California Injury Lawyer Blog

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 " »

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 " »

Two window washes were very critically injured in an accident Saturday in Orinda, Mercury News reported. The two men, Jose Herrera, 51, and Eduardo Guerra, 30, were working for Santa Clara-based Delta Window Cleaning, when the accident occurred outside a three-story Orinda office building around 9:48 a.m. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Village Square Shopping Center on Orinda Way where the Orinda Farmers Market was underway.

According to ABC News, Herrera and Guerra were in a cherry picker about 50 feet in the air when they hit some high-voltage power wires. Both men were electrocuted and suffered burns over more than 95% of their bodies. Several people at the nearby farmer's market witnessed the explosion and watched helplessly as they cherry picker bucket burned above the ground.

According to the Moraga-Oranda Fire District, when firefighters arrived, they found two victims on a lift platform about 50 feet off the ground, a large crowd in the area, and a live high voltage electrical wire down on the ground. Working cooperatively with police personnel, bystanders were moved back from the arcing power lines while firefighters tried to find a way to lower the lift platform. They were unsuccessful due to electrical damage to the lift controls. Rescue operations were complicated because the victims were trapped fifty feet above the ground near the power lines. Battalion Chief Randy Trumpf said, "We could not affect a rescue until the electrical power could be handled safely to avoid injury to bystanders and rescuers".

The two men were airlifted to the burn center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center with second- and third-degree burns. A nurse said they were both in very critical condition. Please keep both Jose Herrera and Eduardo Guerra in your prayers.

Continue reading "Two Window Washers Critically Injured in Electrical Accident " »