California Injury Lawyer Blog

MONTEREY COUNTY -- According to ABC News, five people were reported to be killed and two others hospitalized due to a fire at a home care facility for the disabled in Marina. The fire occurred in a small coastal community in Monterey County at around 11:45 p.m. Saturday. The actual cause of the fire has not been determined, but investigators with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were on scene at the request of Marina Fire officials. The identities of the injured and deceased involved in this horrific incident were not immediately available.

Northern California Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Liability

While the cause of this tragic fire incident on November 5th remains under investigation, the injured victims or family members of the deceased victims would be well-advised to contact either a California personal injury or wrongful death lawyer. A skilled and competent attorney who has the handled unique and complex incidents such as this one, can help the victims and the family of the deceased victims understand and protect their legal rights, help police in efforts to determine who may be responsible, and decide the best course of action to recover the maximum compensation for funeral/burial costs, medical care expenses, pain and suffering, and other related damages in this devastating fire incident.

Continue reading "Five Killed, Two Hospitalized in Home Care Facility Fire in Marina" »

The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating the January 14th San Bernardino power line accident. Authorities are investigating why high voltage power lines fell onto a San Bernardino home early Friday morning, killing a couple and their 21-year-old son in a horrific sequence of events that was witnessed by the couple's 17-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. After the couple heard a loud explosion, husband Steven Vego went outside to douse a backyard fire. When he came into contact with the power line, he was electrocuted. His wife Sharon Vego came out to assist and was also electrocuted. Her 21-year-old son, Jonathon Cole, was also fatally electrocuted when he went outside to try to help.

Not "Just an Accident"

While many are calling this a tragic accident, it likely could have been prevented. The investigation by the California Public Utilities Commission into the incident could take months. Southern California Edison has promised they will "leave no stone unturned so that [they] can take appropriate corrective actions. While this may be reassuring for others that live under power lines, it does nothing to undo the tragedy that killed three people on January 14th and shattered the future of two children. The family of the victims would be well advised to talk to a California personal injury lawyer who can arrange an independent investigation into the event and help them protect their legal rights. The electrical company may very well be liable and financially responsible for this horrible and heartbreaking accident.

Continue reading "Investigation Underway Into San Bernardino Electrocution Deaths " »

A San Bernardino couple and their adult son were very tragically killed Friday morning when Southern California Edison power lines fell in their backyard and electrocuted them. According to the Los Angeles Times, at about 5:45 a.m. Friday, Steven Vego, a 44-year-old plumber went outside to investigate a sequence of loud explosions. Vego's wife, Sharon Vego, went out to the front yard of their home on Acacia Avenue near 54th Street in San Bernardino to try and put out fires apparently sparked by the fallen power lines.

From inside the home, Steven's 17-year-old daughter saw her father step over the fallen power line and fall to the ground. She called out to her mother, who rushed to the backyard. When Sharon touched her husband, she fell to the ground as well. Sharon's 21-year-old son Jonathan Cole raced outside next and also fell to the ground.

The LA Times reported that Steven and Sharon's 17-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son watched the sequence of events in horror and immediately called 911. Emergency responders were initially unable to reach the victims because the downed power lines were still electrified. The power was shut off by Southern California Edison about 15 minutes later.

According news reports, friends and relatives of the Vego family expressed outrage and anger because a power line had previously fallen in the couple's backyard. The family questioned whether the line was properly repaired.

Who is Responsible?

This accident may have been 100% preventable. Southern California Edison provides 11 million people with electricity, and they have every responsibility and obligation to transmit electricity safely, taking into consideration high wind forces, lighting strikes, and adverse weather conditions. Fallen power lines are a serious safety risk to everyone, as they transmit enough voltage to kill any living thing that comes in contact with them. This January 14th San Bernardino incident will be investigated by OSHA and the California Public Utilities Commission. Based upon the news reports of this horrific incident, there is a very real possibility that the power line was not correctly repaired when it fell several years ago.

Downed Power Line Wrongful Death Liability

If the power company did not correctly repair the downed line, or if for any other reason they failed to maintain the power line, Southern California Edison may be financially liable for the resulting three lives lost for failing to properly repair the lines. While this incident remains under investigation, the family members of the Vego family would be well-advised to speak to an experienced California wrongful death lawyer who may be able to help them protect their legal rights to hold whoever is responsible for this devastating incident accountable to the maximum extent. After an incident as significant as this one, it would be advisable to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible, while important evidence is most readily available.

Continue reading "San Bernardino Parents and Son Killed by Downed Power Lines " »

In personal injury news, a jury in Houston awarded nearly $14 million to a man who was severely burned in a tanker explosion in April 2007. The injured plaintiff, Carl Cotright, was loading the tanker with a flammable liquid when it ignited. According to ABC 13 news, by the time he realized what had happened, it was too late. He suffered burn injuries over much of his body. Cotright sued transport company C&G Hot Shot Service, and the company originally offered to settle the case for $15,000. This week, a jury sided with Cotright and awarded him nearly $14 million in actual and punitive damages. C&G said it planned to appeal the multi million dollar verdict.

Continue reading "Jury Awards $14 Million to Houston Man Burned in Tanker Explosion " »

The San Mateo County Coroner has reported at least four people are dead and 52 people were hospitalized as a result of a gas line explosion in San Mateo County. Seven people were reportedly listed in critical condition Thursday night. San Bruno Fire Captain Charlie Barringer told news outlets the death toll is expected to rise as firefighters inspect the homes destroyed by the blaze, resulting from a gas line explosion.

What Happened?

According to CBS 5 News, at about 6:14 p.m. on Thursday, September 9th, a 24 inch gas main exploded in the residential community of San Bruno, just a few miles from the San Francisco International Airport. The incident occurred in a neighborhood near Skyline Boulevard and San Bruno Avenue, close to Interstate 280.
About 200 firefighters across the Bay Area responded to the six-alarm fire that damaged as many as 120 homes, and completely destroyed more than 50. The scene was described as "apocalyptic" and some thought a plane had crashed in the area, or a massive earthquake rattled the bay area.

Natural Gas Explosions and Personal Injury Liability

Mercury News reported that some residents in the San Bruno area reported a strong smell of gas last week. Pacific Gas & Electric responded at the time, although it was not clear what was done. In regards to the September 10th explosion, PG&E said in a statement, "If it is ultimately determined that we were responsible for the cause of the incident, we will take accountability."

Compensation for Injured Victims

The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating the cause of the explosion. While this explosion remains under investigation, family members of anyone who has suffered serious injury or wrongful death would be well-advised to contact a California personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Natural gas explosions have very complex legal issues. Although they are rare events, the results can be absolutely catastrophic, as we have seen in this most recent event in San Bruno. Many people suffered catastrophic burn injuries as a result of the fire caused by the explosion. If you or a family member was involved in this explosion, contact an experienced natural gas explosion personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Estey Bomberger is providing free telephone consultations to families of victims injured in this explosion. To learn more about your legal rights to compensation for your injuries, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and damage to your home, call us at (800) 724-3817 or fill out our consultation request form.

Continue reading "At Least Four People Killed in San Bruno Gas Line Explosion " »