California Injury Lawyers Blog

Beginning January 1, 2011, all California nursing homes are required to post the ratings they received under the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' five-star system at their facilities. Nursing homes also must put up information explaining what the ratings mean and how people can get information about a facility's state licensing record.

While a five star rating means that a nursing home has been rated "much beyond average" in terms of the overall quality of care it provides, a one star rating means that the quality of care offered is considered "much below average." The aim of the California law is to make sure that patients, prospective residents, and families know what rating a nursing facility has been given.

There are some who have expressed concern that posting the ratings will cause patients and their relatives to reach their conclusions about a facility solely based on the rating information, which doesn't give a full picture of exactly what goes on at a nursing home. Still, others applaud the efforts to keep people informed about how well or poorly a facility has fared under the federal rating system. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has said it will be redesigning the different measures it uses for determining the star ratings.

Our Anaheim nursing home abuse and neglect law firm believes that not only is important for prospective residents and their families to find out as much information as possible about a nursing home prior to selecting it, but also, it is good to keep abreast of the care that your loved one receives after he/she is admitted to an Orange County, California assisted living facility. Just as it is a good idea to visit an assisted living facility before choosing it to observe patient-staff dynamics, see whether the other residents seem happy, speak with the employees, and inspect the facilities, security, and other aspects, once your loved one is at a home, visiting him or her regularly can allow you to check for signs of Orange County, California nursing home abuse or neglect. Potential warning signs of abusive or negligent nursing care can include unexplained bruises or other injuries, sudden weight loss or gain, malnutrition, bedsores, and sudden mood swings, depression, or anxiety. Visiting a nursing home patient can also brighten his or her day whether it's the holiday season, a birthday, or just another day of the year.

Nursing homes must post ratings under new law, VCStar, December 30, 2010

Caring for an elderly relative, Los Angeles Times, December 21, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Nursing Home Compare, Medicare.gov

5 Star Quality Ratings

Continue reading "California Nursing Homes Must Post Federal Ratings in 2011" »

The rains have kept coming and already, a number of Orange County, California car crashes have occurred where poor weather and road conditions played contributing factors. That said, our Anaheim injury lawyers want to remind motorists that heavy rains and poor visibility won't exempt them from liability should negligence, carelessness, or driver error cause them to be involved in a motor vehicle collision where someone ends up dying or getting hurt.

Here are a Number of Safety Tips for Driving Through the Rain (Sources include AAA and SMartMotorist.com):

• Drive a reduced speed. Cars need three more space and more time to stop when the roads are slippery.
• Keep a six to eight second distance from the auto in front of you.
• Drive with your headlights on so others can see you.
• Pay attention to the road and traffic.
• Don't talk on the cell phone or text message.
• Keep both hands on the steering wheel.
• Don't drive when drunk.
• Don't step on the brakes if your auto starts to skid. Instead, ease off the accelerator.
• Don't accelerate when driving through standing water or you may end up hydroplaning.
• If you can, stay in the middle lanes where water is less likely to pool.
• Stay in the tracks of the vehicle in front of you.
• Don't assume that other drivers can see you--especially when the weather is poor.
• Don't drive when drowsy.
• If you aren't comfortable driving in the rain, avoid doing so.
• Don't lose your temper on the road. Remember that everyone is just trying to safely arrive at their destination and is also dealing with the same delays and frustrations.
• Make sure that the your windshield wipers are in proper working condition.
• If you can't see the ground, avoid driving through moving water.
• Avoid driving through a puddle where the height of the water goes above the bottom of your car's doors.

No one wants to start or finish the year with an Orange County, California accident, but sometimes this ends up being the case. Do not hesitate to contact our Anaheim car accident law firm to start exploring your legal options. The sooner you do this, the better.

Wet roads: Slow down or this could be you, OC Register, December 29, 2010

Tips For Driving In Rain, SmartMotorist

Related Web Resources:
Orange County Traffic Map, SigAlert

The Weather Channel

According to LA Weekly, the family of Sharon Carpenter Nicholson is suing Encino Dr. Ehab Mohamed for Los Angeles wrongful death. Nicholson, 61, died on his operating table while undergoing liposuction. Her loved ones are alleging California practice surgery.

Now, the Medical Board of California has ordered the plastic surgeon to stop performing plastic surgeries while he is under investigation for possible alleged negligence in his treatment of two patients. The hearing for his case is scheduled for next month.

Mohamed is accused of telling some patients he was a Harvard professor and that some of them were taking part in a study affiliated with the prestigious university. He even allegedly gave a written note to a patient promising a $40,000 discount for taking part in the study.

However, the board has found no evidence of his affiliation to Harvard or that there is even such a study. Also per LA Weekly, Mohamed is only approved to practice gynecology. Yet his Web site claims a number of inventions involving micro-invasive procedures, such as mid-face sculpting and lift, underarm lift, medical liposuction, and others. He also claims to have pioneered the field of non-invasive eye bag removal.

Los Angeles Plastic Surgery Malpractice
Plastic surgeons, like all other medical professionals, are required to provide patients with a certain standard of care. Like other surgical procedures, health complications can arise and medical mistakes can occur.

Some complications that can be grounds for a Los Angeles cosmetic surgery lawsuit:

• Infection
• Over-correction
• Anesthesia mistakes
• Asymmetry
• Scarring
• Disfigurement
• Nipple loss
• Dry eyes
• Too much skin removal during a face lift
• Lidocaine overdose
• Chemical peel burns
• Medical reactions
• Sexual abuse
• Pulmonary embolism
• Breast implant complications
• Overmedication
• Nerve damage
• Death

61-Year-Old L.A. Woman Dies At Hands Of Beverly Hills And Encino 'Plastic Surgeon' Ehab Mohamed, LA Weekly, December 28, 2010

Dr. Ehab Mohamed is Waiting to Face Med Board for Negligence, Vitals.com, December 29, 2010

Encino Physician Ordered to Halt Cosmetic Surgeries, Newsfeed Researcher, December 29, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Dr. Ehab Mohamed's Web Site

American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery

Over 500 people gathered in Cypress today to say goodbye to Steven Uselton, 44, and his son Douglas, 17. The father and son were killed in a Santa Ana car accident involving an allegedly drunk driver on December 18. According to police, the Useltons were catastrophically injured when a 2009 Mitsubishi Lance driven by Anaheim resident Rafael Lopez struck their 2000 Buick LeSabre.

The 18-year-old driver allegedly was driving with a .13 blood alcohol level--the legal limit in California for a driver his age is .01%--and operating his vehicle at a "high" speed when he struck the Useltons' vehicle, causing it to travel over 130 feet. Uselton is charged with causing death with gross negligence while intoxicated. Sentencing enhancements over causing great bodily harm are also included.

In other recent Southern California traffic crash news, a 66-year-old man was killed in a Santa Monica pedestrian accident on Thursday night and police are still determining whether to charge the driver, who has been identified as a 19-year-old male.

The victim, Herceg Vlado, was crossing Wilshire Boulevard close to 10th street when the Los Angeles car accident happened. He was in a crosswalk at the time. Although the intersection doesn't have a traffic light, vehicles there generally yield to pedestrians.

Whether you or someone you love was injured in a traffic crash in Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, or Orange County, California, our Anaheim car accident law firm represents injury victims in these geographic areas and can help you explore your legal options.

What to do if you've been in a Southern California car accident:
• Stop at the crash site.
• Contact 911 if you or someone else has been hurt.
• Exchange contact information with all parties involved.
• Get contact information of any witnesses and document their accounts of what happened.
• Seek medical care for your injuries.
• Document pertinent facts about the accident, including who was involved, when did it happen, where did it happen, and who did what.
• Contact an Orange County, Califiornia injury law firm that handles traffic crash cases.

Santa Monica police investigators still undecided on charges in Wilshire Blvd. pedestrian's death, LA Times, December 28, 2010

500 remember student, father killed in crash, The OC Register, December 28, 2010

Related Web Resources:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Holiday Drunk Driving Crackdown , NHTSA, December 13, 2010

California Highway Patrol

Toyota Motor Corp. has paid a $10 million California wrongful death settlement to the relatives of California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, his wife Cloefe Lastrella, their daughter Mahala, and his brother-in-law Christopher Lastrella. The four victims were killed last year in a sudden acceleration accident in a Lexus after the vehicle's accelerator pedal got tangled in the driver's side floor mat.

The parties had settled their California auto products liability lawsuit last September and had sought to keep the terms of their settlement confidential. This week, however, a Superior Court judge denied their request.

In exchange for the settlement, the families, who had claimed that auto defects in the 2009 Lexus ES caused the vehicle to accelerate out of control, consented to drop the California wrongful death lawsuit. The Saylor family's catastrophic car accident brought attention to the issue of sudden unintended acceleration that has affected numerous Toyota vehicles, and many auto products liability and wrongful death complaints have been filed since. In the last 14 months, Toyota, now an automaker under close scrutiny, has recalled millions of vehicles over ill-fitting floor mats, sticky gas pedals, and a number of other safety issues.

Just this week, the US Department of Transportation announced that the automaker has consented to pay another $32.425 million in civil penalties in two separate investigations over its handling of auto recalls. The fine for one case, involving the recall of almost five million vehicles because of accelerator pedals at risk of floor mat entrapment, is $16.375 million. NHTSA determined that Toyota did not follow the law, which obligated the automaker to report this safety defect within five days of discovery. Floor mat entrapment and accelerators that stick are two of the causes of Toyota's sudden unintended acceleration problem.

The second case, for which Toyota will pay a $16.050 million fine, involves the issue of faulty steering relay rods. After recalling vehicles for this issue in Japan in 2004, the automaker told the US that this issue did not affect autos in this country. Yet the following year, Toyota went on to recall almost a million vehicles over the steering relay rod defect. Again, delay in notifying the US government about the safety defect was an issue.

It was just earlier this year that Toyota agreed to pay $16.375 million for failing to inform the NHTSA about the "sticky" gas pedal issue within five days of finding out about it.

Toyota settlement may set bar for sudden-acceleration payouts, Los Angeles Times, December 24, 2010

Toyota Motor Corp. Will Pay $32.425 Million in Civil Penalties as Result of Two Department of Transportation Investigations, NHTSA, December 20, 2010

California Auto Products Liability Settlement Reached in Wrongful Deaths of Saylor Family Due to Toyota Sudden Acceleration, California Injury Lawyers, Blog, September 21, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Toyota Motor Corporation

US Department of Transportation

Motor Vehicle Recalls

The family of Lauren Perdriau Ward is suing truck driver Gabriel Manzur Vera and his employer Randazzo Enterprises for her California wrongful death. Ward, a 47-year-old bicyclist, died last month when her bicycle collided with the large truck.

According to Ward's family, Vera was negligent when he drove his semi-truck directly into Ward's path without warning and that not only did this violate her right-of-way, but also it caused her death. Ward's husband and two children are seeking compensation for economic and non-economic damages. and they would like their California truck accident lawsuit to go to a jury.

Meantime, the California Highway Patrol has issued a report finding that Vera was not at fault in the deadly collision. According to the CHP, Ward, who was riding her bicycle to the big rig's "immediate left" in the same right lane of the road, "unsafely turned." She and her bicycle then dropped in front of the truck's second axle. However, the Ward family's California tractor-trailer crash lawyer says that there are experts, including scientists, who disagree with the CHP's findings.

This is not the first time that Randazzo and Vera have been sued over a fatal truck collision. In March, they settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the parents of John Myslin, who was killed in 2007 bicycle accident for $1.5 million. Police also did not find Vera at fault for this California 26-wheeler truck accident. Also, in 2003 Vera was involved in a fatal truck accident with Annette McDaniel, who drove into opposite lanes and crashed head-on into his vehicle.

Department of Motor Vehicles and court records show that over the last 12 years, Vera has been involved in a number of truck crashes. He was not found to be at fault in many of them. He also has received moving violations.

Trucking companies are responsible for making sure that they hire and retain safe and experienced drivers to manage their large trucks. Failure to do so can be grounds for a California truck crash lawsuit if someone gets hurt or dies. Even if a trucker is not found criminally liable for a large truck accident, he/she can still be held liable in civil court.

Family of Los Altos Hills cyclist files wrongful death suit against trucker, demolition company, Mercury News, December 22, 2010

$1.5 million settlement reached in death of Santa Cruz cyclist, teacher John Myslin, Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 17, 2010

Trucker was in three fatal crashes, All Business, November 18, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The Truck Safety Coalition

In a unanimous decision, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has voted to permanently bar the manufacture, sale, and resale of drop-side cribs in the US. The cribs will also be banned from daycare centers and hotels.

Our Anaheim personal injury lawyers represent both children and adults injured because of dangerous and defective products. It is important to hold negligent manufacturers liable for Orange County, California products liability. That said, hopefully, the new federal standards regarding crib safety will decrease the number of children that are killed or hurt because of a defective crib.

In just the last decade, 32 baby deaths--although likely this number is higher--have involved a drop-side crib. While drop-side cribs, with their side that slides down, have offered adults convenience of making it easier for them to pick up, change, or play with their kids, the safety issues presented by drop-side cribs had become too dangerous to ignore. Drop-sides that detach can create a gap between the drop side and the mattress that an infant can easily roll into and become entrapped in, which can lead to strangulation and suffocation. Fall accidents caused by a malfunctioning drop side can lead to head injuries, lacerations, and bumps and bruises.

This is first time that crib safety standards have been revised in almost 30 years. Under the new federal regulations, crib manufacturers must make sure that all their cribs have fixed sides by June 2011. Considering that the CPSC and crib manufacturers have recalled over 9 million drop-side cribs since 2005, the ban should hopefully help parents and kids rest more easily.

Baby Asleep in a Drop-Side Crib? Soon They'll Be Banned, Time, December 17, 2010

CPSC Approves New Crib Safety Rules, CPSC, December 17, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Choosing a Crib, Healthy Children

What are the Safety Issues with Drop-Side Cribs?

Continue reading "Preventing Anaheim Child Injuries and Deaths: Drop-Side Cribs Banned by CPSC" »

The family of Doug Zerby say that they intend to sue the Long Beach Police Department for his Los Angeles County wrongful death, as well as for battery and negligence. Zerby, 35, died on Sunday when he was shot by cops. At the time, the Long Beach man, who was too drunk to drive, was sitting on a friend's porch and playing with a hose nozzle.

A neighbor thought that Zerby was waving a gun-like item and contacted police. The authorities who arrived at the scene say that they shot at the Long Beach man because they believed he was pointing a gun at one of them.

According to a probe conducted by the family's lawyer, police had enough time to identify themselves to Zerby and to figure out whether he was in fact carrying a weapon before having to resort to killing him. The attorney described the Long Beach wrongful death shooting as an "ambush." He also said that Zerby's body had 21 holes in it, which were the entrance and exit wounds from the bullets. Three wounds on Zerby's chest indicate that he was not pointing the nozzle at cops when they shot him.

The cops involved said that they ordered Zerby to let go of his weapon. However, the family's lawyer doesn't even think that Zerby was aware that the cops were there. He claims that witnesses say that Zerby turned toward the police when he heard a noise and that is when they fired at him. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Long Beach Police Department has a history of frequent shootings involving cops.

Excessive Use of Police Force
Police offices must never use unnecessary and excessive force when doing their job. Too many people have been injured or died because officers failed to follow procedures, went for their gun, or used physical force too soon or without just cause. Regardless of whether or not the cops involved are charged in criminal court, you may still be able to hold them liable in civil court by filing a Los Angeles police brutality or excessive use of force lawsuit to obtain damages for your personal injuries or a loved one's wrongful death.

Man carrying water nozzle was shot 10 to 12 times by Long Beach police, family's attorney says, Los Angeles Times, December 17, 2010

Statement Released By Doug Zerby's Sisters, LBReport.com, December 16, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Long Beach Police Department

Police Use of Force, National Institute of Justice

A 6-month-old baby girl who suffered serious injuries when a Great Dane snatched her with his mouth and ran off is at a Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center recovering. As of yesterday, the LA Times reported that she was on a ventilator but stable. Her Monrovia dog bite injuries include a broken rib, numerous puncture wounds to her back, a perforated liver, a broken clavicle, and a collapsed lung.

The Los Angeles County dog mauling happened on Monday while the baby's mother was at a neighbor's doorway. A Great Dane weighing 180-pounds, rushed out of the home, bumped into the woman, used his mouth to grab the infant from her, and ran off some 200 feet before releasing the child onto the street. The dog will be quarantined for several days and may be declared dangerous.

Our Anaheim dog attack lawyers know how tough it can be to have your child suffer serious injuries as a result of being bitten by someone's pet. In addition to pain and suffering and possibly the need to undergo surgery or other medical treatments, dog bites can lead to disfigurement, scarring, and lasting emotional trauma. It is important that you explore your legal options.

According to a new study from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in the last 15 years, the number of people in the US who require hospitalization for their dog bite injuries has nearly doubled. There were 5,100 dog bite victims in 1993 and 9,500 in 2008, a year when approximately 866 people a day went to an ER. Approximately 26 people were admitted. Also:

• Kids under age 5 and seniors in the 65 and over age group were most likely to be hospitalized for their dog bite injuries.
• Nearly 50% of patients hospitalized required medical care for tissue and skin infections.
• Over 50% required medical procedures such as wound debridement or skin grafts.
• Care cost on average is $18,200 per dog bite victim.

Great Dane grabs baby from mother's arms, runs into street, Los Angeles Times, December 15, 2010

6-month-old mauled by Great Dane in Monrovia, ABC 7, December 14, 2010

Risks: Hospital Admissions for Dog Bites Are on the Rise, NY TImes, December 10, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Read the report, AHRQ (PDF)

Dog Bites, Nolo

Continue reading "6-Month-Old Baby Involved in Serious Los Angeles County Dog Bite Incident with Great Dane" »

The Supreme Court has agreed to take on two dangerous drug lawsuits that will determine whether a plaintiff can sue a generic drug manufacturer for not including a warning about a medication's potentially dangerous side effects on its label. The nation's highest court will hear an appeal from PLIVA Inc. and other drug makers.

One products liability lawsuit was originally filed by Gladys Mensing, who is suing Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Mylan Inc., and Actavis Group. She took metoclopramide for a number of years because she was suffering from diabetic gastroparesis. Mensing claims that the medication caused her to develop tardive dyskinesia. She contends that none of the generic drug's manufacturers and distributors including a warned of this possible side effect on their labels.

A federal judge granted the defendants' requests to toss out Mensing's dangerous drug complaint. They claimed that per federal law, labels of generic drugs are required to contain the same information as their brand-name equivalents. Metoclopramide's brand equivalent is Reglan, which also did not come with a warning that a user might develop the serious neurological movement disorder. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the judge's ruling, finding that rather than market and sell a drug with inadequate labeling, the defendants could have stopped selling the drug or proposed a change to the label. Last year, the FDA mandated that metoclopramide and Reglan must now come with a warning about tardive dyskinesia.

The issues in this appeal involve not only whether a generic drug maker can be sued for an inadequate label, but also whether the manufacturer can warn the public about the possible danger that isn't included on the label of the drug's brand equivalent or change/recommend that the drug's label be modified.

In the other products liability case, Julie Demahy is suing an Actavis unit. She claims inadequate warnings on the label failed to warn her that she could develop a severe nuerological disorder from using metoclopramide for a longer period of time.

Drug manufacturers can be held liable for a drug that causes serious injury or illness and/or fails to warn about potentially dangerous side effect. It is important to explore your legal options regarding filing an Orange County, California dangerous drug lawsuit.

Tardive Dyskinesia
This neurological disorder causes involuntary and repetitive movements to the limbs and lower face. Lip smacking, grimacing, rapid eye movements, chewing, and impaired finger movements. There is no known treatment for this disorder, which can last even after the patient has stopped taking metoclopramide.

Court To Decide Lawsuit Over Generic Drug Labels, NPR/AP, December 10, 2010

Generic-Drug Makers Get Hearing at U.S. High Court, Business Week, December 10, 2010

Related Web Resources:
US Food and Drug Administration

Reglan , Drugs.com

Metoclopramide, National Institute of Health

Katherine Rosen, the UCLA student who was stabbed by another student during chemistry lab last year, is suing the University of California Regents and her attacker for Los Angeles personal injury. She contends that UC Regents failed to appropriately respond to warnings that her attacker Damon Thompson was potentially violent. The university says it plans to defend itself against the injury case.

Rosen, who was stabbed and had her throat slashed, had to undergo surgery and was hospitalized for 10 days after. Her initial claim had sought $20 million in Los Angeles injury damages but the current complaint does not specify a monetary amount.

Rosen is contending that in the months leading up to her attack on Oct. 8, 2009, UCLA professors and officials had received reports about Thompson's behavior, which had been described as "strange, disturbing, erratic, angry, dangerous, threatening, and/or paranoid." The 21-year-old had even allegedly threatened teachers because of an "irrational belief" that other students were bullying and taunting him. Last month, Thompson, who admitted to stabbing Rosen, was found not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered to a psychiatric hospital.

Schools, colleges, and universities can be held liable for violent crimes that occur on the premises if negligence contributed to allowing the crimes to happen. For example, the families of the victims of the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting that killed 32 faculty and students and left 27 others injured shared a $11 million settlement from the state. Two of the families that believe the school did not do enough to prevent the shooting are suing the school for $10 million. They contend that the gunman, student Cho Seung-Hui, was given inadequate counseling prior to the tragic incident.

There are security measures and other steps that a school can take to decrease the numbers of rapes, sexual assaults, physical assaults, robberies, and stabbings that occur on campus.

Campus stabbing victim sues UC regents, Los Angeles Times, December 8, 2010

UCLA Stabbing Victim Files Lawsuit Against UC Regents, Campus Safety, December 8, 2010

Virginia Gunman Identified as a Student, NY TImes, April 17, 2007

Related Web Resources:
The Regents of the University of California

Premises Liability, Justia

Jessica Hoke, a recent graduate of UC Irvine, died last week from fatal injuries she sustained when she was struck by flying debris from a Costa Mesa car accident involving three autos that occurred near the South Coast Plaza. The 23-year-old was walking to work and standing on the corner of Sunflower and Stevens avenues on December 1 when a 17-year-old driver ran a red light and hit two other cars.

Hoke, who suffered head injuries, was transported to Western Medical Center. The Santa Ana resident was pronounced dead three days later. The Costa Mesa pedestrian accident is under investigation.

Orange County, California Car Accidents Involving Debris
Flying debris, whether from a car wreck, a construction zone, or off a large truck or another vehicle, can cause serious injuries and deaths. Granted, the negligent party likely never intended to have the debris injure another person, but accidents do happen and there are those who should be held liable for the harm suffered. Debris left on the road can also cause catastrophic car crashes for pedestrians, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and vehicle occupants.

Our Anaheim car accident lawyers know that the period of recovery right after an injury or the months of mourning after the loss of a loved one can be challenging enough without pursuing your Orange County, California personal injury or wrongful death recovery. However, it is a good idea to start the legal process as soon as possible after the crash and while the evidence and witness accounts are still fresh.

Pedestrian killed near South Coast Plaza after being hit by debris from car, Los Angeles Times, December 9, 2010

UCI grad dies after being struck by crash debris, OC Register, December 8, 2010

Woman hurt by flying debris from collision, Daily Pilot, November 30, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Orange County, CHP Traffic Incident Information Page

California Department of Transportation

Continue reading "Flying Debris From Costa Mesa Car Accident Kills UC Irvine Graduate" »

A Lake View Terrace big rig crash in Los Angeles County has left a 13-year-old boy with injuries. The teen got hurt when the tractor-trailer he was riding on the eastbound 210 Freeway went off the road and into a modular home park at around 3:39 am today. The large truck was reportedly transporting some 36,000 pounds in sour and whipped cream.

The person who had been driving the semi-truck at the time was an unlicensed 16-year-old driver. According to authorities, the truck's original driver had given control of the vehicle to the teenager. The trucker and a 3-year-old left the Los Angeles County truck accident site.

Also today, two people sustained serious injuries in a Fontana truck crash involving a big rig and an Acura Integra. 14 San Bernardino County firefighters worked with the Jaws of Life to extricate the two victims from the car.

As our Anaheim truck accident lawyers have said in other blog posts, California truck crashes often result in serious injuries for those involved. It is important that you start exploring your legal options right away.

It was just six days ago that a 41-year-old man died in a Riverside County truck collision. Marco Dimare was pronounced dead at the truck collision site located along Interstate 10 close to Cabazon. The truck accident involved a speeding, stolen 2005 Chevrolet Silverado Utility truck and the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser that Dimare was driving. The driver of another vehicle that was struck, 43-year-old Bennett B. Buchsieb, suffered minor injuries. The person who was driving the utility truck fled the accident site.

California truck crashes can cause spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, serious international injuries, and deaths. Truckers and trucking companies can be held liable for Orange County, California personal injury or wrongful death if their negligence or carelessness played a factor in causing a catastrophic truck collision.

Unlicensed teen crashes big rig, causes traffic jam on eastbound 210 freeway in Lake View Terrace, Daily News, December 7, 2010

Two seriously injured in Fontana big rig crash, San Bernardino County Sun, December 7, 2010

Stolen speeding truck causes fatal wreck, The Press Enterprise, December 2, 2010

Related Web Resources:
The Truck Safety Coalition

Trucking Accident, Nolo

Large Trucks, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

According to Allstate Insurance Company, more Californians crash their motor vehicles on December 15 (when there is a 23% jump in the number of accident claims above the daily average) than on any other day of the year. Allstate says it reached this conclusion after reviewing its auto insurance claims in the state over the last four years.

According to Robert Feldman, a Los Angeles Allstate agency owner, holiday shopping, weather, travel, and other distractions may be causing this rise in California car crashes. Allstate says the other worst days of the year for California car accidents are February 14, October 13, December 18, and September 5.

There are ways to decrease the chances of an Orange County, California car accident while driving regardless of the day of the year, including:

• Don't text message
• Don't talk on a handheld cellular phone
• Stop playing with the radio dial or fidgeting with the iPod
• Don't drive drunk
• Don't speed
• Adjust your driving to the traffic and weather conditions
• Don't drugged drive
• Obey the traffic laws
• Don't drowsy drive
• Don't distracted drive

To show you that a decrease in traffic fatalities is possible even when the odds are against it, the California Highway Patrol reported 11 traffic crash deaths during the first 60 hours of the Thanksgiving holiday period--that's 8 less deaths than during the same period for 2009. Thanksgiving is the holiday that is considered the most dangerous for US motorists.

Unfortunately, negligent motorists are not the only parties that can cause an Anaheim car crash. Trucking companies, auto manufacturers, and the state or local entity in charge with maintaining a street and its traffic devices have all been known to cause catastrophic injury accidents because of negligence or carelessness.

December 15 is Most Dangerous Day for California Drivers, PR Newswire, December 6, 2010

Thanksgiving traffic deaths down this year, The OC Register, November 27, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Allstate

California Highway Patrol

Continue reading "Allstate Says 12/15 is Day California Car Accidents are Most Likely to Occur " »

The family of actor Gene Barry is suing Sunrise of Woodland Hills for Los Angeles nursing home negligence, wrongful death, violations of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and willful misconduct. The 90-year-old actor, known for playing the starring role on the television show Bat Masterson, died after a fall accident at the assisted living facility. Barry was suffering from Alzheimer's.

Los Angeles Nursing Home Fall Accidents
Fall accidents are the number one cause of accidental injury and deaths involving seniors in the 65 and over age group. According to SeekWellness.com, the more advanced a senior's age, the greater the chance of a fall-related mortality happening. Over 50% of all fatal falls involve elderly seniors in the 75 and over age group. Elderly seniors in the age 85 and over age group are 40 times more likely to die from a fall accident than seniors under the age of 70.

Serious fall injuries can include lacerations, joint dislocation, head trauma, muscle sprains, hip fractures, and broken bones. Hip fractures are the most serious type of fall injury, with 20 - 30% of patients dying within one year of sustaining the fracture. A fall accident can also result in psychological trauma, including a fear of falling. This can lead to depression, functional decline, a greater fall risk, lower quality of life, a decreased ability to safely perform tasks, immobility, pressure sores, muscle weakness, contractions, bone loss. The deterioration of health can prove fatal for elderly seniors that have weakened immune systems.

There are steps that nursing homes can take to prevent fall accidents from happening. Failure to provide a patient with the proper preventive measures can be grounds for a Los Angeles nursing home neglect case.

Gene Barry's Children Sue for Wrongful Death, Courthouse News Service, November 30, 2010

TV Star Gene Barry Dead at 90, FoxNews, December 11, 2009

Extent of Falling, SeekWellness

Related Web Resources:
Falls in Nursing Homes, CDC

50 Articles on Preventing Falls in Retirement Homes, RetirementHomes.org