California Injury Lawyer Blog

OXNARD - A 2-ywar-old little boy was very tragically killed Wednesday morning in Oxnard, the Ventura County Star reported. The fatal accident was reported about 11 a.m., near the intersection of C Street and 7th Street. A 65-year-old Oxnard man was driving a pickup truck east on Seventh Street when the young boy reportedly ran into the street and into the path of the vehicle. The driver of the pickup truck was not able to avoid the collision. The boy, who was not identified, died at Ventura County Medical Center.

Cause of the Fatal Accident

The cause of the Oxnard accident remains under investigation by the Oxnard Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact Senior Officer Maria Pena at (805) 385-7750. According to the Ventura County Star, there are no indications that the driver was traveling at an unsafe speed nor that alcohol or drugs were a factor.

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VENTURA COUNTY - A 15-year-old Bakersfield girl very tragically died Sunday night in a head-on collision on Highway 126 between Santa Paula and Fillmore, the Ventura County Star reported today. The victim, identified by the Ventura County Medical Examiner as Maria Puentes, 15, was a passenger in a vehicle driven eastbound on Highway 126, near Toland Road. For reasons still under investigation, the vehicle Puentes was riding in drifted into westbound traffic, directly into the path of an oncoming truck.

The impact of the head-on collision caused the vehicle to spin out of control into westbound traffic and the truck to spin into eastbound lanes. The 17-year-old boy driving the vehicle and the driver of the truck, a 53-year-old Bakersfield man, were taken to Ventura County Medical Center. Puentes died at the scene of the head-on collision, which occurred at about 7:05 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2011.

Cause of the Fatal Crash

As a passenger, Puentes likely could have done nothing to prevent this fatal head-on collision that ultimately took her life. Based on the limited facts provided by the Ventura County Star, it is impossible to know exactly what happened here and why this fatal crash happened. The CHP will surely look at the speed of both vehicles, witness reports, and other factors to determine what occurred and who was responsible. Head-on collisions such as this one can have countless causes, including unsafe passing maneuvers, swerving to avoid an object in the road, falling asleep at the wheel, driving under the influence, or driver distraction.

Car Accident Wrongful Death Liability

Losing a loved one in a fatal head-on collision is tragic and devastating. Accidents such as this one raise a number of questions regarding why the accident occurred, who was responsible, and what can be done to prevent fatal collisions like this one in the future. While the cause of this accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol, the family members of the young victim would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable Ventura wrongful death attorney. Whether the accident was caused by a dangerous road condition, a defect in the vehicle, or the negligence of one of the drivers involved in this collision, an attorney can help the victim's family understand and protect their legal rights to hold accountable whoever is responsible for their loss.

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VENTURA COUNTY - A 24-year-old Los Angeles man tragically was killed Monday afternoon when his motorcycle was struck by a car driven by a 37-year-old Oxnard woman, the Ventura County Star reported. The fatal motorcycle accident occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway at about 1:30 p.m. on July 4, 2011, near Point Mugu State Beach. The motorcyclist, Water Gutierrez, was riding southbound on PCH when a vehicle driven by Mindee Martinez pulled out of the beach parking lot in front of his motorcycle. Gutierrez died at the scene of the crash.

Cause of the Fatal Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle accidents frequently occur because drivers are simply not looking for motorcyclists. Accidents where drivers fail to see a motorcyclist are heartbreaking and devastating, and raise a number of questions - most importantly, why did the driver not see the motorcyclist? The cause of this fatal motorcycle accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. The CHP reported that drugs or alcohol did not appear to be a factor. Based on the news reports, it is unclear why the driver pulled out in front of Gutierrez's motorcycle. Hopefully, the CHP investigation will reveal exactly what happened, and who was responsible.

Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Death Liability

Depending on the unique circumstances of this July 4th accident, if the driver of the car is determined to be responsible, she may be liable for the wrongful death of the motorcyclist in a civil claim. If negligence of the driver was a factor, the family of the victim may pursue a claim for damages, including funeral and burial expenses, lost earnings and benefits, and loss of love, care, affection and companionship. While this accident remains under investigation, the family members of the victim may benefit from speaking with an experienced and knowledgeable California motorcycle accident lawyer. A skilled attorney who understands the complex legal issues of car vs. motorcycle accidents can advise the victim's family of their legal rights and best course of action should they wish to pursue a wrongful death claim.

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CARPINTERIA VALLEY, CA - A Ventura man had to be airlifted to a hospital Monday afternoon after crashing his bicycle on Highway 150, the Ventura County Star reported. The accident happened at about 11:40 a.m. on the Highway east of Gobernador Canyon Road. According to news reports, the cyclist, Joseph Powers, 48, was riding downhill when for reasons unknown, he lost control of the bike and was ejected. Powers was flown to Ventura County Medical Center with back injuries.

Bicycle Accident Personal Injury Liability

The news accounts of this accident did not explain why Powers lost control of his bicycle. Solo-vehicle accidents such as this one can have numerous causes, from cyclist distraction to debris in the road, to a defect in the bicycle itself. After an injury accident such as this one, it would be advisable for the family of the injured cyclist to contact a California bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible, who can arrange to have the damaged bicycle as well as the location of the accident inspected.

If a defect in the bicycle or a dangerous road condition caused this accident, the injured cyclist may be entitled to compensation for medical care expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages. An attorney who specializes in representing bicycle accident victims can check to see if the bicycle or any of its parts have been recently recalled, and advise the victim of his legal rights following this accident, and his best course of action to protect them.

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A 16-year-old Ventura girl was very seriously injured Sunday afternoon when she was struck by a car in a Ventura crosswalk, the Ventura Breeze reported. The accident was reported just before 3 p.m. at 3291 Loma Vista Road, at the intersection of Loma Vista and St. Paul Drive. According to the Ventura Police Department, when officers arrived they discovered a westbound vehicle struck the victim, a 16-year-old girl, while she was crossing the crosswalk. The victim, who wasn't named, suffered several broken bones and a concussion. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Steve Kass, 85, of Ventura.

Cause of the Ventura Pedestrian Accident

The Ventura Police Department is continuing to investigating this December 19th accident. Witnesses told police that the amber warning lights embedded in the pavement were activated when the victim crossed the street with her friends. 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..."

Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Liability

After this accident, and any car vs. accident that occurs in a marked crosswalk, the injured victims or their family members would be well-advised to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable California pedestrian accident attorney. If the driver was negligent and caused this crash, the injured victim may be entitled to financial compensation for her injuries, including all medical care treatment costs and expenses, as well as pain and suffering. A lawyer can also investigate other car vs. pedestrian accidents at the same location, and the possibility that a dangerous road condition could have been a factor, in which case the city or county could also be liable. Because of strict time limits to pursue a claim for injuries in California, it is advisable to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible following any injury accident.

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Firefighters had to extricate two people trapped in a vehicle after a highway rollover crash Friday morning in Thousands Oaks, the California Highway Patrol reported. A 49-year-old Thousand Oaks man driving south on Highway 23 (Moorpark Freeway) lost control of his vehicle at the Janss Road off ramp when he reportedly swerved to avoid another southbound car that entered his lane. The vehicle went off the highway and down an embankment just before 6 a.m. Both the driver and passenger were extricated about 20 minutes after the crash.

The driver of the vehicle that overturned suffered a broken leg, and his passenger suffered unknown injuries. Both were taken to Los Robles Hospital. Although the two vehicles did not physically contact each other, the driver of the other vehicle, a 40-year-old Moorpark man, saw the vehicle crash and returned to the scene of the accident. The CHP is investigating the incident.

We hope everyone injured in this Moorpark Freeway accident makes a full and speedy recovery. If the news reports of this Highway 23 accident are correct, this Ventura County rollover crash is likely caused at least in part by an unsafe lane change. While this rollover accident remains under investigation, the man injured in this accident and his passenger would be well-advised to consult with a Los Angeles auto accident attorney about their legal rights to compensation.

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