San Diego

Seven people were injured in a San Diego car accident involving multiple vehicles. According to a news report in U-T San Diego, the multi-vehicle collision occurred on the eastbound Interstate 8 in Alpine, the night of January 7, 2012. California Highway Patrol Officials say a wooden table fell off a pickup causing an SUV and a sedan to collide. Another two vehicles collided a minute later and one witness stated that a tire on one vehicle exploded as well. The injuries suffered by the seven victims appear to have been non-life-threatening. It is not clear if anyone will be cited for the pile-up. An investigation is ongoing.

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A 17-year-old boy was killed in a San Diego car accident after being struck by a car as he crossed the street. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred in the 1200 block of Jamacha Road near Kendrick Way in El Cajon the evening of December 21, 2011. Officials say the teenager was crossing the road while carrying a skateboard when a Nissan Sentra hit him. The victim died at the scene. The 20-year-old driver remained at the crash site. It is unclear if the motorist will be charged in the fatal collision. El Cajon police say the skateboarder is the third pedestrian killed in the area just in the last few months.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family members and friends of this car accident victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

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A 21-year-old man was injured in a San Diego car accident after his motorcycle was struck by a car and he was run over by another vehicle. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the motorcycle accident occurred at the intersection of Bear Valley Parkway and Birch Avenue in unincorporated Escondido the early morning of December 13, 2011. Officials say a 2003 Saturn, driven by a 29-year-old individual, went through the stop sign at the intersection and struck the motorcycle. The victim who was thrown off his motorcycle was then run over by a 2003 Dodge Dakota driven by a 41-year-old man. The motorcyclist was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. An investigation is ongoing.

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A 58-year-old worker was fatally injured on the job after an aerial boom he was operating fell off a flatbed truck at a construction lot in Palm City. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the fatal accident occurred the morning of December 6, 2011 on Hollister Street near Palm Avenue in Palm City. Officials say the worker was driving the piece of heavy equipment off a flatbed truck when one of the wheels came off the side of the truck. The man, who was in the basket part of the equipment, which is used to hoist construction workers into the air, hit his head after he was hurled to the ground. The man died at the scene. An investigation is ongoing.

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An elderly man using a walker was seriously injured in a San Diego car accident after he was struck by a vehicle that was backing up in a parking lot. According to a news report in The North County Times, the injury pedestrian accident occurred the afternoon of November 8, 2011 at a parking lot at 13589 Poway Road in Poway. Police say the vehicle ran into the man and knocked him over. The man's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. However, the victim did hit the pavement and suffer head injuries. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

My heart goes out to the injured victim. I'm relieved to hear that he is expected to survive. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

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Five people were injured in a San Diego car accident the night of October 21, 2011 after a teen led police on a chase. According to an NBC San Diego news report, the injury crash occurred at the intersection of Matagual and South Melrose drives in Vista. Police say officers attempted to make a traffic stop on a Honda, when its driver fled, leading officials on a high-speed chase through surface streets. The Honda then struck a car driven by William Van Laethem at the intersection. Van Laethem was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The four occupants of the Honda, all juveniles, were also transported to area hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening. Officials say the Honda was an unreported stolen vehicle. An investigation is ongoing.

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A woman in her 40s was injured in a San Diego car accident after being hit by a Toyota Tundra, the morning of October 17, 2011. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the pedestrian accident occurred as the victim was walking near the intersection of Gramercy Drive and Mobley Street in Serra Mesa. She sustained a head injury and was transported to a nearby hospital. The driver involved in the collision remained at the scene. An investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers are with the woman injured in this San Diego accident. I wish her the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

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Joan Milazzo, 56, was killed in a San Diego car accident after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. According to a 10News report, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred in the 14900 block of Camino Del Sur, the morning of August 30, 2011. Milazzo had been hiking with her husband and sister, when a Nissan Sentra traveling at a high rate of speed hit her. Police say the 24-year-old male driver lost control of the vehicle and skidded into Milazzo as she stepped on to a curb. She was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Joan Milazzo for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 18 fatalities and 494 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in the city of San Diego. Countywide, pedestrian accidents claimed 57 lives and caused 937 injuries, during the same year.

Excessive Speed

Based on this news report, it appears that Milazzo had almost made it to the other side of the road when the out-of-control Nissan hit her. Officials say the driver of the Nissan was traveling at an unsafe rate of speed at the time. California Vehicle Code Section 22350 (Basic Speed Law) states: "No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic and on surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property."

Fault and Liability

It is unclear at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved in this crash as well. If the driver of the Nissan is determined to have been at fault, he could face criminal charges and be held civilly liable for Milazzo's wrongful death. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, the family of a deceased car accident victim can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income and benefits, as well as loss of companionship. An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyerwill be able to better advice families in such cases about their legal rights and options.

Jorge Salas, 43, was injured in a San Diego car accident when a 27-year-old Border Patrol agent lost control of his vehicle and crashed head-on with Salas' vehicle the morning of May 18, 2011. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the injury accident occurred on Route 94 in Dulzura, near Otay Lakes Road. The patrol vehicle veered out of control in the wet conditions and crashed head-on into a westbound Nissan Altima. Salas, who was in the Nissan, sustained major injuries and had to be cut from his vehicle. The patrol officer sustained minor injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers are with Jorge Salas following this serious injury accident. I wish him the very best for a complete and speedy recovery. Read the rest »

Maria Medina, 62, was injured in a San Diego car accident when a tire on her 1993 Ford Ranger blew out and separated. According to a news report in The Imperial Valley Press, the injury rollover accident occurred at Orchard Road in Imperial County the morning of May 13, 2011. Medina was travelling north when the tread on the right rear tire separated and her vehicle veered out of control. The pickup rolled over the center median before coming to rest on the shoulder. Emergency workers had to free the victim from her vehicle by shearing off the roof of her pickup truck. She suffered a broken left hand and arm. No one else was injured in the crash.

My thoughts and prayers are with Maria Medina following this serious injury rollover accident. I wish her the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 25 people were killed and 297 were injured as a result of car accidents in the unincorporated areas of Imperial County. During the same year, there were 34 fatalities and 475 injuries reported as a result of Imperial County car accidents.

Tire Tread Separation Causes Rollover

It appears from the report that the vehicle veered out of control and rolled over after the tread on one of the tires separated. It will have to be determined what caused this tire tread separation. Did the tire fail because it was defective? If so, the tire manufacturer may be liable for the crash. Did the vehicle roll over because of a defective design? If that was the case, the manufacturer of the defectively designed vehicle can also be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses sustained. Once a tire loses its tread, it can become difficult even for experienced drivers to regain control of the vehicle. Read the rest »