California Injury Lawyer Blog

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - Six people suffered injuries ranging from minor to major following a head-on collision early Sunday morning in the Lompoc area, the Lompoc Record reported. The crash was reported at about 1:50 a.m. on Highway 1 at San Antonio Road. Further information about the parties involved or the cause of the collision was not available.

Cause of the Highway 1 Head-on Crash

The cause of this December 11th Lompoc car accident remains under investigation, and based on the information provided by the Lompoc Record, it is impossible to determine why this crash occurred. Most head-on collisions are attributed to driver behavior, such as swerving to avoid an object in the road, unsafe passing, or even falling asleep at the wheel. Hopefully, the investigation by the California Highway Patrol will reveal exactly what happened and who was responsible.

Car Accident Personal Injury Liability

While the investigation into the cause of this Lompoc area car accident is ongoing, the injured victims of the collision would be well-advised to consider speaking with an experienced and knowledgeable Santa Barbara personal injury lawyer. A skilled car accident attorney can review the accident report, and advise victims of their rights to be compensated for medical care, lost income, and other damages from the party or parties responsible for the collision.

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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY -- A man was rushed to a Santa Barbara Hospital Monday after a Jumbatron television fell on him at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, KSBY reported. David Howard Mann, 49, was helping install the big screen T.V. prior to a rodeo event when for unknown reasons the T.V. fell and landed on him. Bystanders at the scene were able to lift the T.V. off of Mann before medics arrived. According to KEYT, Mann was given CPR and transported to Cottage Hospital where he later died due to his injuries.

Cause of the Jumbotron Accident

The accident occurring on August 8th remains under investigation by authorities. However, based on the limited information provided by KSBY and KEYT, it is unclear why the Jumbotron television fell on Mann. Hopefully, authorities can come to a conclusion of what happened and why.

Fault and Wrongful Death Liability

Accidents such as this one have unique and complex issues. The general contractor, and all subcontactors and supervisors at the site where the T.V. was being installed, have a duty to make the working environment as safe as possible. If for any reason a party shows negligence in maintaining a safe work area, they will be held liable for injuries or fatalities that occur. Therefore, family members of the victim are well-advised to seek a California wrongful death attorney. A knowledgeable attorney who has the expertise in these particular accidents can hire a private investigator to take pictures, interview witnesses, and gather evidence to determine who is at fault. The attorney can also protect the families legal rights and possibly receive compensation for funeral/burial expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages relating to this horrific tragedy.

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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 Santa Maria Times has reported that a 81-year-old Santa Maria man died Saturday morning, after he was struck by a car at the intersection of Carlotti Drive and Paden Street. According to news reports, the pedestrian, Stefan Francis Suszko was attempting to cross Carlotti Drive from west to east shortly after 7 a.m., when he was hit by a 2003 Volkswagen Passat driven southbound on Carlotti by Robert Allen Utzinger, 38, also of Santa Maria. Utzinger was not injured. Suszko suffered a broken leg and major head trauma. He died as a result of his injuries a few hours after the accident at Marian Medical Center.

Cause of the Fatal Pedestrian Accident

The cause of the fatal accident remains under investigation by the Santa Maria Police Department. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Santa Maria Police at (805)928-3781. Based on the limited information provided in news reports, it is not clear why this pedestrian accident occurred and whether the driver of the Passat could have done anything to prevent the collision.

Pedestrian Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability

Elderly adults are unfortunately common victims of fatal pedestrian accidents. Accidents frequently occur in intersections, where drivers often fail to yield to the right-of-way of crossing pedestrians, whether or not the crosswalk is marked. Drivers of vehicles often look for cars, but not pedestrians. In situations such as this September 18th Santa Barbara County pedestrian accident, the family members of the victims would be well-advised to contact a California pedestrian accident lawyer about the families rights in a wrongful death claim. If the driver is responsible for this accident, he may be liable for the wrongful death of the victim, including funeral and burial expenses and loss of love, care, and companionship.

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The California Highway Patrol is investigating a multi-vehicle pileup accident on southbound Highway 101 at the Gaviota curve Friday morning in Santa Barbara County. Santa Barbara County Fire reported six people were taken to the hospital following the collision, which involved nine cars, and four people suffered minor injuries. The accident occurred shortly after 7 a.m., about a quarter mile past the rest stop. Traffic on the southbound lanes of 101 was backed up for at least a mile, the Lompoc Record reported.

Pileup accidents may have numerous liable parties, which usually result in complex insurance claims. Poor visibility due to rain or fog and unsafe driving for weather conditions often contribute to multiple car accidents. In Gaviota, coastal fog is common in the mornings, and usually clears up by midday. Debris on the highway or a stalled vehicle may also cause an accident.

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