California Injury Lawyer Blog

SANTA ROSA - A pedestrian was injured after being struck by a vehicle Wednesday morning on West College Avenue at Link Lane, the Press Democrat reported. The accident was reported on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, at 6:44 a.m. Further details about the extent of the parties involved and the cause of the accident were not immediately available.

The unsignaled crosswalk where the pedestrian was struck was the same location of a fatal accident on January 27, 2010, that killed Santa Rosa High School sophomore Michelle Cordova. Another teenager was struck at the intersection on February 17, 2011. All of the incidents, including the one today, have occurred in limited visibility, either before or after sun-up or sun-down.

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident in Santa Rosa that was caused by a negligent motorist or a dangerous road condition, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact the Northern California pedestrian accident lawyers at Estey Bomberger for a free consultation of your legal rights. Damages obtained in a personal injury claim may include medical care costs, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Injured in Accident in Dangerous Santa Rosa Intersection " »

SONOMA COUNTY - A 63-year-old Santa Rosa man suffered serious injuries Monday night when he was hit by a car in a crosswalk, the Press Democrat reported. The victim, Joseph Dailey, was crossing Fifth Street at Mendocino Avenue at about 9:50 p.m. on Monday, April 18, 2011, when he was struck. Dailey was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with severe head injuries where he was reportedly in critical condition on Tuesday. The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Santa Rosa Police Department.

Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Liability

If news reports are accurate, and Dailey was in the crosswalk when he was struck, the driver of the car that struck him may be liable for Dailey's serious injuries. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21950: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection..."

Following a pedestrian accident such as this April 18th injury accident in Sonoma County, the family members of the injured victim would be well-advised to speak with an attorney about the victim's legal rights to be compensated for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other accident-related expenses. An experienced California pedestrian accident lawyer can advise the victim and his family of his legal rights and best course of action following this accident to recover the maximum compensation he may be entitled to.

Continue reading "Santa Rosa Man Critically Injured in Crosswalk Accident " »

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported a Santa Rosa boy suffered major injuries - including multiple bone fractures - when he was hit by a car Friday evening in a Santa Rosa Crosswalk. The car vs. pedestrian accident was reported just after 7 p.m. at the intersection of Steele Lane and Service Court. The boy, who was not indentified, was crossing the street in a crosswalk when he was hit by a car driven by Carole Steele, 32. Police did not believe alcohol was a factor; the possibility of the driver being distracted by a cell phone was not determined. Witnesses are asked to call the Santa Rosa Police Traffic Bureau at (707) 543-3636.

What is the Law Regarding Pedestrians in Crosswalks?

Under California Vehicle Code Section 21950: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection..." Although the cause of the accident remains under investigation, based on the news reports, it appears the driver may be responsible.

Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Liability

If the investigation by Santa Rosa Police reveals the driver is in fact responsible for this accident, she may be liable for the injuries sustained by the teen boy. After an accident such as this one, the parents of the injured teenager would be well-advised to contact a California pedestrian injury lawyer about the crash and the unique liability issues involved. An experienced pedestrian accident lawyer can review the accident report, and advise the family of their best course of action to recover maximum financial compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earnings, and other expenses following this major injury Sonoma County pedestrian accident.

Continue reading "Santa Rosa Boy Struck by Car at Steele Lane and Service Court " »

A car turning left into a business entrance struck and seriously injured a Santa Rosa man riding a bicycle Monday afternoon, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported. The car vs. bicycle accident occurred around 3:10 p.m. on Monday August 9th on River Road, west of Fulton Road. According to news reports, the cyclist, William Brown, 63, of Santa Rosa, was riding westbound on the right should of River Road, while Clements Boylan, 74, of Freelan, was driving a 1994 Lexus eastbound. Boylan began turning left into the parking lot of the Fruit Basket fruit stand when he struck Brown on his bicycle. The impact threw Brown onto the hood of the Lexus. He suffered serious injuries but is expected to survive. Boylan told drivers he did not see Brown until it was too late.

This bicycle accident occurred not far from the location of a fatal accident on River Road earlier this year. A man died and three people were injured in a chain reaction crash at River Road and Sommer Street on April 27th.

Cause of the Bicycle Accident

If news reports are accurate, it appears that this crash was caused by the driver of the Lexus making the left turn. The state law pertaining to left turns is found in California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a) "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." In this situation, the bicycle would be considered a vehicle.

Bicycle Accident Injury Liability

If the driver of the Lexus is determined to have caused this bicycle accident, he may be liable for the injuries the cyclist sustained. While this crash remains under investigation, the family of the victim may benefit from speaking to an experienced northern California bicycle accident lawyer about this accident and the legal issues involved. An attorney who is also a cyclist and who has represented numerous victims of bicycle accidents can help the victim protect his legal rights and recover the maximum financial compensation he may be entitled to following this accident.

Continue reading "Cyclist Struck by Car Making Left Turn in Santa Rosa " »

A 51-year-old Sebastopol man was critically injured Saturday in a two-vehicle intersection crash in downtown Santa Rosa, fire officials reported. The Sonoma County crash, which involved a red Jeep and a blue Suburu Legacy, occurred just after 5 p.m. at the intersection of Fourth Street and Brookwood Avenue. The Subaru was travelling south on Brookwood when hit broadsided the Jeep at the intersection.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported that firefighters had to extricate the driver of the Jeep, 51-year-old Robert McGuire of Sebastopol. Witnesses at the scene reported that the driver of the Subaru sped through the intersection and broadsided McGuire's Jeep, causing it to overturn. McGuire was partially ejected and had to be cut free from his vehicle. Both McGuire and the driver of the Subaru, a 38-year-old St. Helena woman, were taken by ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

Cause of the Crash

Although investigators have not reported the official cause of the crash, news reports indicated that the driver of the Subaru sped through the intersection and likely caused this crash. Hopefully the investigation by law enforcement will reveal what exactly happened, and if negligence was a factor in this collision. If it is determined that the driver of the Subaru caused this accident, she may be liable for the injuries sustained by the driver of the Jeep, including damages for all current and future medical expenses as a result of his injury, lost earnings due to the accident, pain and suffering and other accident related expenses.

Personal Injury Liability Issues

While this May 8th Santa Rosa accident is being investigated, the family of Robert McGuire would be well-advised to talk to a California auto accident attorney about this accident. An experienced attorney can help the family understand the victim's legal rights and advise the family of their best course of action in a personal injury claim. If another driver's negligence is determined to have caused this crash, a skilled lawyer can protect the victim's rights to ensure he is fully and fairly compensated for his serious injuries from the at-fault driver and any other negligent parties.

Continue reading "Sebastopol Man Critically Injured after Weekend Crash in Santa Rosa " »

A 57-year-old Rohnert Park man was critically injured when he was struck in a marked crosswalk near the Larkfield Shopping Center, authorities have reported. The Sonoma County pedestrian accident occurred shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 18th. The victim was walking eastbound across Old Redwood Highway when he was truck by a red Cadillac sedan. The man, identified as Thomas Wandrey, made a large depression the Cadillac's windshield, and then was thrown 75 feet north of the crosswalk. He remained conscious at the scene but was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with very serious injuries.

A Dangerous Intersection?

The driver of the Cadillac, an 85-year-old Hidden Valley Resident, told CHP officers he did not see the victim in time to stop. It is not known how fast he was driving. According to an article in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, the crosswalk where the accident occurred is "described by neighbors as a treacherous path long in need of a signal light." According to the newspaper account of the accident, witnesses, neighbors and members of the nearby Rincon Valley Fire Station said "motorists routinely exceed the posted 35 mph speed limit and often honk or yell at pedestrians in the crosswalk as if they didn't belong there."

Fault & Liability Issues

The family of the man critically injured in this Santa Rosa pedestrian accident would be well-advised to consult with an experienced California pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can help the injured man protect his rights and recover compensation for the very serious injuries he sustained in this accident. This starts with a thorough review the police report, gathering of witness statements, and further review of other incidents at the same location. Even if the driver is not cited for the pedestrian accident or charged for negligent driving, he may still be held liable and financially accountable in a civil claim.

Continue reading "Rohnert Park Man Seriously Injured in Sonoma County Pedestrian Accident" »