By John Bisnar on March 20, 2013 -
A 5-year-old girl suffered major injuries after she was hit by a driverless school bus that was parked at a Moreno Valley elementary school the afternoon of March 18, 2013. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the incident occurred at Box Springs Elementary School.
California Highway Patrol officials say the bus rolled back from the parking lot, jumped a curb and struck a child who was on the sidewalk. Two children had boarded the bus, which was in the parking lot driveway just north of the school. Other children were standing on the sidewalk downhill of the bus where they were waiting to be picked up after school. The girl was transported to a local hospital. Read the rest »
By John Bisnar on November 26, 2012 -
A wild wake up call for a family in a South Pasadena neighborhood when a woman suspected of drunk driving plowed through the front door of their home. A little after 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning, the family was awoken by a massive boom where the van hit the house after the driver failed to negotiate a turn. According to NBC LA, no one was hurt but the impact was so strong the minivan went halfway into their living room.
“The cabinet in kitchen got smashed in that’s how hard impact was,” said Gillespie. The driver, identified as 24-year old Veronica Villanueva of Rosemead, was booked into custody on a drunken driving charge, police said. The crash happened at 2:23 a.m. when Villanueva was driving north on Raymond Avenue. She failed to negotiate a turn onto Alhambra Road, jumped the curb and crashed into the home, officials said. Nine people were inside. No one was hurt.
These types of car accidents seem to happen more frequently than in the past. People driving under the influence, reckless or going too fast end up in people’s backyards, sidewalls, even swimming pools.
Fortunately no one was injured in this case but with nine residents inside it could have been a terrible tragedy for this family.
Drunk driving is suspected in this case and the family will no doubt be filing an insurance claim with their homeowner’s coverage. The woman, if found negligent could be responsible for repaying the cost of the damage to the home. The family may have to seek out a personal injury attorney to help them recover monetary damages.
Pictured, fire fighters remove a minivan that went through a Pasadena home while the family slept inside. (image courtesy of NBC LA).
By John Bisnar on March 7, 2012 -
A male pedestrian was killed in a bus accident after a Long Beach Transit Bus struck him, the night of March 6, 2012. According to a news report in The Press-Telegram, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred when the man stepped into the westbound lanes of the Second Street Bridge or Davies Bridge. The victim, who was about 50 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Officials say the collision occurred just west of the bridge on the down slope. The passenger bus struck the pedestrian in the right front area of the bus. An investigation is ongoing.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this deceased victim. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.
Long Beach Pedestrian Accidents
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were nine fatalities and 211 injuries involving Long Beach pedestrian accidents. In Los Angeles County as a whole, pedestrian accidents claimed 179 lives and injured 4,918 people, during the same year.
Laws Relating to Pedestrians
Based on this news report, it is not clear exactly where the man was walking at the time of the collision. Was he in a marked or unmarked crosswalk? Motorists are required under California law to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks.
California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.” The same section also states: “This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.”
Liability Issues
In such cases, families of deceased victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. If the bus driver is determined to have been negligent, both the driver and his or her employer can be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to accident victims or their families.
By Brian Chase on February 17, 2012 -
Six students suffered injuries in a car collision in Fullerton, CA, after the school bus in which they were riding collided with a pickup truck at a street intersection. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of State College Boulevard and Dorothy Lane near Cal State Fullerton, the afternoon of February 16, 2012. The six victims, who were between the ages of 16 and 21 were special needs students from La Vista and La Sierra high schools. The injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Officials are investigating the cause of this street intersection accident.
Read the rest »
By Brian Chase on November 1, 2011 -
Five people were injured, one severely, in a Santa Ana car accident involving a car and an Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) bus. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred the night of October 31, 2011 at the intersection of Westminster Avenue and Clinton Street. Officials say the male driver of the vehicle that hit the bus was transported to a trauma center in serious condition. Four passengers in the bus suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The cause of this collision is under investigation.
My heart goes out to the injured victims of this car versus bus accident. I wish them all the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Read the rest »
By Brian Chase on April 11, 2011 -
Six students from Central High School were injured in a Fresno car accident when their school bus was rear-ended. According to a news report in The Fresno Bee, the injury bus accident occurred at Belmont and Brawley avenues near Fresno the morning of April 7, 2011. Police say that the female driver who crashed her vehicle into the back of the school bus may have been under the influence of narcotics. The six high school students suffered minor injuries. The driver of the car was hospitalized for her injuries as well. She is under investigation for driving under the influence.
My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this Fresno bus accident. I wish them all a complete and speedy recovery from their injuries.
Fresno Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 81 people were killed and 1,362 were injured as a result of car accidents in the unincorporated areas of Fresno County. During the same year, there were 127 fatalities and 3,323 injuries reported as a result of Fresno County car accidents. Read the rest »
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