2nd San Diego Pedestrian Killed by a Drunk Driver

 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/23/poway-pedestrian-second-fatally-hit-sidewalk/

For the second time in three days, a San Diego pedestrian has been killed by a drunken driver, the San Diego Tribune reports.

Kristen Ann Bedard, 36, was walking at approximately 7 a.m. in Poway when a car driven by 44 year-old Becky Anderson drove up onto the sidewalk, striking and killing the mother of 2.

Anderson was arrested under suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence causing great bodily injury.  A similar situation in East County killed a young walking mother on Saturday night.  In that situation the driver was arrested for identical charges, as well as an additional hit and run charge.

Please call compassionate and skilled personal injury attorneys if you have been victimized by a drunk driver.  First consultations are free of charge and attorneys are ready to help you find the answers and justice that you deserve.

 

Pedestrian Killed by Drunken Driver

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/22/bn22pedkilled-el-cajon/

A San Diego pedestrian was struck and killed by a suspected drunken driver in East County Saturday night, the San Diego Tribune reports.   The unidentified 35 year old pedestrian was walking on Pepper Drive at about 9:20 p.m. when Deborah Felix, 51, who was driving a Dodge pick-up truck, struck her and continued driving.

Felix went on to hit several mailboxes, a car, and, eventually, a home before she was stopped and apprehended by police.

Every day drunk driving causes terrible tragedies that affect thousands of Americans.  If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to a drunken driver’s actions, experienced Southern California attorneys can help.  We will we aggressively pursue compensation and guide families in recovering from the loss so that they can move forward with their lives.

 

Faulty Railing May Have Caused Elderly Man’s Fall

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/man-falls-to-death-from-downtown-apartment.html

A faulty railing at an Alexandria Hotel apartment may have given way and caused an unidentified elderly man to fall to his death from the 10^th story, the Los Angeles Times reports. 

The fall occurred early this morning.  The coroner’s office has disclosed that a piece of the fire escape was found on the sidewalk, indicating that the man may have been leaning over a fire escape railing when it gave way. 

Although this article did not give very many details regarding the fall, it is possible that the building may have been poorly inspected or maintained as the railing was in sub par condition.  In that case, the building owner could potentially be held liable were the man’s family to bring a wrongful death suit against the owner.

In tragic situations such as this, experienced personal injury  and wrongful death attorneys can help explain your legal rights and the potential courses of action to take to enact justice and receive compensation.  Personal injury attorneys offer a free consultation.

 

UPDATE: Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguard Tragedy Will Not End in Criminal Charges

http://www.ocregister.com/news/boat-220311-claim-alyssa.html

After reporting last week that the tragic death of junior lifeguard Alyssa Squirrel during a training activity in Huntington Beach would not result in criminal charges against the lifeguard who operated the boat that struck Alyssa, the Orange County Register now reports that the Squirrel family has filed a wrongful death claim against the city of Huntington Beach. 

The claim seeks over $10,000 in damages for personal injuries and emotional distress.  It alleges that lifeguard Lt. Greg Crow negligently operated the boat so as to cause Alyssa’s death.

Alyssa had jumped into the water from a boat driver by Lt. Crow during a training drill when the boat unintentionally struck her as she swam. 

After the loss of a loved one, families deserve to be compensated for funeral expenses and the trauma and emotional distress of their loss.  While no amount of money can ever replace a lost life, compassionate and experienced wrongful death attorneys will protect your legal rights and pursue fair compensation that will bring justice to your loved one.

 

Family of Drowning Victim Files $12 Million Claim against United Water Conservation District

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2009/nov/13/united-denies-12-million-claim-filed-in-piru/

The family of 9-year-old Denise Arredondo, who drowned at Like Piru in May, has filed a 12 million dollar wrongful death claim against the lake’s owner, the United Water Conservation District, the Ventura County Star reports.

The claim alleges that the district knew the lake was unsafe and that there were no posted “no swimming” signs in the area to warn people who were unaware of the lake’s drop-offs and unidentifiable underwater cliffs.  Denise’s family went to the lake to swim at the suggestion of district employees.  Denise drowned after swimming into a drop off area.  

My thoughts are with Denise’s family in this time of sadness and grief. 

Although the article does not give very much detail regarding the liability in this situation, it appears that it is at least possible that the United Water Conservation District could be liable for recommending the family swim in an area they knew to be unsafe. 

Experienced personal injury attorneys will take actions that benefit and compensate family members who have been faced with the death of a loved one due to another party’s negligent actions.  In times of grief and insecurity, you need compassionate, skilled attorneys who understand the system and will do everything possible to help you regain a sense of stability.

 

San Diego Teen Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Fatal Crash that Killed Friend

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/11/teen-pleads-guilty-manslaughter-fatal-crash/

A seventeen-year-old high school student, who caused a car accident that killed his friend while driving under the influence of alcohol, has pled guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter, the San Diego Tribune reports.

The youth, who was not identified, was traveling at speeds of up to 79 mph in a 45 mph zone when the crash occurred.  His blood alcohol content was 0.11; the legal limit for adults over the age of 21 is .08.

Adults who plead guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter are normally sentenced to 12 years of jail time.  Because he is a youth, he will most likely receive less than 12 years of custody, if any jail time at all.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), drivers aged 15 to 20 have nearly 20 more fatal crashes than any other age group.  Additionally, drunk driving traffic crashes have costs an estimated $19 billion dollars in the United States.

If someone you or someone you know has been the victim of a drunk driving accident, please call an experienced and compassionate attorney who will explain your options and fight to recover compensation.

 

Two Car Accidents in Oxnard Claim the Lives of Four People

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2009/nov/11/morning-report-4-killed-1-critical-in-2-oxnard/?partner=popular

Two Oxnard car accidents killed four people Tuesday night, the Ventura County Star reports. 

The first incident, which occurred when a vehicle carrying three passengers spun out of control and struck the center median and a palm tree, trapped the driver and passengers inside the car.  All three passengers died at the scene and the driver remains in critical condition as of this morning at St. John’s Regional Medical Center.Oxnard,

The second incident involved a 73-year-old pedestrian who attempted to cross the street outside of a marked crosswalk and was struck by a car.  The pedestrian later died at St. John’s Regional Medical Center. 

Police are still investigating the cause of both of the crashes.  In each incident, there are many unanswered questions that could help determine the cause of the accident.  For instance, did alcohol, drugs, or the use of a cell phone play a role in either incident?  Recent studies have shown that the cause of one-third of car accidents today is distracted drivers.  Oftentimes, cell phone calls or text messaging are the sources of such distraction that can result in deadly accidents.  Other questions to ask are whether there were hazardous road conditions or construction that prevented the drivers from safely operating their vehicles, whether all traffic signals and streetlights were working properly (both accidents occurred after dusk) and whether there where any maintenance problems with either car that hindered the drivers from safely operating their vehicles.  In the case of the pedestrian-car accident, another question to ask is whether or not the pedestrian was hindered from safely crossing the street due to any of the previous circumstances.

As these questions begin to be answered by police investigators, I offer my sympathies and wishes to the families of those victims who tragically lost their lives.

If you have lost a loved one as a result of a car accident and you believe someone else may be responsible for causing the accident, please contact a car accident injury attorney today for a free consultation.

 

Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguard Tragedy Will Not End In Criminal Charges

http://www.ocregister.com/news/squirrell-218493-junior-boat.html

The Orange County District Attorney’s office will not pursue criminal charges in the tragic incident which claimed the life of an 11 year old junior lifeguard in July, the Orange County Register reports.

Alyssa Squirrell was participating in a lifeguard training program that required her to jump off the back of a boat and into the ocean when the boat, driven by Marine Safety Lt. Greg Crow, struck Alyssa.  According to the Orange County District Attorney, Alyssa’s death was simply a terrible accident and, however unfortunate, no crime was committed.

My heartfelt thoughts and wishes are with Alyssa’s family and Lt. Crow in this painful time.

Boating accidents can be devastating as they are often the result of recklessness.  Although clearly not the case in this particular incident, many boating accidents involve alcohol and leisurely fun that goes too far and endangers the lives of other boaters, water skiers, jet skiers, and fisherman in the water.  Furthermore, the lack of traffic laws on the water intensifies the potential risk for accident, serious injury or death.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of another boater’s negligence, please exercise your right to an attorney today.  Experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated personal injury attorneys will pursue your case aggressively until you see outstanding results.

 

Metrolink Officials Partner with Law Enforcement to Cut Down on Pedestrian and Motorist Traffic Violations on Train Tracks

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/smith-people-tracks-2636881-starr-stop

Metrolink teamed up with several Orange County Law Enforcement organizations this morning to conduct a widespread traffic citation sweep as part of the California Operation Lifesaver Program, the Orange County Register reports. 

Operation Lifesaver is a national non-profit program with individual chapters in many states whose goals are education, enforcement and engineering of California’s rail-crossing stops, according to the California Operation Lifesaver website.  The program often gives presentations to school groups and emergency responder organizations in addition to aiding law enforcement in conducting traffic sweeps.   In this morning’s sweep, 233 citations were issued and six people were arrested for violating rail-crossing laws.

One of the most common ways that pedestrians break the law and put themselves at risk is by crossing train tracks as a short cut.  This is especially dangerous because trains cannot stop quickly, and the noise emitted from a train is often heard to the side of the train tracks, not to the front.  Motorists too are at risk, when they try to beat the flashing lights that signal an approaching train.

The problem of pedestrian-train and motorist-train collisions can be reduced by taking the safety precautions (and following the law) that Operation Lifesaver and Orange County law enforcement promoted today by their sweep.  Please protect yourself and your loved ones by avoiding the use of train tracks as a short cut on foot and by stopping behind the flashing rail crossing lights as soon as they start to flash when driving.

Sometimes safe, law-abiding pedestrians and motorists still find themselves the victims of serious train accidents.   Train accidents have a higher likelihood of resulting in serious injuries than car accidents due to their sheer size and weight.  If you or someone you know has been injured in a train accident and believe that another party is responsible, please contact experienced personal injury attorneys who understand how train accidents can disrupt and damage your life and fight aggressively to recover the maximum compensation that you need to move on.

 

Chemical Spill in Ralphs Sends Six to the Hospital

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/people-spill-ralphs-2635911-authorities-store?orderby=TimeStampDescending&showRecommendedOnly=0&oncommentsPage=2#slComments

Exposure to a toxic chemical spill at Irvine’s Ralphs grocery store sent six people to the hospital last night, the Orange County Register reports.  Four of those hospitalized were Orange County firefighters who were called to Ralphs after an automatic alarm sounded shortly after the spill occurred at 7 p.m.

USA Today reports that Freon was leaking from a refridgerator, producing a haze of toxic fumes inside the store that sickenened those exposed.  According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Freon exposure can cause immediate symptoms of heart palpitations, dizziness, and irritation of the mouth, throat, lungs, and nose.

While in this particular incident toxic chemical exposure fortunately did not result in serious or permanent injuries, in other cases such exposure can result in permanent health conditions.  Long-term exposure to harmful chemicals can be especially serious, and lead to disease and neurological and cognitive problems.

In some instances of toxic chemical poisoning or exposure, another person or entity may be held liable for their failure to maintain a safe living or working condition.  If you have been a victim of toxic chemical exposure, please contact an experienced Southern California attorney today to learn more about your rights.