Wrongful Death

The California Department of Public Health has slapped a $100,000 fine on a care facility in Daly City for nursing home neglect. According to a news report in The Associated Press, Seton Medical Center is facing the most severe penalty allowed under state law in connection with the death of an 81-year-old woman. Officials say, a nurse at the facility left the cap on a breathing tube that was inserted into the woman’s trachea. The woman suffocated and died. State officials said the nursing home received the maximum penalty because it did not have a policy in place for properly inserting the device, which is known as a “T-piece.”

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family members of this elderly patient who died as a result of negligence. They will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Serious Deficiencies in Nursing Homes

More than 1.5 million people live in nursing homes nationwide. That number has only been increasing and is expected to go up in the coming years. According to the Government Accountability Office, about one-fifth of nursing homes in the nation were cited for serious deficiencies – those that jeopardized the life of the patient – in 2008. The GAO report cited poor quality of care such as worsening pressure sores or untreated weight loss in a high number of nursing homes. These deficiencies, the report stated, puts nursing home residents in “immediate jeopardy,” which means that they are at risk of death or serious injury.

Failure to Meet Standards

Nursing homes are required to meet federal standards as a condition of participating in Medicare and Medicaid, which cover more than two-thirds of their residents at a cost of more than $75 billion a year. In this particular case, the nursing home in Daly City seems to have committed a fatal error because they did not have a policy in place when it came to inserting a T-piece.

A number of incidents involving nursing home neglect or nursing home abuse occur due to understaffing in nursing homes. When care facilities hire fewer staff and keep untrained or unqualified personnel on staff, because they are cheaper, and overwork them, it creates an environment that is ripe for abuse and neglect. Such situations stem from nursing homes putting profits ahead of the people they are supposed to serve.

Compensation for Victims’ Families

A family that has lost a loved one as a result of nursing home neglect can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault facility. Victims’ families in such cases would be well advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who has experience successfully handling similar cases and holding nursing homes accountable for their wrongdoing. The best nursing home abuse law firms always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to victims or their families.

Florence Wyatt, 81, was killed in a Riverside car accident after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. According to a news report in The Desert Sun, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred on Sunrise Way at Sunny Dunes in Palm Springs, the night of January 14, 2012. Officials say Wyatt was crossing the road at the intersection when a Kia Soul hit her. Wyatt was transported to an area hospital where she died. The driver stopped at the scene of the crash and spoke with the authorities. It is unclear if the motorist will be cited for the fatal crash.

My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Florence Wyatt following this tragic pedestrian accident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

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Evert Walker, 24, of Lake Forest, was killed in an Orange County car accident after he lost control of his vehicle and crashed. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal car accident occurred early morning on January 14, 2012 on the 73 Toll Road in San Juan Capistrano. California Highway Patrol officials say Walker's Dodge Dakota veered to the left of the roadway, crashed into a guardrail and a raised concrete pole base, before catching fire. Officials are still looking into the cause of this fatal crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact CHP officials at 949-487-4000.

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Anaheim wrongful death attorneys don’t have the best reputation; they are personal injury lawyers, and some people feel that it is a less than honorable profession. The attorneys at Bisnar and Chase work to contradict stereotypes placed on what they do on a daily basis, contributing their own time and money to help those who are less fortunate in the community. Not only do our attorneys participate, but our entire staff enjoys spending our time contributing to community fundraising events and group donations.

At Bisnar and Chase we are treated well and enjoy a high standard of living. Bisnar and Chase partners, John Bisnar and Brian Chase, have instilled a passion for community outreach in all of us and we work together to share our blessings with those who are less fortunate. Read the rest »

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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Two Orange County nursing homes are facing fines over allegations of nursing home neglect in connection with the deaths of two patients. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Newport Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Newport Beach was fined $100,000 after a patient fell while left unattended to use the bathroom. Emeritus Nursing Home in Yorba Linda was fined $90,000 after an unsupervised patient choked on a piece of meat. In both cases, the California Department of Public Health officials said, the patients received "inadequate care." Both facilities received the most serious citations allowed under state law.

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Jason M. Sinroll, 39, of Manhattan Beach, was killed in a Hawthorne car accident after his motorcycle was hit by a vehicle that was making a left turn. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred the evening of November 30, 2011 at the intersection of Rosecrans and Inglewood avenues. Police say Sinroll was riding his Harley-Davidson west on Rosecrans when an eastbound Lexus that was turning north onto Inglewood struck him. Sinroll was ejected from his motorcycle and thrown onto the roadway. The Lexus after striking the motorcycle veered into a Toyota 4Runner that was stopped at the intersection for a red light. Thankfully, that driver was uninjured. Anyone who saw the accident is asked to contact detectives at 310-349-2711.

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Berish Landau, 88, a prominent Jewish activist was killed in a Los Angeles car accident and Rabbi Shmeul Jacobs was critically injured after both men were struck while crossing the street. According to an NBC news report, the pedestrian accident occurred as Landau and Jacobs were crossing North La Brea Avenue, near Beverly Boulevard, early morning on November 22, 2011. The driver who hit them stopped, called 911 and cooperated with authorities. Officials are investigating the cause of this tragic accident.

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Jorge Cisneros, 18, was killed in an Orange County car accident, which officials say, involved a suspected underage drunk driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal collision occurred early morning on November 6, 2011 on Santiago Canyon Road near Irvine Lake. California Highway Patrol officials say Jesus Manzo Torres, 18, was driving a 1996 Subaru Legacy at a high rate of speed when he lost control and crashed into a tree. The impact of the collision was apparently so great that the Subaru sheared into two.

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Suk Whang, 80 and Chung Whang, 85, were killed in a Los Angeles car accident after their vehicle went off the roadway and crashed into a tree. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the fatal car accident occurred in the 1100 block of South Grand Avenue in Glendora, the morning of October 21, 2011. Police say the couple's Toyota Cressida drifted into the center median and hit a eucalyptus tree. Both suffered critical injuries and died at a local hospital. Officials are still investigating the cause of this tragic car accident.

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