Car Accidents

Three people were injured in an Orange County car accident involving a trailer, which got disconnected from a truck and veered through traffic. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the truck accident occurred on the northbound 57 at Tonner Canyon in Brea, the morning of February 3, 2012. Officials say a trailer unhooked from a truck, crossed lanes of traffic and landed in the carpool lane. A Chevy pickup truck in the carpool lane managed to stop and avoid the trailer, as a white Nissan Sentra came to a stop behind the Chevy. A black Sentra then moved from the fast lane and crashed into the back of the white Sentra. The three injured victims were in the white Sentra. It is unclear if anyone will be cited for the crash.

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February 2, 2012—Berkeley, CA—an 18-year-old skateboarder died after a serious car accident in which he was struck by a vehicle on January 31.

Tyler DeMartini, of Berkeley, was riding a skateboard on Marin Avenue when a 54-year-old Berkeley man, operating a Toyota Prius, struck him as the car attempted to turn left onto Tulare Avenue.

DeMartini was taken to a local trauma center where efforts were made to save him, but he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.  Police say that the driver, whose name has not been released, cooperated fully with police and did not appear to be intoxicated.

I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr. DeMartini on this tragic accident.

Accident Statistics

According to the National Safety Council, more than 50,000 people are treated for skateboard-related injuries every year, not including accidents involving motorized skateboards and inline skates.  While the most common injuries are abrasions to the hands, arms, and legs, head and neck injuries are not uncommon.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that children under five should not be using skateboards at all, and those between six and ten should only use them under close adult supervision.

The National Safety Council also recommends the use of protective gear when operating a skateboard.

What Happened In This Accident

Unfortunately, it does not appear that safety gear would have made a tremendous difference in the outcome of this car accident, which could actually be classified as a pedestrian/motor vehicle collision as well.  The circumstances under which Mr. DeMartini was hit are still under investigation, but drivers usually have a duty to allow pedestrians, bicyclists, and skateboarders to take the right of way in any situation, and the responsibility falls on the driver of the car to avoid hitting them.  In this case, the car did not yield the right of way to the skateboarder, regardless of the circumstances which led up to the accident.

Liability Issues

While the investigation is still ongoing, it is likely that the driver of the car will find himself with liability issues regarding this accident.  As the accident involved the death of a young person, that liability could be significant.  In a case such as this, where there was apparently no illegal activity such as drinking and driving, liability can still be an issue for a driver who fails to yield the right of way.  Hopefully a professional personal injury attorney will examine the facts and make a determination about the damages which should be awarded in this case.

One person was injured in an Orange County car accident involving three vehicles, the morning of January 31, 2012. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the collision occurred in the southbound lanes of the 57 Freeway at Lambert Road in Brea. Officials say a Mazda veered into a Ford truck, which then struck a BMW. The BMW hit the center divider. One person in the BMW was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. It is not clear what caused the driver of the Mazda to enter into the path of the Ford, or if the motorist will be cited for the collision.

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Four people were injured in an Orange County car accident after an elderly driver lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a doughnut shop. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred at 3744 E. Chapman Ave. in Orange on January 30, 2012. Police say the woman, who is in her 90s, accidentally stepped on the gas pedal of her Cadillac Northstar instead of the brake and accelerated. The Cadillac crashed into the patio of the doughnut shop, DK's Donuts, and struck three men. The men and the elderly driver were transported to area hospitals with unknown injuries.

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January 28, 2012—San Bruno, CA—The 500 Block of Chestnut Avenue experienced a complete evacuation of all homes on January 24 due to a leak in a gas pipeline which authorities were concerned would explode.  No one was reported to be injured during the incident, and all houses were safely evacuated.  Residents were allowed to return to their homes after about 45 minutes, when it was determined the lead was not dangerous.  Workers were able to cap the gas leak without further incident.

Authorities were concerned due to similarities to an explosion which occurred in 2010 about two miles from this location.  In that incident, 8 people were killed and 38 homes were destroyed.

I want to extend my congratulations to the residents of Chestnut Avenue on the successful evacuation and return to their homes, and to the authorities who were proactive in preventing possible injuries.

Accident Statistics

The deadly 2010 explosion was an example of a public utilities gas explosion which led to injuries, property damages, and deaths.  Each year, mining explosions are responsible for the deaths of thousands, but most gas explosions in mines happen in developing countries, where safety procedures are not as well-defined or well-enforced as in the United States.

However, troubling statistics emerged from the investigation into the 2010 San Bruno deaths.  The National Transportation Safety Board has publicly stated that many communities throughout the United States are in danger from aging pipeline systems which could result at any time in a deadly explosion.

What Happened In This Accident

While there were, thankfully, no deaths or injuries in this accident, it is clear that the San Bruno incident is not an isolated case.  Leaks in older gasline systems are common; it remains to be seen how the NTSB and other agencies will deal with this problem.

In San Bruno, authorities were taking no chances.  After the 2010 incident, any gas lead is apparently taken very seriously, and authorities responded promptly to the threat by ordering evacuations of residents.  In a safety threat such as this, human life must always be protected first; property comes second.

Liability Issues

While I commend the San Bruno authorities for their prompt response to this threat, it is disturbing that, after such a deadly gas explosion, the problem of gas leads still plagues the city.  Liability could easily attach to the city or the authorities if another deadly explosion occurred and proper measures had not been taken to protect residents.  A professional personal injury attorney should investigate the ongoing attempts by the city to replace the dangerous pipeline components with safer models; if these actions are not taken, it is highly likely that another accident could occur, and blame could be laid on the city or county.

A 12-year-old girl was severely injured in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials say was caused by a hit-and-run driver, the afternoon of January 27, 2012. According to a report in The Pasadena Star-News, the collision occurred at the intersection of Huntington Avenue and Canyon Boulevard in Monrovia, when the young victim was walking with some other children. A 1995 Infiniti J30 struck the girl and left the scene. The pedestrian was hospitalized in critical condition, but is said to be improving. Police arrested 23-year-old Emma Tapia-Gonzalez a few hours after the incident. She has been charged with felony hit-and-run and driving without a valid license. An investigation is ongoing.

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January 28, 2012—San Jose, CA—A 25-year-old man is dead after a collision between his motorcycle and a car on January 26, and the driver of the car is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

Christopher Kalaveras was pronounced dead at the scene after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a car driven by 35-year-old Aaron Keith Taylor near the Lawrence Expressway.  The roads were very slick at the time due to rain.  Taylor was charged with the accident and police initially indicated that he would be charged with felony DUI.

However, the police later changed the charges to a misdemeanor, and Taylor is scheduled for a hearing on March 5.  Police released Taylor from custody pending his hearing.  There has been no official word on the reason for the change in charges, or whether Taylor has employed legal representation.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. Kalaveras.

Accident Statistics

In 2009, 10,839 fatalities occurred on United States highways which involved alcohol—a full 32 percent of all fatal accidents.  29 percent of all DUI fatalities were motorcycle riders.

Every state has made a Blood Alcohol Content, or BAC, of .08 or higher illegal.  However, states do not have uniform policies on how drivers with BACs over .08 are charged.  In some states, DUIs are felony charges for the first arrest; in others, repeat offenders may be charged with a felony.

What Happened In This Accident

While it is unclear what prompted police to lower the charges, especially in light of the victim’s death, it is possible that the driver’s BAC actually was slightly under the legal threshold.  In that case, California law still permits the driver to be charged, although the charge rests on the officer’s observation and opinion that the driver should not be operating a vehicle, due to failing a field sobriety test or for some other reason.

Of course, whether the suspect’s BAC was .08 percent or not, if his actions led to the death of this motorcycle rider, it is likely that a professional personal injury attorney can establish a strong case for liability in a civil suit.

Liability Issues

Liability in an automobile accident rests with the at-fault driver.  If a driver causes injuries or death, he or she is liable for those injuries.

In this case, it appears that the driver of the car will have liability for the death of the victim.  An expert personal injury lawyer should examine the facts of the case and make a determination about the best course of action for the victim’s family to recover damages.

Jorene Ypanto Nicolas, 29, of San Diego has been arrested in connection with an Orange County car accident, which killed 23-year-old Deanna Mauer. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, prosecutors say Nicolas was distracted or inattentive at the time of the April 27, 2011 accident, which caused Mauer's death. Nicolas rammed Mauer's car from behind at 80 mph. Officials say they don't have evidence that Nicolas was using a cell phone when she caused the rear-end collision.

But they say it is clear that she was distracted because traffic on the northbound 405 Freeway near Edwards Street in Fountain Valley had stopped for several seconds. Nicolas did not even slow down or attempt to hit the brakes before slamming into Mauer's Hyundai sedan. Nicolas has been charged with one count of felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in connection with this Fountain Valley car accident. She faces up to six years in state prison if convicted.

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A motorcyclist was severely injured in aLos Angeles car accident that may have involved a rear-end collision. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the motorcycle accident occurred on Harbor Boulevard near Dublin Way in Rowland Heights, the morning of January 25, 2012. Officials say the motorcycle may have rear-ended a vehicle. The victim suffered serious injuries including a broken leg. It is unclear how the collision occurred or if anyone will be cited for the crash.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victim of this Los Angeles motorcycle accident. I wish the motorcyclist the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

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Just recently in October, five were injured in a Santa Ana bus accident in Orange County, California. This bus accident occurred on the intersection of Westminster Avenue and Clinton Street. Santa Ana's high population density and reliance on public transportation may be the cause of such high bus accident statistics, but there are other reasons that may be possible including drinking and driving, and distracted driving.  If you have been involved in a bus accident, finding the right Santa Ana bus accident lawyers to fight for you is a decision that should not be taken lightly.

According to the CHP's Statewide Traffic Records System, 11 fatalities and 1,359 injuries occurred in Santa Ana due to car, truck, and bus accidents in 2009 alone. In Orange County as a whole, 141 people died due to car and bus accidents in 2009.

Bus accidents can occur due to several factors. It may be due to the bus driver’s own fault as when he or she was over-speeding or recklessly driving in an unsafe manner while on the road. Another may be due to damage or infirmity on the roads like oil spill, broken pavement and wet pavements, can also result to disastrous bus accidents. Having Santa Ana Bus Accident Lawyers  by your side after a serious bus accident is essential to obtaining a favorable settlement.

Some bus accidents have occurred because of the negligence of a third party driver who drives on the road without the proper care and attention. Yet, in any of these situations and regardless of who caused the accident, victims are always entitled to claim for compensation and damages for the personal injuries they have sustained.

If involved in a Santa Ana bus accident, contact the attorneys who care at Bisnar | Chase. These top-rated Santa Ana bus accident lawyers have helped victims for over 30 years get the compensation and justice they deserve. With a 97.5% success rate and a no-fee guarantee, there is no reason not to call now and get some free advice for your bus accident case. We are here to help.