California Injury Lawyers Blog

Taylor Tolleson, a former professional cyclist, is suing driver Thomas John Legan for California personal injury. Tolleson, 25, claims that his career was ruined when Legan, also 25, allegedly struck him on July 23 during a hit-and-run car crash. Tolleson was riding a motorcycle at the time and he broke his vertebra and sustained a traumatic brain injury. Also named as a defendant in the California motorcycle accident lawsuit is Legan's dad, Thomas Louis Legan, who is the owner of the Audi suspected of striking Tolleson.

Fortunately, another driver called 911 and Tolleson was flown to a hospital. Police discovered the Audi about two hours later and impounded it. While searching the car, they say they found two prescription drugs in the younger Legan's name.

Legan turned himself in to the authorities later that month and he was arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run. He has not been criminally charged but the case may be reopened. Last December Legan was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of reckless driving. He also has several speeding tickets. Tolleson, In his California motor vehicle crash lawsuit, accused Legan of being a drug addict.

Tolleson was expected to fully recover form his injuries. However, he continues suffer from mood swings and memory loss, has a hard time concentrating, and experiences pain in his L1 vertebra if he is hunched over a bike for too long. Tolleson says that pro cycling was both his passion and livelihood before it was taken away from him during the California motorcycle crash.

Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents claim too many lives and cause injuries to tens of thousands of people each year. In the event that a rider is thrown from a bike, pinned under a vehicle, or propelled into a wall or another nonmoving object, he or she is at risk of sustaining a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or other catastrophic injuries.

It is so important that the drivers involved in collisions involving motorcyclists contact 911 immediately. The sooner the victim receives medical help the greater the chances of recovery.

Former pro cyclist sues over hit-and-run that ended his career, Mercury News, May 14, 2010

Pro Cyclist Taylor Tolleson Injured in Hit-and-Run, TPGOnlineDaily, August 1, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Race Results for Taylor Tolleson, USA Cycling

Motorcyclist Facts, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

NHTSA

A six-year-old girl sustained bite marks to her face, arm, leg and shoulder after she was attacked by the neighbor's dog. The Lake Forest dog attack took place on the morning of May 19 as the girl and her 3-year-old sister were headed to a neighbor's house.

The girl's mother, Jennifer Cooper, was on her porch with her 14-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter when she heard her other two daughters screaming. A neighbor tried spraying the dog with Windex and the 14-year-old kept punching the dog until it let go of the girl.

Cooper then took her children and ran toward the house. The dog chased after them and tried to bite the 1-year-old's pant leg. Cooper tried to scare the dog off by stomping and yelling but the animal wouldn't go away. She went back to the house, got a 9-millimeter Glock semiautomatic pistol , and shot the dog in the neck.

Ironically, the Orange County, California dog attack happened during national Dog Bite Prevention Week, which is geared toward reminding pet owners to take greater responsibility for their dogs so that they don't attack others. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Humane Society of the United States, and the American Veterinary Medical Association, small children and the elderly are the groups at most risk of being bitten by dogs. With kids' shorter size, they have a high chance of sustaining disfiguring facial injuries during a dog attack, while elderly people, who tend to have weaker immune systems, may be at risk of infection, permanent disability, and serious health issues.

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident, a dog bite victim may be able to hold the owner liable for Orange County, California personal injury. The American Kennel Club offers a number of ways that dog owners can prevent dog bites from happening:

• When outside, make sure your dog is leashed or in a secured enclosure
• Take your dog to behavioral school
• Make sure to socialize your dog
• Teach your dog to obey commands
• Don't teach your dog to become an aggressive pet
• Don't leave children that your dog doesn't know alone with the pet
• Vaccinate your dog for rabies (just in case)

Mom Shoots Neighbor's Dog After it Attacks Daughter, KTLA, May 19, 2010

Orange County woman shoots, wounds dog after it attacks her 6-year-old daughter, Los Angeles Times, May 30, 2010

Tips to Prevent Dog Bites, American Kennel Club

Related Web Resources:
Dog Bite Awareness, USPS

Dog Bite Prevention, CDC

Continue reading "6-Year-Old Injured in Lake Forest Dog Attack " »

Actor Dennis Quaid has filed a Los Angeles products liability lawsuit against Baxter Healthcare Corp. This is the second dangerous drug complaint that the movie star has filed against the pharmaceutical company over the Heparin overdose that nearly killed his then-newborn twins. His earlier injuries to minor lawsuit, filed in Illinois, was dismissed and upheld on appeal twice.

On May 22, in Los Angeles Superior Court, Quaid is seeking unspecified damages. His dangerous drug complaint contends that the twins were administered the fatal overdose because of a labeling issue that contributed to a medication mix-up.

Quaid's twins, Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace, nearly died after they were each given 10,000 units of Heparin instead of 10 units. The medication error caused them to bleed out and landed them in the ICU.

Now, the movie star is claiming that Baxter should have recalled the Heparin vials with 10,000 units and issued a warning to medical providers because this type of mix-up had occurred before and resulted in serious consequences. He also says that the twins may have sustained permanent injuries and there could be serious health complications later on.

Quaid is seeking punitive damages and compensation for medical expenses. He would also like the healthcare company set up a fund for any medical expenses the medication mistake may cause his son and daughter to incur in the future.

In 2008, Quaid and his wife Kimberly settled their Los Angeles medical malpractice lawsuit against Cedars-Sinai Medical Center over their twins' Heparin overdose for $750,000. Each twin also was to receive another $250,000 each.

Medication mix-ups can prove fatal or result in serious health complications. You may have grounds for a Los Angeles personal injury lawsuit if your doctor prescribed the wrong medication, a medical professional administered you the wrong dose of the correct drug, the pharmacy gave you the wrong medicine, or a pharmaceutical company manufactured a dangerous drug, incorrectly packaged the medication, failed to warn of serious side effects, or provided unclear instructions.

Dennis Quaid sues again over twins drug overdose, Reuters, May 25, 2010

Quaid sues healthcare company, Toronto Sun, May 24, 2010

Heparin Overdose Suspected In Texas Hospital Baby Death, 16 Others Affected, Medical News Today, July 9, 2008

Related Web Resource:
Baxter

Cedars-Sinai

Marlene Elaine Olson is suing the city of Newport Beach and two companies for her Orange County, California personal injuries. Olson says that she hurt her finger because bathroom stall doors at Corona del Mar State Beach had been improperly installed.

Olson says that her finger broke and its tip was partially ripped off when, while trying to shut her stall door on November 15, 2008, the person in the stall next to hers opened her door and the two doors collided. In her Newport Beach personal injury lawsuit, Olson is blaming the city for failing to make sure that the bathroom stalls on the beach were safe for public use.

She is also suing Partition Systems Inc., the company that made the doors, and Weeger Bros. Inc., the one that installed it. Olson is seeking compensation for medical bills and lost wages, which exceed $25,000.

In another Orange County premises liability case, Peggy Carroll has filed a personal injury claim against the city of Huntington Beach for her trip and fall injuries. The 66-year-old Anaheim woman says that raised tree roots near the intersection of Knoxville Avenue and Florida Street had created an uneven surface, which caused her to fall on the sidewalk.

Carroll's Huntington Beach trip and fall claim accuses the city of breaching its duty by failing to properly maintain the sidewalk. She says that because she fell, one side of her face became black and blue after she struck her head against the sidewalk. Carroll says she has incurred medical costs, including ongoing chiropractor bills for her back and neck injuries.

Premise owners must make sure that their properties are properly maintained and that there are no hazards that can cause someone to get hurt. Common reasons why someone might file a premises liability case:

• Defective conditions
• Slip and fall
• Poor maintenance
• Improper installation on the property
• Inadequate security
• Falling merchandise
• Hazardous conditions
• Failure to warn of hazard

Partial finger loss leads to civil suit, Daily Pilot, May 28, 2010

Woman blames tree for fall, seeks $50,000 for injuries, The Orange County Register, May 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Premises Liability Resources, Justia

Corona del Mar State Beach

A 4-year-old boy was hurt on Friday when he was hit by a hit-and-run driver. The Anaheim car accident happened on the 900 block of North Topeka Street and La Palma Avenue while the boy and his 14-year-old sister crossed the street. He sustained abrasions to his face.

The driver of the dark-colored Sedan that struck him stopped and asked the kids if they were okay. The 14-year-old told the motorist to pull over but he drove off.

Police are searching for a man with dark skin, a mustache, and a beard. He could face misdemeanor hit-and-run charges.

Hit-and-Run Accidents
It is illegal for a motorist to hit-and-run. Drivers are supposed to stop at the car accident site and when there are injuries call for help. If you or someone you love was injured in a hit-and-run car accident, an Anaheim personal injury lawyer can help you explore your legal options regardless of whether or not the motorist is apprehended.

Hit-and-run crashes can prove fatal. A driver leaving a crash site can delay much needed medical care for the victim, who could end up dying instead of being saved.

Yesterday, a married couple were sentenced to time in prison for their involvement in a 2009 hit-and-run car accident that killed a USC student and seriously injured her friend. Claudia Cabrera was sentenced to eight years behind bars while her husband Josue Luna received a prison sentence of seven years for their role in the Los Angeles car accident. The two of them pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter, hit and run, and leaving an accident scene.

Police say Cabrera was driving the car that hit Adrianna Bachan, 18, and Marcus Garfinkle, 19, last March. The two of them were crossing the street at around 3am when the Los Angeles pedestrian accident happened. Cabrera, who was driving on a suspended license, also ran a red light.

The vehicle kept going some 400 feet with Garfinkle riding on the windshield. Luna then pulled him off and left him in the street. The 19-year-old broke his legs during the Los Angeles car accident and has had to undergo multiple surgeries. He owes his health insurance company over $200,000 in medical costs. Garfinkle says that the couple treated him like an animal and he may never be able to run again.

4-year-old injured by hit-and-run driver, Orange County Register, May 24, 2010

Couple Sentenced to Maximum for Deadly USC Hit-and-Run, KTLA, May 24, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Hit and Run Accidents, Deadly Roads

Pedestrian Safety, SafeKids.org

The parents of a 13-year-old girl are suing the San Bernardino Unified School District for her California sex abuse injuries inflicted by a convicted sex offender who seduced and raped her in 2006. They are seeking over $5 million for their daughter's personal injuries.

According to the San Bernardino sexual abuse complaint, Darold Hecht started talking to the girl while working for his father-in-law's construction company. Ledesma & Meyer Construction Co., which is also a defendant in the family's lawsuit, was making the new facilities at Cesar E. Chavez Middle School at the time.

Hecht would go on to repeatedly battered, raped, and sexually abused the girl. Last year, he was convicted of sexually abusing the girl and was sentenced to 24 years in state prison.

Her family's San Bernardino injuries to a child lawsuit blames school officials for allowing the convicted sex offender on school grounds and then failing to properly investigate once they found out about the sexual abuse. The complaint accuses the Rancho Cucamonga construction company of allowing Hecht to work on school property despite knowing about his criminal past.

Child Sex Abuse
If your child was sexually abused while under the supervision of another party, you may have grounds for pursing a San Bernardino County child sexual abuse claim against the assailant, as well as any other persons that allowed the sexual abuse to occur. Your civil case would be separate from any criminal charges filed by prosecutors against the abuser.

Unlike physical injuries, the emotional and mental injuries that are caused by molestation, sexual assault, inappropriate fondling, and rape can be hard to identify. However, the damages that they inflict are very real and can last a lifetime. A sex abuse victim may have a hard time trusting others and maintaining healthy relationships. He or she may be more prone to depression, eating disorders, acting out sexually, drug addiction, sleep problems, academic difficulties, unusual aggressiveness, and suicidal tendencies. Not only can this wreak havoc on the victim's life but also he/she may have to undergo years of counseling, which can be very costly.

Lawsuit filed in 2006 sexual abuse case involving 13-year-old girl at San Bernardino middle school, Los Angeles Times, May 20, 2010

Parents sue construction firm in rape, San Bernardino County Sun, May 24, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Child Sexual Abuse, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

The family of Anita Ramirez says she sustained serious burn injuries after living less than two weeks at LifeHouse Parkview. The assisted living facility says it is investigating the allegations.

The 65-year-old woman, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, was admitted to the nursing home so she could receive nursing care for a bedsore. The assisted living facility workers were supposed to turn her every two hours. Ramirez was also placed on an IV antibiotic.

However, Ramirez's family soon began to worry about her care. They contacted police, who helped them remove the patient from the nursing home and she was taken to a hospital emergency room.

Doctors at the ER said they thought Ramirez was experiencing a reaction to the antibiotics she has been taking over the last year. The patient was taken to burn center where she was diagnosed with serious burns all over her body. Some parts of her body have no skin left.

If poor nursing care contributed to a patient's injuries, an assisted living facility can be held liable fo California nursing home neglect. It is the responsibility of facility workers to make sure that a patient isn't suffering from adverse reactions, skin conditions, infections, or other health complications. They also are required to report unexplained bruising or other injuries.

Sick residents oven have a weaker immune system than healthier people. They are more likely to suffer from health complications and infections can turn fatal if not treated immediately.

Nursing home facilities know that providing patients with the proper skin care is incredibly important. Residents should be checked for bedsores, which should be treated immediately upon detection, bathed/cleaned regularly. Unusual rashes, spots, burns, or bruises should be addressed and treated. Family members should be notified immediately of changes in a resident's health.

Family alleges woman got serious burns at nursing home, Bakersfieldnow, May 17, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Skin Care for the Elderly in a Nursing Home, DermaNetwork

Nursing Home Care & the Risks of Infection: Issues to Consider, Associated Content, August 17, 2010

Continue reading "California Nursing Home Resident Sustains Serious Burn Injuries " »

The California Department of Public Health has fined Mission Hospital $50,000 for giving morphine to a newborn. The medication was intended for the infant's mother.

The medication mix-up happened on April 2009. A nurse accidentally injected the morphine into the baby's IV instead of his mother's IV. Luckily, the Orange County, California medication mistake was detected in time and the baby has made a full recovery.

Mission has submitted a correction plan that prohibits the hospital from administering medications to mothers in the neonatal intensive unit. In this case, the mom had just given birth to triplets and she was in the NICU for "skin-to-skin" bonding with the baby who was accidentally given the morphine dose.

According to an article published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy in 2008, neonatal medication-dispensing errors have been known to occur. That year, there were five cases involving medication-dispensing mistakes that took place at the same institution. Three of the five errors involved near misses that could have resulted in harm. Four of the five incidents involved mix-ups between neonatal and pediatric or adult products.

The mistakes reflected weaknesses in the system set in place for neonatal medication labeling, storage, knowledge, delivery, and administration documentation. Solutions to the problems included reorganizing medication shelves, setting up a color labeling scheme, and changes to vaccine storage, ordering, dispensing, and documentation systems.

Examples of reasons why medication errors might occur at a hospital:

• Exhausted staff members, inadequate staff training
• A worker who is in a hurry and forgets to double-check that the correct medication (and the right dosage) is being administered
• Lack of proper medication administering system that includes adequate safety measures

According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies in 2006, nearly 1.5 million people a year are injured because of medication mistakes. About 400,000 of these preventable medication errors took place in hospitals.

If you or someone you love was injured because of a medication mistake, you may be able to file an Orange County, California medical malpractice lawsuit against the negligent medical center, worker, or other liable parties.

Mission Hospital fined after newborn gets morphine, OC Register, May 20, 2010

Medication Mistakes Can Be Deadly But Preventable, OneMedSentinel

Medication Errors Injure 1.5 Million People and Cost Billions of Dollars Annually;
Report Offers Comprehensive Strategies for Reducing Drug-Related Mistakes, Office of News and Public Information, July 20, 2006

Related Web Resource:
Medical Malpractice: When can patients sue a hospital for negligence?, Nolo

Bradley Stewart Wagner, a former Anaheim police officer and a Perris resident, has pleaded guilty to the California felony crimes of oral copulation under the color of authority, forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment by violence or deceit, and sexual battery by restraint. He also pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor crime of being an officer acting without regular process.

The 62-year-old was arrested in November 2005 after an undocumented woman claimed that the cop threatened to deport her if she did not perform a sex act on him. Following the 40-year-old's allegations, two other undocumented women came forward. One woman accused him of sexually assaulting her. The other woman said that over a three-month-period, Wagner pulled her over four times and asked her personal questions. He never ticketed her for any violations. All of the incidents occurred while he was on duty as an Anaheim police officer.

Orange County, California Police Brutality
If you were sexually assaulted, molested, or harassed by a police officer, not only were you a victim of a violent crime, but also you're civil rights have were violated and you may have grounds for an Orange County, California police brutality lawsuit that would allow you to claim damages.

For example, on May 6, a woman filed a Huntington Beach police brutality lawsuit against the city claiming that its police department and police chief attempted to cover up the sexual crimes (including sodomy and rape) committed against her by her ex-boyfriend. Aileen Mignosa's Orange County, California personal injury lawsuit alleges battery, assault, stalking, false imprisonment, deprivation of civil rights, and intentional infliction of emotional distress by former Huntington Beach police officer James Roberts III.

Roberts, who was arrested in September and fired from his job in April following an internal investigation, has pleaded not guilty to 20 felony counts. His wife also filed a Huntington Beach civil rights violation complaint against the city for the sexual assault and abuse that she says the former cop committed against her.

Huntington Beach police covered up abuse by fellow officer, new lawsuit alleges, Los Angeles Times, May 18, 2010

Ex-Anaheim officer used badge to assault women, OC Register, May 18, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Anaheim Police Department

Huntington Beach Police Department

The family of Devin Leigh Petelski is suing the Los Angeles Police Department for her California wrongful death. The 25-year-old woman died on October 15, 2009 when her car was hit by a patrol car that was headed to a burglarly site.

At the time of the Los Angeles car accident, police officers James Eldridge and Ramon Vasquez reportedly did not activated their vehicle's sirens and flashing lights--as mandated by police policy when speeding to a 911 call--to let other motorists and pedestrians know that they were rushing to a possible crime scene. They also did not tell dispatchers that they were going to a possible burglary-in-progress and were driving faster than the 40 mph speed limit.

Police officers have a responsibility to drive their vehicles safely even when they are headed to a crime scene, responding to an emergency call, or pursuing a suspect during a high-speed chase. According USA today, about 360 people a year are killed during police pursuits alone. Often, innocent bystanders, including pedestrians and the occupants of other vehicles that happen to be on the road at the time are the ones that are injured.

Traffic laws, pedestrian lanes, traffic signals, and other safety measures are in place to prevent California motor vehicle accidents, injuries, and deaths. The rules of the road don't stop applying just because a police officer has a job to do. Police officers must warn others when they are speeding through roads so that motorists and pedestrians can stay out of their way. Cops also must exercise caution by making sure that they don't accidentally cause pedestrian accidents and auto crashes.

Family and friends blame LAPD for woman's death in Venice crash, Los Angeles Times, November 20, 2009

Deaths lead police to question high-speed chase policies, USA Today, April 23, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Los Angeles Police Department

Wrongful Death Claims, Nolo

A jury has awarded $1.1 million in wrongful death recovery and $28 million in punitive damages to the daughter of Frances Tanner. Jury members were unanimous in finding that Colonial Healthcare and parent company Horizon West of Rocklin committed California elder abuse against the dementia patient.

In March 2005, Tanner, then 79, moved into the nursing home. Seven months after moving into the assisted living facility, she died from an infected bedsore that she developed after breaking her hip during a fall accident.

The jury determined that the defendants' behavior was fraudulent and malicious and oppressive. Witness testimony during the California nursing home abuse trial included statements from one former employee who said he would never let a family member live at the home. Allegations of corporate greed, poor medical documentation, and chronic understaffing were also made.

Tanner's death was the fourth time in a year that Colonial Healthcare was linked to the death of an elderly resident. The nursing home's lawyers had argued that the assisted living facility had taken good care of the elderly patient and that it should not be held liable for Tanner's fatal pressure sore. Following the California wrongful death verdict, Tanner's daughter Elizabeth Paos expressed relief over the outcome and said that her mother had received justice.

Bedsores
Assisted living facilities know how a bedsore can become a serious health issue for a patient. Nursing home workers are supposed to provide patients with the proper care so that pressure sores don't develop, or if they do, that they don't become infected.

For example, nursing home workers are supposed to move or reposition residents that cannot move themselves at regular and frequent intervals. Softer bed linens, protective padding, pillow foams, lubricants, and special wedges can also can be used. If possible, the patient's bed should be kept in the flat position. The resident's skin should be kept dry and clean, daily baths should be administered, and doctors should check the skin for signs of irritation.

Jury hits Auburn nursing home with $28 million in punitive damages, The Sacramento Bee, May 13, 2010

CA jury awards $29.1 million in nursing home death, Daily Finance, May 13, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Pressure Sores, Mayo Clinic

Recognizing and Treating Bed Sores, Strength for Caring

The family of 24-year-old Ralph Abinader has filed an Orange County, California wrongful death claim against the city of Newport Beach. Ralph died last year on Christmas Eve when the Ferrari he was a passenger in was involved in a traffic crash on the Pacific Coast Highway. His 18-year-old cousin Luicci Abinader was driving the motor vehicle. Abinader survived the Newport Beach car accident with serious injuries.

According to police, who spoke with the Daily Pilot, the Ferrari was moving at a fast speed when it spun out of control, flipped over a traffic island, split in two, smashed into a tow truck, and burst into flames. Newport Beach firefighters were able to rescue Luicci but could not get to Ralph in time. The 24-year-old was pronounced at the Orange County, California car accident site.

The Abinader family claims that rescue workers were unable to rescue Ralph because they failed to respond quickly enough at the scene. They also contend that the head-on car crash would not have happened if only the city had installed higher traffic barriers in the area where the Ferrari crashed.

California Road Defects
Streets, interstates and highways are usually overseen and maintained by the California Department of Transportation, a county, a city, or another type of local government. If a road defect contributed to causing your Orange County, California car accident, you may be able to file a claim against the municipality or government entity responsible for maintaining the road where the collision happened. Defects or flaws in a road, its intersections, crosswalks, medians, or barriers can be very dangerous for drivers who may not realize that they are about to encounter a traffic hazard. There are specific steps for pursuing this type of Orange County, California injury claim or lawsuit against a government entity.

Claim: Family wants $5M, DailyPilot, May 7, 2010

Huntington Beach man identified as driver in fatal Ferrari crash, Daily Pilot, January 4, 2010

An Orange County, California police brutality lawsuit filed by Gabriel Celli and his mom Nancy Turner against the county has been settled. Celli and his mom were embracing each other in the street early on January 1, 2006 when they were tackled by a county deputy who then began hitting Celli. The incident was caught on videotape by the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

The altercation took place after Celli tried to break up a brawl outside his home between two deputies and his neighbor Kurt Chapman. One of the deputy's is accused of striking Celli with a baton. Police acknowledge that they hit Celli but they say that it was because he "interfered."

Another deputy, Jason Perez, then got out of his vehicle and tackled Celli and Turner, who at this point where embracing each other. Perez then hit Celli. He said that based on the information he had, he "needed to gain control of Celli" right away and that the suspect kept trying to get back up.

Celli was arrested for resisting arrest but he was later acquitted of the charge. However, Celli claims that police he "punched and kicked" him while he was in jail.

Because of the alleged Orange County, California police brutality incident, Celli said that he wasn't able to leave his home for six months and he set up cameras to record police vehicles that were parked outside his residence. He claims that the cops purposely drove by his home to intimidate him.

In their Orange County, California personal injury lawsuit alleging civil rights violations, Celli and Turner had sought $10 million. They agreed to settle for $200,000.

Orange County, California Police Brutality
Police officers are forbidden from using excessive force when detaining or arresting or jailing anyone. Often, people are too afraid to report incidents of police brutality. Just because you are a suspect or under arrest doesn't give police officers the right to violate your civil rights.

County pays $200,000 in video-taped excessive force case, OC Register, May 6, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Orange County Sheriff's Office, Orange County, California

What is excessive force?, ABC

Continue reading "Orange County, California settles excessive force lawsuit involving cop who tackled man who was hugging his mom " »

According to preliminary figures provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, the number of traffic fatalities in California, went down last year compared to 2008. While there were 3,401 California traffic deaths in 2008, there were just under 3,100 California traffic fatalities last year. In Orange County, California, 155 people were killed in 2009, while 162 died in 2008.

According to the California Highway Patrol, increased enforcement, a slower economy (prompting people to drive less), and safer vehicles being made are some of the reasons why traffic deaths in the state have gone down. Also, 540 CHP officers have been hired since 2006.

Having gone down 29% over three years, the California traffic death rate, says the CHP, is at its lowest ever. That's approximately 700 less fatalities and 19,000 less injures in areas that the CHP patrols.

Our Anaheim car accident law firm applauds all successful efforts made to decrease the number of injuries and deaths on state and local roads. In the work that we do, every day we are faced with the catastrophic consequences that can impact someone who was injured in an Orange County, California motor vehicle crash. The more that can be done to make sure that people stop getting hurt in traffic collisions, the better.

In the meantime, the traffic collision injury and death count for 2010 continues to go up. Just today, someone died in an Orange County, California car accident after a Honda Civic drove off the side of the southbound 57 freeway.

Last month, a woman died after she was injured in a Santa Ana pedestrian accident. The victim, Maria Rivera-Garcia was hit by a pickup truck while she was in a crosswalk. Police say that the driver ran a red light. In another Orange County traffic crash, a pregnant woman had to be taken to the hospital after she was involved in 3-vehicle collision on the north bound 55 freeway. All three autos were in the slow lane when the Costa Mesa car crash happened.

Fewer people dying in traffic accidents, OC Register, May 5, 2010

California traffic deaths head toward all-time low, SFGate.com, April 15, 2010

Woman hit by pickup truck dies, OC Register, April 25, 2010

Pregnant woman hospitalized after crash, April 29, 2010

Related Web Resources:
California Office of Traffic Safety

California Highway Patrol

Continue reading "State Reports Approximately 155 Orange County, California Traffic Deaths in 2009" »

According to a Cal/OSHA investigation, the 2009 Orange County, California roller coaster accident at Knott's Berry Farm that hurt two people was preventable. Citing improper maintenance, the investigation places the blame on Intamin AG, the Xcelerator's manufacturer, and the amusement park.

The incident occurred on September 16, 2009. An on-board video camera of the Buena Park accident shows the cable snapping loose while debris sprays the riders. The cable cut a 12-year-old boy on the leg while an adult male sustained back injuries.

Cal/OSHA said that Intamin AG's ride maintenance instructions were "confusing" and not clear on whether the roller coaster cable needed to be checked every six months or once a month. While the manufacturer intended that the examination should take place once a month, the amusement park was checking it twice a year. The state blames Knott's for being more than two weeks overdue on its six-month cable inspection when the Buena Park roller coater accident happened.

The Xcelerator, which was shut down after the Orange County, California amusement park accident happened, reopened last week. Per the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health's requirements, Knott's has added additional safeguards to the hydraulic launch accelerator coaster. Knott's and Intamin will work together to modify the maintenance instructions.

This is not the first time Intamin and Knott's have been involved in roller coaster accidents. In 2004, metal debris from a launch cable also struck passengers on the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point in Ohio, Knott's sister park. Intamin was also the manufacturer of that roller coaster. In 2001, a woman died at the amusement park after falling from Perilous Plunge water ride, which was also made by Intamin.

Amusement Park Accidents
Unfortunately, amusement park rides can deliver more than just fast thrills and laughter. In the event that a ride malfunctions, injuries can result, ranging from bloody noses to bank injuries, broken bones, severed limbs, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and even death.

The competition to build and run the highest and fastest rides should not compromise rider safety. You may have grounds for filing a California products liability case against a negligent ride manufacturer and/or an amusement accident lawsuit against the thrill park.

Knott's Berry Farm, manufacturer faulted in roller coaster accident that injured two, Los Angeles Times, April 28, 2010

Accidents Involving Injury at Perilous Plunge, Theme Park Insider

Related Web Resources:

Knott's Berry Farm

RideAccidents.com

Continue reading "2009 Knott's Berry Farm Roller Coaster Accident Caused by Improper Maintenance, Say California Investigators " »