Expert Advocacy

Man Injured After Attack at San Diego House Party

A San Diego house party on July 18, 2009, turned dangerous when a man in attendance there was knocked unconscious before he left in the early morning hours, according to police. The Rancho Bernardo assault occurred around 5 a.m. when the assailant insulted the victim’s girlfriend at the party that was held on Grassy Trail Drive.

After the insult, the girlfriend threw her drink on the man and he pushed her. The woman’s boyfriend then grabbed the assailant and told him to leave immediately. Although the man left with his friends, they waited outside for the couple to leave. When they did leave, the attacker reportedly punched the victim in the face, knocking him to the ground. The assailant did not stop there, however, as he stomped on the man’s face and then fled. The man had to be taken to the hospital by his friends for serious injuries, although they were not believed to be life-threatening. You can read more about this San Diego assault and battery in this SignOnSanDiego.com story.

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

San Diego MTS Worker Shot on the Job

A San Diego Metropolitan Transit System security officer was reported to be in stable condition in the hospital following a shooting attack on his life when he was shot twice while at the Grossmont Trolley Station in La Mesa late July 18, 2009.

The shooting happened at 10:15 p.m. when an unidentified man shot the worker with a semiautomatic pistol, and then took the gun and two spare magazines from the officer’s belt. The attacker was not found even though a search was conducted with both police dogs and a helicopter. Trolley services at the station were suspended until 3:40 a.m. the following day for the police investigation. Riders were instead transported by bus. MTS officials report that security has been enhanced as a direct result of the incident.…

Study Shows Driving While Texting More Dangerous than DUI

The results of a study conducted by the Automobile Association of America has shown that driving while texting (DWT) increases the likelihood of being involved in a car accident by a staggering 50 percent. A similar study also showed that DWT was considerably more dangerous than driving while under the influence (DUI).

One of the studies simulated driving with a light turning red on the dashboard to show a car stopping suddenly in front. Results showed that it took longer and required a much greater distance for a DWT driver to stop than a DUI driver. According to this particular scenario, texting is significantly worse than being drunk when operating a motorcycle or motor vehicle.

While the rate of auto accident deaths due to DWTs increases, researchers at the University of Utah have developed a device they named Key2SafeDriving which blocks all cell phones in a car that has its ignition turned on. This program would allow calls to 911 and other special numbers the override the disarming. DWTs is a significant problem not only on freeways and streets but on train and trolley tracks as well. Recently in Southern California, a commuter train engineer ran a red light while texting and caused a train crash that killed 25 people and injured 130 others.…

Desert Hot Springs Bike Accident Leaves Child Injured By Car

A 4-year-old child was seriously struck and injured in a Desert Hot Springs car accident on July 14, 2011, around 8:49 p.m. at Palm Drive and Dillon Road. According to Riverside County Fire Department officials, the kid was riding his bicycle when a motorist struck him at an intersection.

This news report offers very few details about what caused this injury crash. There are several questions here. Was the motorist speeding? Was he distracted or fatigued? Did alcohol or drugs play a part? Where were the parents of the child at this time? We trust that the investigating officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine how or why this car collision occurred.

The injured child’s parents should seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County bicycle accident lawyer to know about their legal rights and obtain compensation to cover treatment, medical and hospital costs. A child injury lawyer would assure that the at-fault car driver is apprehended and brought to justice.

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

Understanding the True Danger of California Vehicle Fires

Car accidents in southern California are a well-known source of injuries, but a fire caused by an accident or a defect in the vehicle’s design or manufacture can also cause serious harm or death. One way to help protect yourself and your family from the risks of vehicle fires is to be informed about the risks.

California vehicle fires account for one in every six fires in the state, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. However, this number does not count the thousands of car accidents fire departments respond to even when no fire occurs. Defective parts, maintenance, or repairs are the most common cause of U.S. vehicle fires, along with other types of accidental fires.

The majority of highway vehicle fires – 84 percent – start in passenger vehicles, like cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs. Of these, 62 percent start in the vehicle’s engine. About one-third of engine fires end up killing at least one person in the vehicle.

Vehicle fires are more likely to cause a death when they are the result of a crash. In 57 percent of car accidents that caused a vehicle fire, at least one person suffered fatal injuries in the U.S., according to the Fire Administration.

If you or someone you love has been injured by a fire in a motor vehicle, the knowledgeable San Diego burn injury attorneys can help you find out exactly what happened and hold any negligent parties responsible. For a free case evaluation, call our office today.…

San Diego County Hit-and-Run Claims Bicyclist’s Life

A hit-and-run accident in San Diego County recently left one bicyclist with fatal injuries, according to an article in The Sacramento Bee.

The bicyclist, an 18-year-old man from Escondido, was riding in Rancho Santa Fe when he was struck by a truck driven by a 19-year-old student from Del Mar. The impact damaged the truck’s headlight and tire. According to investigators, the driver of the pickup truck pulled over after the accident to adjust pieces of the broken headlight and to pull strips of rubber off the damaged tire. He then drove home on what remained of the tire, leaving the severely injured bicyclist behind.

According to the Bee, prosecutors in San Diego County are proceeding on criminal charges against the truck’s driver. California’s criminal courts have the power to handle hit-and-run cases, but an additional suit can also be pursued in civil court in order to compensate an injured person or that person’s family directly after a hit-and-run accident. While the county prosecutor makes the decision to pursue a criminal case, an injured person or his or her family makes the decision whether or not to pursue a civil one.

Bicyclists have the same legal rights to use the road as motor vehicles, but their greater exposure means they are more likely to suffer serious injuries if a crash occurs. An experienced southern California bicycle accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you need, so you can focus on getting well. For a free consultation, call us today.…

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.…

Alcohol Use a Common Cause of California Boating Accidents

Boating and alcohol use can be a deadly combination. According to the California Department of Boating and Waterways, 25 percent of all boating-related deaths involve alcohol use. Having a sober driver for your boat is every bit as important as having a sober driver for your car – and if you choose to drink and boat, the stakes are just as high.

Although the legal limit for being under the influence of alcohol is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, studies show that a person’s ability to operate a boat safely may be impaired at as low as 0.35%. Just one drink can raise your BAC to this level, or even higher if your body weight is quite low. It takes about one hour per drink to sober up, or longer if you have a slow metabolism.

At a BAC of 0.35%, a person’s judgment and coordination become impaired. Judgment and coordination are two essential requirements for operating a boat safely. You must be able to determine where obstacles, docks, and other boats are, and pilot the boat so that it avoids colliding with any of these things. Impaired judgment makes the first one difficult, and impaired coordination makes the second one more difficult.

Unfortunately, even if you choose to boat sober, you can’t control the decisions of other boaters who can cause an accident. If you’re injured in a California boating accident this summer, the experienced California boating injury attorneys can help. Call us today for a free, confidential consultation.…

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.…

What is Shoulder Dystocia?

Shoulder dystocia is a medical condition in which a baby’s shoulder gets trapped or pinched behind the mother’s pubic bone during a vaginal delivery. The infant’s head delivers normally, but the shoulders become stuck.

Shoulder dystocia can cause a number of birth injuries to newborns, including bone fractures, damage to the nerves in the shoulders or neck, or Erb’s palsy. To resolve shoulder dystocia during delivery, the doctor or midwife must free the newborn’s trapped shoulder without breaking any bones, putting too much stress on the neck, or injuring the mother.

Moving the mother’s body can sometimes gently turn the newborn so that the shoulders come out naturally. The doctor or midwife may also move the baby to bring the shoulders out, although this presents a slightly higher risk. In about 30 percent of cases, unfortunately, nerve or bone damage harms the delicate newborn.

Risk factors for shoulder dystocia are well-known. They include a high birth weight, which is not unusual especially in second or later-born children. Delivering after the due date or delivering twins or triplets also increases the risk. A mother who had a newborn with shoulder dystocia or Erb’s palsy during a previous birth is also at a higher risk for the condition to repeat itself in a later delivery. A scheduled Caesarean section can reduce or eliminate the risk of shoulder dystocia.

If your child has suffered shoulder dystocia during birth, the experienced San Diego shoulder dystocia injury attorneys can help. Our legal team has the resources, dedication, and experience to help you determine what happened and hold any negligent parties accountable for the injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation.…