California Injury Lawyer Blog

BAKERSFIELD - A 91-year-old woman suffered moderate injuries when she was struck by a GMC Yukon SUV in Bakersfield Tuesday afternoon, Bakersfield.com reported. According to news accounts, Julia Ponce, the victim, was walking northbound across Ming Avenue at Hasti Acres Drive, when she was struck by the vehicle driven by Sheila Fowler.

The intersection where the pedestrian accident occurred did not have a crosswalk, and Fowler was not cited. Ponce was taken to Kern Medical Center. The cause of the February 14th Bakersfield pedestrian accident remains under investigation.

Pedestrians are frequently hit by vehicles, and statistically, children and elderly adults are most at risk for serious injury or death. Many accidents occur because drivers fail to recognize a pedestrian because they are distracted, or fail to yield to the pedestrian's right of-way. Some accidents occur because pedestrians walk into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

Based on the limited information provided, it is unclear why this February 14th Ming Avenue pedestrian accident happened. Following a serious injury pedestrian accident such as this one, the family members of the victim would be well-advised to speak with a skilled and knowledgeable Kern County pedestrian injury attorney.

If negligence of the driver caused or contributed to this accident, the victim may be entitled to compensation for her injuries in a personal injury claim. An experienced Bakersfield personal injury attorney who has represented many victims of Bakersfield pedestrian accidents can advise the victim's family of their legal rights and best course of action to protect them.

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KERN COUNTY - A head-on collision involving a Ford truck and a Chevy truck near McKittrick Monday morning left five people injured, the Taft Midway Driller reported. The crash was reported on Reserve Road, west of Skyline Road, at about 6:30 a.m. According to the news report, Luis Mooney, 22, of Bakersfield, was driving a Ford truck westbound on Reserve Road at a high rate of speed when the vehicle entered eastbound lanes, colliding with a westbound Chevrolet truck driven by Brent D. Pierson, 27, of Bakersfield.

Both Mooney and Pierson suffered major injuries and had to be extricated from their vehicles by firefighters. Mooney was airlifted to Kern Medical Center and Pierson was taken by ground ambulance. One passenger in Pierson's truck and two passengers in Mooney's truck were also injured. The CHP is investigating the cause of the collision.

Kern County Car Accident Injury Liability

Following a serious injury accident such as this December 12th Skyline Road crash, the injured victims or their family members would be well-advised to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable Taft car accident lawyer. A Kern County personal injury attorney who understands the unique legal issues of head-on collision car accidents can advise the victims of their rights to recover financial compensation in a personal injury claim from whoever is responsible for their injuries. If negligence of another driver or a dangerous road condition caused this collision, the injured victims may pursue a personal injury claim for their medical care costs, lost income as a result of being unable to work, and damages for pain and suffering.

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KERN COUNTY -- A 22-year-old composting worker was taken off life-support and later died due to his injuries in Kern Medical Center's intensive care unit at about 11:04 a.m. Wednesday, The Bakersfield Californian reported. The worker, Heladio Ramirez, of Arvin, was attempting to help his brother, Armando Ramirez, 16, who collapsed after he was working inside an 8-foot-deep drainage tunnel at Community Recycling and Resource Company in Lamont. While both of them were inside the tunnel, they were exposed to a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide, a naturally produced compost that is deadly and attacks the central nervous system.

The official cause of what happened and why Heladio and his brother were exposed to high levels of hydrogen sulfide remains unclear. Therefore, the industrial accident was reopened by the Labor Commission and U.S. Department of Labor to further investigate this tragic incident, and will look at numerous factors that may have caused the deaths to these two brothers such as proper safety equipment, unsafe work environment, and other negligent or reckless actions of a third party.

Industrial Accident Wrongful Death Liability

California wrongful death attorneys at Estey Bomberger have represented numerous victims of severe industrial accidents throughout the state of California. The law of firm has handled many cases involving construction workers who were killed or seriously injured in industrial accidents involving, explosions, falls, fires, malfunctioning machinery, and exposure to toxic chemicals.

Therefore, while the investigation of the October 12th industrial accident is ongoing, the family of the victim would be well-advised to speak to a highly experienced Bakersfield construction accident lawyer to discuss their legal rights in a civil suit. The skilled attorney can help investigators determine who may be liable for the incident, and decide the best course of action for the family to recover the maximum compensation for funeral and burial costs, loss of love, care, affection, and companionship.

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A Los Angeles County man was tragically struck and killed while trying to cross Highway 119 Monday night, the Taft Midway Driller reported. The fatal Kern County pedestrian accident occurred on Highway 119 (Taft Highway), on the west side of the Interstate 5 overpass, just before 6:30 p.m. The Kern County Coroner identified the victim as Roberto Vela Alvarez, 56, of Huntington Park. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. According to the Midway Driller, Alvarez had previously run out of gas, and was walking from the Chevron Station back to his vehicle when he was struck by a westbound truck, thrown into eastbound lanes, and struck by another vehicle.

Who was Responsible?

Based on the very limited information provided in news reports, it is impossible to determine exactly what happened to cause this November 8th Kern County pedestrian accident, or who was responsible. At this point there are more questions than answers. How fast were the vehicles going that struck Alvarez? Could either driver have done anything to prevent the collision? Hopefully the investigation by the CHP will yield answers to these questions and determine exactly what happened.

Pedestrian Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability

Anytime a pedestrian crossing the road is knocked down and killed by a moving vehicle, there are numerous questions and potential liability issues. In situations such as this one, where the cause of a fatal pedestrian accident is unclear, the family members of the victim of a fatal accident would be well-advised to speak to a California pedestrian accident lawyer about their rights in a potential wrongful death claim. If the driver of the vehicle (or any other negligent party) is determined to be responsible for the accident, the family members of the victim may hold that party financially accountable for their loss, and may be entitled to damages for funeral and burial expenses, anticipated future earnings of the decedent, and loss of love, care and companionship.

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A 21-year-old Bakersfield woman reportedly suffered moderate injuries in a suspected alcohol-related accident just after midnight early Saturday morning in Bakersfield, the Bakersfield Californian reported. The woman, who was not identified, was a passenger in a 2002 Saturn driven by a 21-year-old Bakersfield man. According to news reports, the driver of the Saturn was travelling westbound on Truxtun Avenue under the Freeway 99 overpass. The driver apparently struck the north curb line just east of Bahamas Drive and then crossed the center divider and struck an eastbound vehicle head-on. The occupants of the other vehicle were apparently not injured. The 21-year-old woman riding in the Saturn was pinned and unconscious. Paramedics and firefighters extricated her and transported her to Kern Medical Center.

Cause of the Crash

Bakersfield Police are still investigating the cause of the Kern County accident. Any witnesses are asked to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at (661)327-7111. However, if news reports are accurate, this crash was likely caused by the driver of the Saturn, who was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury.

DUI Accidents and Personal Injury Liability

In cases such as this one, where a passenger suffers injuries in an accident believed to be caused by a suspected impaired driver, the injured victim has legal rights. While this injury accident remains under investigation, the family members of the injured victim would be well-advised to talk to a California personal injury lawyer. An attorney who has represented numerous injured passengers in alcohol-related car accidents can help the victim protect her unique legal rights and ensure she receives the maximum possible compensation for her injuries, including her medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.

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A motorcyclist died Monday night after suffering critical injuries in an intersection collision in Taft, the Midway Driller reported. The Kern County accident occurred at the intersection of Kern Street (West Side Hwy / CA-33, and 8th Street, at about 8 p.m. According to news reports, a motorcycle was travelling eastbound on Kern Street, while at the same time an SUV was making a left turn from northbound Eighth Street to westbound Kern Street.

The motorcycle and the SUV collided at the intersection. The driver of the SUV was not hurt; the motorcyclist suffered major injuries and was rushed to Kern Medical Center, where he died at 9:29 p.m. The Kern County Sheriff-Coroner identified the victim as Steven Mason, 22, of Bakersfield. Mason was wearing a helmet, authorities reported.

Cause of the Crash

Based on the news reports, it appears that the driver of the SUV pulled out into the path of the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist did not have a stop sign at the intersection, while the driver of the SUV did. However, the official cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Motorcycle Accidents Involving Left-Turns

This type of collision involving a motorcycle with the right of way and a vehicle making a left turn is fairly common. On June 28th, a motorcyclist died in a Butte County motorcycle accident when a teen made a left turn in front of him. In May, a motorcyclist died in a similar motorcycle crash in Madera County involving a pickup truck making a left turn on Highway 41. While these failure-to-yield motorcycle accidents are common, unless excessive speed is involved, they are almost always the fault of the driver of the vehicle making a left turn.

Continue reading "Bakersfield Man Killed In Taft Intersection Crash " »

A 28-year-old Bakersfield woman died Wednesday night after the car she was riding it was struck by a suspected drunk driver, ABC News reported. The victim was identified as Perla Gonzalez, 28, of Bakersfield. The accident occurred at about 10:40 p.m. at the intersection of Mt. Vernon Avenue and Kentucky Street. KERO ABC News reported that 23-year-old Marcus Trevino of Fallbrook (San Diego County) was speeding in an orange Mitsubishi on Kentucky Avenue toward Mount Vernon Avenue.

Authorities believe Trevino ran a stop sign, broadsiding an Infiniti driven by Cherie Marie Lopez, 19. Lopez, passenger Perla Gonzalez, and her 1-year-old Jayden Gonzalez were pinned in the Infiniti and were rescued by bystanders. Lopez suffered minor injuries. Perla Gonzalez died of her injuries at Kern Medical Center. Trevino, the suspected drunk driver, was not hurt. He was arrested on charges of felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter.

Drunk Driving Liability

Crashes caused by drunk drivers are 100% preventable. Drunk driving destroys not just lives, but entire families. While this absolutely devastating crash is under investigation, the family of Perla Gonzalez would be well-advised to contact a Bakersfield wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can help hold the driver responsible for his actions in a wrongful death suit, and obtain compensation for the victim's unexpected loss, including damages for funeral and medical expenses, lost earnings, and loss of love, care and companionship.

Continue reading "Bakersfield Woman Killed, Two Injured in Suspected Drunk Driving Crash in Kern County " »

An intersection accident in Kern County Tuesday night left one person dead, two people with moderate injuries, including a minor, and more than 2,000 southwest Bakersfield residents without power. Police suspect a local firefighter was driving under the influence of alcohol when he ran a red light, causing the deadly DUI collision.

According to ABC23 in Bakersfield, firefighter Mitchell Green, 30, was driving a red Ford pickup truck that collided with a gray Hyundai at Panama Lane and Ashe Road. Green suffered moderate injuries. The driver of the Hyundai, a minor, also suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Kern Medical Center. A passenger in the Hyundai, Michelle Marie Maxwell, died at the scene of the crash. The crash also damaged a live wire power pole, leaving several thousand residents in southwest Bakersfield without power. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call the Bakersfield police traffic investigations unit at (661) 326-3967.

Please keep the family of Michelle Maxwell in your prayers as they cope with this untimely, heartbreaking loss. Our condolences go out to everyone who knew and loved her. We hope the young woman driving the Hyundai makes a full and speedy recovery.

If the facts reported by ABC23 are correct and Green was in fact driving under the influence, this accident is one more example of the devastating consequences of drinking and driving. While this crash remains under investigation, the family of Michelle Maxwell and the family of the driver of the Hyundai would likely benefit from consulting with an experienced California personal injury attorney. Although no amount of money could ever replace a life or undo the pain of an accident, an attorney can help protect the legal rights of the victims and ensure that they receive compensation for their injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one in a drunk driving accident.

Continue reading "One Killed, Two Injured in Suspected DUI Crash in Bakersfield " »