Tag Archive: law matter

Questions to inquire about prior to hiring an Attorney or Lawyer

California Attorney at Law Norman Gregory Fernandez

California Attorney at Law Norman Gregory Fernandez

Chatsworth – California April 8, 2012

How can you know you have hired the ideal attorney for your legal matter? Exactly what are your legal rights when it comes to a given situation? Are you protected, guided properly, and will all the things involved in your matter be considered before decisions or actions are undertaken? Finding legal help right now can certainly be challenging, further, finding the right legal assistance can certainly be costly.

A part most typically associated with the initial challenge to locate a good attorney is a result of simply not understanding where to begin your actual search. Worse, the expense problem makes this process actually more daunting, presented with the probability of high retainer fees as well as hourly fees, and in the event that you will be looking out for your individual or your family’s needs, here are some thoughts to assist you.

A. Keep family as well as friends away from the legal advice area. I love the phrase “you don’t understand what you don’t understand.” Friends and family don’t understand what they don’t understand. Supplying you with imperfect or outright incorrect information and facts might be dangerous. Your circle of family and friends might be perfect for socializing and receiving everyday views on some things, but not for legal counsel. The majority of people do not know the actual law, how to legally resolve a legal matter, as well as the consequences of measures or omissions in the legal process.

Everyone has an opinion; however, when it comes to protecting you legally, in addition to guiding yourself, one’s family, or perhaps your business, you need more than a family member’s opinion. Family member’s advice may be well intended. But their advice may turn out to be very harmful to your legal case or issue. You should retain a completely independent attorney to deal with your actual legal issue, whether trivial or major, so you can actually obtain the proper legal guidance you need.

B. Stay far away from the ever increasing on-line document preparation solutions on the internet. These normally do not allow for a complete exchange of information and additionally may result in imperfect outcomes which may not fulfill ones actual needs. Documents produced in this manner might address your specifications. But if you have not really been asked proper inquiries, or if you don’t know everything involved, what is produced will be incomplete and could result in complications later because something crucial was not considered.

An example might be a simple Partnership Contract for the organization of a small business. Without terms within the Contract regarding what takes place if a Partner dies, you might have significant problems should that event arise. If you do not know to include a “death involving partner” provision in the contract, the actual on-line preparation service’s questionnaire may not either. Then, you might be devoid of an important part associated with the Contract, causing potential problems for you later on.

There is no way an online document preparation service can replace an experienced attorney.

Having an attorney can cost you more than using the on-line system, but the cost is well worth it. Just like you would never operate on yourself, you should never represent yourself. It is said that only a fool has himself for a client.

C. Find an attorney with a specialization or concentration within the area of law in which you need advice or legal assistance. Attorneys specialize similarly to doctors. You wouldn’t speak to a foot doctor about heart problems or a pediatrician about your aging parent’s memory difficulties. As plainly obvious as these examples appear, you actually might be undertaking the legal equivalent by talking to the incorrect attorney. Find an attorney that practices in the area you need help in.

D. When searching for an attorney, request family and friends (now is the time to involve them) if they know someone good. Go to your computer or smart phone and use the internet to search for a lawyer. For example to find a biker lawyer, type into the search engine “Biker Lawyer,” or if you are looking for a car accident attorney in Chatsworth, California, type in “car accident lawyer in Chatsworth, California. The more specific you type in your search the better.

A word of caution, major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo usually reserve the first 3 spots on the top of the search engine results for sponsored listings or paid advertisements. This means that the first three results on any search you do are paid advertisements. Further, all of the listings on the right hand part of the screen are usually also paid listings and paid advertisements.

There are also major directories that pop up in the search results that contain nothing but attorneys and lawyers who pay for listings.

Just because a lawyer pays for a sponsored listing or advertisement, does not mean they are the best attorney for you. As a matter of fact I recommend that you stay away from the hacks that pay for sponsored listings or advertisements all over the search engines.

Instead you want to find attorneys who are experienced and who you can speak to. A fancy ad does not make a good lawyer.

Yes, attorneys can certainly be expensive. Ask the attorney before you hire him or her how they will charge you. Ask for an estimate of the actual total costs that will most likely be involved. Ask if the lawyer will allow a few minutes for a free of charge consultation. Ask the attorney about their experience. Notice if you get through to the lawyer or if staff members block your actual access. There is nothing wrong with staff addressing your routine questions, however if you want to talk to the actual attorney, you should be allowed to do so.

Types of Fees.

Flat fees tend to be routine for “one-time” legal services, such as representation in a courtroom for a traffic or certain criminal offenses, as well as for the preparation of papers, such as a contract or perhaps a will.

Hourly fees are normal for matters which will entail continuing services, including representation in a divorce or child custody matter, or for business lawsuits. Often attorneys may ask for a “retainer” in advance; this allows them to acquire their fee while they do the work, and it safeguards them in case you decide to not pay them. As the retainer is used up, the lawyer will ask for another retainer.

Contingency fees are often charged for personal injury matters, such as automobile accident cases, or slip and falls, wherein the attorney will receive a percentage of the total recovery when, and only if there is a recovery for you.

Understanding how fees will be charged and collected is an integral part associated with the attorney selection process. Possessing this information will enable you to compare attorneys and then make an informed decision. Note that the least expensive attorney is not always the best. Per hour fees tend to increase with the attorney’s degree of experience. My advice is to take your time with a selection and ask questions. Shelling out money for legal matters may not be fun, but the results should be better than not hiring an attorney to safeguard you, and will most likely in the end save you money.

Norman Gregory Fernandez is an attorney at law licensed throughout the great State of California, and has been practicing law since 1997. He represents personal injury victims and routinely fights insurance companies and big businesses that won’t accept total responsibility for the harms and losses that they cause. He can be reached anytime by calling 800-816-1Law (800-816-1529), via email, or through his website. He’s also available to talk to your group about numerous legal topics.

If you or your family have been the victim of a truck crash, car crash, or other motor vehicle accident in Oxnard or anywhere in California call us for a free consultation at 800-816-1529 x. 1, or go to http://www.thepersonalinjury.com.

California Personal Injury Attorney Website

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Fleeing hit-run driver injures 5 people, 3 seriously in second crash; Maybe it is time to increase penalties.

Scene of Woodland Hills, CA Accident Caused by Fleeing Hit and Run Driver

Scene of Woodland Hills, CA Accident Caused by Fleeing Hit and Run Driver

WOODLAND HILLS, LOS ANGELES – California

A driver fleeing the scene of an accident ended up colliding with two other cars on Ventura Boulevard at Desoto Avenue in Woodland Hills on Saturday.

Police said the driver of a red convertible got into an accident on another portion of Ventura Boulevard. He then took off and continued eastbound, colliding with two other cars that were stopped at a light at Desoto Avenue at around 11:30 a.m.

Five people were injured, three of them critically.

The driver of the car involved in the original hit-and-run accident said the red convertible rear-ended him. He and his daughter were not injured.

This particular accident really hits home for me, because it happened right or I grew up.

I don’t know what’s going on lately but it seems to me that there is a marked increase of hit-and-run drivers, and people fleeing the scene of accidents that their in.

In this particular accident, five people were injured, three critically, because some idiot decided not to stop after they were in accident.

It seems to me if there were mandatory jail sentences for hit-and-run drivers, with sentences being much tougher for hit-and-run drivers, that the word would get out and more people would stop after they’re in a car accident.

Furthermore, I believe that drivers, who were convicted of hit-and-run driving, should lose their driver’s license privileges for the rest of their life. I think maybe with these types of stiff penalties, accidents like this would not happen, and more people would stop rather than flee the scene of an accident.

What do you think?

If you or your family have been the victim of a car crash, or other motor vehicle accident in Woodland Hills or anywhere in California call us for a free consultation at 800-816-1529 x. 1, or go to http://www.thepersonalinjury.com

Woodland Hills Car Accident Attorney Website

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5 People are dead so far in Los Angeles County So Far During Labor Day Weekend

California Personal Injury Lawyer Blog NewsA fiery crash on the 110 Freeway and several other traffic accidents have claimed the lives of five people on Los Angeles County streets and highways so far over the Labor Day weekend, authorities said.

A motorcyclist was killed Sunday in a crash on Topanga Canyon Boulevard near the Pacific Coast Highway about 2:30 p.m., the California Highway Patrol reported. The victim was pronounced dead at a hospital. Investigators were still on the scene, and no further details were available.

Also, a man died early Sunday when he was trapped under a flaming 1971 Chevy Monte Carlo that had been stopped on the shoulder of the southbound 110 Freeway near 52nd Street.

The 2:40 a.m. incident began when the 18-year-old driver of a 2008 Smart car slowed to avoid rear-ending a vehicle directly ahead, swerved onto the right shoulder and struck the Monte Carlo. Both vehicles burst into flames.

The Monte Carlo rolled over and fatally injured one of three men who had been standing near the car after it had broken down, the CHP reported. Two other victims were taken to hospitals, one in critical condition and one with lesser injuries.

The driver of the Smart car sustained scrapes and was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and driving under the influence, the CHP said. Names of the suspect and victims were not released.

About 11 p.m. Saturday, a pickup truck driven by a 17-year-old male overturned on the 710 Freeway, killing a female passenger and injuring three others. The accident occurred in the northbound lanes just south of the 91 Freeway, the CHP reported. No names were released.
A 23-year-old man driving a Honda Accord died late Saturday when he hit a power pole and tree on Somerset Ranch Road near Paramount Boulevard in South Gate.

The accident occurred about 10:50 p.m. when the driver exited the 105 Freeway at a high rate of speed, collided with another vehicle and slammed into the pole and tree, said South Gate Police Sgt. Mario Saldivar.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger was in stable condition at a hospital with minor injuries. No names were released.

And a 43-year-old Irvine man was killed while trying to cross the eastbound lanes of the 101 Freeway after crashing his car near Laurel Canyon Boulevard about 9:40 p.m. Saturday, officials said.

The man had been driving west in a black Lexus when he drifted off the shoulder, struck a guardrail and came to rest in the number one lane, the CHP reported.

He got out of the car, tried to run across the freeway and was hit by a BMW driven by a 76-year-old Encino man. The driver of the Lexus was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was not released. The BMW driver was unhurt.

Last year, only one traffic-related fatality was reported in Los Angeles County during the first 36 hours of Labor Day weekend, according to the CHP. Statewide, the CHP has reported six fatalities so far, compared with eight last year.

In Los Angeles County, 227 people have been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, up from 209 last year, while statewide, the CHP has arrested 1,008 motorists on that charge, compared with 990 last year.

Traffic-related incidents so far this weekend are also higher than the July 4 and Memorial Day numbers this year, authorities said.
“There was a somewhat downward trend, and we were hopeful that would still be the case because people had gotten the message about safe driving,” said CHP Officer Ming Hsu. “Unfortunately, the numbers we have for this period are spiking.”

If you or your family has been injured anywhere in Los Angeles County or the State of California, you may contact our law firm for a free consultation at 800-816-1529 ext. 1, or submit your case through our website at http://www.therpersonalinjury.com

Los Angeles County Car Accident Attorney and California Personal Injury Website

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Deadly crash Involving an 11 year old driver- Why was he driving?

11 Year Old Jose Silva Dies in Car AccidentThree lives were lost when 11-year-old José Silva ran a stop sign at the intersection of Avenue 152 and Road 168 near Woodville, California.

A truck headed south on Road 168 didn’t have enough time to stop and collided with Silva’s vehicle.

Silva died at the scene along with his mother, Maria Covarrubias, and José’s seven-year old sister Elizabeth Silva.

Both daughter and mother were ejected from the vehicle. Another passenger suffered major injuries. The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries.

“Devastated…I know the mother and her two sons and daughter very well so it’s quite traumatic,” said school superintendent Dr. Donereia Bradley.

Bradley has been close with the family for years.

She says both kids were good in school and never missed a day.

Bradley along with others can’t understand why the boy was driving.

“I would have never thought that would have been the case. I’m stunned. I have no words,” said Bradley. “I was in shock. I was like how did it happen?”

Veronica Rodriguez drove to the family’s home after she heard about the accident.

She says the 30-year-old mother leaves behind a 12-year-old son who stayed home last night.

Why would a mother allow her 11 year old son to drive? Under no circumstances whatsoever should you ever allow an 11 year old to operate a car or truck.

Woodville California Car Accident Attorney

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SUV overturns in Highway 101 Crash in Oxnard California, hurts 7 bound for CLU swim meet

Oxnard California Truck Accident AttorneySeven people were injured, including four Washington state residents, when a SUV rolled over Thursday afternoon while going south on Highway 101 near Vineyard Avenue in Oxnard.

The accident was reported about 1:45 p.m., said Steve Reid, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol in Oxnard.

The seven, and an eighth person who was not injured, were on their way to a swim meet at California Lutheran University when the vehicle they were riding in overturned into the dirt portion of the highway’s center divider, Reid said.

The incident started after a tanker truck traveling in the same direction tried to move from the third to the second lane, Reid said, causing the driver in the second lane to swerve into the first lane, where the SUV was.

Reid said Kyle Homad, the 23-year-old Seattle man driving the SUV, lost control of the vehicle and it overturned, landing on its side.

Homad received minor injuries, including cuts to his face, the CHP reported. He was taken by ambulance to St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard.

Six of the seven people riding with Homad also received minor injuries, Reid said.

Everyone in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt.

While the vehicle that swerved to avoid the tanker truck stopped at the scene, the truck continued south on 101.

Anyone who saw the accident is asked to contact the Ventura CHP at 805-477-4100.

If you or your family have been the victim of a truck crash, car crash, or other motor vehicle accident in Oxnard or anywhere in California call us for a free consultation at 800-816-1529 x. 1, or go to http://www.thepersonalinjury.com

Oxnard California Truck Accident and Car Accident Attorney

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Tort Reform is a big Scam; Why Tort Reform will Hurt You and take away more of Your Freedom!

Tort Reform is a ScamWhen you hear the term “Tort Reform” realize they what you are really hearing is a call to take away your legal right to get compensation when you are injured due to the negligence of another, to protect big business, the insurance companies, the big pharmaceutical companies, and big medicine; as though they are not rich enough.

You will be the only one getting screwed with tort reform; mark my words.

 I hear a certain political party constantly preaching about tort reform this and tort reform that in a way to demonize personal injury attorneys as the fall guys for excessive costs of medical care, insurance, and everything else you can imagine.

You see they like to blame attorneys for taking on big business, the insurance companies, the big pharmaceutical companies, and big medicine, when they screw up and harm you.

Hell, 99.9% of the time, we are the only way you are going to be compensated when you are harmed due to the negligence of big business, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, or big insurance companies.

You don’t hear members of this political party telling you this do you?

One thing they don’t tell you is that since the 1970’s, there has already been a cap on general damages in medical malpractice cases of $250.000 in the State of California.

This means that if a doctor screws up and let’s say cuts out your only good kidney, or let’s say misdiagnosis an illness like cancer, you only get $250,000 for general damages in the State of California. Does this seem right to you? Hell no!

The laws of the State of California basically protect doctors from their negligence and the laws have done so since the 1970’s. States such as Texas have in the past couple of years, recently enacted their own tort reform laws. My understanding is that in Texas there is a $750.000 cap on general damages.

California is way behind the eight ball in this regard; we can only get $250,000 for general damages. It is time to either remove the cap in California or to increase it to reflect the inflation that has occurred since the 1970’s.

Look if you are the victim of medical malpractice, how much would the pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress be worth to you if let’s say a doctor screws up and cuts off the wrong leg, or even caused the death of a loved one?

Do you want some law to prevent you from recovering from your loss? This is tort reform. It is time to get educated folks and stop believing those talking heads who pocket big bucks from those who would save money with tort reform.

This is the essence of tort reform; it is taking away your legal rights, to protect a class of persons or corporations from the harm that they cause by limiting what you can get from them if they screw up your life.

You will see that one political party preaches about less government, and less regulation and intrusion, and they in the same breath will argue to regulate your legal right to obtain compensation as an individual when you are harmed. Who are they protecting? Big business, big medicine, insurance companies, everyone but you. These people are full of shit.

It does not matter what political party you are from when your life gets turned upside down in a personal injury case does it. In the end we are all the same; when we are sitting on our couch injured and hurting due to the negligence of another, all we want is to get better, to get compensated, and to get our lives back. Tort reform prevents this. This is what pundits do not tell you.

These are the same guys that are saying that providing medical coverage to millions of Americans, and prohibiting insurance companies from denying you coverage for pre-existing coverage is a bad thing. These guys are despicable.

It is time to expose the lies America. Tort reform is against your interest and your freedom as Americans.

This is another way to screw the little guy and protect those who are already making a fortune at your expense!

It is time to become educated folks. I am on the front lines of this fight on a daily basis. Any one of you could be sitting in my office looking for help for your personal injury case; you never know. What you should know is tort reform is bad for you; it is bad for all of us.

By California Personal Injury Attorney Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © 2009

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What To Do After A California Motor Vehicle Accident.

What to do after a California Motor Vehicle AccidentOver my years of practicing personal injury laws one of the most common questions I am asked is “What should I do after I am involved in a motor-vehicle accident?”

You feel the impact and hear the crunching of metal, then the accident is over. You lived through the few seconds which seemed like an eternity as you awaited your fate. You take a deep breath and check to see if you are still in one piece. Then comes the thought of “What do I do now?”

1. Call the police. The police should be called to the scene of any accident. They will need to collect the information from both drivers as to license, registration, and insurance. They will speak to each driver as to their account of how the accident occurred. They will complete an accident report detailing all the above information including the facts and potential causes of the accident. The report will be available at the precinct several days after the accident. You should obtain a copy of the police report as soon as possible. They will obtain the names, addresses, and statements of any witnesses to the accident. You should wait for the police to arrive and not discuss the accident with anyone until then. While waiting for the police to arrive, if you are able to do so, you should exchange information with the other driver. If anyone identifies themselves as a witness, try to get his or her name and phone number. If you have a camera or a cell phone with a camera feature and are able to do so, take pictures of the accident scene.

2. Seek medical attention if injured. Some injuries sustained in auto accidents are readily apparent while others may develop over the next few hours or days. If in doubt as to the seriousness of your injuries, it is wise to request an ambulance and to be taken to a hospital to allow a medical professional to evaluate your injuries. If your injuries do not seem that serious, then you can always call your own doctor and make an appointment to be examined. Quite often accident victims will feel just minor aches at the scene but will wake up the following morning with considerable pain. It is always advisable to see a physician to obtain a proper evaluation of your condition.

3. Receive ongoing medical care. Many times an injured accident victim will require ongoing medical care. This may require diagnostic tests such as MRI, EMG, and X-rays which will assist your physician is diagnosing your condition. Your physician will help you determine your medical needs.

4. Contact my personal injury attorney law firm. We can advise you as to your legal rights when you are involved in an accident. We can assist you in making sure that all your medical expenses are paid and in making a claim to compensate you for the pain and suffering you sustained in the accident. You should contact us as soon as practicable after the accident by calling 800-816-1529 x.1.

5. Report the accident to your insurance company. You are required to report the accident to your insurance company within a reasonable time following the accident. You should be wary of accepting any type of settlement offers from any insurance company before speaking with your attorney.

There is no question that being involved in an accident is an overwhelming experience. If you follow the steps that I have set forth it will assist in making sure that your health and your rights are protected.

 The Law Offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez & Associates and Norman Gregory Fernandez has been practicing personal injury law for many years. The firm handles car accident cases and other personal injury matters all over California. For a free consultation, please call 800-816-1529 or you may visit our main personal injury webpage at www.thepersonalinjury.com.

 California Car Accident Attorney Website

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BREAKING NEWS: Man killed crossing Lake Isabella Blvd. identified

Kern County Fatal Truck v. Pedestrian AccidentThe Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified James T. Kelly, 69, of Lake Isabella, as the person struck by a pickup truck Friday evening about 6:30 p.m., when, according to witnesses, he attempted to cross Lake Isabella Blvd. in his motorized wheelchair.

The incident occurred in the 6100 block of Lake Isabella Blvd., in Lake Isabella, near West America Bank to the east and Shady Lane Saloon to the west. The stretch of roadway is not particularly well lit.

Witnesses said the victim, known to most as “Kelly”, was a disabled veteran frequently seen in the area. First responders administered CPR to Kelly, who was unconscious in the roadway, prior to his being transported by ground ambulance to Kern Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Anyone with information that will assist authorities in locating Kelly’s next of kin is asked to contact the Coroner’s Office at 661-868-0100.

If you or your family have suffered from a pedestrian accident or wrongful death anywhere in the State of California, you may call our law firm a free consultation 7 days a week, 24 hours a day at 800-816-1529 x. 1.

Kern County Pedestrian Accident Attorney and Kern County Wrongful Death Attorney

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There will be Changes on the Oakland Bay Bridge following a Death Plunge by Truck.

Oakland Bay Bridge Fatal Truck AccidentCaltrans will add more safety measures and warning signs on the Bay Bridge to try to get drivers to slow down before the new S-curve, where a speeding truck driver lost control early Monday and plunged in his big rig 200 feet to his death on Yerba Buena Island, authorities said.

New signs advising motorists of the 40 mph speed limit on the S-curve, reflective striping and radar boards flashing drivers’ speeds are among the changes in store in the aftermath of the crash, Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney said at a news conference Monday.

There have been at least 43 accidents in the curved area since it opened Sept. 8 as part of the eastern span replacement project, but the truck plunge was the first in which someone died.

The California Highway Patrol said the primary factors in the accident were the driver’s speed and the shifting weight of his cargo, not any problems with the S-curve’s design.

10 mph over limit

The crash happened about 3:30 a.m. as the big rig, loaded with pears, was traveling on the westbound upper deck at about 50 mph – 1o mph over the speed limit in that zone – said CHP Sgt. Trent Cross.
The truck tipped over the 3-foot-high concrete rail on the northern side of the S-curve and plummeted onto Yerba Buena Island, landing on its wheels and disintegrating into countless pieces. Security guards who were first on the scene said it was clear that the driver, a 56-year-old Hayward man whose name has not been released, died instantly.
The driver was an independent operator who bought the big rig several months ago, authorities said. For the past eight months, he had been a subcontractor for JM&R Trucking in Oakland.
“He was a good person, a prompt person, always on time,” said Mike Russell, the firm’s owner. “He was a safe driver, absolutely.”
Investigators suspect that the driver’s load of pears shifted as the rig hit the S-curve, something that could have helped propel the truck over the side of the span.

Weeks-long probe

Caltrans inspected the bridge and reopened the far-right lane to traffic at 7:45 a.m.

About 15 CHP investigators were collecting evidence on Yerba Buena for a probe that is expected to take weeks. Overhead, a mattress, apparently from the truck’s cab, could be seen balancing on the bridge railing.

Cross said CHP officials believe the S-curve is safe. “We don’t believe it’s a design flaw,” he said. “There’s nothing tricky or complicated about the curve. I can stand here with confidence and say that if you drive the posted speed limit, you will make it through the curve safely, just as thousands of drivers do every day.”

Cross said there was no video from security or traffic cameras on the bridge that captured the crash.

On Oct. 14, a Safeway big rig truck flopped across four lanes when it hit the S-curve, tying up westbound traffic for hours. The driver was unfamiliar with the new turn and was going too fast, the CHP said.

Tough adjustment

Some drivers have had difficulty adjusting to the 40 mph limit on the S-curve, a 10 mph decrease from the rest of the span. The increase in accidents and drivers’ complaints had already led Caltrans and the CHP to install new signs and flashing lights.

The CHP has ordered radar units, the electronic boards that flash the speed of an approaching car, but it is unclear when they will be installed.

Today, crews will begin adding 6-inch-wide reflective strips on the barriers on either side of the S-curve on both decks, Ney said.

At some point, crews also will install a large overhead sign warning westbound motorists of the 40-mph zone ahead, Ney said. That sign, which will be accompanied by flashing lights, will be placed near the top of the incline on the upper deck, Ney said.

Hours after the accident Monday, Caltrans began posting warnings on electronic message boards on Bay Bridge approaches warning truck drivers to slow to 35 mph at the curve, an advisory speed limit. The legal limit remains 40 mph.

Caltrans has considered installing “rumble strips” – rows of traffic dots extending across the roadway – in the area of the S-curve, but has no immediate plans to do so, Ney said.

Steps taken

The agency has already made several changes in hopes of getting drivers to slow down. Last week, crews painted solid white lines to discourage lane changes and added raised pavement markers – some traffic dots and some reflectors – to jar drivers moving to one side or the other. It also added a large overhead warning sign on the eastbound approach to the S-curve.

The CHP said the majority of S-curve crashes have been fender benders. The crashes have been split relatively evenly between the upper and lower decks and have occurred mostly during noncommute hours, when traffic typically moves faster, officials said.

“From day one since we had this S-curve open, we’ve tried to instill in the motoring public that you really have to watch your speed in this area,” Cross said. “Speed has always been a factor in every traffic collision that has occurred in this S-curve.”

San Francisco and Oakland California Truck Accident Attorney Website

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What the Heck? San Francisco’s Sanctuary City Policy is an Accident waiting to Happen!

San Francisco’s Sanctuary City Policy is an Accident waiting to Happen!On November 1, 2009, the city of San Francisco in California will implement a new policy that prevents city police officers from automatically impounding cars driven by unlicensed drivers. Unlicensed drivers will now be given 20 minutes to find someone with a valid license to drive their car. Only if an unlicensed driver is caught again within six months, is there an automatic 30-day impound, which can cost around $2,500.00.

This policy is aimed to protect so-called undocumented or I should say illegal aliens who are otherwise law abiding citizens, from having their vehicles impounded even though they are breaking State law by driving without a license and presumably also breaking State law by not having the required mandatory minimum liability insurance to protect others in case they hit them in their vehicles.

As a personal injury attorney and lawyer my only thought is what the heck? What about law abiding citizens and legal immigrants who follow State law and have a valid drivers license, and also carry mandatory insurance?

This new policy is absurd and an accident waiting to happen. As a matter of fact this new policy may violate State and Federal law to boot.

Look, I am all for protecting law abiding people, but by definition, those driving without a driver’s license are not law abiding are they? Hell, the protected class of citizens that Mayor Gavin Newsom is trying to protect are in fact breaking our laws by being here illegally in the first place.

I think that if someone is hit by an unlicensed and uninsured driver in San Francisco, the city of San Francisco should now be held liable for inviting this type of law breaker into their city by advertising the fact that they are not enforcing State law. It is reasonably foreseeable that law breakers will flock to San Francisco to take advantage.

What about the victims of this policy. Hell, I deal with personal injury victims on a daily basis, especially those that are hit by uninsured and illegal drivers. In the end we all pay for those that choose not to drive with insurance through increased insurance rates.

Furthermore, I do not think that it is wise to allow a major city like San Francisco to pick and choose which State laws it chooses to abide by or enforce.

This new policy is a disaster in the making. Mayor Gavin Newsom, you need to pull your head out of your ass and jump on the team here for the big win. You are endangering legal citizens and legal residents in order to protect those who are breaking the Law!

By California Personal Injury Attorney, Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © 2009

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Three killed in another accident on Highway 46 North of Bakersfield, California.

Highway 46 North of Bakersfield fatal car accident.Three people were killed in a head-on crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 46 north of Bakersfield. Friday, four people were killed in an accident on the same highway.

The accident happened at about 2:53 p.m. on Highway 46 just east of Wildwood Road. That’s between Wasco and Interstate 5, not far from Wasco State Prison and the Wasco Valley Rose golf course.

California Highway Patrol officer Robert Rodriguez said a small Toyota was attempting to pass another car on the two-lane road. When the driver of the passing car realized he didn’t have enough room, he tried to get back into his lane, but lost control.

The Toyota slammed head-on into a Dodge Ram pickup, Rodriguez said.

All three people in the Toyota were killed instantly, he said. The driver of the pickup was taken to Kern Medical Center with moderate injuries.

On Friday, one car passing two trucks slammed head-on into another car, killing two people in each.

Highway 46 is sometimes known as “Blood Alley” because there have been so many accidents. It is two-lanes in most places between Highway 99 and Paso Robles.

California Wrongful Death Lawyer and Bakersfield Car Accident Attorney Website

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Los Osos California couple dies in car accident in Kern County California

Kern County Couple dies in Deadly Los Osos Accident A deadly accident in Kern County claims the lives of two Los Osos, California residents.

The California Highway Patrol said 62-year-old Shirlene Soto and her husband, 84-year-old Walter Elliott, were among the four people who died in a car crash on Highway 46 east of Highway 33 Friday morning.

The CHP said a man driving a Chevy on the eastbound lane tried to pass a tractor trailer, when he collided head-on with the vehicle Soto and Elliott were riding in.

They say Soto and Elliott died on impact. The 25-year-old man driving the Chevy, and his one-year-old passenger were also killed on impact. Another passenger in the Chevy suffered major injuries.

Family members said Soto and Elliott were both former Cal Poly professors. Soto later worked for California State University Northridge, and Elliott worked for Rocketdyne.

A family member released a statement: “They were both extremely cheerful, energetic people who loved life, friends, and family.”

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Santa Maria Woman Dies in Motorcycle Accident

Santa Maria woman dies in motorcycle accidentThe California Highway Patrol says 51-year-old Nancy Simmons, of Santa Maria, has died in a motorcycle accident.

The CHP says she was a health technician at Santa Maria High School.

The accident happened on Northbound Highway 101, near the Santa Maria River Bridge, just after 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

The CHP said four motorcycles were traveling Northbound, when a pickup truck pulling a trailer, began to merge onto the highway.

Simmons was a passenger, and was riding with her husband, 52-year-old Ben Simmons.

The CHP said he tried to pass the pickup truck, but lost control as traffic began to also slow down.

Simmons was taken to the hospital where she died from her injuries. Ben was also taken to the hospital, and was treated for minor injuries.

Investigators say it was just an unfortunate accident. They were going the speed limit, and both were wearing their helmets.

“I went to run out to see if I could help and I saw her lying there,” said J.P Weddle, who witnessed the accident. “And I realized there’s nothing I could do other than just to try to get an ambulance out here,” said Weddle.

Ben Ruth, with the California Highway Patrol, said “Everyone needs to be reminded that they need to give themselves a safe space cushion in between vehicles, so that if another vehicle reacts to something, that person is able to come to a stop.”

The CHP closed down the highway for about half an hour.

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Vehicle collides with school bus carrying children in Ontario, California

Ontario, California Bus Accident and Ontario, California Car Accident AttorneyOntario – California

A school bus carrying about 15 students crashed into a tree after it was hit by a vehicle that ran a stop sign, according to the California Highway Patrol incident log.

None of the child passengers were hurt, CHP dispatchers said, but the bus driver was injured.

The traffic collision, which blocked the intersection, happened about 4:05 p.m. near San Antonio Avenue and Phillips Street in Ontario, California.

Ontario police officers detained one person and later made an arrest, but no other information was available.

In my personal experience, kids usually do not feel aches and pains immediately after an accident such as this, especially on a school bus. I hope that the kids are all uninjured.

If you or your family have suffered an injury in a school bus, or other type of motor vehicle accident anywhere in California, you may call our California Accident Hotline for a free consultation at 800-816-1529 ext. 1.

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A Woman and 2 LAPD officers injured in car accident in Los Angeles

Los Angeles California Car Accident AttorneyLos Angeles – California

The crash occurred at the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Glyndon Avenue around 12:20 a.m. All three accident victims were transported to hospitals.

“The two officers are still at the hospital being treated for their injuries, but I don’t know their current condition,” Lt. Paula Kreefft, a watch commander at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Pacific Division, said before dawn. She said the accident was not a result of a police pursuit or response to a call for service.

Officer John Farish of the LAPD’s West Traffic Division, which was investigating the crash, said the squad car was traveling on Venice Boulevard “when a woman tried to enter onto Venice from Glyndon Avenue, where there is a stop sign.”

“The final report will have to sort out who was at fault,” he said

It appears to me that based upon the description, the woman entering the intersection was probably at fault, and the officers who were injured will not only be able to file a California Workers Compensation claim, but also a personal injury action against the woman who entered the intersection.

They should contact an attorney such as me immediately.

If you have had a car accident anywhere in California you may call my California Personal Injury Hotline at 800-816-1529 ext. 1.

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