Fabian Alexander, 46, was killed in a car accident in Nipomo in rural Santa Maria, which officials say involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a KSBY news report, the fatal accident occurred the morning of May 13, 2012, as Alexander was walking across the off-ramp of Highway 101 North at the Highway 166 East exit and was hit by a dark blue Chevrolet Corvette. The driver fled the scene of the crash. Officials are still searching for the hit-and-run driver.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members and many friends of Fabian Alexander, the victim of this hit-and-run car accident. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 16 injuries reported involving pedestrian accidents in the unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County. Also, countywide, two people died and 55 were injured in pedestrian accidents, during the same year.

Leaving the Scene of a Crash

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver not only struck and fatally injured the pedestrian, but also left him on the roadway before fleeing the scene. Unconscionable! Motorists are required by the law to stop immediately and remain at the scene of a car accident. Not only is it the legal thing to do, but it is also the right thing to do! Leaving a man to die on the roadway is simple unacceptable and inexcusable.

California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident."

Holding Hit-and-Run Drivers Accountable

If you have any information about the driver or the vehicle, please visit our dedicated hit-and-run web site at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and become eligible to receive a $1,000 reward. This web site is a part of our effort to partner with the community and help hold hit-and-run drivers accountable.

Families of deceased hit-and-run victims would be well advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also advise victims' families about how their own car insurance policy might apply to a hit-and-run crash or to an accident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.

Man Fatally Injured in Hit-and-Run Collision is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

A 19-year-old man was injured in a San Diego car accident that remains under investigation. According to a U-T San Diego news report, the pedestrian accident occurred on Palm Avenue near Interstate 805 in South County, the night of May 13, 2012. Officials say the cause of the accident is not yet known and the driver was not arrested. The teenage victim suffered head injuries that are not considered to be life threatening. It is not clear if the victim was walking along the road, crossing the road, or in a crosswalk.

My thoughts and prayers are with the young victim of this San Diego accident. I wish him the very best for a complete and quick recovery.

San Diego Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 18 fatalities and 494 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in the city of San Diego. Countywide, 57 people were killed and 937 were injured in pedestrian accidents, during that same year.

Laws Relating to Pedestrians

It is not clear from this news article if the victim was in a crosswalk or at an intersection. 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.”

Liability Issues

In this particular case, if the driver is determined to have been at fault, he or she can be held liable for the resulting injuries and damages. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, loss of wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related expenses. Pedestrian accident victims would be well advised to contact an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable. If a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the accident, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury claim against a public entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident.

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

May 13, 2012--Anaheim, CA--A two-vehicle rear-eand car crash on Thursday injured two children who remain hospitalized, according to the Orange County Register.

The <a href="http://www.california-lawyer-attorney.com/anaheim-car-accident-lawyers.html" target="_blank">rear-end car accident in Anaheim, CA</a> occurred on South Haster Street near Katella Avenue.  Officials stated that a Jeep Grand Cherokee in which the children were passengers rear-ended a pickup truck and sent one of the children crashing into the windshield.  The child was not restrained by a seatbelt, according to authorities, which resulted in the child being sent flying into the windshield upon impact.  The windshield was cracked from the inside, and pictures seem to indicate a single point of impact.

Both the ten-year-old who hit the windshield and a seven-year-old child were hospitalized for injuries.  There is no word at present on the prognosis for these children, although their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

My best wishes for a speedy recovery go out to both these young victims.

Accident Statistics

According to estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, only 14 percent of motorists regularly use safety belts.  However, safety belts are estimated to prevent 60 to 70 percent of all deaths in motor vehicle accidents and 50 percent of injuries.  This includes children’s injuries to the head or brain, which comprise 80 percent of children’s car crash injuries.

What Happened In This Accident

It seems clear that the children involved in this accident were not properly restrained, and when the car rear-ended the truck, the children were injured.  The driver of the car was the children’s mother, so it is unlikely that any lawsuit will be filed on behalf of the children.  However, the driver will be responsible for her children’s injuries and medical care, as well as any other expenses involved with the accident.

Liability Issues

In a case such as this one, the parent of the children is responsible for the injuries, so liability is not as much of an issue in this case as if the children had been in another vehicle.  However, the driver of the truck may have liability issues with the mother who rear-ended him.  The damages to his vehicle will be her responsibility, and although he sustained no injuries, he may have a claim for mental anguish.  A professional <a href="http://www.bestattorney.com/anaheim-personal-injury-lawyer.html" target="_blank">personal injury attorney in Anaheim, California</a> should examine the artifacts available from the accident to help determine if there are any claims for liability involved in this accident.

Two Children Victims of Rear-End Crash in Anaheim, CA is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

William Montgomery, 54, was killed in a Corona car accident after a pickup truck hit him. According to a news account in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred when Montgomery was walking near the 900 block of Sixth Street, the morning of May 11, 2012. Police say 63-year-old Carlos Silvestre of Santa Ana hit the victim while driving an Isuzu truck east on Sixth Street. Montgomery sustained major head injuries and was taken to a local hospital. He died from his injuries the following day. Officials are still looking into what caused this fatal accident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Corona police at 951-817-5764.

We offer our deepest condolences to William Montgomery's family and many friends for their tragic and devastating loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Riverside County Pedestrian Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), three fatalities and 24 injuries occurred involving pedestrian accidents in Corona. During the same year, 39 people died and 370 were injured due to Riverside County pedestrian accidents.

What Caused This Pedestrian Accident?

Based on this news report, it is not clear precisely how or why this fatal pedestrian accident occurred. There are several unanswered questions here. Was Montgomery crossing the street or walking along the side of the road? Was he walking in the shoulder of the roadway? Did the pickup truck leave traffic lanes and swerve into the pedestrian? Was the pedestrian in traffic lanes? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway which may have caused or contributed to the incident?

Fault and Liability

If it is determined that the driver was at fault, then, he can be held liable for the victim's wrongful death. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, and loss of love and companionship. An experienced Riverside personal injury lawyer will be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway condition caused the accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident.

Pedestrian Killed in Corona Car Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Laurie Susan Whitlow, 49, was killed in a San Diego car accident after a vehicle struck her while she was crossing a street in her wheelchair. According to a UT-San Diego news report, the fatal hit-and-run collision occurred the night of May 11, 2012 when Whitlow was attempting to cross Olde Highway 80 in an unincorporated area of El Cajon. The driver did not stop and continued east on the highway. Paramedics could not resuscitate Whitlow and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Based on eyewitness statements and crash debris from a PT Cruiser, investigators located the suspect, 36-year-old Anthony Olsen. He was arrested at his El Cajon home the following day. He has been booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Laurie Susan Whitlow for their terrible loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), pedestrian accidents in El Cajon claimed two lives and injured 52 people. In San Diego County as a whole, 57 people died and 937 were injured due to pedestrian accidents, during the same year.

Hit-and-Run Collision

Based on this news account, it appears that the driver of the vehicle struck and fatally injured a woman in a wheelchair and left the scene without even checking on her. What kind of a person strikes a disabled woman and leaves her lying on the roadway? Outrageous! Regardless of who is at fault, the law requires motorists to stop immediately and remain at the scene of the collision.

California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident."

Compensation for Victims' Families

I'm relieved to note that the hit-and-run driver in this case was promptly apprehended. The family of a deceased victim in such cases can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, and loss of love and companionship. Victims' families would be well advised to contact an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable. A knowledgeable car accident attorney will also inform the family about how their own car insurance policy might apply to an incident where the at-fault party is uninsured or underinsured.

Man Arrested in Connection with Fatal El Cajon Hit-and-Run Crash is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Two people were injured in a Los Angeles County car accident, which officials say involved three vehicles. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the car crash occurred near the intersection of Sunset Avenue and Amar Road in West Valinda, the afternoon of May 10, 2012. Police say a 73-year-old man was driving a sedan south on Sunset Avenue when he drifted into northbound lanes for unknown reasons. The male driver of a Verizon work truck heading north was unable to avoid colliding with the sedan. A woman who was also northbound on Sunset in an SUV then struck the back of the work truck. The impact caused her to crash into a cinder block wall.

Witnesses rescued the elderly man out of his sedan, which had caught fire. He suffered a possible broken leg. The SUV's driver was also injured. But the nature and severity of her injuries are not yet known. Baldwin Park California Highway Patrol officials are investigating the cause of this injury crash.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this car accident. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Los Angeles Car Accidents

According to CHP's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 98 fatalities and 4,600 injuries occurred involving car accidents in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Also, countywide, car accidents claimed 554 lives and injured 50,817 people, during the same year.

Laws and Liability Issues

Based on the news article, the elderly driver drifted into opposing lanes of traffic and caused the accident. California Vehicle Code Section 21651 (a) states: "Whenever a highway has been divided into two or more roadways by means of intermittent barriers or by means of a dividing section of not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings on the roadway, it is unlawful…to drive any vehicle over, upon, or across the dividing section."

If the elderly driver is determined to have been at fault, he could be held liable for the resulting injuries and damages. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. Car accident victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.

Los Angeles Car Accident Involving Elderly Driver Injures Two is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

The risk of teenagers being injured or killed in a California car accident is directly linked to the number of teen passengers in the vehicle, according to a new study released this week. The Orange County Register reports on the “Teen Driver Risk in Relation to Age and Number of Passengers” study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which states that many serious accidents can be prevented if parents prohibit their teen drivers from ferrying other teen passengers. The reason for this risk is that teenage drivers can be easily distracted and having other young people in the vehicle will likely add to the distraction and put them at serious risk for an accident.

Teenage Accident Statistics

According to the report, when one passenger under the age of 21 is in a vehicle, the chance of an accident occurring increases by 44 percent. The risk doubles when two young passengers are involved and quadruples when there are three or more passengers younger than 21 in the vehicle. Additionally, the report stated that the chances of a fatal car accident occurring decreases by 62 percent when an adult passenger over the age of 35 is in the vehicle while a teen is driving.

California's Restrictions on Teenage Passengers

Since July of 1998, California has enforced a graduated driver’s license program (GDL) aimed at reducing the number of California car accidents involving teen drivers. All drivers are first required to complete 50 hours of supervised driving, of which 10 must be done at night. Additionally, a student in the GDL program must only drive with an adult over the age of 25. They must take six hours of a driver's education training course. They must keep a clean record and they must obey the zero tolerance law when it comes to alcohol or drug use. Since July 1, 2008, all drivers under the age of 18 are banned from using cell phones with or without hands-free devices.

After driver’s training, young motorists will receive a year-long provisional license, which does not allow them to transport passengers who are under the age of 21 (unless an adult is present), or to drive after 11 p.m. without an adult.

Keeping Our Teen Drivers Safe

As a California personal injury lawyer who represents accident victims, I wholeheartedly support the GDL program. It is important that our young drivers get as much experience as possible behind the wheel. As parents, it is our responsibility to serve as role models for our young people. We must lead by example by driving carefully and refraining from using the cell phone or texting while driving.

Study: Teen Passengers Pose Risk for Young Drivers is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Pedestrian accidents are a perpetual scourge in urban areas, where pedestrians are more than three times more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries as the result of collisions with vehicles. The crowded streets and busy traffic mean that you are more likely in a large city to encounter a vehicle that does not stop when you are crossing the street, or swerves onto the shoulder and hits you. Of course, this can and does happen in rural areas, as well, but your chances are much less in a sparsely-populated area of being hit by a car.

When you suffer a pedestrian accident, you are more likely to suffer physical damage than if you are in a car accident. Pedestrians often have little to no protection when hit by a car, as most of us do not wear protective gear when simply walking down the street. Therefore, the chances of serious physical injury in a pedestrian accident are higher than in other types of personal injury accident.

How badly you are injured in a pedestrian accident will depend on several factors. According to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, your chances of sustaining a serious or fatal injury as a pedestrian increase exponentially with the increase in speed of the car that hit you. At 20 miles per hour, an adult has a low chance of fatality, but at 60 miles per hour the chances are almost 100 percent that serious or fatal injury will result.

California pedestrian accident lawyers can help you recover damages for your injuries no matter how serious they are. Even if you were not physically injured, you may have suffered psychological or emotional damage that will require ongoing care. No matter what type of injuries you have, it is best to discuss your case with a professional personal injury lawyer before making any decisions about settlement.

Pedestrian accident attorneys in California can help you win your pedestrian accident case no matter what the circumstances and no matter how slightly or seriously you were injured. Even if you think the accident was your "fault," you should still see a pedestrian accident lawyer before you decide not to pursue your case. Many pedestrian accident victims are astonished to learn that accidents in which they believed they were at fault were in fact the fault of the driver of the car. Do not be fooled; talk to a competent personal injury attorney today about your pedestrian accident case.

California Pedestrian Accident Lawyers is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

A 2-year-old-girl was seriously injured in a Contra Costa County dog bite incident after she was viciously attacked by a pit bull. According to a KTVU news report, the dog attack occurred on Rose Lane off Treat Boulevard in Concord, the evening of May 7, 2012. Officials say the family's pit bull bit the young victim on her face and possibly her leg. She suffered serious, but not life-threatening injuries, and has been listed in stable condition. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to the little girl who has been seriously injured in this dog attack. I wish her the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

Pit Bull Statistics

According to DogsBite.org, between the years 2005 and 2011, pit bulls killed 128 people in the United States. Of those fatal dog bite attacks, 51 percent involved a family member and a household pit bull. Also, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of the fatal dog attacks in the United States involve two breeds: pit bulls and rottweilers.

Laws and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, the young victim was bitten numerous times by her family's dog. It is not clear if she was unsupervised, if the dog was provoked or startled, or if the animal has a prior history of violent behavior. These types of incidents serve as a reminder of how dangerous and unpredictable these powerful animals can be. Under California law, when someone suffers an injury in a dog attack, the dog's owner can be held liable for the losses suffered by the victim.

California’s Civil Code Section 3342 states: "The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness."

An experienced California personal injury lawyer can help a dog bite victim and his or her family pursue fair compensation for the losses they have suffered in the attack. Compensation may be available for medical bills, lost wages, hospitalization, cosmetic surgery, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Dog bite victims may also seek compensation through the dog owner's homeowner's insurance policy.

Toddler Seriously Injured in Pit Bull Attack is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

May 1, 2012--Anaheim, CA--A motorist was killed on Tuesday while attempting to push a stalled car out of the line of traffic on Cerritos Avenue in Anaheim, and another woman was injured in the crash, According to ABC Local.

The unnamed victim was pushing the car along with a second man when a pickup truck rear-ended the vehicle. The helper was able to jump clear, but the victim was severely injured by the impact and later died from wounds sustained at the scene. A woman who was in the car steering was also hospitalized with critical injuries.

The driver of the truck has not yet been arrested and no charges have been filed. Orange County officials say the accident is under investigation.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victim's family and to the injured woman and her family.

Accident Statistics

Of the six million car accidents every year, at least 2.5 million are rear-end collisions, making them the most common type of car accident, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. At least 38,000 people are killed annually in all types of car accidents, with 15,000 of these statistically likely to be victims of a rear-end collision. Rear-end collisions are also responsible for a large number of injuries, particularly whiplash and head injuries.

What Happened In This Accident

While the investigation is ongoing into the cause of this accident, it is likely that the driver did not stop in time to avoid the crash, since this is the case in the vast majority of rear-end collisions. The fact that one of the victims was behind the car pushing it at the time makes it even more likely that the driver who hit the car did not see the victim or the car in time to stop. The accident happened at night, so it is possible that visibility was limited.

Liability Issues

Whether the at-fault driver was traveling too fast for conditions or was distracted and did not pay attention to the road, the liability is clear if he or she had no other reason for rear-ending the vehicle. It is also possible that failed brakes or some other mitigating factor might mean that liability will be assessed against another party. However, most likely the driver of the car will be responsible for the damages. A professional personal injury attorney should examine the facts of the case when the officials finish their investigation to help the victims collect damages.

Source: http://abclocal.go.com/

Man Killed While Pushing Stalled Car is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal