Marcus Kasparzyk, 41, escaped major injury in a Bakersfield car accident on January 10, 2012 after a 4-foot-long steel pipe broke loose from a pickup truck's load and pierced through his windshield. According to a CBS news report, Kasparzyk was driving on Highway 99, when the pipe from a truck ahead hit the windshield and steering wheel, missing his face by a fraction of an inch. California Highway Patrol officials say the pipe would have likely impaled Kasparzyk had the steering wheel not obstructed its path. Kasparzyk's vehicle drifted off the side of the road. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities are looking into how the pipe dislodged from the truck.

My thoughts and prayers are with Marcus Kasparzyk, who has escaped serious or even fatal injuries, literally by a narrow margin. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

According to CHP's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 23 fatalities and 1,034 injuries involving Bakersfield car accidents. In Kern County as a whole, 129 people died and 3,061 were injured due to car accidents, during the same year.

The Danger of Flying Debris

Kasparzyk, remarkably, maintained his composure after the incident, stating there is a "much greater chance of getting hit by lightning or winning the lottery than to find a four-foot steel pole in your windshield." However, the fact remains that when these incidents do happen on our freeways, they can prove fatal. Individuals and businesses who transport materials are required by law to secure their loads properly. If debris dropped on the roadway injures or kills someone, the individual responsible and his or her employer could be held liable.

Laws and Liability Issues

California Vehicle Code Section 23112 (a) states: "No person shall throw or deposit, nor shall the registered owner or the driver, if such owner is not then present in the vehicle, aid or abet in the throwing or depositing upon any highway any bottle, can, garbage, glass, nail, offal, paper, wire, any substance likely to injure or damage traffic using the highway, or any noisome, nauseous, or offensive matter of any kind."

In such cases injured victims or families of deceased victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Bakersfield personal injury lawyer, who has successfully handled similar cases. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to car accident victims and their families.

Driver Injured in Bakersfield Car Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

A motorcycle rider was seriously injured in a Bakersfield car accident involving a suspected drunk driver who fled the scene. According to a KERO Bakersfield news report, the DUI collision occurred near a sobriety checkpoint on Golden State Highway in Bakersfield, the morning of November 27, 2011. Officials say a pickup driver struck the motorcyclist, before leaving the site of the accident. The victim of this motorcycle accident was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Officials were able to stop and arrest the driver of the pickup. This motorist now faces charges of DUI causing serious injury, felony hit-and-run, and failing to yield to police.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured motorcycle accident victim. I wish this person the very best for a complete and quick recovery.

DUI Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 12 people were killed and 163 were injured in alcohol-related car accidents in Bakersfield. There were 61 fatalities and 450 injuries reported in Kern County DUI collisions, during the same year.

Violations of the Law

Based on this news report, the suspected drunk driver hit the motorcyclist and then left the scene of the crash. Appalling! Leaving the scene of an injury car accident is not only an inhumane and irresponsible act, but also a serious crime under California law. 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."

Officials say that the motorist here was under the influence of alcohol. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): "It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle."

Liability Issues

In this particular case, the injured motorcyclist can seek compensation from the at-fault driver for damages including medical expenses, loss of wages, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Victims of car accidents involving wrongdoing or negligence would be well advised to contact an experienced Bakersfield personal injury lawyer who will help protect their rights and best interests. For more information about the dangers of driving under the influence, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at www.madd.org.

Motorcyclist Injured in Bakersfield DUI Collision is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Teresa Flores, 33, was injured in a Bakersfield car accident involving a driver, who fled the scene of the crash on foot and is suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol. According to a news report in The Californian, the collision occurred at Vineland and Muller roads in Bakersfield, the night of August 19, 2011. Flores sustained major injuries in the accident as the driver of a car ran through a stop sign and pulled ahead of her vehicle. Officials say the at-fault driver, Enrique Castillo Jr., 32, was under the influence when he caused the crash. Flores has been listed in fair condition. Castillo has been arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and felony hit-and-run.

My thoughts and prayers are with Teresa Flores following this hit-and-run car accident. I wish her the very best for a complete recovery.

DUI Collisions

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 12 people were killed and 163 were injured in alcohol-related crashes in Bakersfield. During that same year, 61 fatalities and 450 injuries occurred as a result of Kern County DUI collisions.

Traffic Violations

Based on this news report, Castillo caused the crash when he violated California Vehicle Code Section 21802 by driving through a stop sign. Officials also say he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): "It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle."

In addition, Castillo, instead of stopping and remaining at the scene, fled leaving the injured victim without assistance. I'm relieved to note that this dangerous driver has been apprehended and trust he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Leaving the scene of an injury crash is an absolutely inexcusable act, which displays a total denial of responsibility or accountability.

Liability Issues

In such cases, injured victims would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced Bakersfield personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable. A skilled car accident attorney will also be able to better advise victims about how their own car insurance policy applies to an incident where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured.

Woman Injured in Bakersfield Car Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Al Cichy, 70, and Annabelle Cichy, 80, were killed in a Bakersfield car accident, which officials say, involved a drunk driver. According to a news report in The Californian, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred on Auburn Street in Bakersfield the morning of April 26, 2011. The elderly couple was picking up trash on the sidewalk, when a Ford F-150 pickup crossed the center divider, went across opposing lanes of traffic and struck them. They were both transported to Kern Medical Center where they died. The driver of the Ford, Oscar Jimenez, 45, has been charged with two counts murder, felony DUI, suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, and driving on a suspended license.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Al and Annabelle Cichy following this tragic pedestrian accident. By all accounts they were a loving couple who cared about their neighbors and neighborhood. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who knew and loved them.

Drunk Driving Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 14 people were killed and 140 were injured in Bakersfield DUI collisions. During that same year, there were 35 fatalities and 476 injuries reported due to Kern County DUI accidents.

California DUI Laws

If the details of this news report are accurate, it appears that the driver, Jimenez, was intoxicated at the time. His blood alcohol content (BAC) is not known. It is illegal under California Vehicle Code Section 23152, to operate a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher.

A driver whose act of driving under the influence results in the death of another will likely face vehicular manslaughter charges. California Penal Code Section 191.5 (a) states: "Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, in the driving of a vehicle, where the driving was in violation of Section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the Vehicle Code, and the killing was either the proximate result of the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, and with gross negligence, or the proximate result of the commission of a lawful act that might produce death, in an unlawful manner, and with gross negligence."

Liability Issues

In such cases where negligence or wrongdoing is apparent, families of deceased victims would be well-advised to contact a reputed Bakersfield personal injury lawyer, who has the experience and a successful track record of holding drunk drivers responsible for their actions. The victims' family in this case can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party seeking damages. An experienced car accident attorney will better explain their legal rights and options. For more information about the dangers of driving under the influence, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at www.madd.org.

Lost a family member in a Bakersfield DUI 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 Kern County pedestrian accident. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE Bakersfield 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.

Elderly Couple Killed in Bakersfield DUI Collision is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

The driver of a pickup truck was killed in a Bakersfield car accident after officials say he ran a stop sign at an intersection and collided head-on with a tractor-trailer. According to a KERO-TV news report, the fatal truck accident occurred the morning of April 22, 2011 on Rowlee Road at Highway 46. California Highway Patrol officials say the driver of the pickup truck ran a stop sign at full speed and rammed into the tractor-trailer, which rolled several times. The driver of the big rig and his passenger were transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries. A passenger in the pickup truck was hospitalized with major injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased victim. My heart also goes out to the injured victims of this car versus truck accident. I wish them all the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. They will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 29 deaths and 1,111 injuries reported as a result of car accidents in Bakersfield. In Kern County as a whole, car accidents claimed 103 lives and injured 3,460 people during the same year.

Possible Stop Sign Violation

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the pickup truck ran a stop sign at the intersection. California law requires drivers to come to a complete stop at a stop sign and proceed with caution. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21802 (a): "The driver of any vehicle approaching a stop sign at the entrance to, or within, an intersection shall stop as required by Section 22450. The driver shall then yield the right-of-way to any vehicles which have approached from another highway, or which are approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to those vehicles until he or she can proceed with reasonable safety."

Fault and Liability

In this case, I trust officials are also looking into why the man ran a stop sign. Was he under the influence, speeding, distracted or otherwise negligent? Was there a dangerous condition or obstruction on the roadway, which prevented him from seeing the stop sign? For example, was the stop sign obscured by foliage? Have there been other car accidents at this intersection?

If the deceased driver is determined to have been at fault here, the other injured victims can claim compensation from his estate and his liability insurance. If a dangerous condition at the intersection caused or contributed to the collision, then, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the incident. An experienced Bakersfield personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise injured victims and their families about their legal rights and options.

Lost a family member in a Bakersfield car 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 Kern County car accident. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE Bakersfield 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.

Fatal Bakersfield Car Accident Caused by Stop Sign Violation is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Two children identified as 3-year-old Sean Evans and Madison Evans, 4, sustained major injuries in a Bakersfield car accident the afternoon of April 5, 2011 after the Ford SUV in which they were riding rolled over. According to a news report in The Californian, 31-year-old Brandi Johnston was driving a 1994 Ford SUV east on Highway 58, when she allowed the SUV to drift into the center median and lost control.

The Ford rolled over several times. Sean and Madison were thrown on to the roadway. The 60-year-old front seat passenger, Michael Evans, sustained major injuries. Johnston suffered minor injuries. Katilyn Johnston 13, and Christina Johnston, 16, suffered moderate injuries in the accident. An investigation is ongoing. Both Sean and Madison were ejected from the SUV. Officials suspect they were not properly restrained in a car seat.

My heart goes out to everyone who was injured in this major injury rollover accident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. I wish the two young children as well as the other victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

SUV Rollover Accident Statistics

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in 2008, 58 percent of SUV occupants who were killed in crashes were in vehicles that rolled over. In comparison, 47 percent of deaths in pickups and 25 percent of deaths in cars were in rollover accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that every year, 10,000 people are killed in rollover accidents in the United States. That number accounts for nearly 25 percent of all fatal traffic accidents in the country.

What Caused This Rollover Accident?

It is unclear from this report as to why this Ford SUV went out of control and rolled over. Was there an auto defect or mechanical malfunction, which caused Johnston to lose control? Was there a dangerous roadway condition, which led to this crash? It is important to find out the answers to these and other questions in order to determine precisely what occurred and why.

Auto Product Liability Issues

If I were a family member of the injured victims, I would definitely want to know if a design flaw or auto product defect in the vehicle caused or contributed to the accident and injuries. Ford SUVs especially the 1990s models are notorious for their propensity to roll over even at normal speeds. It would be in the victims' best interests to have the SUV preserved so it can be carefully examined by an expert for defects, malfunctions, design flaws and other evidence. An experienced Bakersfield personal injury lawyer should advise injured victims or their families in such cases about their legal rights and options.

Seriously injured in a Bakersfield car accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a Ford SUV rollover accident. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE Bakersfield personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.

Bakersfield SUV Rollover Accident Causes Critical Injuries is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

One person was injured in a Bakersfield car accident after officials say a school bus driver ran a red light and crashed into a pickup truck. According to an ABC 23 news report, the bus was going south on Monitor Street at Pacheco Road the afternoon of February 2, 2010, when the school bus driver ran the red light at the intersection and struck the pickup truck. One girl from the bus was transported to a local hospital. She apparently hit her head against the window. Another student on the bus was uninjured. The school bus driver sustained arm injuries. Thankfully, the driver of the pickup truck was also uninjured. California Highway Patrol officials are investigating the incident.

It is indeed fortunate that this school bus accident did not result in major injuries. I wish the injured student the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Red Light Running is Dangerous

Accidents involving red light runners cause numerous injuries and fatalities in the United States each year. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), in 2006, as many as 171,000 car accidents and 144,000 injuries and 887 fatalities were attributed to red light running. Public costs exceed $14 billion per year and more than half of the deaths in red light running crashes are other motorists and pedestrians as opposed to the red light runners themselves.

Rules of the Road

In this particular case, officials are still investigating whether the school bus driver did in fact run the red light. If that was the case, the bus company or school district (whoever is the employer), could be held liable for injuries and damages caused. Running a red light is a serious traffic violation under California law. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21453 (a): "A driver facing a circular red signal shall stop at the limit line before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown."

Victims in such cases would be well-served to seek the legal counsel of a skilled Bakersfield personal injury lawyer who will keep abreast of the official investigation and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency in the state of California must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

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.

School Bus Driver Possibly Ran Red Light in Bakersfield Car Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Yolanda Gonzales, 49, was killed in a Bakersfield car accident after she was struck by a hit-and-run driver. According to a KGET news report, Gonzales was hit in the 1000 block of East Truxton Avenue near Gage Street the night of December 18, 2009. The driver fled the scene leaving Gonzales in the street with critical injuries. Officials say the suspect vehicle may have been a white Dodge Neon. Gonzales died shortly after the crash at a local hospital. The secret witness program in Bakersfield is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to an arrest in this hit-and-run car accident.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Yolanda Gonzales for their heartbreaking loss. Her daughter Chantel Cobine says she and her two siblings lost their father just a few years ago and now they've lost their mother. Tragic! This family will certainly be in my prayers.

Car Accident Statistics

There were 24 fatalities and 1,126 injuries involving car accidents in Bakersfield, according to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics. In Kern County as a whole, 142 people died and 3,615 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.

California Car Accident Law

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime in California. A motorist involved in an accident is not only required to remain at the scene of the crash and exchange information with the other party, but also obtain help for injured victims. In this case, the motorist did not even to stop. According to California Vehicle Code section 20001: "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."

An Experienced Injury Lawyer Can Help

Based on this news report, it is not clear exactly where Gonzales was walking or who was at fault. But, irrespective of who caused the accident, the driver should have remained at the scene, as the law requires. Gonzales' family would be well-advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and help protect their legal rights.

A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will be able to determine whether a dangerous or defective roadway caused or contributed to this accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Any claim against a governmental entity in California must be filed within six months of the accident or injury. A skilled injury lawyer should tell the family how their car insurance policy would apply to a hit-and-run car accident or an incident involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist.

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.

Bakersfield Mom Killed in Hit-and-Run Car Accident is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal

Franzisca Nzau sustained serious injuries in an October 19, 2009 Bakersfield car accident after she was struck by a California Highway Patrol officer who was attempting to make a left turn. According to an ABC News report, CHP Officer Leonard Dehart was driving south on M Street and was stopped at a light preparing to turn left on to the eastbound State Route178. Dehart said he slowly moved forward to allow a vehicle traveling north on M to pass. After that, he apparently accelerated to make his left turn and he was blinded by the glare of the morning sun. Dehart told officials that he did not see Nzau walking in a crosswalk directly ahead of him until it was too late. Nzau sustained a broken pelvis and collarbone. She was transported to an area hospital.

My heart goes out to Franzisca Nzau who was seriously injured in this pedestrian-car collision. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery. I also hope she did not suffer any other major injuries. Please keep this injured victim in your prayers.

Bakersfield Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were four fatalities and 94 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Bakersfield, California. In Kern County as a whole, 17 deaths and 207 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007. Also during the same period, 142 deaths and 3,615 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in Kern County.

This is an extremely unfortunate accident. It just goes to show how even professionals and a CHP officer such as Leonard Dehart can make an error while driving. Like many motorists who cause motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, perhaps, Dehart's "internal radar" was looking for cars and trucks. He was apparently not consciously looking for pedestrians or bicycles. Just like any on-the-job driver, Officer Dehart and his employer, the California Highway Patrol, could be held financially liable for Nzau's injuries.

Car Accident Liability Issues

Nzau seems to have been doing everything right here. She was within a marked crosswalk and California law requires motorists to yield right-of-way or slow down at crosswalks so pedestrians can cross safely. California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: "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." The same section also states that the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk "shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of a vehicle or take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian."

Franzisca Nzau may be well-served by retaining the services of a skilled California personal injury lawyer quickly for this case. She would be well-advised not to discuss this case or its details with anyone until getting legal representation. This includes not signing any documents, in these situations. Accidents involving peace officers can sometimes be tricky especially if the agency is investigating their own officer. Nzau may also want to seek a personal injury lawyer outside of Kern County to avoid local politics and the "good old boy" syndrome and any real or perceived conflicts of interest.

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.

Woman Injured in Bakersfield Car Accident Struck by CHP Officer is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal