug a construction worker twenty feet as he removed necessary items from his truck. The most common assumption would be the accident occurred at a late hour and the driver was simply tired—in this case, however, the driver had been illegally using a prescription medication. The medication made him drowsy, as the label clearly warns, and he fell asleep behind the wheel as an adverse side effect.

The construction worker was rushed to the hospital where he remained for some time. He would never be able to return to his profession due to the extent of his injuries and had to retrain in a different field.

What makes this case even more real is how often prescription drug abusers operate a vehicle without a second thought to their condition and the adverse reaction to the drug. Most of the 6 million Americans admitting to using prescription drugs in a recreational capacity admit to operating a vehicle while under the influence. To learn more about the Drug Driving epidemic read the article “Drugs and Driving” by Seattle personal injury lawyer, Jason Epstein.…