A man and his 5-year-old daughter were hospitalized with injuries after a San Diego car accident, the evening of December 8, 2011. According to a 10News report, the injury collision occurred as the two pedestrians crossed Ruffin Road near Calle Fortunada, mid-block. Officials say they were struck by a Nissan pickup truck driven by a 30-year-old man. The 35-year-old dad sustained multiple bone fractures in the left leg and brain injuries, while his daughter suffered a broken jaw. Officials are investigating this incident.

My thoughts and prayers are with both the injured victims of this collision, especially the man, who has apparently suffered a traumatic brain injury. I wish him and his daughter the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

San Diego Pedestrian Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 18 fatalities and 494 injuries involving San Diego pedestrian accidents. Also, countywide, pedestrian accidents claimed 57 lives and injured 937 people, during the same year.

Right-of-Way Laws

Based on this news report, officials are saying that the man and daughter were not in a crosswalk at the time of the collision. California Vehicle Code Section 21954 states: "Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard." The same section also states: "The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon a roadway."

Fault and Liability

If the driver of the pickup truck is determined to have been at fault, he can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused here. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to this incident. If that was the case, the city or governmental entity responsible for maintaining the roadway can be held liable. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the incident.

Two Injured in San Diego Pedestrian Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Two toddlers were critically injured in a Los Angeles swimming pool accident that occurred in their own backyard. According to a City News Service report, the near-drowning incident happened on Susan Drive, near Knollwood Golf Course, in Granada Hills, the evening of August 14, 2011. The two children, a boy and girl, belong to a set of triplets, and were being watched by their mother. The mother left briefly to interact with the other triplet, and came back to find the two toddlers were in the pool. She rescued them from the swimming pool. The boy had no pulse and the girl was barely breathing. They have both been listed in critical condition.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of these two children. I wish both the boy and girl a complete and speedy recovery.

Near Drowning Accidents

Near drowning is when the victim survives beyond 24 hours after a submersion episode. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of injury death for children between the ages of 1 and 4. For every child who dies from drowning, another four received emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. Tragically, many young near drowning victims suffer brain injuries as a result of a lack of supply of oxygen to the brain.

Pool Safety Tips

In addition to building a pool to code and installing fencing around the pool, there are a number of steps that pool owners can take to help prevent swimming pool accidents. Toys and rafts should be kept away from the pool when not in use. Children may be drawn to them and accidently fall in. To prevent tripping accidents, running by the pool should not be allowed and cracked walkways should be repaired as soon as possible. Property owners would be well advised to install alarms to prevent accidents where children slip out the back door and into the pool area. Sadly, no amount of safety precautions can prevent every drowning accident.

Liability Issues

Remember, if a swimming pool accident occurs on your watch and on your property, you could be held liable for the injuries and damages. If you own a swimming pool property, it would be in your best interests to install safety barriers before the spring and summer months. If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident, please contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.

Two Toddlers Critically Injured in Los Angeles Swimming Pool Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

A 2-year-old girl identified as Evelyn Temple, died from injuries suffered in a swimming pool accident in Ontario the evening of April 18, 2011. According to a news report in The San Bernardino County Sun, the fatal swimming pool accident occurred in the 700 block of West Maple Street in Ontario. The girl was found floating face-down in an in-ground pool. Emergency personnel attempted to revive Evelyn but she was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. An investigation is underway to determine how the accident occurred. Officials say Evelyn's parents were at the home visiting friends when the girl drowned.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of little Evelyn Temple for their devastating and tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

Swimming Pool Accident Statistics

According to The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 3,443 fatal unintentional drowning in the year 2007 throughout the United States. Fatal drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths for children between the ages of 1 and 14. Near-drowning incidents can result in catastrophic injuries such as brain injury.

Preventing these Tragic Incidents

CDC offers a number of tips to help prevent fatal drowning accidents. Pool owners must provide barriers around their pool areas and young children must be supervised at all times. Pool toys should not be left near a pool where children may be drawn to them. Whenever possible, young swimmers should have a swimming buddy so that they are never alone in the pool. All pool owners should install four-sided fencing, limit the amount of alcohol consumed near the pool, and should learn CPR in case of an emergency.

Liability Issues

Pool owners in California have a number of rules and guidelines they must follow to reduce the likelihood of a fatal swimming accident. Whenever there is a swimming pool accident, investigators will have to determine if the property owner’s negligence contributed to the incident. In such cases, the victim or the victim’s family may be able to pursue financial compensation for the losses they suffered in the accident. With summer just around the corner, it is critical for property owners to take these safety precautions to avoid these tragedies on their property. If your child has been injured or killed in a swimming pool accident as a result of someone else's negligence, please contact an experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.

Lost a family member in a San Bernardino County accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Ontario swimming pool accident. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE San Bernardino wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.

Child Killed in San Bernardino Swimming Pool Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

There were reports of two swimming pool accidents in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley on November 11, 2009, according to a CBS news report. The accidents resulted in the near-drowning of two young children. The first incident occurred around noon in a North Hills home where a 14-month-old boy fell into a swimming pool. The boy was taken out of the water and transported to a hospital where he is said to be recovering. Around 12:30 the same day a 5-year-old boy was out of sight for no more than two minutes before his mother found him floating in the backyard pool. He was transported to a local hospital in serious condition.

My heart goes out to the families of both these young boys. I hope and pray that both children recover quickly and completely from their injuries. Please keep these children and their families in your prayers.

Swimming Pool Accident Statistics

Southern California, especially, is notorious for drowning and near-drowning incidents obviously because of the abundance of pools and good weather. Los Angeles County has more than 200 near-drowning incidents a year. And Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties together account for half of all near-drowning incidents in California.

In both these cases, it is extremely fortunate that the children did not sustain fatal injuries. It really doesn't take that long for a child who is submerged in water to sustain a traumatic brain injury or die because the oxygen supply is cut off to the child's brain. The cost of treating these brain injuries is extremely high and could run into millions of dollars.

Liability Issues in Drowning or Near-Drowning Accidents

Although in these cases, the children fell into their own backyard pools, the Los Angeles personal injury attorneys at BISNAR | CHASE handle at least a few cases every summer where a child is seriously injured or killed as a result of a swimming pool accident in someone else's home or at a day camp.

Incidents such as these prove that swimming pool accidents in Southern California are not seasonal. Drowning incidents here really don't take a holiday. Parents and caregivers should be watchful at all times. If a child drowns under your watch or in your home, you could be held liable for the injuries. If you have a swimming pool in your backyard, please make sure it is fenced and locked. And make sure that the locks are in working condition. Always supervise children and never let them out of your sight.

Two Los Angeles Swimming Pool Accidents Cause Injuries is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal