California Injury Lawyer Blog

SAN DIEGO - A woman very tragically died Sunday night after she was hit by a SUV while crossing Grand Avenue, CBS 8 News reported. The fatal accident occurred in the 2800 block of Grand Avenue, near Mission Bay Drive at about 8 p.m. Sunday. The victim, who was not identified, had been running southbound across Grand when she was hit by a Nissan Armada. She suffered a broken pelvis and major head injury, and died about three hours later at Scripps Memorial Hospital. The 35-year-old driver of the SUV remained at the scene.

Fatal San Diego Pedestrian Accident Liability

Accidents like this one raise numerous questions, and due to the limited information provided in news accounts, it is impossible to know exactly what happened, or if the incident could somehow have been prevented. Following a fatal pedestrian accident where the cause is unclear, the family members of the victim would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable San Diego pedestrian accident lawyer. If negligence of the driver - or anyone else - caused or contributed to this fatal accident, the family may choose to pursue a wrongful death claim against the responsible party. A skilled California wrongful death lawyer can review the initial police accident report and advise the family if further investigation or legal action may be warranted.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Struck and Killed in Pacific Beach" »

Despite the fact that the California Vehicle Code gives motorcyclists the same rights as other motorists, all drivers do not observe the rules of the road. If the driver of a passenger car or commercial vehicle fails to yield to the right-of-way of a motorcycle accident, it can result in a catastrophic and potentially fatal motorcycle accident. When these failure-to-yield collisions occur, negligent motorists may be liable for motorcyclists' injuries, including medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Failure-to-yield crashes frequently result from an unsafe or illegal U-turn or left-turn. California Vehicle Code Section 21801 states "The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety."

Unfortunately, failure-to-yield crashes are common events in San Diego. In March 2012, a motorcyclist delivering pizza was seriously injured when a pickup truck made a left turn in front of him in the SDSU area, at the intersection of 63rd Street and Montezuma. Another accident ion January 31, 2012 happened at the intersection of Main Street and Vesta Street in the Barrio Logan area, when the driver of a Chevy van making a left turn failed to yield to the right-of-way of the motorcyclist.

Intersection collisions and left-turn crashes involving motorcyclists often result in serious injuries. In the SDSU crash in March 2012, the motorcyclist was taken to the hospital with a fractured pelvis and serious internal injuries. In the crash in Barrio Logan, the motorcyclist suffered a broken femur and broken collarbone. These are just two examples of motorcycle accidents that happen frequently. Orthopedic injuries such as a broken leg may require multiple surgeries, lengthy rehabilitation, and in some cases, may result in permanent disability.

If you have been injured in a San Diego motorcycle accident, it is advisable to seek a consultation with a San Diego motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. A California personal injury attorney who has handled injury and wrongful death claims resulting from failure to yield can provide a free consultation to ensure all of your legal rights are protected and that you are taking the correct steps necessary to recover the maximum financial compensation you need and deserve.

Continue reading "San Diego Injury Lawyers: Failure-To-Yield Can Cause Catastrophic Motorcycle Accidents " »

SAN DIEGO -- A 50-year-old man tragically died Tuesday night after he was struck by a pickup truck in University City, the San Diego Union Tribune reported. The fatal February 8th pedestrian accident occurred near the Westfield UTC mall, close to the intersection of Executive Way and La Jolla Village Drive.

According to news reports, the victim was a business executive from Washington state who had been staying at the nearby Embassy Suites hotel with his wife. He was reportedly crossing La Jolla Village Drive from south to north when he was hit by a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck t about 40 to 45 mph. The victim died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

Cause of the Accident

The San Diego Police Department is investigating the cause of the fatal pedestrian accident. According to a 10 News report, alcohol or adverse weather did not play a role in the collision. According to police, the driver of the pickup truck did not see the pedestrian until it was too late to avoid the collision.

Fatal Pedestrian Accident Wrongful Death Liability

Following a fatal pedestrian accident such as this one, the family members of the victim would be well-advised to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable San Diego wrongful death lawyer. A skilled attorney who has represented victims of similar fatal pedestrian accidents can review the accident report and ensure that the family's legal rights and best interests are protected. If negligence of the driver or a dangerous road condition caused or contributed to the collision, the family may choose to pursue a wrongful death claim against any responsible parties.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Killed in University City Accident " »

GRANT HILL - ABC 10 News reported three people were injured in a pit bull attack Tuesday night in Grant Hill. The dog mauling reportedly occurred in the 700 block of Evans Street, resulting in three people suffering injuries to their arms and chests. One person was reportedly hospitalized. County animal control offers took away the two pit bulls involved in the mauling.

Dog Bite Personal Injury Liability

In California, dog owners are responsible for the actions of their pets. When a dog bites someone, the owner of the dog is almost always liable for the victims' injuries and related medical care. Following a dog mauling resulting in a serious injury, victims are well-advised to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable San Diego dog bite lawyer. An attorney who has handled dozens of pit bull attack personal injury claims can advise the victims of their legal rights to obtain compensation for their injuries, and the best course of action to recover maximum compensation.

Continue reading "Three People Injured in San Diego Pit Bull Attack " »

CHULA VISTA - An 82-year-old man tragically died Thursday night, about three hours after he was struck by a car while trying to cross Third Avenue in Chula Vista, the San Diego Union Tribune reported. The fatal pedestrian accident was reported at about 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 11, 2011, on Third Avenue at Quintard Street. The San Diego County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Jose Luis Contreras. According to 10 News, Contreras was struck by a northbound Toyota Corolla. He was taken by ambulance to UCDS Medical Center in Hillcrest, where he later died, despite aggressive prolonged resuscitative efforts. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Pedestrian Accident Fault & Liability

Based on the information provided in news reports, it is not clear whether the driver of the Toyota could have prevented striking Contreras. The investigation by Chula Vista Police will surely seek to determine how fast the vehicle was travelling and precisely where the victim was when he was struck, and whether the collision could have been prevented. Following any accident where the cause is unclear, the family members of the victim would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable Chula Vista personal injury lawyer. An attorney who has successfully represented families of victims of fatal car vs. pedestrian accidents can help the family protect their legal rights and determine whether they may be entitled to damages in a wrongful death claim.

Continue reading "Elderly Man Struck and Killed in Chula Vista " »

A 48-year-old Temecula man tragically died Sunday, July 4th, in a motorcycle accident in Valley Center, the San Diego County Medical Examiner reported. The accident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. on Lilac Road, south of West Lilac Road. According to news reports, the victim, Bradley Robert Eckhardt, was riding his vintage 1969 R350 Yamaha motorcycle southbound on Lilac Road. Just after he passed W. Lilac Road, he lost control of his motorcycle for unknown reasons. The motorcycle slid into the path of a Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck, which was towing a loaded horse trailer. The driver of the Dodge truck was not able to stop before striking Eckhardt. He died at the scene.

Cause of the Motorcycle Accident

The cause of the accident is being investigated by the CHP's Oceanside office. Based on the limited information provided in news reports, it is not clear why the accident occurred, or what caused Eckhardt to lose control of his bike. Investigators will look at all possible causes and contributing causes, including mechanical failure, dangerous road condition, and rider error. The speed of the Dodge truck may also be a factor in the crash as well.

Continue reading "Temecula Man Killed in Valley Center Motorcycle Crash with Truck Towing Horse Trailer " »

An accident early Thursday morning on Interstate 805 in San Diego triggered a number of collisions on the freeway, sending five people to the hospital. According to the California Highway Patrol, the collisions occurred on the southbound side of the freeway, just before 2 a.m., north of Market Street. Following the crash, two people were taken to UCSD Medical Center, two others were taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital, and a fifth person was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital.

Further information about the cause of the crash and the extent of the victims' injuries was not immediately available. It is not known if alcohol was a factor in any of the collisions. We hope everyone injured in this accident fully recovers, and that their injuries are not too severe.

Multiple vehicle collisions can be complex insurance claims. More than one party may be responsible for a crash, and victims may have to communicate their situation to multiple insurance companies, and still may not receive the compensation they're entitled to. The victims hurt in this accident would be well advised to consult with a San Diego car accident lawyer about their legal rights following this accident. An experienced attorney can help them understand what types of compensation they may be entitled to, and who is responsible for their injuries.