Tag Archive: lawyer

CHP Cruiser hits Pickup Truck in Santa Rosa, California; Driver Critically Injured.

Santa Rosa California Crash Involving CHP, Pickup Truck, and MotorcycleSanta Rosa – California

A California Highway Patrol cruiser spun out of control and struck a pickup truck, critically injuring the driver, on Highway 12 just east of the Highway 101 interchange in Santa Rosa Saturday night, the CHP said.

Officer Blair Hardcastle took evasive action when a motorcycle merged onto the highway from the Maple Street onramp about 6:30 p.m., driving partly onto the dirt center strip, Sgt. Kevin Mensior said.

The motorcycle crossed over to the fast lane in front of Hardcastle, who was responding to a call with lights and siren activated, Mensior said.

The cruiser spun across both lanes, struck the guardrail and hit the pickup, a 1991 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Cynthia Mae Dempsey, 44, of Santa Rosa. The pickup rolled over onto its roof, the CHP said.

Dempsey, who sustained a forehead cut and an injury to the right side of her head, was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the CHP said.

Dempsey was in surgery late Saturday and was listed in critical condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Officers said they had not determined if Dempsey was wearing a seatbelt.

The motorcyclist, Justin Lee Oliver, 36, of Santa Rosa was not injured and his bike, a 2000 Kawasaki ZR-Z, was not struck.

Mensior said no citations or arrests had been made, and that the accident was still under investigation. A special accident investigation team was en route to the scene at 9 p.m.

Alcohol was not involved, Mensior said.

Westbound traffic on Highway 12 was detoured off the highway onto side streets from Farmers Lane to Santa Rosa Avenue. Officials said the detour might last until midnight.

Hardcastle sustained scrapes to the forearm, likely from his airbag deploying, the CHP said. His cruiser was totaled.

Santa Rosa Truck Accident, Car Accident, Motorcycle Accident Attorney Website

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Man killed, Six Injured in Truck Accident outside Salinas, California.

Salinas California Car and Truck Accident AttorneyA Salinas Valley farmworker was killed and six other people were sent to hospitals Wednesday when a truck smashed head-on into a car on Alisal Road outside Salinas, California.

The California Highway Patrol said the crash happened shortly before 7a.m. about a mile north of Hartnell Road.

Juan DeLeon Alcantar, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene after a Chevrolet Silverado stuck his Toyota Camry, the CHP said.

The driver of the Silverado, Jose Tinoco, 68, of San Luis, Ariz., was driving north on Alisal Road when the truck crossed over the double yellow lines, officers said. The truck sideswiped a Honda Accord traveling south and continued, colliding head-on with the Toyota.

Two of Alcantar’s passengers, Jose Ricardo DeLeon, 33, and Guadalupe Montoya, 33, suffered major injuries and were taken to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, the CHP said. A third passenger, Javier Escobar, 38, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Natividad Medical Center.

All of the men in the Toyota are from Salinas, and Monterey County coroner’s officials said the men were headed to Chualar to work in the lettuce fields.

Tinoco suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to Natividad Medical Center.

The driver of the Honda, Yesenia Flores, 21, of Salinas, suffered minor injuries when her car skidded out of control and went into a drainage ditch, the CHP said. She was also taken to Natividad.

A passenger in Flores’ car, Juana Robles, 20, of Salinas, was taken to

Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, but CHP officers did not say if she was injured.
The CHP said there was fog at the time of the crash but the cause of the collision is under investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call the CHP Salinas office at 796-2100.

Salinas California Truck Accident and Car Accident Attorney Website

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San Diego Band “A City Serene” involved in a Horrific Bus Accident.

city-sereneA few days into their first tour, promoting their debut album “The Art of Deceiving Perception” the San Diego band called “A City Serene” were involved in a horrific bus accident on Interstate 5 in Kern County, south of Bakersfield.

Six members of the band were traveling north on I-5, approximately a mile and a half south of Grapevine when the accident occurred. According to the California Highway Patrol, a driver in a Ford pickup heading south, lost control of the vehicle, and hit a dirt berm causing it to travel 100 feet before impacting and going over the center divider.

The truck then hit a Honda Civic, which crashed into the bus resulting in another collision. All of the members were air lifted to multiple hospitals in the Central Valley. The band members include singers Xander Bourgeois and Carly Baker, guitarists Kris Renfro and Michael Sherman, bassist/vocalist Marc Koch and drummer Mike Buxbaum.

The band manager Billy Candler released Information regarding their injuries, but for privacy reasons, details on who sustained each injury were left out. Four of the band members suffered concussions and broken bones that required surgery and intensive care. The remaining two musicians are in a coma.

Candler states, “The other two are still in a coma. One has signs of responsiveness. But we’re definitely not even close to being out of the water at all for either of them. Right now it’s kind of a waiting game with them. They are the two we are obviously the most worried about. (The doctors) said it was a good sign they’ve made it this far.”

The crash has impacted the families tremendously. Currently they are staying in hotels near the hospital to be closer to their children.

A City Serene’s CD release show was scheduled to take place Oct.3 at Soma. The show has now become a benefit for the band member’s families to help the large medical bills. The benefit will include Adestria, Casino Madrid, I Am The Heart Attack, Thy Kingdom Come, The Subtle Way and Welcome Seraph.

Tickets are $10 and are available at www.somasandiego.com. There are also a few ways to donate online. Please visit their merchandise website or a pay pal account manager Billy Candler has set up.

“Right now, I can’t stress how important it is for you to help spread the word about the band, their situation, and do anything you possibly can to help raise money for their families. The accident took place near Bakersfield and the whole ACS crew will be up there for a while and it will be expensive.” Band representatives ask to please follow updates @ACitySerene on Twitter and the band’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com/acityserene.

The driver of the Ford pickup truck is obviously at fault in this accident. We send our prayers and condolences to the band and their family.

Bakersfield, Kern County, and San Diego, Bus Accident, and Car Accident Attorney

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Motorcyclist suffers major injuries in Highway 1 crash in San Luis Obispo

Fatal Motorcycle Accident in San Luis Obispo, California

Fatal Motorcycle Accident in San Luis Obispo, California

San Luis Obispo – California

A 24-year-old San Luis Obispo man riding a motorcycle was taken to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center this morning with major injuries after colliding with a stopped semi truck on Highway 1, the CHP said.

The man, whose name has not yet been released, was riding northbound in the highway’s fast lane when traffic stopped in front of him to allow a semi truck to make a right turn onto Stenner Creek Rd. around 9:05 a.m., according to CHP Officer Joe Vega.

The semi had to take up both lanes on the highway to safely make the turn, Vega said, and it appears the motorcyclist didn’t see the stopped cars behind it in time to slow.

“He swerved to the right,” Vega said, “squeezed between both lanes in attempt to avoid the stopped cars but then collides into the right rear corner of semi.” Drugs or alcohol don’t appear to be a factor in the accident, he added, and no other injuries were reported.

Investigators haven’t yet determined how fast the motorcyclist was going.

Most people would not realize it, but the motorcycle had the right of way in this instance and the truck driver will most likely be held to be at fault.

In California, a driver is not allowed to make a turn unless the coast is clear, notwithstanding the fact that drivers may have stopped for him. Secondly motorcyclist are allowed to lane split in the State of California, so long as they are not going more than 15-20 miles per hour faster than the flow of traffic.

This is an unfortunate accident.

If you or your family has been the victim of a wrongful death in the State of California, or you have had a motorcycle, car, truck, or other motor vehicle accident, feel free to call my firm for a free consultation at 800-816-1529 ext. 1.

California Wrongful Death Attorney, Car, Truck, Motorcycle Attorney Website

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Fatal crash continues to raise questions as to whether the Accelerator Stuck. What do you do when a Car Accelerator Sticks?

California Fatal Car Accident Attorney and LawyerSAN DIEGO, California –

A horrible car crash that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and three of his family members continues to raise questions as investigators try to determine whether their loaner car’s accelerator stuck and what – if anything – could have prevented Friday’s tragedy.

The 2009 Lexus ES 350 came from Bob Baker Lexus El Cajon, where CHP officer Mark Saylor of Chula Vista had dropped off his regular vehicle for servicing.

Toyota, which makes Lexus cars, had recalled the “all weather” floor mats in its 2008 version of that car model because of complaints about them sliding forward and jamming the accelerator. A sales manager at Bob Baker Lexus said he wasn’t sure which mats were in the Lexus loaned to Saylor.

On Monday, Toyota issued a statement saying the company is deeply sorry to hear about the Saylor incident.

“We are unable to comment on this tragic accident until all the facts are known,” the statement said. “It is important to avoid speculation and allow any investigation to run its course.”

It’s not known whether Saylor, a 19-year CHP officer whose job entails vehicle safety inspections, tried to shut off the engine or put the car in neutral – the two most common ways to slow down a vehicle with a stuck accelerator.

Car experts said it’s not always that simple.

An electrical or mechanical failure could have made it impossible to shift into neutral, said Daniel Vomhof III, a vehicle accident reconstructionist with La Mesa-based Expert Witness Services.

Shutting off the engine also can be tricky because most modern vehicles will then lock the steering wheel, leaving the driver unable to steer, Vomhof said.

Asked if drivers have a third option, he replied: “Pray a lot.”

Another complication: A report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that some Lexus drivers with stuck accelerators tried to turn off the car with the engine control button but didn’t know the button must be held for three seconds.

The agency’s researchers recorded seven crashes, 12 injuries and 40 complaints involving the recalled floor mats in Toyota vehicles.

They also said that when the throttle pedal is fully open unintentionally, some drivers react by hitting the brakes multiple times. This action depletes the vehicle’s vacuum-based power assist, and without that assistance, the brakes must be applied with much more force. Continued driving in that manner can result in overheating the brakes, further diminishing their effectiveness.

Toyota acknowledged the complaints and created new instructions for installing the mats properly. There have been no recalls of the 2009 ES 350, the traffic safety administration said.

On Friday, someone in the Saylors’ Lexus called 911 just after 6:30 p.m. to report the stuck accelerator. Witnesses said the car was traveling northbound on state Route 125 in Santee at more than 100 mph when it entered a T-intersection with Mission Gorge Road.

The vehicle slammed into the rear end of a Ford Explorer and then plowed over a curb and through a fence before hitting an embankment and going airborne. It rolled several times before stopping and bursting into flames in the nearby San Diego River basin.

The CHP said those killed were Saylor, 45; his wife, Cleofe, 45; his daughter, Mahala, 13; and his brother-in-law, Chris Lastrella, 38.

The accident was a wake-up call for some Lexus owners.

Marcelle Khalil of Del Mar, a pharmacist who drives a 2006 Lexus GS 300, said she had a problem with her accelerator two weeks ago. It stuck as she drove into her employer’s parking lot and she narrowly missed a truck before slamming into a curb.

Khalil said she was positive she didn’t step on the gas instead of the brake, but began to doubt herself until she read about the Saylors.

“This could happen to anybody,” she said. “I’m scared to drive my car.”

Blair Carter, a sales manager at Bob Baker Lexus, said “our hearts sunk when we heard” about Friday’s accident.

He said the vehicle had a double redundant fail-safe system that should have shut the car off if there were a major malfunction, and that he had never heard of a situation in which the accelerator was stuck and the car couldn’t be stopped.

“I would get in any of our cars today with my family and drive to Maine,” Carter said.

Product Liability Law –

If it can be proven that the vehicle had a manufacturing or design defect, the family of the persons who were killed in the car crash would be able to sue for wrongful death for a defective product, and not have to prove negligence in Court.

However, if the vehicle which was loaned to the decedent’s had the mats that were recalled by Toyota, then the dealer could be sued under negligence or product’s liability law.

In the end, this is a horrible tragedy for the family of the victims. We have posted this story to provide education to the public on stuck accelerators, and what can be done pursuant to California law if you are the victim of a defective product.

What do you do when your Car Accelerator Sticks?

Car experts recommend trying the following actions if the accelerator becomes stuck while a vehicle is moving:

  • Repeatedly step on the gas pedal to jar it loose.
  • Step on the clutch to disengage the gears or shift the vehicle into neutral.
  • If all else fails, turn the vehicle off. This option could cause loss of power steering or lock the steering wheel in place.

California and San Diego Products Liability and Personal Injury Lawyer and Attorney Website

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1 Bicyclist dead, 2 hurt in horrendous crash in the Angeles National Forest

Southern California Bicycle Accident AttorneyOne local bicyclist was killed and two more injured Saturday when they were hit by an alleged drunken driver on Bouquet Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest, officials said.

“It appears the drunk driver ran into a group of bicyclists that were riding in the canyon,” said Sgt. Brian Allen of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “Two of them were injured and taken to the hospital, and one additional bicyclist was killed.”

The dead cyclist was identified as Joseph Novotny, 43, of Stevenson Ranch.

California Highway Patrol investigators said Marco Valencia, of Canyon Country, was traveling northbound on Bouquet Canyon Road just south of the Big Oaks Lodge when he came to a sweeping left turn in the canyon roadway.

Valencia’s pickup truck allegedly crossed the double yellow lines, traveling into the southbound traffic lane toward a group of cyclists, including Novotny. Valencia’s truck allegedly struck three of the riders and continued northbound, leaving the scene of the collision, according to a CHP news release. Valencia also allegedly sideswiped a Hyundai; the driver was uninjured.

Sheriff’s deputies and CHP officers located Valencia, 20, in his 2001 Ford F-150 pickup truck further north along Bouquet Canyon Road and south of Elizabeth Lake Road, Allen said.

Novotny was pronounced dead at the scene. Rigoberto Himenez Jr., of Saugus, and George Munana Jr., of Valencia, were transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, according to CHP reports. Two other riders suffered minor injuries.

Valencia, who was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, was arrested and taken to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station to be booked for investigation of several felony charges, including murder, driving while under the influence and/or drugs causing death and hit-and-run causing death, the CHP report said.

He was being held on more than $1 million bail.

Bouquet Canyon Road near the 33000 block – in the Texas Canyon area – was closed about four hours Saturday following the accident, which occured just before 11 a.m.

Jane Skalak, a member of the Santa Clarita Velo cycling group, said she saw the group that included Novotny riding up the canyon as she and others were descending. She said word of the accident spread quickly throughout the cycling group.

“It’s a tragedy,” she said. “As a cyclist, you expect people to respect you and be able to share the road, but the reality is that it doesn’t happen and when somebody’s drunk on a Saturday morning, it’s a tragedy.”

In 2006, Anthony Robert Estrin, an active board member of the Velo cycling group, was hit and killed by a drunken driver on Sierra Highway.

“If I had a dime for every time I thought about what could happen while I’m out riding, I’d be a rich woman. But it’s what we do; we love to ride,” Skalak said.

Maria Gutzeit is a cyclist and advocate with the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition who rides Bouquet Canyon a couple of times a week.

She said cyclists are certainly aware the canyons are twisty and car drivers need to be alert and give cyclists some room.

But the fact that the driver was apparently driving under the influence is “absolutely inexcusable” and “just tragic,” she said.

When one local bicycle shop manager heard about the fatality, he was not surprised.

“It happens a little too often out here,” said Curtis Meadows, service manager at Valley Bikes in Newhall. “I just moved out here two years ago. There are too many erratic drivers out here.”

Meadows said he stopped riding on Bouquet Canyon Road because there are too many drivers who don’t pay attention.

I am utterly appalled at this accident. If this guy was in fact drunk, he should be charged with murder and dealt with accordingly. He has killed an innocent bicycle rider, injured others, and caused grief with family and friends all because we wanted to get drunk and drive.

If you or your family was a victim in this accident or any other accident, you may call me for a free consultation at 800-816-1529 ext. 1

Southern California Bicycle Accident Attorney Website

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Van tried to evade head-on Collision east of Meridian, CA.

Meridian, Yuba City California Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorney LawyerThe driver of a van carrying 10 unbelted passengers swerved to try and avoid the head-on collision that killed a Yuba City woman, a California Highway Patrol official said Monday.

Lorretta Lynn Deniz, 22, of the 400 block of Emerson Avenue, was pronounced dead at the scene of the Saturday night accident on Highway 20 east of Meridian. Passengers in the van, all from Oakland, had injuries ranging from a broken leg to fractured spines and skulls, according to the CHP.

The collision occurred partly on the shoulder of westbound Highway 20, indicating the van driver, Adolfo Jiminez, 23, swerved to avoid Deniz’s eastbound 1998 Chevy Malibu, said Officer Jeff Larson.

A 7-month-old child in the van, Candy Carillo, suffered a fractured skull and was flown to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. All of the passengers were sitting on the floor of the 2002 Ford van, which had no rear seats, according to the CHP.

Investigators were trying to learn Monday what the van and its Oakland occupants were doing in the area, said Larson.

Also undetermined is why Deniz’s car was in the wrong lane. There was no immediate evidence that either driver had been drinking. Results of a tests on Deniz’s blood will not arrive for weeks, said Larson.

An autopsy Monday morning showed Deniz died from a blunt force injury to the head, said Sutter County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Brenda Baker.

Deniz graduated from Yuba City High School in 2004.

A passenger in the Malibu, Marcelino Garcia, 21, who lives on Lincoln Road in Yuba City, was treated for minor injuries at Rideout Memorial Hospital.

Jiminez had a broken leg and was also taken to Rideout.

None of the van occupants were believed to have life-threatening injuries. The other van passengers and their injuries were: Jose Perez, 20, fractured spine; Pedro Perez, 39, fractured pelvis; Efrain Godinez, 35, fractured spine; Maribel Godinez, 23, facial lacerations; Robert Perry, 20, fractured femur; Pedro Martin, 44, injuries not listed; and Jorge Aguilar, 21, cranial bleeding.

Two other passengers, Adolfo Godinez, 18, and Jose Felix, 24, were not injured.

California Car Accident Attorney Website

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Oxnard California Driver arrested in Bicyclist’s Death.

Oxnard California Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorney LawyerMALIBU – California

 An Oxnard man was arrested in a hit-and-run accident after his truck allegedly struck and killed a father and injured his son cycling along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

The incident occurred about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Cyclist Rodrigo “Rod” Armas, 45, of Kern County, died at the scene, while his 14-year-old son was taken to UCLA Medical Center and was in stable condition with numerous broken bones, Los Angeles County authorities reported.

The two were riding east on the shoulder of the 34000 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

Driver Robert Sam Sanchez, 30, drove about a mile south of the crash and ditched the truck, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported. He was found a short distance away and arrested, still displaying symptoms of alcohol intoxication, authorities said.

He was being held Sunday night on $100,000 bail.

Sanchez is a records clerk for the city of Malibu and lives in Oxnard, according to Lt. Scott Chew of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lost Hills station.

Authorities said the cyclists were on their way back to Malibu during the annual 200-mile Los Angeles Wheelmen “Grand Tour” event.

The bicycling event starts and ends in Malibu and wends through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Armas was a Los Angeles County deputy probation officer. He is survived by his wife, Shelly, his 14-year-old son and two daughters, ages 9 and 12.

This accident is a horrible tragedy for the loved ones of the father who was killed, and his son who was terribly injured.

If your family has been the victim of a wrongful death, or personal injury, you may call our office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-816-1529 ext. 1.

Oxnard California Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Attorney Website.

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Illegal U Turn By Truck Causes a Fatal Car Accident.

fatal-car-accident-kills-18-year-oldCalifornia

The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of the Turlock man killed in Thursday’s accident on Highway 152, while a California Highway Patrol spokeswoman noted how the involved big-rig driver had been making an illegal U-turn as the car with the victims approached at a high rate of speed.

The man killed was Simardeep Bhatia, 18, according to the coroner’s office. Earlier today, the CHP released identities of a man and woman who have survived the accident. The female driver of the 2006 Dodge Charger that slammed through a big-rig’s trailer was Gurvinder Chamal, 19, of Ceres, while the other passenger was Jasbir Singh, 18, of Hughson, said Matt Peters with the Hollister-Gilroy office of the CHP. Both remained in critical condition at Regional Medical Center of San Jose as of this morning, he said.

Bhatia’s sister spoke briefly today about the accident.

“I just really miss him,” Rinku Bhatia said. “I can’t believe that it happened. He was really a nice person. He was really friendly to everyone, and we love him a lot. And we just want everybody to pray for us.”

The truck driver, 57-year-old David Jones of Hayward, attempted an illegal U-turn, entered the dirt median with the vehicle’s front end and blocked the eastbound lanes with the trailer, CHP spokeswoman Erica Elias said. The driver of the Charger traveled at a “high rate of speed” and did not react quickly enough to avoid it and the car “collided into and drove underneath the semi-trailer,” Elias said.

The car’s roof “was completely sheared off,” Elias said. She said Calfire pronounced Bhatia dead upon arrival.

The truck driver was not immediately arrested or cited, Peters said at the accident scene.

This is a terrible accident that caused the wrongful death of an 18 year old passenger, and critical injuires to another passenger and driver.

If you or your family have been the victims of a wrongful death or car accident in California you may call our office for a free consultation 7 days a week, 24 hours per day at 800-816-1529 ext. 1.

California Car Accident and Wrongful Death Attorney.

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5 French tourists killed, dozens injured in central California tour bus crash

California Bus Accident Injury Attorney LawyerSOLEDAD, CALIFORNIA

Luggage and bodies were left strewn around a central California highway after a bus carrying French tourists overturned on an overpass, killing at least five and injuring dozens.

Investigators were still trying to determine the cause of the crash Tuesday afternoon that shut down U.S. 101 for hours, but said the tour bus appeared to be the only vehicle involved.

The maroon Orion Pacific bus lay on its side after crashing into the guard rail on the two-lane southbound overpass in Soledad, about 100 miles southeast of San Francisco.

The crash ejected four passengers from the vehicle, sending one over the side of the road and onto railroad tracks 60 to 70 feet below, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Brian Wiest.

“It’s a tragedy,” Wiest said. “It’s certainly one of worst I’ve seen in a long time.”

The passenger that fell to the railroad tracks and two others died at the scene, said Maia Carroll, a spokeswoman for the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services. Two more passengers died at hospitals.

A total of 36 people had been on board, including 34 French tourists, one Canadian tour guide and an American driver, Wiest said.

Four of those injured were under the age of 18, including a 13-year-old girl who was one of seven patients airlifted to hospitals in Fresno and the San Francisco Bay Area. The driver was among those who survived the crash, according to the CHP.

Jacques de Noray, a spokesman for the French consulate in San Francisco, said authorities had notified his office that the crash involved French citizens, but said he had no further details. Officials from the consulate reached the scene of the crash late Tuesday.

The tour, which started in San Francisco, was en route to Southern California, where the tourists were due to fly out of Los Angeles back to France, Wiest said. The group had been in the U.S. since April 19 and made stops Tuesday in Monterey and Carmel before the crash, authorities said.

A person who answered the phone at Orion Pacific, which describes itself as a family owned, luxury charter coach company based in Orange, said no one was available for comment. It was not immediately clear who had chartered the bus that crashed in Soledad.

The highway was temporarily shut down in both directions; northbound lanes reopened a couple hours later, and it was unclear when southbound lanes would reopen.

Adrienne Laurent, a spokeswoman for the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, said the facility had received three patients from the crash. She said one of those patients, a 52-year-old man, was declared dead there.

Patients also were being treated at eight other hospitals.

The Red Cross was helping coordinate housing and other services Tuesday night for three families who survived the crash and were released from hospitals, said Paula Herrera, executive director of the Monterey-San Benito chapter.

CHP spokeswoman Fran Clader in Sacramento could not comment on Orion Pacific’s safety record pending the accident investigation. The company has been operating since 1985, according to its Web site.

This is a horrible tragedy. If you are a victim or a relative of any of the victims in this horrible crash you may call our 7 day a week, 24 hour a day accident hotline at 800-816-1529 ext. 1 for a free consultation. We can work you in this case even if you reside in France or another nation or State.

California Bus Accident Hotline Website

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Inland Empire California Traffic mishaps have taken a deadly toll.

Inland Empire Wrongful Death Attorney, Inland Empire Personal Injury AttorneyInland Empire – California

At least six people have perished in a series of accidents in San Bernardino, Devore, Colton and near Hemet.

In the worst, a multi-car crash involving a hit-run driver killed three people on Highway 74 west of Hemet. The coroner identified the dead as 11-year-old Zaria Williams of San Jacinto, Cedric Page, 37 of Murrieta and Christine Giambra, 72, of Fountain Valley.

In San Bernardino, David Walters, 42, of Riverside was killed when a car made a left turn in front of his on Kendall Drive.

Near Devore, the California Highway Patrol says Victor Manuel Farias Jr., a 46 year-old resident of Apple Valley, was fatally hurt when ejected from a pickup truck that spun out on Interstate 15 early Wednesday.

In Colton, a motorcyclist was killed Wednesday when he skidded into the rear of another vehicle on Interstate 215 near the county line.

If you or your family have been the victims of  a personal injury or wrongful death you may call our office for a free consultation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-816-1529 ext. 1.

Inland Empire Wrongful Death Attorney

Inland Empire Personal Injury Attorney

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Pedestrian hit when truck swerves off road.

Valley Center California Pedestrian accident atorneyVALLEY CENTER , California

A 30-year-old man was flown to a local hospital with major injuries after he was hit by a truck that swerved off the road Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The incident took place shortly before 10:15 a.m. on Cole Grade Road just south of Cool Valley Road, about five miles north of Valley Center, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The truck also hit a light pole after driving off the road, CHP Officer Larry Chase said. The driver, a man whose name and city of residence were not available, was arrested, the officer said. He faces charges including reckless driving causing bodily injury and driving while intoxicated, Chase said.

The injured man was in critical condition at a local hospital Tuesday afternoon, Chase said. Additional information about the victim was not available.

I sincerly hope that the man that was hit recovers from this horrendous accident. If he does he will have one hell of a personal injury case against the man that hit him.

Valley Center California Pedestrian Accident Attorney

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Off Road Motorcycle, Dirt Bikes, Dune Buggies, Golf Cart, Snowmobiles, and ATV (standard, sport and utility) Insurance and Safety; Some Important Tips.

California Personal Injury Attorney Norman Gregory Fernandez discusses Off Road vehicle insurance and safetyI was reading a story whereby a 14-year-old girl from Woodacre, California was airlifted to an Oakland hospital Sunday afternoon after a collision between two off-road motorcycles in Novato.

The girl suffered head and internal injuries in an undeveloped lot near the junction of highways 101 and 37 and was flown to Oakland Children’s Hospital by helicopter, said Novato police Lt. Dave Jeffries. Her name has not been released because she is a minor.

The dirt bikes collided on a relatively flat trail at about 1 p.m., and Novato fire personnel arrived a few minutes later.

A 15-year-old male was on the other motorcycle and suffered a minor hand injury, He was not transported to a hospital, Jeffries said.

Fire Capt. Jeff Whittet said the girl was wearing a helmet but suffered moderate to severe injuries. She was conscious when rescuers treated her at the site.

“I would say they didn’t hit head-on but they crossed up their handlebars,” Whittet said.

The undeveloped Hanna Ranch site, about 4 1/2 acres just south of the Vintage Oaks shopping center, is popular with off-road motorcyclists. A 62,000-square-foot office complex has been approved there but construction has not begun.

The story got me thinking about some cases I have had involving off road motorcycles and other off road sports vehicles. It also got me thinking about a story my friend Scott told me about his son having multiple bad accidents on dirt bikes.

Most people do not realize that you can purchase insurance to protect yourself and your loved ones while they are riding off road vehicles such as dirt bikes, dune buggies, golf carts, snowmobiles, and all terrain vehicles. (ATV’s) as a matter of fact it would be dumb to engage in off road motor vehicle activities without insurance because to be frank, there are many off road motor vehicle accidents, but you never hear about them because they go unreported.

Most off road motor vehicle insurance policies cover: Collision, Liability, Medical, Safety Apparel Coverage for damage to any clothing designed to minimize damage from an accident, including helmets and goggles, Optional Equipment Coverage including towable trailers or sleds made for use with an ATV or snowmobile, and more. You pay to cover yourself in your street car, truck, or motorcycle; it only makes sense to protect yourself and your loved ones with off road vehicle insurance. You can find insurance companies providing this type of insurance all over the Internet. Do a search on Google, MSN Live, or Yahoo to find them.

Here are some basic off road safety tips. When You Ride the Trail, Put Safety First!

Think ahead. Ask your local dealer about the laws and regulations in your area. Do your best to preserve the areas where you ride, and be sure that you only ride where off-road vehicles are permitted. Read your owner’s manual. Then make sure you take your manual, a small tool kit and essential spare parts with you whenever you ride.

Gear up. For optimum protection in case of an accident, always wear a DOT-approved motorcycle helmet, eye protection, a sturdy jacket, long pants, over-the-ankle boots and gloves.

Practice. Find a safe place to practice braking, turning and improving your reaction time to help improve your skills and make you a better – and safer – rider.

Learn more. Improve your riding skills by taking a training course. Make sure your vehicle is properly licensed or registered. Choose a vehicle that is appropriate for your age and ability.

Stay off paved roads. Remember that off-road vehicles are meant for operation off pavement and public roads. These surfaces may not only be illegal, but dangerous. Your off-road vehicle may be difficult to control on pavement, which could result in an accident.

Maintain control and stay sharp. Keep your speed right for the conditions and your experience. Be aware of current terrain, visibility and weather conditions, potential hazards or obstacles. Ride only when your senses are sharp. Never do drugs or drink and then ride.

Check it out. Be sure to check that your off-road vehicle is running properly before hitting the trail. Always check controls, lights, fuel and oil levels, switches, chain, driveshaft, tires and chassis before you head out. Follow the recommended service schedule for your off-road vehicle and be sure an authorized service provider makes all repairs.

Go it alone. Never carry a passenger on your off-road vehicle unless the vehicle is designed with an appropriate passenger seat. Additional weight can greatly affect the handling of your off-road vehicle and potentially cause loss of control. It’s a good idea to take a buddy along, only on their own vehicle.

Know you’re protected.  Be sure you have proper insurance coverage to protect your vehicle and provide liability coverage in case someone gets injured or property is damaged during the use of your vehicle.

Off road motor sports can be very fun and exciting for the whole family. Exercising proper safety and insuring yourself against loss will make it that much better!

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

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The Importance of Keeping Your Liability Insurance Even in Tough Economic Times.

California Personal Injury Attorney Norman Gregory Fernandez discusses the importance of maintaining liability insurance in tough economic timesMy office has been swamped with accident victims who are not at fault in motorcycle, car, truck and other motor vehicle accidents, yet had no liability insurance at the time of the accident.

In California if you drive a motor vehicle such as a car, motorcycle, truck, etc., without basic liability insurance, you are precluded from recovering general damages such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, etc. (California Proposition 213)

In other words if you lose a leg, or become a quadriplegic, you will only be entitled to out of pocket expenses only if you drive without liability insurance. To add insult to injury, you could lose your license, have your car impounded, and face penalties from the State.

If you cannot afford liability insurance, there is a special program through the State of California to obtain cheap liability insurance. If you cannot get that, flat out don’t drive. It is not worth it.

My law firm is one of the few law firms that will represent accident victims throughout the State of California who did not have liability insurance at the time of the accident. We do not condone it, but we believe that everyone deserves a fair shake. We will do everything we can for you, even if you were an uninsured victim of a motor vehicle accident.

I am recommending that if you cannot afford liability insurance, you should use public transportation until you can. It is illegal to drive in the State of California without minimum liability insurance to cover you in case you are fault in an accident.

The flip side of the coin is that all California motorist should carry uninsured motorist coverage in an amount equal to what they would want to cover themselves for in case they are injured, to protect yourself from a person who is at fault in an accident against you, yet has no liability insurance.

Motorcycle riders should carry a minimum of $500,000.00, five hundred thousand dollars in uninsured motorist coverage because of the usually catastrophic injuries that result from motorcycle accidents.

By California Accident Attorney Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © 2009

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Representing Yourself in a California Personal Injury Case is Just Plain Dumb!

California Personal Injury Lawyer, Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq.Recently I talked to a man who was rear ended in a car accident, and suffered injuries. He received medical treatment which totaled approximately $5,000.00. He stated that the insurance company told him to submit a demand, which he did. He then told me that the insurance company kept telling him to wait just a little longer, and that they would work it out, etc.

Well guess what, the man waited for two years and two days after the accident to call me for a consultation. He is basically shit out of luck; S.O.L. for short! You see you only have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. This is also known as the statute of limitations for filing a law suit in this type of case. Ignorance of this fact is no excuse for waiting.

Had the man called me one week before the statute of limitations expired, I might have taken the case and filed the requisite lawsuit for him. Unfortunately for him, it was too late. In this mans zeal to in his mind to get more money by not getting an attorney, he got nothing. Little did he know that in the vast majority of cases, a plaintiff in a personal injury case gets more money with an attorney, then without.

I recently spoke to a lady who also happened to work for an insurance company. She had a car accident and was still treating. She was told she may need surgery. The defendant insurance company offered her $7,000.00. She talked to some (moronic) friends at her insurance company who told her it was a good offer, and she took it. She signed a settlement and release of all claims, her case is over. She calls me after the fact to see if she can get out of it. The answer was no! She is stuck with her dumb decision.

I always ask myself why persons injured in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall, dog bite, or other type of personal injury would not at least call a personal injury attorney like me to obtain at least a free consultation to find out what their rights are? If someone was very sick would they not go see a doctor? Sure they would. So why do people try to handle personal injury cases on their own. Don’t they realize it is the dumbest thing you can do? Don’t they realize that they may be entitled to untold thousands or more in compensation for their injuries? Don’t they realize that personal injury attorney’s such as myself charge nothing unless we recover money for you.

Now granted there are tons of personal injury attorney’s out there. In my opinion most are just settlement mills looking for the quick buck. Not me or my firm!

If you have a personal injury case in California, call me for a free consultation at 800-816-1529 ext. 1. If I can help you, I will. I  will fight to get you as much money as possible in your case.

Don’t be cheap, and don’t be dumb, retain an attorney to get more money than you will on your own. Don’t be like the fools above, instead of cutting out attorneys fees; they cut themselves totally out of any real settlement!

By California Personal Injury Lawyer Norman Gregory Fernandez, © 2009

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