A 47-year-old woman was killed in a San Diego car accident the morning of April 28, 2010 after she lost control of her car and collided with a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the woman was traveling east on Otay Lakes Road, in a 1992 Nissan Maxima, when she drifted on to the right lane while negotiating a curve, lost control of her vehicle and then went into opposing lanes of traffic.

At the time, two on-duty Border Patrol agents were heading west on Otay Lakes in two marked Ford F-250 patrol vehicles. The woman's Maxima skidded sideways between the two trucks and was broadsided by one of the patrol vehicles. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. One of the agents was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Investigators are looking into whether wet road conditions may have contributed to the crash. They do not believe alcohol or drugs were involved. The San Diego coroner has not identified the Chula Vista woman pending notification of her family members.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this deceased victim for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

San Diego Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 traffic accident statistics, 81 people died and 6,123 were injured as a result of car accidents in San Diego, California. Countywide, car accidents claimed 246 lives and caused 13,527 injuries during the same year.

Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it is not quite clear how or why this tragic car accident occurred. Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which caused or contributed to this crash? Did the woman lose control of the vehicle because of an auto product defect or a mechanical malfunction in the Nissan? I trust officials are looking into exactly what caused her to lose control of the Maxima.

In such cases, it would be a good idea to preserve the vehicle in its current state, unaltered, so it can be carefully evaluated, by an expert, for product defects, malfunctions or other evidence. If a dangerous or defective roadway is found to have caused the crash, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Under California Government Code section 911.2, any claim against a public entity must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims and their families about their legal rights and options.

What would you consider are some of the most dangerous roadways for drivers in your city?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

Fatal San Diego Car Accident Involves Border Patrol Vehicle is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Sarah Rachelle Phillips, 31, was fatally injured in a San Diego car accident after losing control of her SUV at a highway ramp and crashing. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, Phillips was going southbound on the Interstate 805 in a Nissan Xterra SUV the morning of February 27, 2010 when she lost control of the vehicle as it went over a puddle in the connector ramp to the 15 Freeway. Phillips was ejected from the SUV that rolled over several times. She died at the scene.

My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Sarah Rachelle Phillips for their tragic and devastating loss. I offer my deepest condolences to them. Please keep them in your prayers.

Rollover Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that rollover accidents are responsible for at least 10,000 fatalities each year in the United States. That number accounts for about 25 percent of all traffic accident fatalities in the United States. SUVs contribute to a number of rollover accidents. Studies have shown that this is because of defective design. SUVs have a high center of gravity and a narrower track width than other vehicles, which make them more prone to tipping over, especially at freeway speeds.

Auto Product Defect Issues

One of the issues in this particular case, is whether the Nissan Xterra SUV caused or contributed to her fatal injuries. If I were a member of her family, I would also look into whether seatbelt failure caused Phillips to get ejected from the vehicle. Seatbelt defects are unfortunately all too common. Seat restraint systems could fail in many ways. A number of side release belts are prone to false latching and many end-release belts are prone to unlatching during car accidents. The product liability attorneys at BISNAR | CHASE have seen numerous cases of seat belt failure involving seat belt mounts, buckles, webbing and grabbers.

A reputed San Diego personal injury lawyer, who has successfully handled auto product liability cases relating to SUV rollovers and seatbelt defects will be able to help such victims and their families pursue their legal rights. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

San Diego Rollover Accident Kills Woman is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

A delivery man sustained critical personal injuries after he was pinned under the cargo truck he was unloading, CBS news reports. The man, who has not yet been identified, had parked his truck behind a bakery in Westwood the morning of November 21, 2009. He then opened the back compartment of the truck to unload some merchandise when the truck started to move forward. The man then ran to reach for the passenger door when he was pinned between the door and the pole. The delivery man sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.

Fatal On-the-Job Injury

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this deceased worker for their devastating loss. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

Based on this news report, it is not clear whether the worker had set the parking brake before getting off the truck to unload the merchandise. The article does not state otherwise. The question here is: Was this fatal job injury caused by the truck's defective parking brake.

Was the Accident the Result of a Defective Parking Brake?

Defective parking brakes can lead to catastrophic injuries or fatalities. The auto product liability lawyers at BISNAR | CHASE have seen many cases where a defective parking brake system can cause a vehicle to roll without warning and run over or critically injure unsuspecting victims. These auto product defects can also cause serious car accidents. In fact, BISNAR | CHASE is spearheading a $350-million auto product defect class action lawsuit against General Motors on behalf of a Texas law firm. The lawsuit alleges that GM installed defective emergency brakes in several models of GM trucks and sport utility vehicles.

In this particular case, the family of the man, who was apparently on-the-job at the time of the fatal accident, will be entitled to worker's compensation benefits through his employer. But they may also be able to file a "third party claim" against the auto maker if it is determined that a defective parking brake caused this accident. A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who has successfully handled auto product liability cases and third party claims, will be able to advise this family about how to pursue their legal rights.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

Los Angeles Worker Fatally Injured in Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Denver's Channel 9 News has done an excellent investigative report about a defective auto product in the immensely popular Honda cars. Their investigation apparently shows that airbags in some newer model Hondas are defective and deploy without warning in various situations including, when drivers shut their car doors, wait at stoplights or even as they drive down smooth roadways. But the auto maker, American Honda, is refusing to pay to fix these defective cars and has even told the drivers that it's their fault that the airbags deployed! According to complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Honda told consumers to file claims with their insurance companies.

Defective Airbags Deploying Out of the Blue

There is no question that having an airbag deploy when you're driving can be a frightening and dangerous experience. In this auto defect case, I'm surprised there haven't been more reports of serious car accidents and personal injuries. One consumer told Channel 9 that his driver's side and side curtain airbags deployed in his 2008 Honda Civic when he was waiting at an intersection for a green light. His airbags deployed so suddenly that this man thought he was shot. The airbags left big bruises on his arm for eight days and caused his ears to ring for two days, according to the news report. Another consumer, a Los Angeles resident, was driving her 2003 Honda Accord when her passenger side airbag suddenly deployed. She thought she had a flat tire and believes she is extremely lucky that she did not hit another car. Honda wanted her to pay $5,100 out of her pocket to fix it.

NHTSA has received complaints from 96 Honda drivers since 2004 that their airbags spontaneously deployed in their newer model cars although they were not involved in a car accident. Still, there have been no recalls to date or no attempt from Honda to even look into these reported defects. The federal agency is not investigating this problem because it is "statistically insignificant compared to the number of Hondas on the road."

Contacting an Auto Product Liability Attorney

In my opinion, when you have an airbag that deploys when it is not supposed to deploy, that is a defective airbag. An airbag is definitely not supposed to deploy when a door is shut or when a car goes over a bump on the road! But, based on my experience with auto makers, it is not at all surprising that Honda is blaming drivers instead of owning up to their defective products and fixing the problem. Unfortunately, they will probably wait until drivers suffer catastrophic injuries or death as a result of these defects before issuing a recall.

If you have suffered serious injuries as a result of defective Honda airbags or other auto product defects, it would be in your best interest to contact a reputed California personal injury lawyer with significant experience and a successful track record handling auto product liability cases. If you suspect an auto product defect in your vehicle, please make sure you preserve the vehicle in its current faulty condition at least until it can be examined by an expert for evidence of those defects. The best auto product liability law firms will offer a free and comprehensive initial consultation to victims and their families.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our source for the facts is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.

We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

Auto Products Liability Attorney Concerned About Defective Honda Airbags is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Pyo Yi, 53, was killed in a San Bernardino car accident after his truck went over the side of Highway 18 near Big Bear Lake, California. According to a news report in the San Bernardino Sun, Yi was driving south on the highway the afternoon of August 24, 2009 in a 2004 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck when the truck left the road and ran over some rocks along the mountainside. Yi then overcorrected, causing the truck to go across the north lanes, through the guardrail, before falling over the mountainside, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials. Yi was pronounced dead at the scene.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Pyo Yi for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Yi. Please keep them in your prayers.

San Bernardino Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 40 injuries involving car accidents in Big Bear Lake, California. In San Bernardino County, 308 deaths and 9,920 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2007.

Based on this newspaper report, it is not exactly clear how or why Yi lost control of his pickup truck. The news report does not make any mention of alcohol or drugs being involved. Fatigue or high speed also doesn't seem to be factors in this fatal car accident. If I were a family member, I'd want to know what caused this crash. Was there an auto product defect or mechanical malfunction in the Toyota Tacoma that may have caused Yi to lose control of the truck? Was there a dangerous condition on the highway that caused Yi to lose control and crash? Were any other vehicles involved that led to the accident? Had another motorist forced Yi off the road initially? These are all important questions that need to be asked in order to determine the cause of this tragic accident.

Auto Products Liability Attorney

In such cases where car accidents result in serious personal injury or death, it would be in the best interest of victims and their families to consult with an experienced
California personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled auto products liability lawsuits against major auto makers. If a vehicle defect is suspected in any injury accident case, it is important that the vehicle be preserved in its crashed condition, unaltered, so it may be examined by an expert for auto product defects, mechanical malfunction and other evidence. The best California personal injury law firms will always offer a free and comprehensive initial consultation to car accident victims and their families.

Los Angeles Man Killed in Car Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

BMW has issued a vehicle defect recall for an unspecified number of Z4 30i and 35i cars from the 2009 model year for a seat belt defect, according to a consumer alert issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The vehicles that are being recalled were manufactured between March 10 and March 19 of this year. The defective product recall involves a faulty crimp connector in a belt tensioner wiring plug. This defective connector could lead to increased electrical resistance of that connection, which in turn, could cause the seat belt tensioner to fail in the event of a crash. Such seat belt failure could of course, result in catastrophic personal injury or death to the car's occupants. The auto maker has not provided all details of this product recall to the NHTSA, but owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117 for more information.

Seat belt Defects Cause Devastating Injuries

I hope BMW provides consumers with all the information they need to remedy this serious problem. Seat belt defects are a serious auto product liability issue. Although the use of seat belts has been strongly promoted in the United States for many years now, seat belt failure causes significant personal injuries to both adults and children. Some injuries that may occur as a result of faulty or defective seat belts include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, concussions and paralysis.

In car accidents, there are any number of ways a seat belt system can fail. Many of the "side release" seat belts are prone to "false latching." Many "end release" seat belts are also subject to unlatching in car accidents. Our auto products liability attorneys have seen many cases of seat restraint system failures involving seat belt mounts, buckles, webbing and grabbers. In many auto product defect cases, we have uncovered internal documents and memos that show the auto manufacturer had prior knowledge of these vehicle defects, but still put their products in the market. We have settled many auto products liability cases with auto makers where these seat belt failures caused serious injuries.

California Auto Products Liability Attorney

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident and if you suspect it was due to a defective auto product, please contact a reputed California personal injury lawyer with significant experience and a winning track record in auto product liability cases. If you have been injured in a car accident, it is always a good idea to preserve the crashed vehicle in its current condition, unaltered, so it may be carefully examined by an expert for product defects, mechanical problems and other evidence.

BMW Issues Auto Product Defect Recall for Cars with Defective Seatbelts is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal