California Injury Lawyer Blog

ANTIOCH - Three people were injured Friday morning in a head-on collision on Deer Valley Road, the Contra Costa Times reported. The crash was reported north of Empire Mine Road, just after 10 a.m. on Friday, February 25, 2011. According to reports, a 28-year-old Pittsburg man was driving a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt northbound on Deer Valley Road. At the same time, a 55-year-old Antioch woman was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier southbound. For unknown reasons, the driver of the Cobalt veered across the double yellow line and struck the Cavalier head-on.

The woman driving the Cavalier suffered two broken legs and was airlifted to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. A female passenger in the Cavalier and the driver of the Cobalt were taken to hospitals for less serious injuries.

Cause of the Contra Costa County Crash

The cause of the February 25th Contra Costa County crash remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP reported that the road was wet at the time of the crash, but it was not raining. The driver of the Cavalier was reportedly driving the speed limit, but the man driving the Cobalt appeared to be speeding. If news reports are accurate, the driver of the Cobalt will likely be found responsible for this head-on collision.

Car Accident Personal Injury Liability

Head-on collisions such as this one on Deer Valley Road commonly involve significant injury. When a car accident is caused by negligence of another driver, the at-fault party may be liable for the victim's injuries, including medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages. While this crash remains under investigation, the injured parties in the Cavalier would be well-advised to speak with an experienced California car accident lawyer. A knowledgeable attorney who has represented numerous victims of head-on collisions can advise the victims of their legal rights and best course of action to protect them.

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CONCORD - A 60-year-old homeless man tragically died early Sunday, February 20, 2011 after he was struck by a car in the 4000 block of Clayton Road, the Concord Patch reported. The fatal Contra Costa County pedestrian accident occurred near Rosal Lane about midnight. The man, identified by the Contra Costa County coroner's office as Glenn Davis, was struck by a vehicle driven by a 51-year-old Concord woman. Witnesses reported that the man was standing on the center median when he stepped into traffic. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

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In response to recent reports of bone fractures and other serious injuries caused by toning shoes, the dangerous product lawyers at ESTEY BOMBERGER have taken action to caution the consumer public about the possibility of sustaining broken bones and other serious injuries from wearing Skechers Shape-ups athletic shoes and other toning shoes.

Launched in 2009, Skechers Shape-ups are a popular "toning shoe" with a curved, elevated sole. The shoes are marketed to provide numerous health benefits including calorie-burning and muscle toning. Walking in toning shoes is compared to walking barefoot on a sandy beach or balancing on a wobble board. The instability the shoes create forces the body to use muscles in the feet, legs, and core. However, the purported benefit of the shoes also create a very real risk of of serious injuries.

Skechers Shape-ups and other similar toning shoes may cause serious injuries, according to several lawsuits filed this year. The risks of the shoes are from losing balance and falling, as well as from changes in gait resulting from extended wear of the shoes. Injuries may be substantial; the treatment of a leg fracture will vary depending on the type, location and severity of a break. Treatment of a stress fracture may require rest for several months; more serious fractures such as a trimalleolar ankle fracture may require surgery and months of non weight bearing.

Estey Bomberger attorneys take pride in educating and representing injured consumers. From unsafe medical devices to defectively designed automobiles, the lawyers at Estey Bomberger fight to protect the rights of injury victims nationwide. If you have suffered Skechers injuries such as a broken bone or chronic tendonitis from wearing Skechers Shape-ups or any other toning shoe, contact Estey Bomberger today for a free consultation of your legal rights. You may be entitled to damages for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering and other damages.

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EL DORADO COUNTY - A 15-year-old girl and her miniature schnauzer were attacked by a loose pit bull Saturday afternoon in El Dorado Hills. The incident was reported on Riviera Circle at about 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, according to Fox 40 News. The victim, Audrey Johnson, was bit in the arm when she tried to rescue her Schnauzer "Bella" from the pit bull, who had escaped from his owner's house through an open door. The girl was taken to the hospital for injuries to her arm, and the dog was taken away by Animal Control.

California Dog Bite Personal Injury Liability

Under California Civil Code Section 3342 : "The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness." After a dog attack such as this one, the parents of the injured teenager would be well-advised to speak with an experienced California dog bite lawyer about the incident and their legal rights to hold the owner of the dog accountable for medical expenses and pain and suffering as a result of this El Dorado County dog attack.

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CRESCENT CITY - A 68-year-old Crescent City man tragically died early Thursday morning, about five hours after he was struck by a car Wednesday night while crossing Highway 101 just south of city limits, the Times-Standard reported. According to the CHP, the victim, Charles M. Fraser, 68, was crossing the street in a motorized wheelchair when he was struck by a 2004 Toyota Prius driven by Ernest Leonard, 71, of Cresent City. The accident occurred around 7:15 p.m. on February 9, 2011 on US Highway 101, near the Shangri-La Trailer Park. Fraser was taken to Sutter Coast Highway, where he died shortly after midnight. The cause of the fatal Del Norte County accident remains under investigation by the CHP.

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SANTA BARBARA - KEYT News reported a bicyclist and a pedestrian were both taken to Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara Wednesday morning after the bicyclist struck the pedestrian. The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on February 9th in the 100 block of Coast Village Road, in front of Bank of America. According to police, the pedestrian stepped into the bike lane in order to get to her parked vehicle. The bicyclist was travelling around 20 to 25 miles per hour when the collision occurred. The woman suffered a head laceration and a laceration to her hip. The cyclist suffered a number of cuts and bruises.

Bicycle vs. Pedestrian Personal Injury Liability

If a cyclist fails to pay attention or otherwise violates vehicle laws and that violation is found to be the cause or a contributing factor of an accident or collision with a pedestrian, then a bicycle rider may be responsible for an accident. Based on the limited facts provided, it is unclear what happened here. After an accident like this one, the injured parties would be well-advised to speak with an experienced California personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable accident lawyer can review the law enforcements report and applicable laws, and advise the injured parties of their legal rights to recover compensation for their injuries.

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The Fresno Bee reported a 3-year-old girl very tragically died Sunday afternoon at Kaweah Delta Medical Center, not long after she was run over by a Ford F-150 pickup truck backing out of a driveway. The accident was reported at 2:38 p.m. in a residential driveway on West Country Avenue, where the victim was riding her bicycle when she was struck. The Visalia Times-Delta indentified the victim as 3-year-old Amber Nelson of Visalia, and the driver as Robert Juskalia, 44, of Visalia. Alcohol was not suspected to be a factor in the accident.

Young Children and Backover Accidents

Young toddlers who are independent enough to take off, but have limited comprehension of the dangers of large vehicles are at serious risk of serious injury or death. It is tragic that accidents such as this one kill several dozen children every year. In certain cases, accidents such as this one are preventable, and if it is determined that the driver of the car was responsible, he may be liable for the wrongful death of the victim. After a tragic incident such as this one, the family members of the young victim may benefit from speaking to a California wrongful death lawyer who has represented families of victims of tragic backover accidents such as this one.

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A 25-year-old daycare worker at Trace Elementary School has been arrested on suspicion of inappropriately touching five girls during the school's after-school program, the San Jose Mercury News reported this week. Detectives are currently investigating whether there were more victims. The suspect, Keith Woodhouse, has been booked in the Santa Clara County Jail with no bail set. He was charged with 14 counts of lewd acts on a child younger than 14. Each count carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years to life.

A letter was sent out to the parents of the approximately 60 students participating in the Child Development Center after-school program at Trace Elementary School. Woodhouse has worked at Trace Elementary school since August of 2010, and has worked with children in San Jose and Los Angeles since 1999. He has been a day care teacher, a camp counselor, as well as a Sunday school teacher.

Anyone with relevant information about this investigation is asked to contact Detective Eric Martin or Detective Sgt. Schriefer of the Child Exploitation Detail at 408-277-4102. Anyone who would like to remain anonymous can call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 408-947-STOP (7867), or visit http://svcrimestoppers.org.

Child Molestation Liability

According to the supervisor at the center, all employees undergo a criminal background check before working with children. Woodhouse reportedly passed the standard check. When inappropriate sexual acts occur at schools, churches, daycare facilities, or in other environments where the perpetrator is working in the course of employment, the supervising entity may be liable for negligent supervision. In such cases, the supervising facility may be financially responsible for the victims' emotional trauma, future medical needs, and pain and suffering. In a situation such as this one, while the investigation is ongoing, the parents of the victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced California child molestation victim attorney.

In 2010, Estey Bomberger obtained a $30 million verdict for a child molestation victim in Santa Clara County. Our molestation victim lawyers are closely monitoring the alleged sexual abuse acts at Trace Elementary school. If you believe your child was abused at Trace Elementary School and you would like more information about your rights and options, contact us for a confidential consulation.

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SACRAMENTO - A man in his 20's suffered major injuries Monday evening after being struck by a car at a Sacramento intersection, News 10 reported. At about 7:15 p.m., the pedestrian and a friend were reportedly crossing Truxel Road at El Camino Real when a car struck him. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was reportedly in critical condition. According to police, drugs or alcohol did not appear to be a factor. The cause of the Truxel Road pedestrian accident remains under investigation.

Cause of the Sacramento Pedestrian Accident

Based on the limited information provided in news accounts, it is unclear what exactly happened. This accident raises a number of questions and it is not evident why the driver of the vehicle was not able to avoid the collision. Did the victim walk directly into the path of the car, or was the driver of the car not paying attention? Police will surely look at speed and other factors in determining the cause of the accident. Hopefully, the investigation will reveal exactly what happened and who was responsible.

Pedestrian Accident Wrongful Death Liability

If the investigation reveals that the driver of the car caused this collision, he or she may be liable for the victim's injuries, in which case, the victim may be entitled to damages for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other accident-related expenses. While this January 31st Sacramento pedestrian accident remains under investigation, the family members of the injured victim would be well-advised to speak with a Sacramento personal injury lawyer about the incident and their best course of action to protect their legal rights. A skilled and knowledgeable pedestrian injury attorney can review the law enforcement report and advise the family on how to handle communications with the insurance company.

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