Expert Advocacy

How to Keep Kids Safer on Bikes

Children all over San Diego are headed back to school this month, and many kids will make their way to and from school on their bicycles. Bicycling is a great way to get needed exercise while also enjoying the crisp fall weather.

Whether your child is just learning to ride or has been bicycling for many years, you can help kids stay safer on their bicycles by following these safety tips, courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• Always wear a helmet. Helmets play a key role in preventing or reducing the severity of accident injuries. Choose a bike helmet for each child that fits properly and has not been damaged by a previous crash or other force.
• Adjust the bicycle to fit the child. When the child stands over the bike, there should be one to two inches between the child’s body and the top bar of the frame for a standard bicycle and three to four inches for a mountain bike. The seat should be level front to back, and the seat height should be adjusted so there is a slight bend at the knee when the child pushes the pedal to its lowest point.
• Dress to be seen. A brightly-colored vest or jacket with reflective strips will help motorists see kids on bicycles more easily, reducing the chances of a crash. Remind children that just because they can see a car does not mean the driver of the car can see them.

If you or someone you love is hurt in a bike crash, don’t wait: call the focused San Diego bicycle accident attorneys for a free and confidential consultation.…

Riverside Bicycle Crash Injures Bicyclist

An unidentified 20-year-old bicyclist suffered critical injuries in a Riverside bicycle accident that occurred on August 23, 2011, around 7 p.m. at Van Buren Boulevard and Canyon Ridge Drive Road near the California Citrus State Historic Park in the Arlington Heights neighborhood.

According to the Police Officials, the bicyclist was traveling south on Van Buren in the northbound bicycle lane when this crash occurred. The biker attempted to turn onto westbound Canyon Ridge, which took him across traffic lanes and into the path of a northbound GMC.

The injured bicyclist was immediately transported to Riverside Community Hospital to receive medical treatment for the critical injuries suffered.

The bike accident is still under investigation to determine who was at fault and who had the right-of-way. In this scenario, the injured bicyclist should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County bicycle accident lawyer who would educate him about his legal rights and options and help him obtain timely compensation to cover treatment, medical expenses, hospital costs, and other accident-related damages.

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

California Dog Bite Injuries: Know the Facts

Dog bite injuries can cause serious physical harm and an overwhelming amount of pain and fear, especially for young children who may come away with a long-term fear of dogs or other animals. Understanding the statistics surrounding dog bite injuries is the first step in protecting yourself and those you love from harm.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 800,000 people in the U.S. need medical treatment for a dog bite each year. Just under half, or about 386,000, need emergency room or hospital treatment for their injuries.…

Don’t Leave the Photos to the Insurance Company (and Their Photoshop Artists!)

Often times, people who have had their car damaged in an auto accident do not take pictures of their property damage, instead of leaving it to the insurance company (either theirs or the at-fault driver’s) to document.

Do not fall into this trap!

It is always important to maintain control over any and all evidence that will help your case. The reason why is because you do not want to risk the possibility that the insurance company, in an effort to dampen the evidence against their insured, will use a photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop to alter pictures of your vehicle thereby giving the impression that the traffic collision was not so severe.

Photoshop is a program that can not only reduce shadows, alter colors, but it can also distort images through elongation and airbrushing. Here is an example from an Ann Taylor catalog where the website retouched the photo to make the model look thinner:

If trained professionals can reduce the diameter of a woman’s stomach, torso, and legs, what do you think they can do to that dent in your car’s bumper? Photoshop is a very useful tool in the hands of the insurance company to make small, but significant collisions seem as if no property damage was incurred.

Now, the Courts are realizing that today’s digital images are not the old photographs of old–they can be altered on the fly and very easily. Recently in the criminal case People v. Khaled, the appellate court ruled that a red light traffic ticket must be overturned due to a conviction based upon unsubstantiated photographs taken by a camera at an intersection. The Court ruled that where the prosecution failed to lay the foundation for the photographs by submitting testimony establishing when and how the photographs were taken and that they were not altered. The Court ruled that the hearsay rule will exclude the evidence barring testimony laying out this foundation.

It is good that the courts are finally starting to recognize the ease to which photographic images can be altered and that the old business records exception to the hearsay rule cannot by itself allow for the introduction of photographs into evidence. However, what this should mean to you and to any other member of the public, is that it is better not to even give the insurance company an opportunity to alter photographs of your vehicle. The only way to do so is to make sure that you have taken pictures of your car so that you can keep the insurance company honest.…

Three La Jolla Teens Hurt By Suspected Drunk Driver in San Diego Pedestrian Accident

Ronald Troyer, 67, a suspected drunken, injured three teenagers who were walking on the sidewalk in La Jolla on August 21, 2010 around 6:30 p.m. San Diego authorities reported that the three teens, Alani Agurre, 14, Miles Ploger, and Ian Brininstool, whose ages are not known, were walking on La Jolla Boulevard when a speeding Chrysler New Yorker hit them. Two more teenagers walking with them, fortunately, escaped unhurt.

Alani Agurre was carried for about twenty yards on the top of the car’s hood before he was thrown into the glass window of Cass Street Café and was pinned underneath the car. Agurre sustained serious injuries, including a broken arm and a broken pelvis. All three of the teenagers were immediately transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Troyer was arrested later and charged with felony drunk driving causing injury. A complete investigation is being carried out to know the exact cause of this crash. Troyer has a history of drug and alcohol abuse. It will not be a surprise if he is found to be driving under the influence of any one of these.

Under California law, it is unlawful for anyone to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of any drug or alcohol per California Vehicle Code Section 23152(a). Therefore, the injured teenagers are entitled for a compensation to cover the cost of treatment of injuries, cost of hospitalization, and other related damages. Unfortunately, the magnitude of the injuries is very high in this accident. Troyer, who has a history of past drunk driving arrests and is believed to be homeless, probably does not have adequate insurance to pay for the injuries he has caused. The children’s families would be well advised to confer with an experienced San Diego personal injury attorney.…

Simi Valley Car Crash Leaves Pedestrian Injured

A 57-year-old unidentified man suffered serious injuries in Simi Valley pedestrian accident that occurred on August 19, 2011, around 11 p.m. in Simi Valley. According to police officials, the pedestrian was struck by a vehicle while he was walking across the Royal Avenue near the intersection of Sycamore Drive.

The injured man was immediately transported to Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center to receive treatment for fractures to the legs, a fracture to the arm, and other bruises and cuts that he suffered.

There is limited information and an investigation will yield the exact cause of the accident. Investigating officers need to determine how fast the vehicle was traveling, if the motorist was distracted, or whether he was driving negligently. A detailed investigation will help the officers determine the exact cause of this car crash.

The injured pedestrians should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Ventura County pedestrian accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights and assure that the at-fault party is apprehended and brought to justice. The injured victim can file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver to obtain compensation to cover medical treatment, hospital costs, loss of wages, loss of earning capacity, and other accident-related expenses.

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

Imperial Beach ATV Accident Injures San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy

Two San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies riding all-terrain vehicles last weekend got involved in a crash in Imperial Beach while out on the ATV’s, injuring one when he was catapulted forward off the one he had been riding on.

The two deputies had been on northbound Seacoast Drive near Elder Avenue at 11:35 a.m. on August 16, 2009, when the ATV crash happened, as reported by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jerry Hartman. The lead deputy had stopped the motor vehicle in front of the other deputy just before it happened.

The deputies had been riding on the ATV’s because they were assigned to patrol the beaches. The deputy who had been thrown from the ATV landed on his head and right arm and had to be taken to a local hospital for treatment of the head injury.

If you or a loved one has ever been injured or killed in an Imperial Beach ATV wreck, contact San Diego motor vehicle accident lawyer and the San Diego, CA injury accident lawyers.…

Imperial Beach Accident

Two San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies riding all-terrain vehicles last weekend got involved in a crash in Imperial Beach while out on the ATV’s, injuring one when he was catapulted forward off the one he had been riding on.

The two deputies had been on northbound Seacoast Drive near Elder Avenue at 11:35 a.m. on August 16, 2009, when the ATV crash happened, as reported by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jerry Hartman. The lead deputy had stopped the motor vehicle in front of the other deputy just before it happened.

The deputies had been riding on the ATV’s because they were assigned to patrol the beaches. The deputy who had been thrown from the ATV landed on his head and right arm and had to be taken to a local hospital for treatment of the head injury.

If you or a loved one has ever been injured or killed in an Imperial Beach ATV wreck, contact San Diego motor vehicle accident lawyer and the San Diego, CA injury accident lawyers.…

Hesperia Bicycle Accident Leaves Victorville Boy Dead

12-year-old Zachariah Houck was killed in a serious bike crash that occurred on August 14, 2011, around 6:41 p.m. at Joshua and Mesquite Street. According to California Highway Patrol Officers, Houck was riding south on Joshua Road when he failed to stop for a stop sign and was struck by a 2000 Lincoln Navigator driven by 51-year-old George Peery.

The boy suffered life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at the accident scene. From the available information, Peery attempted to avoid the boy but could not stop.

There are some unanswered questions about the circumstances of the event. How fast was the driver of the Lincoln traveling? Was there a traffic violation? Did any other factor contributed to this tragic bicycle accident? We trust that the investigating officers are looking into all these factors to determine the exact cause of this bicycle accident.

The bicyclist’s parents should seek counsel from an experienced San Bernardino County bicycle accident lawyer who would analyze all the crucial aspects and assure that the at-fault party is held liable.

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

South Sacramento Pick-up Truck Accident Injures Two Pedestrians

Two unidentified pedestrians suffered minor injuries in a pedestrian accident that occurred on August 17, 2011, around 6 a.m. on eastbound Elder Creek Road, just west of South Watt Avenue.

According to California Highway Patrol Officers, the two men were walking away from their broken-down vehicle in Sacramento’s south area when they were struck by a pickup truck. Both the pedestrians complained of pain and were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

There is limited information and an investigation will yield the exact cause of the accident. Investigating officers need to determine how fast the pickup truck was traveling if the motorist was distracted, or if he was driving negligently. A detailed investigation will help the officers determine the exact cause of this car crash.

The injured pedestrians should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Sacramento County pedestrian accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights and assure that the at-fault party is apprehended and brought to justice. Injured victims can file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver to obtain compensation to cover medical, treatment and hospital costs, loss of wages, loss of earning capacity, and other accident-related expenses.

Our personal injury law office sincerely hopes and prays that the injuries suffered by both the pedestrians heal soon…