San Diego Injury Lawyer Blog

An unidentified woman was rescued from her overturned car around 11:10 a.m. on August 28, 2010, and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries. According to the San Diego Fire and Rescue Department, the exact reason of how the woman’s vehicle flipped near the intersection of 54th Street and Chollas Parkway in Chollas Creek was unclear.

San Diego Fire and Rescue Department officer said that traffic was blocked from the intersection where police were conducting an investigation to determine why the vehicle rolled over.

If the car overturned due to any mechanical failure or an unkempt road, then the automobile manufacturer or the authorities responsible for maintenance of the road might be held liable to pay a compensation for the injured victim’s medical costs and pain and suffering damages. As with any person who has been injured in an auto accident, the injured woman would be wise to consult with a San Diego personal injury lawyer who can advise her of legal rights and help her get a fair compensation.

We sincerely hope and pray that the injured victim recovers to her complete health soon.

Continue reading "Woman Rescued from San Diego Rollover Auto Accident" »

Ronald Troyer, 67, a suspected drunken, injured three teenagers who were walking on the sidewalk in La Jolla on August 21, 2010 around 6:30 p.m. San Diego authorities reported that the three teens, Alani Agurre, 14, Miles Ploger, and Ian Brininstool, whose ages are not known, were walking on La Jolla Boulevard when a speeding Chrysler New Yorker hit them. Two more teenagers walking with them fortunately escaped unhurt.

Alani Agurre was carried for about twenty yards on the top of the car’s hood before he was thrown into the glass window of Cass Street Café and was pinned underneath the car. Agurre sustained serious injuries, including a broken arm and a broken pelvis. All three of the teenagers were immediately transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Troyer was arrested later and charged with felony drunk driving causing injury. A complete investigation is being carried out to know the exact cause of this crash. Troyer has history of drug and alcohol abuse. It will not be a surprise if he is found to be driving under the influence of any one of these.

Under California law, it is unlawful for anyone to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of any drug or alcohol per California Vehicle Code Section 23152(a). Therefore, the injured teenagers are entitled for a compensation to cover the cost of treatment of injuries, cost of hospitalization, and other related damages. Unfortunately, the magnitude of the injuries is very high in this accident. Troyer, who has a history of past drunk driving arrests and is believed to be homeless, probably does not have adequate insurance to pay for the injuries he has caused. The children’s families would be well advised to confer with an experienced San Diego personal injury attorney.

Continue reading "Three La Jolla Teens Hurt By Suspected Drunk Driver in San Diego Pedestrian Accident" »

Yesenia Mitre, 25, collided with a firefighters’ truck and left four firefighters injured. The truck was on its’ way to answer a medical emergency on the morning of June 13, 2010. According to reports, Mitre drove out directly in the lane of traffic the fire truck was travelling in close to Alpine in eastern San Diego County. Due to the collision, the fire truck lost control and hit a pole.

According to the San Diego 6 news report, Mitre was driving under the influence and was arrested. The four firefighters sustained serious injuries while Mitre sustained a broken wrist.

It is indeed an unfortunate thing that due to the negligent and intoxicated driver, the four firefighters were badly injured. It is absolutely insane that instead of giving way to the emergency truck, Mitre drove right into its path. Mitre will most likely be found to have violated California Vehicle Code Section 23152(a) which states that “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.” Under California law, it is also illegal to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher.

Continue reading "Driver Under the Influence Collides with San Diego Firefighter Truck" »

A 74 year-old woman sustained serious injuries in a pedestrian accident on June 15, 2010 when she was hit by a Nissan Sentra. According to the news report submitted in the Orange County Register, the injured pedestrian was walking with her dog in the 3100 block of Yorba Linda Boulevard in Fullerton when she was struck by the car.

Police officials stated that the injured lady might have stepped into the westbound lanes to go around the car, which was coming out of an apartment complex driveway. The injured woman was taken to a nearby hospital where she was treated for her injuries.

We wish the injured pedestrian a speedy and complete recovery and hope that her injuries are not life threatening. Normally, California law holds that drivers must give the right of way to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and at an intersection. Under California law, an intersection is any place where two streets come together at a right angle. However, even given these protections (which are set forth in California Vehicle Code Section 21950) does not relieve the pedestrian from exercising reasonable care for his safety.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Injured In Orange County Car Crash" »

The New England Journal of Medicine recently published an essay where the writing doctor recommended that family doctors begin asking their patients whether they text and drive or talk on their cellphones while driving.

The San Diego car accident lawyers at the Jurewitz Law Group take a look at the essay here.

A SUV driver was arrested and charged with hit and run causing injury on June 13, 2010, after he hit a sedan, leaving the occupants inside injured. According to the California Highway Patrol, this car crash occurred near Orangethorpe Avenue close to the northbound 57 Freeway (SR-57).

The SUV left the sedan in an upside down position at the incident scene and fled away from the scene. The driver of the SUV went west on Orangethorpe Avenue and was arrested as he drove on the southbound 57 Freeway.

We offer our sympathies to the injured victims and wish for their speedy and complete recovery. Injured victims can seek compensation for their medical bills and other relevant expenses from the SUV driver if he is determined to be negligent in causing this traffic accident. Regardless, it is inhuman to leave someone injured at the scene of an accident. There is no excuse for a hit and run accident. Not only is it a violation of California Vehicle Code Section 20001(a), but it is simply morally reprehensible that someone would cause such a major accident and then leave the scene of the accident.

Continue reading "Santa Ana Hit and Run Car Collision Causes Injuries " »

Garcia Flores, 47-years old of Florida, was killed in a Santa Barbara pedestrian accident at Coast Village Road on May 27, 2010. Flores was walking across an intersection when she was hit by a mini-van.

The mini-van was driven by a 17 -year old driver who lost control of his van and struck Flores badly, throwing her more than a few feet away towards the intersection of Coast Village and Butterfly Lane, where she died immediately. The teenager told Police Officers that his van suddenly started to veer to the right, and when he tried hitting the brakes, they didn't work. He says that is when the van jumped the curb and hit Flores. Officials found drug paraphernalia and marijuana in the teen’s minivan, but it is not certain that he was under influence of any drug or alcohol.

We offer our condolences to Flores’s family and friends for such an irreparable and tragic loss. If the teenager is found to be under the influence of drugs, we hope that he is prosecuted as an adult to the fullest extent of the law. Regardless, if the accident was caused by the teenage driver, we hope that Flores’s family consults with a personal injury attorney and obtains key advice as to how to balance the scales of justice in this case. They will never be made whole—Flores is dead and cannot be brought back—but the civil justice system can at least help minimize some of the loss.

Continue reading "Florida Woman Killed in Santa Barbara Pedestrian Accident " »

A woman was injured in a tragic Orange County pedestrian accident on May 14, 2010, at El Camino Real and Avenida Pico at San Clemente, when she was struck by a car while she crossing the street. Officials reported that the car driver, who was believed to be under the influence of alcohol, hit her and fled from the scene.

The victim was immediately taken to a local hospital where she received medical treatment for her injuries. Police have described the hit and run vehicle as a Saab, but no one has been taken into custody as yet.

We hope that the driver is caught and brought to justice. There are few things worse than a person who causes a serious injury and flees the scene of the accident without helping the person they injured. Before the accident, the driver was facing a driving under the influence criminal charge. Now, after leaving the scene, the driver is now about to be charged with felony drunk driving and hit-and-run with injury. California Vehicle Code 20001(a) requires those responsible for causing an accident to remain at the scene until authorities arrive, to exchange insurance and contact information, and to assist the injury victim.

Continue reading "Women Injured In San Clemente Hit & Run Accident " »

A teenager was injured on Tuesday in Buena Park when he was stuck by a 1996 Ford Ranger. The injuries are believed to be minor to moderate. The teenager sustained some cuts and abrasions and was treated at a local emergency and discharged.

The accident happened at Knott Avenue south of the 91 Freeway around at 9:12 p.m. Buena Park Sgt. Bill Kohanek stated that the 17-year old teenager was running towards a van parked on Knott Avenue that was about to pick him up. He was accompanied by another teen and both boys were returning to the van after doing door-to-door sales. The other teen made it to the van but the second boy was struck by the truck. The van was scheduled to take them home somewhere in the Los Angeles area.

Police are still investigating the pedestrian accident.

Our office wishes the teen boy a speedy recovery and a healthy life ahead. We should all be more careful and aware of our surroundings while walking on the road as we are more vulnerable to injuries from drivers who may not be looking out for pedestrians or bicyclists. Drivers should also drive slow and carefully in residential and highly populated areas.

Continue reading "Buena Park Pedestrian Accident Injures Orange County Teen" »

The Los Angeles Police reported that a man lost his life when he was hit by a woman driver who accidentally accelerated in a 7-Eleven parking lot. The pedestrian accident at Reseda and Burbank Boulevards around 9 p.m. on Monday, May 3, 2010, when the man was walking into the store to do some shopping.

Valley Traffic Division investigators remained at the car crash scene on Tuesday morning, more than five hours after the fatality to determine the cause of the traffic accident. The woman was found not to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If that is the case, then the accident is most likely due to the pedestrian suddenly entering the path of the car, the driver being inattentive, or both.

We wish the family of the accident victim our prayers and condolences. There is nothing worse than losing a loved one. Drivers should always be careful when driving to look out for pedestrians, skateboarders, or other possible sudden impediments to their car’s path. Drivers should never assume that sudden danger will not prevent themselves.

Continue reading "Fatal Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Happens in Parking Lot" »

An El Cajon jury reached a verdict regarding a Nov. 21, 2009 car crash that killed 35-year old Cydil Deann Kohlmeyer. The guilty driver was sentenced for 15 years on the charges of misdemeanor hit-and-run and gross vehicular manslaughter for driving while intoxicated.

The guilty, 53-year-old Deborah Felix, had fatally injured Kohlmeyer, a mother of three, while driving drunk along Pepper Drive in El Cajon. Felix had also managed to strike mailboxes and a pickup after hitting the victim. Felix will be sentenced on May 11 by El Cajon Judge Lantz Lewis. Jurors also found Felix guilty of a sentence-enhancing allegation that she had fled the scene of the accident after committing the crime. According to Felix, she wanted to urinate and had gone farther away from the scene to relieve herself. What a silly and inexcusable reason to leave the scene of the accident!

Our office is in agreement with the verdict and hope that Felix serves all of her time for taking the life of Ms. Kohlmeyer. People driving under influence should be punished harshly. We hope that other drivers learn from this, and restrain themselves from drinking and driving. If a drunk driver is unfortunate enough to cause an accident, please be responsible enough to stay at the scene and try to assist the injured until help arrives.

Continue reading "San Diego DUI Driver that Killed Mother Found Guilty" »

A 28-year old Hollywood stuntwoman lost her life in a fatal Los Angeles motorcycle accident that happened on April 6, 2010 on the Ventura Freeway in Studio City.

The deceased, April E. Stirton of North Hollywood, was on the 101 Freeway going over 55 miles per hour when she lost balance of her Yamaha Roadstar and fell down. The Roadster jammed under a big rig and she was hit by the rear wheels of a tow truck. According to California Highway Patrol, Stirton was drug for nearly 10 miles before the truck driver realized what had happened. Stirton has worked on shows like CSI and True Blood.

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Our office offers our heartfelt prayers and condolences to the friends and family of Stirton. It is sad to have lost such a remarkable stuntwoman while doing something what she is good at. It is even more horrible that her body was drug for nearly 10 miles before the truck pulled over. Didn’t the truck driver feel the impact? Didn’t he sense that his truck was not driving properly? How did he not notice?

Continue reading "Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Kills Stuntwoman" »

Nine people were injured in a San Diego bus accident that occurred between a Metropolitan Transit System and a Mitsubishi Eclipse in the City Heights area of San Diego on March 24, 2010 around 3:40 p.m.

The car driver was apparently drunk and ran a red light at the University Avenue intersection with 37th Street. He then collided into the bus that was eastbound on the 37th Street. The car rammed into the bus just behind its front wheels which made the Eclipse spin. The drunk driver fled from the scene on foot. The collision caused back and neck pains to nine of the forty passengers.

Our office hopes for the young driver of the Eclipse is caught as soon as possible and prosecuted. He should be charged for such reckless behavior and for felony drunk driving causing injury. Driving while intoxicated is inexcusable, particularly when it causes serious injury.

Continue reading "San Diego Bus Accident Injures Nine People" »

In an unavoidable auto accident, a 40-year old San Ysidro man was severely injured when an elderly driver mistook the accelerator for the brake and rammed into the injured man’s SUV parked outside a Costco on Morena Boulevard in San Diego. The car accident took place around 3:10 p.m on March 21, 2010.

The 86-year old driver Ray Ehlers was pulling out of a disabled-parking stall but shifted to neutral instead of reverse. When the car didn’t move as he stepped on the gas and revved the engine harder. In the meantime, the gear had dropped to reverse and the car peeled backward, hitting a Mercedes-Benz before ramming into Miguel Rodriguez’s family SUV, where Rodriguez and his wife were loading plants.

The impact sent the SUV spinning, and their young sons, eating pizza in the back seat, were thrown out through an open door. Ehlers ran over Rodriguez, narrowly missing Rodriguez’s wife, because the SUV was spinning around her. Rodriguez has been admitted in Scripps Hospital and is being treated for a broken pelvis, a punctured lung and internal bleeding. His sons suffered from scrapes and minor injuries. Ehlers’ license has been revoked and he will not be charged with a crime.

Our office wishes Mr. Rodriguez a quick recovery. Yet again the driving ability of the elderly, as a whole, has come to light due to the inattention and negligence of an elderly driver. The fact of the matter remains that reaction times and motor skills diminish with age. Also, it is not unheard of for elderly drivers to mistake the gas pedal for the brake because they are confused or disoriented, the result of medical conditions, medications, or even the thickness of orthopedic shoes. Given these facts, how safe is it for elderly drivers to be driving? What additional steps and protections are reasonable for the public to be protected and rest assured that the number of unqualified elderly drivers has been reduced?

Continue reading "San Diego Car Accident Caused When Elderly Man Confuses Gas and Brake Pedals" »

A 29-year old Murrieta man died in a fatal Riverside County car accident on northbound Interstate 15 (I-15) near the Temecula Parkway. The accident happened on March 20, 2010 at around 4:30 a.m. The car crash happened primarily due to a disabled vehicle without headlights.

The victim, Miguel Vega, when his car hit the guard rail on the stretch of the downhill freeway, spun out, and stopped across two traffic lanes with no headlights. The driver of an oncoming car did not see Vega's car in the predawn darkness until it was too late to avoid the crash and struck it on the side. The car spun around and was then hit by a second car. Vega was pronounced dead at the scene.

Our office wishes to offer our heartfelt prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Vega. This accident is tragic. One wonders why Vega lost control of the vehicle in the first place and that thought will most likely haunt his friends and family. It would be reasonable to believe that, given the time the accident occurred, that Vega had fallen asleep at the wheel prior to striking the guardrail. However, nobody will ever truly know.

Regardless of the cause of the auto accident, it is a good reminder to the public to always stay alert and well-rested while driving. If you feel tired or like you are about to fall asleep, please pull over and take a quick 30 minute nap or drink some coffee and wait about 30 minutes before driving your car again.

Continue reading "Riverside County Car Accident Kills Murrieta Man" »

An Arizona tourist suffered was killed in a San Diego pedestrian accident after she was hit by a San Diego Seal Tours vehicle in Downtown San Diego on March 18, 2010. This pedestrian accident happened at West Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway around 5 p.m.

According to a SanDiego6.com story, when police officers arrived on the scene, they found a young woman lying in the street. According to police, the amphibious tour bus hit her as she was crossing Pacific Highway illegally. The bus driver on the vehicle sits about 17-feet from the ground and never saw the pedestrian coming. A passenger on the bus saw the accident and yelled “Stop”. The bus driver then exited the vehicle and started to do CPR on the woman. She was transported to UCSD Hospital with serious injuries and later died.

Our office sends our prayers and condolences to the pedestrian’s family. The loss of any human life is always tragic and this accident is no exception. We once again urge all pedestrians to be vigilant while on the road, especially when you are crossing it. Always cross the road at an intersection after you have checked that no vehicle is coming. Following these simple rules can save your life.

However, many questions still remain. Why couldn't this bus driver see the pedestrian from his very high vantage point? Did the design of the bus itself block the view or diminish the driver's ability to see the pedestrian as she was crossing the road? Was the driver distracted by the other passengers in his bus?

Continue reading "San Diego Pedestrian Accident Kills Woman After Being Struck by Tour Bus" »

39-year old San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy, Ken Collier, lost his life on February 28, 2010 in a San Diego car crash while attempting to stop a drunk driver who was speeding in the wrong direction on Interstate 15 (I-15).

The accused in this deadly car accident, Jose Pedro Lopez Jasso, 22, was found to be under heavy influence of alcohol and marijuana while he was driving the wrong way down the freeway. Last week Jasso pleaded not guilty. He has been charged with driving the wrong way, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and DUI causing death.

Our office hopes that Jasso is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We also extend support and condolences to the family and friends of Deputy Collier.

Continue reading "Fatal San Diego Wrong Way Driver Appears In Court" »

A pedestrian was left injured in San Diego hit and run auto accident that took place on March 8, 2010, in the Midway area of San Diego. The pedestrian accident occurred around 6:15p.m.

The victim was found lying face down near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Cauby Street by the San Diego Police Department and a white pick-up truck was seen speeding away from the scene of the accident. The injured pedestrian was taken to UCSD Medical Center for treatment.

Our office prays for a quick recovery for the injured pedestrian. Though it’s yet unclear whose negligence caused this accident, it goes without saying that both the driver and the pedestrian need to be careful while on the road. Pedestrians must always cross the street from a designated crosswalk or at an intersection. As for drivers, besides respecting the speed limit, it is well advised to keep a look out on both sides of the road.

Continue reading "San Diego Hit And Run Car Accident Leaves Pedestrian Injured" »

An intoxicated 50-year old man in a wheelchair was struck by a car on March 7, 2010, when he rolled into a street from between two parked cars. The San Diego pedestrian accident took place about 2 a.m. in the 2800 block of University Avenue.

The victim, whose name has been withheld by police, was hit by a Honda sedan driven by a female motorist, reported San Diego Police Officer David Stafford. He suffered serious injuries to one of his legs and was taken to a hospital.

Our office wishes a quick recovery to the victim. However, this accident is a good reminder that people need to be more careful and alert while crossing road. Attempting to cross a road, when you are not in full view of a driver, especially from between two parked cars, is very dangerous. The safest place to cross the street is at a designated crosswalk. If that is not available, then the next best place is to cross at an intersection. In either case, even if the pedestrian has the right of way via a traffic signal, a pedestrian should not cross the street before checking to make sure it is safe from crossing vehicles.

Continue reading "San Diego Pedestrian Accident Injures Man in Wheelchair" »

An 18-year old pedestrian lost his life in a Carlsbad pedestrian accident on March 5, 2010. The incident took place along Palomar Airport Road between El Camino Real and Camino Vida Roble, near where Carlsbad, Vista, and San Marcos intersect in North San Diego County, around 9:45 p.m.

A witness to the accident called in the paramedics immediately following the auto vs. pedestrian accident. According to reports, the man was struck by two cars as he was crossing Palomar Airport Road. The first vehicle did not stop and the driver of a second vehicle was stopped by the Carlsbad Police after it struck the man in the road. The second driver did not realize he had struck the man in the road. The Carlsbad Police is continuing investigation after inspecting the crime scene.

Our office forwards our condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. We also wish that the police will track down and arrest the driver of the first vehicle—the one that struck and killed this pedestrian. There is nothing more infuriating than a careless and negligent driver who causes significant injury or death who does not stop to assist the person they just hurt. We understand that it is scary when you realize that you have injured someone with your car, but there is no excuse to ever leave the scene of an accident. Your presence is necessary to contact emergency service personnel and to perhaps provide basic life saving techniques until the ambulance can arrive. When you leave the scene of an accident, you take away that hope.

Continue reading "Carlsbad Pedestrian Accident Kills Teenager" »

A 76-year old man was arrested on February 26, 2010 for suspicion of being involved in a San Diego hit-and-run car crash in which a pedestrian was seriously injured. The injured woman, 56, had been struck by a car while walking across Market Street at 42 Street around 11 p.m. in the Mount Hope area of San Diego.

According to San Diego Police Officer David Stafford, the car's driver had run a red light when the pedestrian accident occurred. The driver then sped off, only to be later found and arrested in Santee. The driver’s name was not immediately released. The woman suffered severe injuries and was taken to a hospital.

Our office wishes a speedy recovery for the injured pedestrian. Unfortunately, pedestrians always lose when faced with cars violating their right of way. As for the arrested man, we have to say that it is really disheartening to know that he first broke ran the red light and violated the pedestrian’s right of way and, then, sped away after injuring her. At least, stop to help! The driver is now most likely facing felony hit and run charges. Prosecutors will typically charge drivers with this crime when a serious injury such as a broken bone occurs or when the victim needs surgery and the driver flees the scene of the auto accident.

Continue reading "Man Arrested in San Diego Hit-And-Run Car Wreck" »

An 18-year old boy was arrested for crashing his car into a house in Claremont on February 22, 2010. This San Diego car crash incident took place at around 2:30 a.m. at a house in the 4800 block of Dubois Street.

Though the house was occupied, nobody was injured because of the auto accident. The teenage driver, whose name was not immediately released, was arrested on suspicion of driving under influence(DUI) said San Diego Police Officer Jane Jacobsen.

Driving during the early hours of the morning, particularly under the influence of alcohol, is very dangerous. This accident was further compounded by an inexperienced teenage driver who is most likely not as capable as a more experienced driver even under the best of circumstances. In this case, the driver is lucky that no one was hurt. But just think what would have happened if as a result of the teen driver’s recklessness someone would have died or been severely injured? We urge all parents to make sure that their children understand the gravity of the issue and stress that driving under the influence of alcohol is a recipe that can lead to serious injury or death.

Continue reading "San Diego DUI Auto Accident Ends With Car Crashing Into Clairemont House" »

According to a recent study conducted by Insurance.com, 44% of lawyers and judges -- a higher percentage than any other profession -- reported to insurance companies while comparison shopping for auto insurance that they had been involved in a prior driving accident. This is the highest accident rate amongst any profession included in this survey. The findings were published in a list entitled Top 10 Most Dangerous Drivers by Profession.

This is a higher rate of accidents than those reported by interstate truck drivers, financial professionals, waiters, or government workers. According to Insurance.com Vice President Sam Belden, the higher rate of auto accidents months lawyers and judges as well as financial professionals, who came in second, is because these professions demand multitasking, have higher stress, and require professionals to be focused on multiple tasks at the same time. According to Belden, this leads to more accidents.

However, government workers came in third. This profession is not typically known for high-pressure schedules and its workers are typically just as prone to multitasking as lawyers or judges.

The safest drivers, according to the study, were athletes and homemakers. Belden believes that homemakers are very safe drivers because they tend to take your time while driving and use greater caution because they're typically driving with their children in their vehicles. In addition, homemakers and athletes also tend not to drive during rush hour when most car accidents occur.

You can find the complete Insurance.com study here.

Ross Jurewitz is an San Diego personal injury lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a San Diego law firm dedicated to representing people seriously injured and the families of people killed by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a San Diego injury accident, please call Mr. Jurewitz at 888-233-5020 for a free consultation.

In addition, if you would like more information to help you or your family, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz's book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is free to all California residents.

A 35-year old jogger was killed on February 16, 2010, in a San Diego pedestrian accident when she darted into the path of an oncoming car while running with her husband and their two dogs in the East County neighborhood of Lakeside, according to authorities. The woman apparently failed to see the northbound late-model Ford Mustang when she crossed the 9400 block of Los Coches Road in the Winter Gardens area shortly before 9 a.m.

The motorist, an El Cajon woman in her early 50s, told investigators she did not see the jogger until she ran directly in front of her car.

Our office wishes to convey our sincere prayers and condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. We urge the joggers in San Diego County to be more careful. It is better advised to jog in parks rather than on roads when possible. But if you are jogging on roadways, please look out for motorists who may not expect to see you run across intersections. And please, motorists, keep an eye out for the unexpected—including pedestrians, joggers, and bicyclists.

Ross Jurewitz is an San Diego pedestrian accident lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a San Diego law firm dedicated to representing people seriously injured and the families of people killed by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a San Diego auto accident, please call Mr. Jurewitz at 888-233-5020 for a free consultation.

In addition, if you would like more information to help you or your family following an San Diego car accident, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz's book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is free to all California residents.

A man and woman were seriously injured in a San Diego County motorcycle accident on February 14, 2009, as the motorcycle they were riding was struck by a car at a Carlsbad Village intersection in North San Diego County.

The victims were traveling on Carlsbad Boulevard around 11:20 a.m. when a car driven by a teenage girl, a resident of Upland, CA, pulled out from the intersection of Christiansen Way and collided with their motorcycle. The woman, who was riding pillion, was flown to a hospital, and the male driver was transported by ground ambulance. The teenage car driver was not arrested.

Our office wishes a speedy recovery to the people who were injured in this serious motorcycle crash. We urge all drivers to drive a little more carefully and responsibly so as to ensure that no one faces any harm while travelling on the road.

Ross Jurewitz is a San Diego motorcycle accident lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a law firm with offices in San Diego and Carlsbad dedicated to representing people seriously injured and the families of people killed by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a Carlsbad motorcycle accident, please call Mr. Jurewitz at 888-233-5020 for a free consultation.

In addition, if you would like more information to help you or your family following a motorcycle wreck, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz's book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is free to all California residents.

The Police Chief of Riverside is being investigated after a single-vehicle hit-and-run crash in his city-issued car occurred about 3 a.m. on February 9, 2010. The Police Chief, Russ Leach, has been put on medical leave.

Leach's black Chrysler 300 jumped the curb at Central and Hillside Avenues in Riverside and struck a fire hydrant and light pole according to officials. He continued on for roughly three miles despite a hanging fender and two blown tires. Chief Leach was stopped at Arlington Avenue and Rutland Road after police received reports that his car had been throwing up sparks.

In his defense, Russ Leach said that he was disoriented on prescription drugs when he crashed. "I don't have full memory of this," Leach said of his drive. "But I take absolute full responsibility for what happened."

In light of this incident it has to be said that people need to be more careful when they drive. Those taking prescription drugs should try to abstain from driving. If you are not too careful you might end up hurting yourself and others!

Ross Jurewitz is a Riverside car accident lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a San Diego, CA law firm dedicated to representing people seriously injured and the families of people killed by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a Riverside County auto accident, please call Mr. Jurewitz at 888-233-5020 for a free consultation.

In addition, if you would like more information to help you or your family following a California car crash, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz's book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is free to all California residents.

A 13-year old Lake Elsinore girl was killed in a Riverside County pedestrian accident on February 5, 2010, as she and another teen were struck by a Toyota pickup while crossing Mission Trail Road near the intersection at Malaga Road in Lake Elsinore. This tragic car vs. pedestrian accident took place around 7:55 p.m.

The victim, Mandy Reyes, died within a few minutes of the auto accident, where as the other teenager sustained minor injuries to both legs. The preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the pick-up was traveling south on Mission trail in a light rain when he collided with two juveniles, reported Riverside County Sheriff Sgt. Marc Cloutier.

Our office wishes to convey our sincere prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Mandy Reyes. It is just so tragic to lose someone so young! We hope pedestrians be more careful while they attempt to cross the roads.

Ross Jurewitz is a Riverside pedestrian accident lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a San Diego, law firm dedicated to representing people seriously injured and the families of people killed by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a Lake Elsinore auto accident, please call Mr. Jurewitz at 888-233-5020 for a free consultation.

In addition, if you would like more information to help you or your family following a pedestrian accident, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz's book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is free to all California residents.

A 38-year old bicycle rider lost his life in a San Diego auto accident when a city dump truck slammed into the cyclist on February 8, 2010 around 12:50 p.m. This tragic bike accident took place in the Oak Park area of San Diego at the intersection of 54th Avenue and Krenning Street.

The man, whose name was withheld pending notification from family, died right on the spot of the traffic accident and could not even be taken to the hospital. Though nobody else was injured, the cause of the bicycle accident is still unknown as reported by San Diego police Detective Gary Hassen.

Our office wishes to convey our sincere prayers and condolences to the family and friends of the deceased cyclist. It has to be said that the intersection at which the car accident took place is a very busy place. The downhill run from the College Grove Drive, that meets 54th street, is a rather dangerous one. Care has to be taken by all the residents of San Diego and especially the bicyclists that they are in total control of their vehicles in this area.

Ross Jurewitz is a San Diego bicycle crash lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a San Diego, CA law firm dedicated to representing people seriously injured and the families of people killed by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a San Diego bike accident, please call Mr. Jurewitz at 888-233-5020 for a free consultation.

In addition, if you would like more information to help you or your family following an injury accident, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz's book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is free to all California residents.

Two light rail passengers were injured in a San Diego trolley accident as their trolley slammed into a postal vehicle at Park Boulevard and G Street in East Village in San Diego. This auto vs. train accident took place around 11:30 a.m. on February 3, 2010.

Though no one lost their life, two passengers, a 40-year old man who uses wheelchairs and a woman in her 40s, were taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital and Kaiser Hospital, respectively. The man was treated for major trauma and the woman sustained minor injuries. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.

Trolley accidents in Downtown San Diego are not unknown. Light rail drivers are known to enter intersections on the tail end of the yellow light, thereby causing traffic snarls and blocking intersections.

Ross Jurewitz is a San Diego personal injury lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a San Diego, CA law firm dedicated to representing people seriously injured and the families of people killed by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a San Diego trolley accident, please call Mr. Jurewitz at 888-233-5020 for a free consultation.

In addition, if you would like more information to help you or your family following an injury accident, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz's book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is free to all California residents.

Providing fresh insight into the teen skateboarder killed by in a Vista hit and run car accident, a 92-year old man has turned himself in to authorities saying that he might be the careless driver. A vigil was held in memory of 15-year old Lucas Giaconelli, who lost his life in when a car struck and killed him as he was skateboarding along Thobodo Road in Vista in North San Diego County.

It was during the vigil itself that the 92-year old suspect came forward asking why the vigil was taking place. The deputy with the San Diego Sheriff's Department explained about the Vista pedestrian accident. When the deputy was finished, the man said he had been driving on the street around the time of the accident and thought he had hit a small animal. The man’s car was then examined and the damage was found to be consistent with the fatal auto accident.

It has to be said that, though we are all concerned with the way young people drive, thought also has to be given to the danger posed by senior citizens driving when they perhaps should not. Clearly, due to their age, they can sometimes cause serious threats to fellow drivers and pedestrians. In some cases, such as in this accident, their carelessness and inability to react quickly can even cause death.

Ross Jurewitz is a Vista car accident lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a San Diego, CA law firm dedicated to representing people seriously injured and the families of people killed by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a Vista auto accident, please call Mr. Jurewitz at 888-233-5020 for a free consultation.

In addition, if you would like more information to help you or your family following a hit and run auto accident or a car vs. skateboarder accident, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz's book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is free to all California residents.

A 15-year old Vista boy was killed by a hit and run driver in a tragic Vista car accident while he was skateboarding on Thibodo Road east of Edna Way. The teenager, identified as Lucas Giaconelli, was a freshman at Rancho Buena Vista High School.

This tragic accident happened on Friday, January 29,2010, around 7 p.m., when Lucas was struck from behind by a high-speed 1990 Toyota Camry while he was skateboarding with his friends. Lucas was knocked down to the street and was taken to an Escondido hospital where he succumbed to his injuries within an hour of arrival. The suspected driver was said to be driving a white model of Camry with tinted windows. It is believed to have a broken headlight and front-end damage, reported Sheriff’s Deputies.

Serious pedestrian accidents like these tend to shake our trust and faith in humanity. How cruel is it to leave anyone, most of all a child, gravely injured and bleeding on the road? The entire Vista community is shocked and grieving! Our office wishes to convey our sincere prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Lucas Giaconelli in such heartbreaking times. We hope for the accused to be caught soon.

Ross Jurewitz is a Vista personal injury lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a San Diego, CA law firm dedicated to representing people seriously injured and the families of people killed by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a Vista pedestrian accident, please call Mr. Jurewitz at 888-233-5020 for a free consultation.

In addition, if you would like more information to help you or your family following a hit and run car accident or skateboarding accident, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz's book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is free to all California residents.

A 15-year old Vista boy was killed by a hit and run driver in a tragic Vista car accident while he was skateboarding on Thibodo Road east of Edna Way. The teenager, identified as Lucas Giaconelli, was a freshman at Rancho Buena Vista High School.

This tragic accident happened on Friday, January 29, 2010, around 7 p.m., when Lucas was struck from behind by a high-speed 1990 Toyota Camry while he was skateboarding with his friends. Lucas was knocked down to the street and was taken to an Escondido hospital where he succumbed to his injuries within an hour of arrival. The suspected driver was said to be driving a white model of Camry with tinted windows. It is believed to have a broken headlight and front-end damage, reported Sheriff’s Deputies.

Serious pedestrian accidents like these tend to shake our trust and faith in humanity. How cruel is it to leave anyone, most of all a child, gravely injured and bleeding on the road? The entire Vista community is shocked and grieving! Our office wishes to convey our sincere prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Lucas Giaconelli in such heartbreaking times. We hope for the accused to be caught soon.

Ross Jurewitz is a Vista personal injury lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a San Diego, CA law firm dedicated to representing people seriously injured and the families of people killed by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a Vista pedestrian accident, please call Mr. Jurewitz at 888-233-5020 for a free consultation.

In addition, if you would like more information to help you or your family following a hit and run car accident or skateboarding accident, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz's book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is free to all California residents.

The body of a two year old boy was found around 1:30p.m on January 27, 2010, north of the Goat Canyon area of southwestern San Diego County. It was spotted near Hollister Street and Monument Road in Goat Canyon by a rescue worker of Desert Angels.

The body is believed to be that of the pre-schooler who had been washed away in a San Diego County auto accident in Tijuana River’s raging waters last Wednesday. Among the family of five, only the father survived. The bodies of the wife/mother and eldest daughter were found soon after, but those of his two kids--a 5-year old girl and her 2-year old brother--were missing. U.S. Border Patrol Agent Daryl Reed thinks that the recovered body might be that of the toddler.

The storm had caused the water in a local dam to overflow leading to difficulty in navigating the roads. The family was in their Honda Civic and was trying to cross the flooded road when the incident happened. Our prayers go out to the father who has had to face such a tragedy in his life.

If you or any of your loved ones are victims of a San Diego County car accident and are in need of assistance, don’t hesitate to contact San Diego auto accident lawyer Ross Jurewitz and the San Diego, CA personal injury attorneys of the Jurewitz Law Group for more information. You can also contact these California injury lawyers at 888-233-5020 or online for helpful information and a free initial consultation.

For more information on auto, motorcycle, or other forms of accidents, order a free copy of The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case by Mr. Ross Jurewitz. You can order the book from the official Jurewitz website immediately

Finally, after much investigation, the identity of a man who died from an car crash in Oceanside was revealed by authorities yesterday as Richard W. Elmore. 95 years old and a widow, the San Diego County medical examiner said that Elmore was found unresponsive in his car on Friday, January 22, along the 1900 block of Henie Hills Drive in Oceanside. He was declared dead at 6:16 p.m. shortly after he was brought to the Tri-City Hospital’s emergency room by paramedics. He was given advanced cardiac life support while on the way to the hospital.

According to authorities, Elmore’s car accident and subsequent death was accidental in nature and involved serious trauma to his spine as a result of the force of the collision. Despite this, it is unknown when the car crash happened and Oceanside police are investigating the case.

This appears to be just one of the many San Diego auto accidents that could have been prevented with awareness and care when driving. It is important therefore to always remember safety and traffic rules when on the road to avoid such losses as Elmore’s case. Nevertheless, the loss of life is always tragic and we want to pass our thoughts and prayers along to Mr. Elmore’s family for their loss.

If you are in need of assistance following an Oceanside auto accident, please call San Diego car accident lawyer Ross Jurewitz and the San Diego personal injury lawyers at the Jurewitz Law Group. They will be able to assist you in whatever case you have. You may contact these California personal injury attorneys at 888-233-5020 or online through the official website. You will be given a free consultation and helpful information regarding your San Diego auto or truck accident.

For more information on how to win your car accident case, you can order the free book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case, written by Mr. Ross Jurewitz himself. It’s free for all California residents and is ready for download from the official website.

We've written before about Benetta Buell-Wilson's ongoing fight with Ford Motor Company regarding her record breaking $369 million trial court verdict after her Ford Explorer rolled over on Interstate 8 (I-8), which left her paralyzed due to a crushed spine (Crippled San Diego Injury Victim Beats Ford Motor Co.; Record San Diego Roll-Over Verdict to be Reviewed).

Well, Buell-Wilson won again and this time it is final. Ms. Buell-Wilson has been fighting since she was injured earlier this decade and for the last five years since a San Diego jury awarded her $369 million, including $27.6 million in compensatory damages and nearly $340 million in punitive damages. After several appeals, including a reduction of the total verdict to $82 million, the United States Supreme Court finally ended this legal ordeal by failing to accept Ford Motor Company's appeal. Ford will now be forced to pay Buell-Wilson the $82 million verdict.

In June 2002, Buell-Wilson was severely injured and paralyzed while she was driving on I-8 near Tavern Road in Alpine in East San Diego County. The San Diego County auto accident occurred when she swerved to avoid an object on the freeway, causing her vehicle to roll over several times and come to rest on its' roof. Buell-Wilson alleged that the design of the Ford Explorer because it was unstable and had a weak roof, particularly at its' "C pillar" behind the front seat and in front of the rear seat.

Congratulations to Buell-Wilson and her husband. It takes a great deal of determination and courage to fight a multi-billion dollar company like Ford to get the compensation one deserves and to punish Ford for its' knowing failure to make a safe vehicle. We hope they now have peace.

A woman's body was found near the intersection of southbound SR-163 and Interstate 8 in San Diego on Saturday morning. The woman is believed to be the victim of a hit and run car accident along the 163 freeway. California Highway Patrol closed the Hotel Circle offramp to investigate the crime scene.

There is no excuse to leave the scene of the accident when you strike and injure another human being. The quick action of another person shortly after an accident can make the difference in saving an injured person's life. People who leave the scene of the accident are selfish and are not thinking of anyone but themselves when they leave the scene of an accident. We hope that the person who struck and killed this woman will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

If you or a loved one has ever been injured or killed in a San Diego auto accident, contact San Diego car crash lawyer Ross Jurewitz and the San Diego car accident attorneys of the Jurewitz Law Group at (619) 233-5020. You may also contact these San Diego, CA personal injury lawyers online here.

A woman crossing the intersection of Rancho Bernardo Road and Pomerado Boulevard in the Rancho Bernardo area of San Diego was struck and killed as she walked with a small child. The elderly female driver of the car was not charged as a result of the collision and it was unclear what the relationship was between the woman and the child.

We are deeply saddened to learn about this accident. At the time of this story it is unclear how or why the accident occurred. However, it is always tragic when a life is lost and our thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family for their loss.

If you or a loved one has ever been injured or killed in a San Diego auto accident, contact San Diego car wreck lawyer Ross Jurewitz and the San Diego car accident attorneys of the Jurewitz Law Group at (619) 233-5020. You may also contact these San Diego, CA personal injury lawyers online here.

A San Diego DUI car accident killed a pedestrian when she was struck while walking along the sidewalk in Poway, CA. Kristen Bedard was walking northbound along Community Road on November 23, 2009, when she was struck by a southbound car driven by Becky Marie Anderson. Anderson's car veered off the road and hit Bedard. Bedard was declared dead on the scene and San Diego County Sheriff's Deputies arrested Anderson for DUI and vehicular manslaughter.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kristen Bedard's family and friends for their loss. There is no excuse for someone to be intoxicated and driving a car, let alone intoxicated enough to veer across the road and strike a person in an early morning car accident. We recommend that they consult with a qualified, experienced, and aggressive San Diego personal injury attorney who can provide them with a free consultation and advice.

If you or a loved one has ever been injured or killed in a San Diego pedestrian accident, contact San Diego car crash lawyer Ross Jurewitz and the San Diego car accident attorneys of the Jurewitz Law Group at (619) 233-5020. You may also contact these San Diego, CA personal injury lawyers online here.

A San Diego County boy was struck by a motor vehicle in Rancho Penasquitos, leaving him seriously injured, according to police. The boy is only 15 years old.

The collision occurred just after 7 a.m. when the boy was trying to run across Carmel Mountain Road on the 13500 block of the residential neighborhood. San Diego police officer Brad Ruff reports that the teenager was around Defreitas Avenue on Carmel Mountain Road. The boy suffered a compound fracture in his left leg, and needed paramedic assistance to take him to a hospital, where he was treated. Due to the injury, Black Mountain Road heading south was closed between Oviedo Street and Carmel Mountain Road closed until 11 a.m. for the accident to be investigated.

If you or a loved one has ever been injured or killed in a San Diego pedestrian accident, contact San Diego, CA pedestrian accident lawyer Ross Jurewitz and the San Diego personal injury lawyers of the Jurewitz Law Group at (619) 233-5020. You may also contact these San Diego injury lawyers online here

A pedestrian walking along Interstate 8 near College Avenue in San Diego was killed on September 3, 2009, when they were struck by a car. The accident happened on the westbound lanes near the SDSU campus around 1 a.m.

The victim was declared dead at the scene. Their name has not yet been released but it was determined that alcohol was not a factor in causing the pedestrian accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a San Diego pedestrian accident, contact San Diego pedestrian accident lawyer Ross Jurewitz and the San Diego, CA personal injury attorneys of the Jurewitz Law Group at (619) 233-5020. You may also contact these California injury lawyers online here for a free consultation.

For a free copy of our California injury book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Injury Case, contact our office. It is full of helpful information for injury accident victims and is free to all Californians.

A concert was held on August 29, 2009,to honor and benefit a young girl who was struck by a car while on vacation and remains in critical condition even today. Rebecca Martin, 11, has been hospitalized in Southern California since August 13, when she was struck by a car while crossing the street near her grandmother's house.

She had even been inside of the crosswalk, but the car going 30 mph hit her regardless, throwing her 15-20 feet in the air before she landed on the hood of the vehicle. She had to be transported to the University of Southern California Medical Center, where she still lays in stable condition, although with a fractured pelvis, bruised lungs, and brain injury. She is still unresponsive and in a coma, and sister Victoria regularly updates her feelings on the situation via CaringBridge.org.

The benefit concert entitled ''Becca Shines'', is scheduled for Saturday at 7p.m. at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School, 701 Long Valley Road in Garderville, Nevada.

If you or a loved one has ever died or been injured in a Southern California car accident, contact California auto accident lawyer Ross Jurewitz and the California personal injury lawyers of the Jurewitz Law Group at (619) 233-5020. You may also contact these California injury lawyers online here

A Southern California boy was killed last week when he was crossing a street in Los Angeles. The 14-year-old boy from Inglewood named Semaj Spencer was the tragic victim of this hit and run pedestrian accident. The suspect of the death has been charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and a felony count of leaving the scene of an accident.

Prosecutors in the case note that 40-year-old Andre Thompson of South Los Angeles had also been charged on Thursday with driving under a suspended or revoked license, which is considered a misdemeanor in California. Thompson has pleaded not guilty to his charges in an Inglewood Superior Court, however. He also reportedly turned himself into police earlier this week and was subsequently arrested in the death of young Semaj Spencer. The teen boy was struck by the vehicle and killed last Sunday when he crossed the road at Imperial Highway in Los Angeles.

If you or a loved one has ever been injured or killed in a Los Angeles hit and run car accident, contact Los Angeles car accident lawyer Ross Jurewitz and the other Los Angeles injury lawyers at the Jurewitz Law Group at (619) 233-5020. You may also contact these Los Angeles, CA personal injury attorneys online here.

Interstate 5 (I-5 or "the 5") freeway is the major north-south freeway running along San Diego County's coastline. It is a very heavily traveled road and is the site of many traffic accidents, including car wrecks, motorcycle accidents, and truck crashes.

We have added a new web report on our San Diego personal injury website that addresses Interstate 5 car accidents. Check it out.

The Interstate 15 (I-15 or "the 15") freeway runs along the inland part of San Diego County and runs north from National City through Escondido and Temecula in the north until it reaches Nevada near Las Vegas.

I-15 is a highly traveled shipping lane for interstate trucks and big-rigs. Because of their larger size and reduced maneuverability, we see an increased number of motor vehicle accidents along the freeway, including car accidents, truck crashes, and motorcycle wrecks.

We have added a new web report on our San Diego injury accident website about Interstate 15 trucking accidents and car wrecks. Check it out.

A 12-year-old San Diego County boy ran a stop sign while riding a scooter, which resulted in a minivan vs. scooter accident in San Marcos, producing devastating results. A sheriff's deputy reported that the boy was airlifted to San Diego's Rady's Children's Hospital for treatment.

The boy had been riding the popular Razor scooter along with two other boys on Pommel Way southbound at 7:45 p.m. on July 25, 2009, when they went through a stop sign at Palomarcos Avenue, and he collided with a minivan that was crossing through the intersection at the time. The driver of the minivan had attempted to avoid collision, swerving and successfully missing the first two boys, but struck the third, inducing a serious head injury and possible traumatic brain injury (TBI) to him.

Continue reading "San Diego Boy Hospitalized After San Marcos Scooter Crash" »

The results of a study conducted by the Automobile Association of America has shown that driving-while texting (DWT) increases the likelihood of being involved in a car accident by a staggering 50 percent. A similar study also showed that DWT was considerably more dangerous than driving while under the influence (DUI).

One of the studies simulated driving with a light turning red on the dashboard to show a car stopping suddenly in front. Results showed that it took longer and required a much greater distance for a DWT driver to stop than a DUI driver. According to this particular scenario, texting is significantly worse than being drunk when operating a motorcycle or motor vehicle.

While the rate of auto accident deaths due to DWTs increases, researchers at the University of Utah have developed a device they named Key2SafeDriving which blocks all cell phones in a car that has its ignition turned on. This program would allow calls to 911 and other special numbers the override the disarming. DWTs is a significant problem not only on freeways and streets, but on train and trolley tracks as well. Recently in Southern California, a commuter train engineer ran a red light while texting and caused a train crash that killed 25 people and injured 130 others.

Continue reading "Study Shows Driving While Texting More Dangerous than DUI" »

On the evening of July 7, 2009, a 4-year-old girl from Carlsbad was hit by a car and flown to San Diego's Rady Children's Hospital after the accident to treat serious injuries.

Carlsbad fire Battalion Chief Mike Lopez reported that it had happened on the 3400 block of Monroe Street just near Carlsbad High School. The girl suffered from a broken leg when she was boarded onto the medical helicopter to be flown in for treatment, but that at the time she was conscious and alert.

The motor vehicle and pedestrian collision was ruled an accident, and the driver was not arrested. The girl was hit while chasing a ball out into the street as a northbound Chevrolet Suburban was approaching and struck her leg. As of last Wednesday, she was doing okay in the hospital. You can read more about this Carlsbad pedestrian accident in this North County Times story.

Continue reading "4-Year-Old Child Hit in Carlsbad Pedestrian Accident" »

An Oceanside motorcycle crash on Highway 76 near the Interstate 5 onramp on June 28 was reportedly caused by a hit-and-run SUV driver who had fled the scene, along with his two passengers.

The accident occurred around 7 p.m. on Sunday when the driver of a GMC Yukon ran a red light on westbound 76 as they drove toward the onramp, which then caused the motorcycle coming towards them to broadside the SUV. The passenger on the motorcycle was a 20-year-old Escondido woman who was ejected and crashed through one of the Yukon's windows and ultimately landing inside of the SUV. The driver of the motorcycle, known only as a man from Escondido, crashed into the SUV and landed on the road. Both riders from the motorcycle had to be flown to a San Diego trauma center with non-life threatening injuries. You can read more about this Oceanside hit-and-run motorcycle accident in this North County Times story.

Continue reading "Oceanside Motorcycle Accident Caused by Hit-and-Run SUV Driver" »

A 32-year-old cyclist from San Diego was hospitalized with major head injuries on June 29 after having crashed into a parked vehicle while he was riding his bicycle, San Diego police authorities have reported.

The man had not been wearing a helmet, and crashed around the 3200 block of J Street in downtown San Diego around 2:20 p.m. on Sunday. It is believed that excessive speed had prevented him from making a safe turn onto 33rd Street, according to San Diego police Sgt. Ramona Hastings. You can read more about this San Diego bicycle accident in this 10news.com story.

Continue reading "San Diego Cyclist Hospitalized After Hitting Parked Car" »

A Wednesday evening motorcycle crash in San Diego County's El Cajon last week had left one man dead who had been traveling on his motorcycle. The rider was recently identified by the San Diego Union-Tribune as 37-year-old Lance Michael Hagerty. Hagerty had been killed when his motorcycle rear-ended a pickup truck as it was attempting to turn into a driveway about 5 p.m. in El Cajon on West Bradley Avenue near Wing Avenue, according to the county Medical Examiner's Officer. Hagerty had lived and worked in El Cajon.

Hagerty was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision and was riding a newer-model sport bike, according to El Cajon police. He was taken to a hospital after the wreck, where he died. The westbound traffic on Bradley Avenue had been diverted for about five hours as investigators examiner the scene, police said. The driver of the pickup truck had not been hurt. You can read more about this San Diego motorcycle accident in this SignOnSanDiego.com story.

If you or anyone you know has ever been injured or killed in a San Diego motorcycle accident, please contact San Diego motorcycle wreck attorney Ross Jurewitz and the San Diego personal injury lawyers at the Jurewitz Law Group at (619) 233-5020. You may also contact these San Diego injury attorneys online here

A pedestrian on San Diego's State Route 94 who was killed last week has recently been identified.

Patrick Edward Crowe, 51, was the victim of the fatal pedestrian accident in San Diego when he was reportedly dancing on the shoulder of highway state Route 94 when he ran into traffic last week was identified on Tuesday by the Medical Examiner's Officer.

Continue reading "Fatal San Diego Pedestrian Accident on State Route 94" »

A San Diego man lost his SUV, phone, and wallet to an armed carjacker in the early morning hours in south San Diego on Sunday morning.

The driver was heading home around 5 a.m. when a man with a gun confronted him while he was at a stop sign near Imperial Avenue and 54th Street in Emerald Hills, according to police. The gunman got in and then ordered the driver to drive around. When they reached Hanna Street near 54th Street, the gunman took the driver's cell phone and wallet and then ordered him out of the car before he sped off in it.

You can read more about this San Diego car theft and carjacking in this SignOnSanDiego.com story.

Continue reading "San Diego Car Theft and Carjacking Near Imperial Avenue" »

The case involving off-duty San Diego Police Officer Frank White has finally been settled. On Monday, a jury found Officer White not guilty in this road-rage car accident that occurred in Oceanside in March of 2008 that culminated in the shooting of a woman and her young son. Officer White, 29, was acquitted of a felony count of grossly negligent discharge of a firearm and a misdemeanor count of exhibiting a firearm.

Prosecutors of the case argued that White was an easily-angered man who had no justification for not only displaying his revolver, but also firing five rounds into Rachel Silva's car at night on March 15, 2008. Silva had been struck twice in the arm and her son was struck in the leg. Deputy District Attorney Jeff Dusek noted that as a trained police officer, White should have taken other steps to diffuse the situation that brought about the shootings. White had been off-duty and not in uniform at the time it happened, and his wife Jacquellyn was reportedly with him at the time.

You can read more about this Oceanside car accident and road rage incident in this SignOnSanDiego.com story.

Continue reading "San Diego Police Department Officer Acquitted for Oceanside Car Accident and Road Rage Assault" »

The victim of the Normal Heights hit-and-run fatality in San Diego County previously reported on by the Jurewitz Law Group (Police Search for Suspect in Fatal San Diego Hit-and-Run Car Accident)has recently been identified. Yesterday, the man killed while walking across the 3200 block of Meade Ave at 1:30 a.m. was made known to be Carl Marvin Duresseau, 53.

Duresseau suffered massive head injuries when he was hit by a car traveling eastbound on Meade Avenue, after which the vehicle that hit him sped off. Duresseau died at the scene. The only details known of the car was that it was a newer white hatchback. You can read more about this San Diego pedestrian accident in this 10news.com story.

Continue reading "Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident Victim Identified" »

San Diego police are searching for the driver of a car that allegedly left the scene of the fatal hit-and-run auto accident that occurred early Sunday morning in the Normal Heights neighborhood of San Diego.

The victim of the accident, who is only known so far as a male in his 30s, was struck and killed just after 1:30 a.m. around the 3200 block of Meade Ave. The victim was hit by another vehicle and the victim suffered massive head injuries before being declared dead at the scene. There was no reported license plate of the suspected car that drove off, it was only described as a newer white hatchback. You can read more about this pedestrian accident in San Diego in this Examiner.com story.

Continue reading "Police Search for Suspect in Fatal San Diego Hit-and-Run Car Accident" »

A woman on a bicycle coming home from a bar on the morning of June 12, 2009, in Encinitas was severly injured when she was hit by a van. The victim and her girlfriend were riding their bikes home on southbound Pacific Coast Highway 101 near Chesterfield Drive when the victim was struck.

The van's driver was driving an older tan colored box-shaped van. He initially got out of his vehicle and told the victim's girlfriend that he would move his van to a safer location and return to help, but he never did. The sergeant reports that the man was last seen driving towards Solana Beach. Paramedics that arrived on the scene took the victim to Scripps La Jolla Hospital for treatment. You can read more about this hit-and-run Encinitas bicycle accident in this 10news.com story.

Continue reading "Hit and Run Driver Injures Encinitas Bicycle Rider" »

A 10-year-old boy was hospitalized on Wednesday afternoon while riding his bicycle in the Roseville area of San Diego, according to presiding police. The scene of the accident was on the 1000 block of Catalina Boulevard around 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, said San Diego police Sgt Bob Dare. The boy was hospitalized with a broken hip, leg, and ankle in this San Diego bike accident.

Details released on this tragedy inform us that the boy had been riding his bicycle on a sidewalk when he was struck by a motorist pulling out of a parking lot. Alcohol did not appear to be a factor. Nevertheless, the neighborhood boy remains in the hospital today from the result of negligence. You can read more about this San Diego bicycle accident in this 10news.com story.

Continue reading "San Diego Boy Hospitalized After Being Hit by Car While Riding His Bicycle" »

In January of 2006, Derek Ritter was only 48 years old when he was hit by a San Diego car driver high on methamphetamines, killing Ritter and leaving behind a fatherless family. Now, his surviving children are determined to publicize the tragedy, and bring light to the consequences of driving while under influences.

Ritter's children, son Kevin and daughter Kara, are fighting to keep influenced drivers off the road, and to let those who hand them the keys and allow them to drive be held responsible as well. Kara Ritter has a strong viewpoint on this matter. "Everybody in society has a role to be responsible, and if you make an irresponsible decision you need to be held accountable," she says.

Dean Osuna was the man driving on meth down Highway 78 when he crossed the median and killed Ritter. Though he spent time in jail, a jury now says that Osuna and his girlfriend, who had given him the keys to drive, owe Ritter's family $1.8 million. The Ritters' attorney is very adament and pleased with this scenario, as he sees it as a precedent-setting decision to hold the driver and his enabler accountable, and will affect future generations who may make similar poor decisions when hitting the road. If you would like to read more about this San Diego auto accident, read this 10news.com story.

Continue reading "Victim's Family Seeks to Educate About San Diego DUI Car Accidents" »

On Friday, May 15th, 2009, 5,200 cyclists participated in San Diego's designated Bike to Work day. This is a great way to reduce the use our gasoline and greenhouse gas emissions, but the event had a rough onset when a 43-year-old man was struck by a car on Wednesday while riding his bicycle in Valley Center. Later identified as Jose Mejia, the bicyclist was fatally injured on Valley Center Road near Cole Grade Road after he swerved into the path of the vehicle.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office did not come to any conclusions on the reasons why the bicyclist lose control. Paramedics who arrived on the scene took Mejia to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, but he died at 8:45 p.m. while there on Thursday from brain injuries suffered according to the medical examiner's office.

Continue reading "Valley Center Bicyclist Dies in San Diego County Bicycle Accident" »

Marcos Garcia Jeronimo, 23, an illegal immigrant from Oaxaca, Mexico had already been convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter in connection with a San Diego hit-and-run car accident resulting in the death of bicycle rider Marcelo Bolom, 23, of San Diego. On Wednesday, Jeronimo pleaded guilty to having run over Bloom last August in Mira Mesa and dragging his body more than 500 feet. Jeronimo was placed on three years' probation.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Melinda Lasater ordered that Jeronimo spend a year in county jail for the charge, although she acknowledged that he has credit for more than 380 days and is expected to be released immediately.

Jeronimo now faces deportation, although if he crosses the international border into the United States again, he could be sent to prison.

Continue reading "Illegal Immigrant Pleads Guilty for Causing Fatal San Diego Bicycle Accident" »

A Carlsbad pedestrian accident occurred Sunday, May 3, at the intersection of El Camino Real and Kelly Drive in Carlsbad when a pedestrian was struck by car just before 8:30 p.m. Carlsbad police Sgt. Paul Mendes reported that the Carlsbad pedestrian was taken to Scripps La Jolla Hospital with numerous critical injuries.

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Continue reading "Carlsbad Pedestrian Seriously Injured After Being Hit by Car" »

You have likely heard about the recent deadly tour bus carrying tourists, mostly from France, from the San Francisco area down to Los Angeles, where they were due to depart back to France. The Orion Pacific tour bus had overturned on a highway overpass in Central California where four passengers were ejected from the bus as it lay in a wreck around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. There were five confirmed deaths from the bus accident.

Photo Gallery with 8 total images from KTLA News

A new detail reveals that the American driver, John Egnew, 69, of Corona in Riverside County, had been involved in another accident about three years ago. The Associated Press found evidence that in 2005, Egnew struck a 71-year-old woman in Las Vegas as she was crossing the street with her husband, leaving the woman with serious injuries. Egnew claimed that he didn't see the pedestrian on the road. You can read more about this Central California bus accident in this KTLA news story.

Continue reading "Driver in Fatal Central California Tour Bus Crash had History of Prior Accidents" »

Highland resident Benjamin Lobato Huante, 49, who was an entomologist working in San Diego County in Fallbrook on Wednesday, was killed after his car tumbled off of a cliff more than 100 feet, and died.

Huante had been setting traps for insects around the avocado trees in the area for study had been in an all-terrain vehicle that crashed when he overcompensated and fell down a cliff around 11 a.m. San Diego County sheriff's and coroner's officials reported that Huarte died at the scene, as noted on the county coroner's Web site.

The victim of the San Diego County auto accident worked for Integrated Growers Service of Escondido, as Dean Fryer, a spokesman for the California Department of Industrial Relations' Division of Occupational Safety and Health said. You can read more about this San Diego auto accident in this MercuryNews.com story.

Continue reading "Highland Entomologist Killed in San Diego County ATV Accident" »

Many an accident on the road that cause injuries or even fatalities are not due to unsafe exterior conditions or even the irresponsibility of other drivers nearby. A lot of times, the fault lies in the interior conditions of our vehicles and, more often than not, fatigue.

Prompted by the charter bus accident in Utah in January 2008 that resulted in 51 of the riders to be ejected from the vehicle into the wintry night, nine of whom died and forty-three others who were injured, the National Transportation and Safety Board recently attributed the accident as relating to the fatigue of the 71 year-old bus driver who had underestimated his speed and had a slowed reaction time.

Continue reading "Fatigue Significant Factor in San Diego Car, Bus, Motorcycle Accidents" »

The morning commute is a busy time for San Diego roads and many San Diegans are usually in a rush to make it to work on time. San Diego students are usually on their way to school at around the same time. Many of them ride the bus, a rather safe means of transportation. That expected safety that comes from being a passenger in a huge yellow vehicle with lights was compromised twice last Friday morning. Two San Diego Unified School District buses were struck by cars in unrelated auto accidents.

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A California Highway Patrol dispatch reported the first accident at 6:59 a.m. In this first accident, a van backed into a parked school bus on 54th and Pirotte Drive in the Chollas Creek neighborhood of San Diego. The bus had 23 passengers on it.

The California Highway Patrol reported the second accident just three minutes later in the neighboring San Diego neighborhood of Emerald Hills. At Bayview Heights Drive and Federal Boulevard. A truck struck a school bus at a stop sign carrying 15 passengers.

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Continue reading "Two San Diego Unified School District Buses Involved in Accidents" »

Mario De La Rosa, 21, of the San Diego neighborhood of Serra Mesa had been driving his Toyota Camry significantly above the speed limit in the early hours just after midnight on Saturday, April 4th with his brother and passenger, Paul Albert Alferos Jr., 19, of San Diego, when he crashed into a telephone pole.

San Diego Police Department Sgt Alan Hayward reported that the fatal San Diego auto accident occurred on the 2900 block of Clairemont Drive. Alcohol had not been ruled out as a cause of the accident, but it remains unknown what caused De La Rosa to lose control of the vehicle and swerve off the road. Alteros had been unrestrained in the backseat and authorities declared him dead on the scene. Paramedics took De La Rosa to the hospital, where he later died. You can read more about this San Diego car crash in this NBCSanDiego.com story or this SanDiego6.com story.

The identification of the men in this early April car wreck were not originally released pending notification of their families. A memorial was then set up for them, including make-shift cross and memorial marker for the site of the fatal San Diego car accident.

Continue reading "Memorial Set for Men Killed in San Diego Car Accident" »

A 90-year-old Chula Vista pedestrian was hit by a car nearby Broadway and Park Way in on April 1st at approximately 8 p.m. According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, the man was taken off life-support on Saturday afternoon because of the deterioration of his medical status. The Chula Vista pedestrian suffered a head injury with internal bleeding. You can read more in this SignOnSanDiego.com story.

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The victim's identity was not made public so that San Diego County officials could notify the family about the death.

Continue reading "Chula Vista Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck by Car" »

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's office reported last week that a 9-year-old boy was struck by a car near Riverview Elementary School in Lakeside. The boy was walking along Winter Gardens Boulevard south of Knoll Crest Place around 4 p.m. on April 6, 2009, when the fatal Lakeside pedestrian accident happened. The boy was taken to Rady Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. His name has not been released. You can read more about this Lakeside car accident in this 10news.com story.

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Continue reading "Lakeside Child Pedestrian Hit by Car, Dies" »

Baseball fans the world over are mourning the loss of Nick Adenhart, who was killed in a hit-and-run auto accident early Thursday morning in Fullerton. Adenhart, 22, was a starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and just struck out five batters over six innings in the Wednesday game against the Oakland A's. You can read more about this Orange County car accident in this Yahoo! Sports story.

Adenhart had been riding in a silver Mitsubishi when a mini-van ran a red light and struck the vehicle, causing it to crash into a light pole. The driver of the minivan fled the scene but police later arrested Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, presumed to be charged with a felony of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter. Two others riding in the car with Adenhart died on the scene, while Adenhart was rushed to the hospital at the UC Irvine Medical center, and died during surgery.

Continue reading "Angels Pitcher Killed in Fullerton Drunk Driving Car Accident" »

The San Diego City Attorney's Office is considering pressing charges against the San Diego Chargers lineman, Jamal Williams, for driving his car under the influence of alcohol.

Jamal Williams was arrested on February 1, 2009, on State Route 94 on the suspicion of drunk driving after he was pulled over for speeding in his Bentley. However, when Williams took the blood test his BAC was just under the illegal limit at .07%. The California Highway Patrol administered the test well after the arrest. That means that he could have been intoxicated while driving. You can read more in this 10news.com story.

Continue reading "San Diego Charger Defensive Lineman Jamal Williams May Face DUI Charges" »

A fixed gear bicycle rider was injured when he crashed into the back of a truck on Adams Avenue in the North Park area of San Diego. The bicyclist was riding along Adams Avenue when he caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror that was attached to a truck. The truck was delivering the large mirror to a house in Kensington from North Park Glass and Mirror and was stopped at a red light. The rider of the "fixie" bicycle was wearing a vintage, Italian racing cap and when he saw himself in the mirror he could not help but admire the view.

This moment of vanity caused the bicyclist to stop paying attention to the road and crash into the stationary truck. He hit the truck at nearly 30 mph, partly because fixed gear bicycles have no brakes. When the bicycle rider crashed into the truck, he shattered the mirror and seriously injured himself. The cyclist was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital where he is expected to fully recover. You can read more about this San Diego bicycle accident in this San Diego City Beat story.

Continue reading "San Diego Bicycle Accident Caused by Rider's Inattention, Vanity" »

Earlier this week, we posted this article on our San Diego Car Accident Lawyer Blog about a car driver under the influence of drugs who struck a bicycle rider.

When that article was written, it was brought to light that many San Diegans do not know the difference between driving under the influence of drugs and driving under the influence of alcohol. Essentially there is no difference. However, there is one slight difference in the consequences and a difference in the way that the offense is proven.

When a suspect is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, a measurement of a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% that can be used to determine whether the suspect has had too much to drink or not. If the suspect has a BAC of .08% or higher then there is a "per se" offense--that is, a strict breaking of the law--and the driver can be charged. When the suspect is driving under the influence of drugs, there is no BAC and therefore no "per se" offense. The DMV is therefore not able to administratively suspend the license of a suspect driving under the influence of drugs. However, the driver's license may be suspended as a criminal conviction.

Chemical testing is the second way in which the two offenses differ. As stated above, the standard way for San Diego police officer to test for alcohol in a car driver's system is to use a breathalyzer. However, a breath test cannot register the presence of drugs in the suspects system. If a San Diego police officer suspects that the driver is under the influence of drugs then a blood test may be taken, and sometimes a urine test.

When prosecuted, the suspect may have the arresting officer's comments used against him as evidence. The San Diego police officer may comment on the suspect's physical appearance, performance with field sobriety tests, erratic driving, incriminating statements, and his or her conduct.

Continue reading "Driving Under The Influence Of Drugs In San Diego" »

When cars driven by drunk drivers strike pedestrians in San Diego County, the result is never good. Unfortunately that was the case again this past Sunday, March 22, when Ester Quinette Monroe, 28, of Spring Valley, was struck by a suspected drunk driver as she walked on Broadway between C and D Streets in Chula Vista. You can read more about this Chula Vista car accident here in this SignOnSanDiego.com story.

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The 2 a.m. Chula Vista pedestrian accident caused Monroe to be rushed to the hospital where she passed away. The 26-year-old female car driver was arrested of driving under the influence.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Struck by Car, Killed in Chula Vista Accident" »

A San Diego bicycle accident took place at the intersection of Genesee Avenue and Linda Vista Road on Friday, March 20, shortly after 3:30 p.m. in the Linda Vista area of San Diego. A car hit the bike rider, leaving him severely injured and forcing the closure of the intersection.

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The San Diego Police Department reported that the bicyclist was taken by San Diego paramedics to a hospital for treatment. An investigation was started after the San Diego bicycle accident.

Continue reading "San Diego Bicycle Accident Causes Serious Injury" »

A 7 year-old-boy was hit by a Volvo station wagon driven by a 59 year-old-woman at about 5:20 p.m. on March 18 in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego. The boy was skateboarding in the parking lot of an apartment complex when he was hit by the car. The boy slid under the car and broke several of his bones including a broken pelvis, fibula, and tibia. The woman was not hurt. You can read more in this 10news.com story.

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When driving through a neighborhood or a residential area, San Diego car drivers must make sure to drive slowly and pay attention to any children that might be playing in the area. Many times, children will be more enthralled in whatever game they are playing than in whether cars are driving by or not. Therefore, it is up to us as San Diego car drivers to be cautious and aware of children playing.

Continue reading "San Diego Boy Hit by Car and Seriously Injured in Carmel Valley" »

On March 17, just before 7:30 a.m., an 82-year-old San Diego pedestrian was struck crossing Kramer Street in the Linda Vista area of San Diego. 21-year-old eastbound driver said that at the time of the car accident the sun was in her eyes and did not see the pedestrian crossing. The San Diego Police Department reported that the pedestrian, who was in the crosswalk when he was hit, was taken to the hospital for treatment of "very critical", possibly life threatening, injuries. You can learn more in this San Diego Fox 6 story.

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When driving during the day, especially during sunrise and sunset, San Diego drivers should make sure to wear sunglasses. They will not only protect the eyes from UV rays but they will make the glare less powerful and give them more visibility, making them safer drivers.

If you or someone you know has ever been injured or killed while walking across the street, please contact the San Diego pedestrian accident attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group at 619-233-5020 or contact them online.

On March 12, a man driving a black Volkswagen Jetta caused a serious San Diego car accident after he ran a red light on Seventh Avenue and collided with a San Diego MTS bus that was eastbound on Broadway. The driver of the Jetta initially denied running the red light but after several witnesses reported otherwise, the investigating San Diego Police officers concluded that he indeed ran the light. You can read more in this San Diego Reader article.

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Seven San Diego MTS bus passengers and the driver of the Jetta were taken to the hospital after officials from the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego Fire Department, and other San Diego medical services came to the scene.

Continue reading "Car Crashes into MTS Bus in Downtown San Diego" »

On Thursday, March 12, at about 5 p.m., a 19-year-old teenage drunk driver was heading southbound on North Indiana Avenue in the North San Diego County city of Vista. The teen failed to stop before the turn, which caused the car to hit the curb and blow a tire out. The car then accelerated and crashed into the Vista Clock Tower. According to this story, right after the car crash, the driver took off leaving his 16-year-old injured passenger behind.

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San Diego Sheriff's Deputy Laura Hurtado said that the passenger, riding in the front seat, suffered a cut lip and burns from the deployed air bag.

The drunk driver was arrested a short distance away and was taken to the hospital where he was treated for injuries on his forehead. The teen driver has been booked on charges of driving under the influence, felony hit-and-run, and child endangerment.

Continue reading "Vista Drunk Driving Suspect Arrested After Car Accident and Abandoning Injured Passenger" »

On Friday, March 6, at approximately 6:30 a.m., a motorcyclist was riding west on Barnett Avenue in the Midway neighborhood of San Diego when a car changed lanes striking the motorcycle with its driver's side door. The motorcycle rider ended up pinned under the car and was later taken to UC San Diego Medical Center after emergency personnel responded to the car accident.

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San Diego authorities did not release much information about the motorcyclist. More information about the motorcycle accident can be found here.

As car drivers, we need to remember to use our mirrors every single time we change lanes. Many people forget that motorcyclists and bicycle riders share the road as well. Also, car drivers should remember that motorcyclists and bicyclists are more difficult to see, which is why we need to make sure to use not only our mirrors, but look over our shoulders as well when changing lanes.

Continue reading "Motorcycle Rider Seriously Injured in San Diego Motorcycle Accident" »

Yesterday we posted a story about an unidentified pedestrian killed in Ramona car crash. Our post can be found here.That pedestrian turned out to be Jens Roger Noet, a 34-year-old man, or, according to 10 news, a "transient." Noet was headed down Main Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets in Ramona on Wednesday when he was fatally struck by a semi-truck.

This information was brought to our attention through 10 news and our hats off to them for providing the story (found here), which helps remind San Diego residents about being cautious when walking next to a street and also when driving. However, it is very unnerving to see that they have the audacity to tag him, not once. but twice as a "transient." Jens Roger Noet was just killed by a truck driver and instead of writing a tactful article about the events they instead belittle him.

As stated yesterday, if the Jurewitz Law Group was asked to represent the pedestrian's family, our lawyers would work diligently to discover the facts about the accident and give Noet, a member of our community, the respect he deserves.

Continue reading "Jens Roger Noet Identified as Man Killed in Ramona Pedestrian Accident" »

An unidentified pedestrian, in the Ramona section of San Diego, was killed after being hit by in a semi-truck accident Wednesday morning while crossing the street.

The accident happened just after 2:30 a.m. when the driver of the truck was heading west on Main Street at the intersection with 7th Street. According to the driver, the pedestrian appeared to come out of nowhere and appeared in front of the truck. The truck driver stopped after the impact and found the man’s body pinned under the truck.

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Both lanes of Main Street were closed until 5 a.m. while the California Highway Patrol investigated the accident. At the time of publishing this entry, the cause of the accident was still under investigation.

If our office was approached by the pedestrian's family, we would first have to determine what happened that early morning. We would hire a professional accident investigator and private investigator to track down witnesses and to document the facts of the accident, including sight lines for the truck driver, the traffic controls available at the intersection, and obtaining witness statements. If the pedestrian was in the crosswalk, had the right of way, or even if the driver was not paying attention while he was driving, the pedestrian's family might have a strong case for their wrongful death claim.

Continue reading "Ramona Pedestrian Killed After Being Hit by Truck" »

Early Saturday morning, an unlicensed driver struck and killed a pedestrian, Mohamed Abdirahman Husien, while he was crossing the street in San Diego. The car accident occurred along University Avenue, near Winona Avenue, in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego. Husien was on his way to morning prayer services at a nearby mosque. The news source for this post can be found here.

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San Diego Police officers said that Husien was crossing the street against a red light when a Honda sedan hit him. The driver said that he did not see Husein crossing in the darkness. Also, right after the crash, the driver went home, picked up his wife, and returned to the scene to explain what had happened. This is illegal in California--you cannot leave the scene of a California car accident where someone is killed and you must call the police.

Husien was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest where he passed away.

The intersection of University Avenue and Winona Avenue was closed to motorists until about 9:30 a.m. while the San Diego Police Department investigated the car crash. San Diego Police officers said that they do not know whether the driver will face charges or not, even though he was illegally driving without a driver's license.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for the police and district attorney not to charge an unlicensed driver involved in a serious accident where some facts suggest that the unlicensed driver may not be at-fault for causing the car wreck. According to the news story, it seems Husein may have been at-fault for crossing against a red stop light. Then again, that fact may not be true since the only witness identified in the story is the unlicensed driver. Obviously, it is a very self-serving statement.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Mohamed Abdirahman Husien Struck By Car And Killed On Way to Services in San Diego" »

A San Diego Police Officer was killed when he was involved in a San Diego motorcycle accident on February 19, 2009, according to this story.

San Diego Police Department Detective Larry Steward was riding his motorcycle on Highway 94 near Marron Valley Road in San Diego County when an SUV hit his motocycle head on. The California Highway Patrol says that the SUV swerved to avoid traffic from a CalTrans construction zone.

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This unfortunate car crash should serve as a reminder to all San Diego and California drivers that they need to be cautious when driving in a construction zone. However, Detective Steward might not have died if CalTrans' construction scene was not properly organized and safe for passing drivers. It is a little too early to tell at this point, but if I were to investigate this accident, I'd be very curious as to what specifically caused the SUV driver to swerve and why. If CalTrans had loose equipment where it should not be, or did not properly warn motorists of the danger, CalTrans' might bear some responsibility for Detective Steward's death.

Continue reading "San Diego Police Office Killed in Head-On Motorcycle Crash" »

On the morning of February 7, a 19-year-old woman committed a "hit and run" car accident when her vehicle caused a Mira Mesa bicycle accident near the intersection of Calle Cristobal and Camino Miranda. The bicycle rider, a 51-year-old man, suffered serious injuries to his head, back, and sides.

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The woman driver fled the scene of the accident but then returned 30 minutes later. At that time, San Diego Police officers arrested her. At this time, it does not appear that alcohol was involved in causing the hit-and-run car accident.

Continue reading "Hit and Run Driver Arrested After Causing San Diego Bicyle Accident" »

On the morning of February 15, 2009, a pickup truck caused a San Diego bicycle accident when it veered off the road and struck a bicycle rider on Sea World Drive near Friars Road. The driver of the pickup truck appears to have caused the bicycle accident due inattention when he looked down to pick something up from the floor of his truck.

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Continue reading "San Diego Bicycle Accident Caused When Truck Struck Bike Rider" »

Sometimes you can't make up the news.

Father Joe Carroll--the San Diego advocate for the poor and homeless--hit two homeless men crossing the street in the crosswalk at the intersection of 16th Street and F Street in Downtown San Diego on January 31.

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Isaac McGill and Douglass Edwards, the two homeless men, were carrying their sleeping bags and bundles of clothes when suddenly Carroll's car turned the corner and hit them. McGill reported that he yelled out "Stop the car!" a few times, but he was hit anyway. Carroll pulled over after the accident to address the incident. Carroll contends that the two men appeared all of a sudden and that he was unable to stop the car in time.

Both Edwards and McGill were injured that evening. Edwards was treated at Scripps Mercy Hospital. He was given a protective collar, which he wares when he goes to sleep outdoors at night. McGill was several days later, complaining of pain in a knee, toe, and lower back.

A woman was hit and severely injured an alleged drunk driver as she was crossing the intersection of Reed Avenue and Mission Boulevard in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego.

The driver of the car--Alan Mabrey, 45, of San Diego--initially walked away from the scene but returned later where he was arrested by the San Diego police.

San Diego police officials reported that the accident victim suffered life-threatening head injuries. Mabrey is expected to be charged with felony driving under the influence.

UPDATED (2/10/09): The victim was identified as Emily Cathleen Dowdy. Our prayers go out to her family. If there is anything our office can do, please do not hesitate to ask.

On Monday, February 2, 2009, a Thousand Oaks motorcycle accident seriously injured Ventura County resident, Ambrosio Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriquez was taken to the hospital for his injuries after a Buick driven by Denis Liu pulled out from a parking in front of Rodriguez's motocycle while Rodriguez was driving eastbound on Hillcrest Drive near Boardwalk Avenue.

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The impact was so severe that it caused the Buick to overturn and come to rest on its' side. It is very fortunate that Ambrosio Rodriguez was not fatally injured in the accident.

According to the newspaper story, the motorcycle accident happened when Liu drove his Buick out of the parking lot and onto Hillcrest Drive without looking for oncoming traffic. This is a fairly frequent occurrence, but particularly with motorcycles and bicycles who are more difficult to see than cars. It appears that Liu was negligent and should be held responsible for compensating Ambrosio Rodriguez for his injuries.

Our office hope and pray that Mr. Rodriguez fully recovers from his injuries.

This Friday, a judge will review a $8.3 million verdict against the City of San Juan Capistrano awarded to a 14-year-old boy, Trenten Miller, who lost his leg during a bicycle accident.

The judgment was to be finalized last month. However, San Juan Capistrano decided to file an objection to the jury findings and overturn the verdict. Superior Court Judge Thierry Colaw set a hearing to hear the City of San Juan Capistrano’s motion this Friday.

In December, an Orange County jury found that the City of San Juan Capistrano liable to Miller because the City created a dangerous condition at an intersection. Miller was the passenger on his friend Scott Agostini's dirt bike. Overgrown vegetation in the median of the intersection made it difficult for Miller and Agostini to see oncoming traffic as they attempted to cross the intersection of San Juan Creek Road and Paseo Christina.

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The jury ruled in favor of the bicyclists, ruling the City of San Juan Capistrano to pay Miller $7.1 million and $1.1 million to Agostini. The verdict was reached three years after the bicycle accident and after Miller unsuccessfully attempted to settle the suit in mediation. Prior to the jury’s verdict, the City of San Juan Capistrano's only offer was $1 million, which Miller rejected.

Late Wednesday night a 69-year-old woman was assaulted and stabbed in the neck with a box cutter by the man who had just rear-ended the car the woman was driving. The surprise attack caused the woman to step on the gas to flee and ended up crashing her car head long into a tree. The car accident happened in the Old Town area of San Diego.

Police described the woman's injuries as not life-threatening, although the attack was--at the very least--terrifying and unexpected. The man is described as a Hispanic male, 20-30 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing approximately 160-180 pounds.

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This assault is particularly scary and unnerving. By all accounts the woman was willing to exchange insurance information with the man, had rolled down her window, and was then stabbed.

Early in the morning today, a San Diego man was seriously injured when he was struck by a car while crossing the street at the intersection of Genesee Avenue and La Jolla Village Drive in the University Town Center area of La Jolla.

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The 70-year-old man was crossing the intersection against a red traffic signal when he was struck by a 1983 Toyota sedan driven by a San Diego woman. The woman had the right of way, saw the man at the last second, but could not stop in time.

The man was transported to the hospital with a fractured left leg.

If you're a pedestrian, please always be careful crossing the street--particularly against a red light. We hope that this gentleman regains his health--fractured bones at his age are particularly serious--but this story provides a reminder of one of the most important rules of the road.

In an effort to reduce car accidents due to negligence and inattentiveness, California has made text messaging while driving effective today.

A similar law passed earlier in the year made it illegal to drive while talking on a cellular phone handset.

In a separate law going into effect today, drivers are now allowed to fix GPS navigation units on the bottom left or right corners of the windshield. Under the previous law, it was illegal to mount a navigation system anywhere on the windshield.

Today is the first day for enforcement of California's Hands Free Cell Phone law.

Starting today, motorists talking on a cell phone without a hands free system will be fined $20 for the first offense and $50 subsequent offenses.

Earlier today, the Jurewitz Law Group launched its' newest information blog, www.sandiegocaraccidentlawyerblog.com, dedicated to provide San Diegans with information about local car accidents, what to do to prevent car accident injuries, how to properly insure yourself prior to being involved in an accident, and what to do once you have been involved in an accident and are injured.

Please take a visit and add an RSS feed to your home page. Also, if you have been injured in a car accident and are seriously injured, please contact the Jurewitz Law Group for help and advice.

In February of this year, the California Court of Appeals extended the protections afforded to medical doctors under the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) to emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who are in the process of transporting patients for medical care.

In the opinion by Justice Madeleine Flier, the Court of Appeal held that such protections were warranted since the services provided by EMTs were "inextricably identified" with the health and medical care of their patients. Further, the Court rejected the argument by the plaintiff, a Los Angeles police officer injured while riding along in the ambulance when it was involved in a collision, that MICRA protections could only be extended to those services to which an EMT was licensed. The court held that EMTs were licensed to provide transportation by the Department of Motor Vehicles' special license and, therefore, were still protected by MICRA when involved in traffic accidents while transporting patients.

Early Saturday morning, alcohol and gross negligence combined to cause a fatal car collision at the intersection of northbound Coast Boulevard and 20th Street in Del Mar, a beautiful beach community north of San Diego.

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At 2:00 a.m., a professional surfer, Milton Willis, was driving a car with his passenger, Bradley Dillahunty. Mr. Willis was driving the car at 65 mph in a 25 mph residential zone when he ran the stop sign at 20th Street, the car bottomed out, crossed the southbound lanes of traffic, hit a parked car, then hit a tree, and spun around before striking another parked car in a driveway.

Dillahunty was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Willis, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time, was partially ejected from the rear window of the car. He remains in critical condition at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Accident investigators believe Mr. Willis was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

If Mr. Willis was indeed driving his car under the influence, we hope that he is prosecuted for vehicular manslaughter. In addition, we hope that Mr. Dillahunty's family is compensated for his wrongful death.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident, including one that results in wrongful death, please contact the experienced attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group to learn about your rights.

The video below is disturbing on several levels. First, 78 year-old Angel Torres was struck and seriously injured while crossing a street in Hartford, Connecticut when two vehicles sped down the street and struck him while he was standing in the opposite lane of traffic.

Second, nearby bystanders apparently stood by and did not immediately help the seriously injured man. It is incredible to think that after seeing a man flip in the air after being hit by a speeding car that anyone would hold back their assistance.

We hope that Mr. Torres has a speedy and full recovery. We also hope that the drivers of the two hit-and-run cars are arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Quick little reminder.

On July 1, the California Hands-Free Cell Phone Law goes into effect requiring everyone to use a hands-free system when driving a vehicle. Sending a text message while driving will also be a citable offense.

Although the increased safety of using a hands-free device while driving is debatable--not talking on the phone at all is the safest route--it will be the law. Please make sure to purchase your hands-free device before July 1.

Earlier today, both sides of Ortega Highway, a scenic--but notoriously dangerous--road between San Juan Capistrano and Lake Elsinore, were closed due to a major accident involving six cars and a motorcycle.

An ambulance and tow truck were called to the scene to attend to the victims and their vehicles.

Ortega Highway is the scene of many significant, and deadly, crashes as people drive too fast along the curvy road, stare off into the scenery, or cross over into oncoming traffic.

A bus carrying passengers from Southern California to Laughlin, Nevada for a gambling trip overturned Saturday morning, killing one passenger and injuring 22 others. The bus, operated by Royal American Tours and Charters of Glendale, was seen veering across lanes and into the median shortly before the crash.

At the time of publication, CHP officers were still investigating the cause of the accident.

Under California law, bus drivers are held to a heightened standard of care, known as common-carrier duties. As a common carrier for pay, operators must use the "utmost" care with respect to their passengers, must travel at reasonable rates of speeds, follow prescribed routes, and must treat passengers with respect in their personal dealings.

If you, a friend, or family member have been injured while being a bus, train, or trolley passenger, contact the Jurewitz Law Group and discuss the matter with one of our attorneys.

Early on May 17, one person was killed and two others injured in San Diego when the driver lost control of the Oldsmobile he was driving while traveling westbound on I-8. Moments later another vehicle, a Nissan Maxima, crashed into the wreckage.

CHP officers blamed excessive speed as the cause of the accident.

The driver of the Oldsmobile was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and passenger of the Nissan were transported to the hospital for treatment.

Speed is the primary factor associated with car accidents. Inattentiveness, perhaps due to exhaustion, is another primary factor. Given the time of day the accident occurred, it is not unreasonable to assume that exhaustion also played a factor.

Earlier today, Britney Spears crashed the front of her Mercedes SL into the rear of a red Ford Explorer while driving on the Strip in Los Angeles. Luckily there were no significant injuries.

This is the third notable accident Britney has been involved in. On April 14, it was reported that Ms. Spears rear-ended another vehicle when she failed to realize that the vehicle in front of her came to a stop.

She was also involved in a hit and run accident when she struck a parked car while trying to park her vehicle:

We say this (slightly) jokingly: "Will she spend the money to hire a driver before she kills someone?"

It is very clear that Ms. Spears is an extremely poor driver and is a danger to herself and others. Her license should be revoked. If Ms. Spears was not a celebrity and just a regular driver, she would have already lost her license after being involved in multiple accidents, including a hit and run accident.

We can only hope she stops driving before she does kill someone.

The Orange County DA filed felony charges against Jeffrey Woods, 20, of Huntington Beach last week in connection with the death of Danny "Oatie" Oates, 14. Mr. Woods is being charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence when he ran his truck into his victim as he was crossing the street on his bicycle.

Woods' conduct, if not mitigated by any other facts, is truly reprehensible and clearly gross negligence. Woods was driving his truck under the influence of alcohol and drugs while trying to score more drugs during a three-day period. Documents filed with the criminal court show that Woods may have even be texting while driving under the influence at the time of the accident. What was so important that he had to text his contact? Woods needed more drugs.

We commend the Orange County DA for pressing charges against Woods and hope that he is prosecuted and sentenced to the fullest extent of the law. Unfortunately, tragic car accidents happen every day due to drunk or inattentive drivers resulting in serious injury or wrongful death. At times like these, victims' families need the help of experienced, aggressive representation to obtain the maximum recovery for their injuries or loss.

If you or a loved one is the victim of a drunk or inattentive driver, call the Jurewitz Law Group as soon as possible to learn about your rights and remedies. We can help find medical treatment and long-term care assistance while we prosecute your case aggressively.

The California Department of Insurance has ordered Allstate Insurance Company, who insures about 10% of all California cars, to reduce their rates by 15.9%.

DOI has insisted that insurers adhere to the key rate factors in determining the appropriate risk that an insured will be involved in an automobile accident: a person's driving record, the number of years behind the wheel, and the number of miles driven per year.

"It was very clear that they were charging too much," said Douglas Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, the Santa Monica-based advocacy group that successfully championed Proposition 103 in 1988. The voter-approved initiative turned insurance into a highly regulated business, similar to power companies and other public utilities.

DOI is also attacking Allstate for excessive charges for homeowners' insurance, which provide resources to pay premises liability claims.

It is anticipated that the rate ruling will force other insurers to reduce their rates as well.

Most San Diegans drive with auto insurance. But most are severely under-insured or don't have the right kind of insurance to do them the most good if they are involved in an auto accident.

Unfortunately, our office usually typically has the opportunity to advise clients of their proper insurance needs ONLY after they've been in an accident and it's clear to them they were under-insured. So, please consider this to be a preemptive public safety announcement to all San Diegans.

1. Do Not Purchase Minimum Insurance. The minimum amount of insurance coverage necessary to drive a car in California is bodily injury coverage of $15K/$30K. This means that, in the event that you negligently cause an accident, your insurance carrier will pay all medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering for those you injured up to $15K per person or $30K per accident. If their damages exceed this amount, then you could be personally responsible for the balance. Obviously $15K isn't much money and automobile accident claims can easily exceed this amount, particularly where there is a claim for wrongful death. It is important that you purchase as much bodily injury coverage as you can afford. This is not only important to protect your assets, but, as the next section will make clear, so that you can maximize your under-insured/uninsured motorist coverage.

2. Purchase As Much UM/UIM Insurance Coverage As You Can. Ok, you're responsible. You purchased as much bodily injury coverage as you can. But the other guy, just assume that he is not responsible and is carrying only the minimum coverage--or no coverage at all! That is why you need to maximize your uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). UM/UIM allows you to turn to your own insurance to pay for your injuries which exceed the limits of the other driver's insurance policy. However, you can only purchase UM/UIM coverage up to the limits of your bodily injury coverage. So, if your bodily injury coverage is $100K, that is the most UM/UIM coverage you can purchase. UM/UIM is one of the cheapest components of an auto insurance policy. There is no excuse not to have it.

Continue reading "Automobile Insurance for San Diego's Roads: What You Need" »

Progressive Insurance's slippery and underhanded tactics have been profiled before. See here. Here too.

Now comes Progressive's latest dirty trick: offering personal injury settlements in auto accident cases before victims even get a chance to see a doctor.

Here's how the new strategy works:

Continue reading "San Diegans, Beware! Progressive Insurance's Newest Dirty Trick!" »

We've written about Benetta Buell-Wilson before. Earlier this week, the California 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld its' ruling that Ms. Wilson was entitled to $82.6 Million after the US Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeals should review its' ruling.

Ms. Wilson was originally awarded $370 Million dollars by a San Diego Jury. The verdict was later reduced by the trial court to $102 Million and then to $82.6 Million by the Court of Appeal. However, when given the opportunity to reduce this verdict again, the Court of Appeal declined.

The Buell-Wilson v. Ford Motor Co. is important for several reasons. First, it was the first time that Ford was held responsible for injuries resulting from a Ford Explorer roll-over auto accident. During the trial, Ms. Buell-Wilson's attorneys effectively proved that Ford was aware that the Explorer was dangerously unstable and prone to oversteer leading to rollovers. Ford also knew that in the event of a roll-over, the Explorer's roof was not strong enough to prevent crush. The cost of preventing rollover roof crushes was minimal, yet Ford refused to make he necessary changes. This is oddly reminiscent of prior Ford safety shortcomings; e.g., the Ford Pinto, use of Firestone ATX tires, etc.

Congratulations to Ms. Buell-Wilson. We hope that this latest ruling provides you with peace...after more than a decade of litigation against Ford's lawyers and unlimited bankroll.

UPDATE: Ms. Buell-Wilson is going to continue to wait for justice. Ford has decided to appeal the latest court ruling.

Know all those HUGE, "outrageous" verdicts that tort reformers cite as proof that juries are out of their minds and are too plaintiff-friendly? This is the story of one such verdict and, unfortunately, it is not unusual.

In 2004, a San Diego jury awarded Benetta Buell-Wilson and her family nearly $370 Million dollars in a Ford Explorer roll-over auto accident case. Now, the Supreme Court will review the verdict and possibly reduce it. The Supreme Court will be the third court to do so after the trial court and the Fourth District Court of Appeals both reduced the verdict from $122 Million in compensatory damages and $246 Million in punitive damages to $27.6 Million (compensatory) and $55 Million (punitive).

What happened to Benetta?:

On a January afternoon in 2002, Buell-Wilson was driving at a normal speed on Interstate 8 east of San Diego when she swerved to avoid a metal object that had fallen off a motor home. Her 1997 Explorer fishtailed and rolled over four times. Part of its roof was crushed, and Buell-Wilson suffered a severe spinal injury.

As a result of the accident, Benetta is now paralyzed and confined to a wheel-chair.

Now, Ford had previously won 13 trials without a loss. And they weren't shy about sharing that fact during litigation in the hopes of forcing Benetta and her husband to settle.

Plaintiffs were 0-13 and Benetta and her attorneys were risking a huge disappointment. These cases are not cheap to try. I've heard some estimates that Benetta's attorneys paid upwards of $750,000 to experts to prepare and try the case. And if they lost, the lawyers would lose that investment, Benetta would be forced to pay for all future care by herself out of her own pocket, and, worse still, Benetta would be forced to pay Ford's litigation costs.

Given all this risk, and the evidence that Ford knew of problems with its' vehicles for roof crush and roll over propensity, is $370 Million dollars outrageous to pay for a permanent injury and to punish Ford for its' callousness?

In fact, the problem had been well-documented for years:

No recall has ever been ordered for these vehicles. How many are still out on the road? How many more roof crush injuries or deaths will still occur? Will Ford EVER be forced to pay enough that they will consider the safety of their customers?

The Supreme Court should uphold the reduced verdict. Ford is already emboldened by the two prior reductions. No need to make it worse for consumer safety.

In an article printed in today's newspaper, the San Diego Union Tribune takes on Progressive Insurance's property damage program.

According to the article, critics argue that Progressive's program violates California's anti-steering laws by allowing its adjusters to write their own property damage estimates and direct their insureds to pre-approved body shops for the work. In addition--and wait until you hear about this--critics claim that Progressive's program seeks to reduce repair costs by cutting corners! Shocker!

Sarcasm aside, this seems to be the usual modus operandi for insurance companies. Why replace when cosmetic patching will do? Why use new parts when refurbished products can be found? And don't get me started on the repeated failure of insurance adjusters to ignore alignment and other structural issues in favor of concentrating on cosmetic damages. Too many of our office's auto accident clients have complained that their car just doesn't drive the same afterwards for it to be a coincidence.

The public shouldn't be so gullible to believe the commercials--the insurance companies are not out there to act in your best interests. They make money by collecting premiums and paying out less than the premiums they collect. If they have to actually use quality labor and parts, it just makes it that much harder.

There are hundreds of automobile injury accidents in San Diego each month where victims don't have a prayer of being fully compensated for their injuries. That is, unless they have the ONE coverage that they absolutely need.

That coverage is....uninsured motorist coverage.

California law has required motorists to cover automobile liability insurance for years. But this has not stopped the number of uninsured motorists in California to reach epidemic proportions. Some estimate that 23 percent of motorists in Los Angeles are uninsured and 15 percent of injury accidents in California involve uninsured motorists. This has led some legislators to look for a legislative solution.

Continue reading "California Automobile Insurance--The One Coverage You Absolutely Need." »

A serious "t-bone" car accident last Friday, illustrates--yet again--the importance of wearing seatbelts.

As if Governor Corzine's serious injury accident hadn't already done so.

A car ran a red light and broadsided a mini-van at the corner of 5th Street and A Street.

According to the police, the two adults and five children involved in the accident were wearing seatbelts--which may have saved their lives.

Surprisingly, the driver of the car was not seriously hurt.

We at the Jurewitz Law Group regularly see car accident injury victims that are lucky to be alive, but for the fact that they were wearing seatbelts. Please make sure you wear your seatbelt at all times.