Expert Advocacy

Fatal Yucca Valley Car Accident Kills Woman

54-year-old Deborah Ann Gerdes was killed in a fatal pedestrian wreck that occurred on November 5, 2011, around 6:40 p.m. on Highway 62 (SR 62) crossing at Geronimo Trail, Yucca Valley. According to San Bernardino County coroner, at least two vehicles struck her as she tried to cross the freeway.

Gerdes suffered life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at the accident scene. From the available information, it is unclear whether the victim had the right-of-way or was at a marked intersection. The accident is still under investigation.

The victim’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced San Bernardino County pedestrian accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights. Gerdes’s family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault car drivers to obtain compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of anticipated wages, loss of love, care and companionship, and other accident-related damages.

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

1 Worker Dead, Another Missing in Texas Sewer Line Work Accident

One man was killed and another is still missing in a fatal work-related accident that occurred around 8 a.m. Thursday, November 3, 2011 in a Collin County suburb in Texas.

According to officials, the two contract workers from North Texas Municipal Water District went down into a 60-inch wastewater collection line to remove a clog. The sewer line was filled with poisonous gas fumes that killed one worker immediately. Neither was wearing respiratory devices.

Rescue crews pulled the worker’s body from the sewer pipe, but a second is still missing. Rescuers believe he was swept down the line, which runs several miles long. Investigations are underway and the crew plans to search various manholes to find the other worker.

Our personal injury office offers our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of the victims.

We understand that this puts a huge emotional and financial burden on the victims’ families. They should immediately consult with a workplace accident attorney to learn about their legal rights and options. They may be able to receive workers’ compensation to cover the medical bills, funeral costs, and loss of love and wages.…

San Diego Attorneys Join the Race for the Cure

On November 4, the San Diego chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation held a “Race for the Cure” event to raise money for breast cancer research, advocacy, and support. The legal team at the Law Group, which has 9 staff members, created a race team of over 50 participates to join in the fight against breast cancer – and we’re taking our support past the race itself.

From now until December 4, 2012, the Law Group will match any donations to the Komen Foundation, up to $1,000 total. You can make donations directly.…

Brazil Woman Finds ‘Dead’ Mother Alive in Morgue

Rosangela Celestrino was called to a Rio de Janeiro hospital to identify her mother’s body on September 23, 2011, only to find that her mother was still alive.

The mother was initially admitted to the Hospital Estadual Adao Pereira Nunes for a pulmonary infection. Doctors had pronounced 60-year-old Rosa Celestrino de Assis dead, and she was placed in the refrigerated drawer of a hospital morgue for two hours.

“I went to kiss my mom, and she was breathing.”

The mother was immediately taken to the ICU, intubated again, and put on a respirator.

The nurse who first suspected the mother was dead was fired and the doctor who pronounced her dead had resigned. The Celestrino family made a police complaint. If medical negligence is proven, the family could sue the hospital for personal injury. If the mother dies, the family can file a wrongful death suit for manslaughter.…

Minnesota Work Accident Kills Electrical Worker

58-year-old Bruce Lynn Leibfried died in a Sioux Falls job site accident on November 1, 2011. He was working on a scissor lift at 7 a.m. when the bucket of his crane was lodged between some tubing and a rafter in the ceiling. No one was nearby.

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue and Rural Metro ambulance responded to the call of a work site accident at 8 a.m. and found Leibfried dead at the scene. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is currently investigating the cause of the incident.

Right now, the deceased worker’s family members should consult with a personal injury attorney to learn about their legal rights and options. If the electrical company could have prevented the accident, then the family can sue for compensation by filing a wrongful death claim. The family may also be eligible for Social Security benefits, depending on the situation.…

Bicyclist Struck By Teenage Driver in Chino

44-year-old Francisco Donato was struck and injured in a serious bicycle accident that occurred on October 27, 2011, around 6 a.m. between Chino Avenue and Arvidson Street. According to the Police officials, Donato was pedaling south along the 13300 block of East End Avenue when he was struck by 18-year-old Gerardo Mendez driving a 2001 GMC Yukon. The teen was attempting to pass another vehicle when the collision happened.

Donato suffered serious injuries and was immediately airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for treatment. From the limited information, it is clear that the negligence and reckless driving of the teen driver led to this serious bicycle wreck. The investigation is in process.

Meanwhile, the injured bicyclist should immediately seek counsel from an experienced San Bernardino County bicycle accident lawyer who would educate him about his legal rights and assure that the at-fault party is brought to justice.

The injured victim can also file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party to obtain compensation to cover treatment, medical and hospital costs, and other accident-related damages.

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

Pedestrian Killed in Fatal Loma Linda Auto Accident

26-year-old Timothy Joseph Taylor was killed in Loma Linda traffic accident along I-10 that occurred on October 18, 2011, around 9:22 p.m. at the Sun City area of Menifee. According to San Bernardino County coroner’s officials, Taylor was struck by an unidentified vehicle near Tippecanoe Avenue.

Taylor suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital less than 30 minutes after the report was made. From the available information, it appears that the negligent driving of the motorist led to this serious pedestrian accident. The accident is under investigation.

At this time, the deceased’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced San Bernardino County pedestrian accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights and options and would assure that the at-fault motorist is brought to justice.

The victim’s family members can also file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault motorist to obtain timely compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of anticipated earnings, and loss of love, care and companionship, and other accident-related damages.

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

Three Students Struck in Santee Car Accident

Three girls were struck and injured by a vehicle in a serious pedestrian accident that occurred on October 17, 2011, around 8:30 a.m. near Santana High School in Santee. According to the investigating authorities, the girls were attempting to cross the street near the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Carefree Drive when a car struck them. All the girls suffered minor bruises and scratches.

From the limited information, it is not clear as to what led to this accident. The investigation is in process. Meanwhile, the parents of the injured girls should immediately seek counsel from an experienced San Diego County pedestrian accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights and assure that the at-fault truck driver is brought to justice.

The victims’ parents can also file a personal injury claim against the driver to obtain compensation to cover treatment, medical and hospital costs, and other accident-related damages.

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

Santa Ana Pedestrian Accident Caused by Unlicensed Driver

A mother and her 4-year-old child were struck and injured by a car driven by an unlicensed car driver in Santa Ana on the morning of October 20, 2010. Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said that this Orange County auto accident occurred along the 1200 block of East McFadden Avenue, near Grand Avenue in Santa Ana, approximately 125 miles north of San Diego.

Eric Christopher Woodward, 39, driving a Ford Crown Victoria, veered onto the sidewalk and hit the mother and crushed the child. The impact of the car crash was so strong that both the mother and child were thrown about 20 feet into the air. Bertagna said that the child suffered critical injuries and the mother suffered a broken shoulder.

Woodward lost control of the vehicle, perhaps due to experiencing a grand mal seizure, and in an effort to compensate the curve he struck both the mother and the child leaving them seriously injured. Bertgana said that Woodward was unlicensed due to his propensity to experience seizures. Fortunately, Woodward and his mother riding as her passenger escaped unhurt.

The injured victims can seek a personal injury claim from Woodward to cover the medical costs, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, and other accident related damages. With the assistance from an experienced Orange County car accident lawyer, the injured victims can know their legal rights and obtain timely compensation.

We sincerely hope and pray that both mother and child did not suffer ant catastrophic injuries and that their injuries heal completely.…

Church Street Car Accident Injures Roseville Woman

An unidentified 20-year-old Roseville woman suffered critical injuries in a Placer County car accident that occurred on October 17, 2010, around 3:02 p.m. on Church Street in Placer County, 400 miles from San Diego. Roseville Police Department officers said that the injured woman driving her 1989 BMW Sedan failed to negotiate a curve near Circuit Drive.

The BMW failing to take the curve, collided with a tree and then with the Union Pacific Railroad Yard property. The injured female driver was immediately transported to Sutter Roseville Medical Center for treatment.

Authorities investigating this serious car accident believe that slippery road might have contributed to it. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors behind this car accident. Roseville Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is trying to determine the exact cause of this critical car accident.

It is worth looking into the condition of the road. Is there a proper system to water drainage after a rainfall? Was the overflow system clogged? If it is found in the investigation that an unsafe road leads to this car accident, then the injured victim can seek compensation from road maintenance authorities to cover the cost of treatment of injuries, hospitalization charges, and other accident-related damages.

We sincerely hope and pray that the injured car driver did not suffer any life-threatening injuries and that her injuries heal soon.…