San Diego Injury Lawyer Blog

18-year-old Luis Cortez was struck and injured in a severe pedestrian accident that occurred on February 20, 2012, around 3 p.m. in Sorrento Valley. According to the sheriff's department, Cortez was walking on the railroad tracks near the Sorrento Valley Station when a northbound AMTRAK train traveling at 45 mph struck him.

Cortez sustained minor injuries and was put on the train to the Solana Beach Station by AMTRAK personnel after examining his condition. He was later transported to Scripps Hospital in La Jolla for medical treatment.

Based upon a reading of Section 21950, it is quite possible that both the train conductor and pedestrian may be responsible for this pedestrian accident. If the AMTRAK operator saw or could have seen the pedestrian crossing the rail tracks, this accident could have been prevented. Further, because the pedestrian may not be 100% at fault and the driver 100% fault-free under their responsibilities set forth by California law, the family of the pedestrian may still be able to recover damages.

In situations such as this one, where a pedestrian is the victim of a serious train accident, the family members of the victim may benefit from speaking with a San Diego pedestrian accident lawyer.

Our personal injury law office hopes that the injuries suffered by the victim do not prove fatal.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Struck By Train in Sorrento Valley" »

44-year-old Brigitte Jasso was struck and killed in a severe pedestrian accident that occurred on January 26, 2012, around along the westbound lanes of Indio Boulevard. According to coroner’s officials, Jasso was first struck by a motorcyclist and then by a black Ford Taurus while crossing a major street in that city.

Jasso sustained scrapes, bruises, and some broken bones after the initial motorcycle accidentMoments later, a black Ford Taurus struck and fatally injured the victim.
From the present facts, it is unclear as to how this pedestrian accident occurred. Was the motorcyclist distracted? Did the car driver see her? Did anyone ignore traffic signals? These and several other questions remains unanswered as yet.

At this time, the victim’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County car and motorcycle accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights. If negligent operation by any of the motorist caused this car accident, then he may be legally required to compensate the victim’s family for the cost of treatment, and other related damages.

The victim’s family members may file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault motorist to obtain compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of love, care and companionship, and other accident-related damages.

Our law office sends sincere condolences to the victim’s family members.

Continue reading "Indio Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Motorcycle, then Car" »

Two women, ages 61 and 40, and a 3-year-old girl were struck while crossing a street on January 24, 2012, around 3 p.m. in San Marcos. According to sheriff's Deputy Tammy Bennetts, the victims were struck by a 22-year-old woman turning her car from westbound Positive Place onto the southbound Tiger Way.

The injured victims were immediately transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. From the present facts, it is unclear as to how this serious car crash occurred. Was the car driver drunk? Or was she speeding?

At this time, the victims’ family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced San Diego County pedestrian accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights. The car driver may be legally required to compensate the victims’ family for the cost of treatment, and other related damages.

Our San Diego personal injury law office hopes that the injuries suffered by all the victims heal soon and do not prove serious.

Continue reading "Two Women and a Toddler Struck by Car in San Marcos" »

A woman was struck and injured in a severe pedestrian accident that took place on January 22, 2012, around 8:07 p.m. in Lake Elsinore. According to Riverside County sheriff’s officials, the pedestrian was crossing a major road when she got hit by a white sedan struck along the 32600 block of Mission Trail, about a half-mile north of Corydon Road.

Deputies found the woman lying in the street and immediately transported her to Inland Valley Medical Center for treatment. From the present facts, it is unclear as to how this pedestrian accident occurred. Was the motorist distracted? Or was he speeding?

At this time, the victim’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County car accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights. If negligent operation by the motorist caused this car accident, then he may be legally required to compensate the victim’s family for the cost of treatment, and other related damages.

Our personal injury law office hopes that the injuries suffered by the victim heal soon and do not prove serious.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Struck in Lake Elsinore Car Accident" »

40-year-old Christopher Barton Tatro was killed in a tragic hit-and-run car collision that occurred on December 17, 2011, around 2 a.m. on 91 Freeway in Riverside. According to California Highway Patrol, Tatro was loading a disabled vehicle onto his flatbed truck on the side of the eastbound lanes of the freeway near Monroe Street when he was hit by a tan sedan, possibly a beige late-1990s Saturn.

The car veered from the number five lane into the left side of the tow truck and then struck Tatro. The collision threw Tatro about 60 feet into traffic lanes. He suffered massive injuries to his legs and torso.

Tatro was immediately transported to Riverside Community Hospital where he was later pronounced dead around 4:20 a.m.

From the available information, it is appears that negligent and distracted driving of the sedan driver contributed to this serious multiple vehicle collision. If it is found that the sedan driver was driving inattentively, then he may be held liable for this accident. Also this sedan driver has committed the felony of hit-and-run, which is a direct violation of California traffic law.

The victim’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County truck accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights. The victim’s family may file a wrongful death claim against the sedan driver to obtain compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of anticipated earnings, loss of love, care and companionship, and other accident-related damages.

Our personal injury law office sends sincere condolences to victim’s family and friends.

Continue reading "Fatal Hit-And-Run Freeway Crash Kills Tow-Truck Operator" »

41-year-old Crystal Stevens, of Sun City, was struck in a tragic pedestrian accident that occurred on December 15, 2011, around 11:30 p.m. on McCall Road near Sherman Road in Menifee. According to the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s department, Stevens was walking on McCall Road when she was struck by a car.

Stevens suffered life-threatening injuries and was immediately transported to Inland Valley Regional Medical Center for treatment, where she was pronounced dead a day later.

From the present information, it appears that the reckless driving and irresponsible actions of the motorist led to this serious car wreck that claimed one life. If the motorist is determined to have been at fault in this case, then he could be held responsible for pedestrian’s wrongful death.

Meanwhile, the victim’s family members should consult with an experienced Riverside County pedestrian accident lawyer who would help them obtain timely compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of future earnings, loss of love, care and companionship, and other accident-related damages.

Our personal injury law office sends sincere condolences to Stevens’ family members and friends.

Continue reading "Fatal Car Accident Kills Sun City Woman" »

83-year-old Ella Mae Day of Thousand Oaks was pinned under a car in a tragic pedestrian accident that occurred on December 7, 2011, in the 1000 Block of Calle Almendro in Thousand Oaks. According to Ventura County sheriff's officials, Day was walking on the sidewalk west of her home when she was struck and pinned down by a vehicle backing out of a driveway driven by 80-year-old Marshall Bowen.

Day suffered blunt force injuries to the chest and was pronounced dead at the accident scene. From the present information, it is unclear what caused this major car accident that claimed one life.

Since the driver was backing, the motorist’s negligence or reckless driving could have been responsible for causing the accident. If it is found that the driver was driving inattentively, then he may be held liable for this accident.

Meanwhile, Day’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Ventura County pedestrian accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights. This lawyer may also help the deceased’s family obtain compensation to cover funereal and burial cost, loss of anticipated earnings, loss of love, care and compassion, and other accident-related damages.

Our personal injury law office sends sincere condolences to the victim’s family and friends.

Continue reading "Elderly Pedestrian Struck and Pinned Under Car in Thousand Oaks" »

Two cyclists, a 10-year-old girl and a 23-year-old woman, are recovering from injuries they sustained after being hit by vehicles in two different auto accidents in San Diego.

The 10-year-old girl was riding eastbound on Catalina Boulevard at about 7:20 a.m. Tuesday when a 2011 Chevy van turned the corner on Wilcoz and hit her at the intersection. Despite what most people think, the young girl knows how to ride and was doing it safely. She competes in triathlons for kids and was riding in front of her dad, who was training with her. Her father barely avoided the collision.

The girl was taken to the hospital for a fractured leg and collar bone.

The 23-year-old woman sustained non-life-threatening facial fractures when a Hyundai SUV tried to pass her on the 4900 block of College Avenue, near Cresita Drive, at about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The 55 year-old SUV driver was obviously in too much of a hurry to wait until it was safe to pass.

Both drivers’ negligent driving caused these bicycle accidents, and they may be held liable for the damages, including medical bills, loss of income, etc. The victims’ family should immediately seek counsel with a San Diego County bike collision attorney to learn about how to get the compensation they need to cover these expenses.

Continue reading "2 Bicyclists Struck in Separate Car Crashes" »

6-year-old Anthony Martinez was killed in a tragic pickup-truck wreck that occurred on November 24, 2011, around 4:20 p.m. at the 1300 block of W. Olive Street. According to Cmdr. Tom Chronister, Martinez was riding his bike along the sidewalk, entered the street, and was struck 50-year-old Jesus Calderon Ruvalcaba.

Martinez suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the accident scene. From the available information, it is unclear what led to this serious truck wreck. Was the driver speeding? If it is found that the truck driver was driving negligently or recklessly, then he might be held liable for the young boy’s death.

Meanwhile, the injured juvenile’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Ventura County bicycle accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights. This lawyer may also help young boy’s parents obtain compensation to cover treatment, medical and hospital costs.

Our personal injury law office sends sincere condolences to the young boy’s parents.

Continue reading "Fatal Oxnard Truck Accident Kills Young Boy" »

25-year-old Melissa N. Ferreira was killed in a tragic car wreck that occurred on November 19, 2011, around 2 a.m. in front of the El Cajon Grand Bar on Main Street. According to El Cajon police officers, a man and woman were struck by a Mitsubishi Montero going westbound in front of the bar.

Ferreira suffered fatal blunt force trauma and was pronounced dead at the accident scene. The male pedestrian suffered non-life threatening injuries and was immediately taken to nearby hospital for treatment.

The SUV's driver stopped immediately following the crash and was cooperating with investigators. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the deceased pedestrian. From the available information, it is unclear what led to this serious pedestrian accident. The accident is still under investigation. Alcohol and drugs were not a factor.

The deceased’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced San Diego County car crash lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights and help them obtain compensation to cover the burial and burial costs, loss of anticipated earnings, and other accident-related damages. The injured pedestrian may also file a personal injury claim to obtain compensation to cover treatment, medical and hospital costs.

Our law office sends our condolences to Ferreira’s family and hope that the injuries suffered by the other pedestrian heal soon.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Struck, Another Killed Crossing El Cajon " »

An unidentified person was found dead on the Rancho Cucamonga railroad tracks on October 14, 2011, around 4:30 a.m. According to the San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials, the deceased was hit and killed by a Metrolink train. Amtrak police are investigating the collision.

From the present facts, it is unclear as to how this train accident occurred. Did the train driver ignore a red signal? Was he distracted? Was the victim negligent and failed to observe safety signals? Was he drunk or attempting to commit suicide by this act? If negligent operation by the train conductor caused this train accident, then the conductor and his employer might be legally required to compensate the deceased person’s family for the cost of funeral expenses, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. The deceased’s family would be well-advised to consult with an experienced Los Angeles train accident attorney who will advise them about their legal rights and options.

Our law office offers sincere condolences to all those who knew the deceased for such a tragic loss.

Continue reading "Person Killed in Fatal Inland Train Accident " »

72-year-old Beverly Glass was struck and injured in a serious hit-and-run car wreck that occurred on October 12, 2011 around 3:30 p.m. on Interstate 10 (I-10) just east of North Indian Canyon Drive. According to California Highway Patrol, Glass was trying to walk across traffic lanes when she was struck by a black, late model Volkswagon Jetta. The victim was thrown onto the shoulder of the freeway.

The car driver, who is believed to be a 25- year old woman stopped, talked to several witnesses, then got in the car and left the accident scene. The driver has not been cited as yet as the accident is still under investigation. Glass suffered serious injuries and was immediately transported to Desert Regional Medical Center for medical treatment.

From the available information, it appears that the car driver negligent driving and irresponsible actions contributed to this serious pedestrian wreck. Meanwhile, the injured victim or her family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County pedestrian accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights and options and would assure that the at-fault motorist is brought to justice.

The injured victim can also file a personal injury claim against the at-fault Jetta driver to obtain timely compensation to cover treatment, medical and hospital costs, and other accident-related damages.

Our personal injury law office sincere hopes that injuries suffered by the pedestrian heal soon and do not prove fatal.

Continue reading "Indio Hit-and-Run Car Crash Kills Elderly Pedestrian" »

18-year-old Christian Antonio Lamas was fatally struck in a Winchester car accident that occurred on October 2, 2011 around 9:15 p.m. at Winchester and Holland roads, south of Diamond Valley Lake. According to California Highway Patrol, a 60-year-old Hemet man driving his 2008 Honda Element northbound struck Lamas from behind on Highway 79.

Lamas suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the accident scene. The driver has not been cited as yet as the accident is still under investigation.

The investigation will reveal if Hemet was at fault or any other factor contributed to this accident. Meanwhile, the deceased pedestrian’s family members should seek counsel could from an experienced Riverside County pedestrian accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights and options and would assure that the at-fault motorist is apprehended and brought to justice.

Our law office offers sincere condolences to all those who knew and loved Lamas for such a heart rendering loss.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Killed in Fatal Winchester Car Accident" »

A young woman believed to be in her early 20s suffered serious injuries in a train accident that occurred on September 14, 2011, around 3:38 a.m. northwest of Magnolia Avenue and Neece Street in Corona. According to Sgt. Adam Roulston, the pedestrian suffered bumps, bruises, and a four-inch gash on one leg and was immediately transported to a nearby hospital to receive medical treatment.

There is limited information about the accident and there is a possibility that the train driver may be responsible for the accident. Did he ignore a signal? Was he distracted and did not notice the pedestrian? The injured woman should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County pedestrian accident lawyer who would educate her about her legal rights and options and assure that the at-fault train driver is brought to justice.

As for now, the injured pedestrian can file a personal injury claim against the at-fault train driver to obtain compensation to cover treatment, medical and hospital costs, loss of wages, loss of earning capacity, and other accident-related damages.

Our personal injury law office sincerely hopes that the injuries suffered by the pedestrian heal soon.

Continue reading "Corona Freight Train Accident Injures Pedestrian" »

A Temecula man was struck and killed in Homeland pedestrian car accident that occurred on August 7, 2011, around 11:36 p.m. Highway 74 (SR-74) in Homeland. According to California Highway Patrol Officers, an eastbound 2002 Dodge Caravan hit the man while he was walking near Naumann Avenue.

According to police, the pedestrian was not walking in the marked crosswalk and he stepped into the van driver’s path and this lead to this fatal crash. The 17-year-old van driver was not unable to avoid the fatal collision.

The pedestrian suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead at the accident scene. Under California law, drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. However, in some cases, the driver is not 100% at-fault if the pedestrian is proven to have been negligent. The victim’s family may still be able to recover damages for the loss of their loved one in this accident.

Regardless of the reason, the victim’s family members should seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County pedestrian auto accident lawyer.

Our law office offers sincere condolences to all those who knew and loved the victim for such a heart rendering loss.

Continue reading "Homeland Car Crash Kills Temecula Pedestrian " »

Remember the McDonald’s coffee case? A woman orders a cup of hot coffee. She puts the cup in between her legs as she drives. Then, the coffee spills, and she gets third-degree burns on very private areas on her body. Cha-ching!

Though, that is not exactly the whole story. Susan Saladoff, director of the documentary film Hot Coffee, which premieres on HBO tonight at 6 p.m. PST, shows viewers what really happened in the infamous "McDonald's hot coffee" lawsuit. The movie looks at what actually happened to Stella Liebeck, why the case got so much media attention, who funded the effort, and who really profited from spilling hot coffee.

Hot Coffee is a “call to action.” It asks the question, What happens when access to court is so lopsided that the average person cannot gain access? And who really pays the price, the negligent party or taxpayers?

In the four cases the film documents, Saladoff shows how Americans are surrendering their Constitutional rights in all sorts of ways without even knowing it and how they are being screwed by the system –not taking advantage of it.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed because of a defective product or negligent person, you are entitled to damages. The California personal injury attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group will protect your Constitutional rights and get the money you deserve.

Unfortunately, personal injury attorneys have a bad reputation with most people. Many see our role in the legal profession as greedy and vindictive people who chase ambulances in order to make money at the expense of our clients and society.

Not only is the stereotype false, but many people overlook all the good things that injury lawyers do. We are dedicated to our work and we are motivated by ensuring our client’s rights are represented so that they receive the compensation they deserve.

The San Diego accident attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group certainly do not fall under this poor stereotype. We recently wrote an article about the stereotypes about our profession, why they are not true, and why injury attorneys benefit the public. Click on the link below to read the full article and learn about why personal injury lawyers are good for society.

Slip and fall accidents commonly cause lower leg injuries when people fall unexpectedly and cannot stop themselves gracefully. The torque and force the fall puts on their joints and bones can be severe and cause serious injury and pain.

In the medical community, the severity of a lower extremity injury stemming from a slip and fall accident is determined by several risk factors. Some people are more susceptible to leg injuries, such as a foot and knee injury from a slip and fall, than others and it could affect your personal injury case.

Our San Diego slip and fall attorneys recently discussed a medical study at our Jurewitz Law Group personal injury law firm website which attempts to predict the severity of lower extremity injuries to predict medical treatment and prognosis.

A mother and her 4-year-old child were struck and injured by a car driven by an unlicensed car driver in Santa Ana on the morning of October 20, 2010. Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said that this Orange County auto accident occurred along the 1200 block of East McFadden Avenue, near Grand Avenue in Santa Ana, approximately 125 miles north of San Diego.

Eric Christopher Woodward, 39, driving a Ford Crown Victoria, veered onto the sidewalk and hit the mother and crushed the child. The impact of the car crash was so strong that both the mother and child were thrown about 20 feet into the air. Bertagna said that the child suffered critical injuries and the mother suffered a broken shoulder.

Woodward lost control of the vehicle, perhaps due to experiencing a grand mal seizure, and in an effort to compensate the curve he struck both the mother and the child leaving them seriously injured. Bertgana said that Woodward was unlicensed due to his propensity to experience seizures. Fortunately, Woodward and his mother riding as her passenger escaped unhurt.

The injured victims can seek a personal injury claim from Woodward to cover the medical costs, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, and other accident related damages. With the assistance from an experienced Orange County car accident lawyer, the injured victims can know their legal rights and obtain timely compensation.

We sincerely hope and pray that both mother and child did not suffer ant catastrophic injuries and that their injuries heal completely.

Continue reading "Santa Ana Pedestrian Accident Caused by Unlicensed Driver" »

Often times, people who have had their car damaged in an auto accident do not take pictures of their property damage, instead leaving it to the insurance company (either theirs or the at-fault driver's) to document.

Do not fall into this trap!

It is always important to maintain control over any and all evidence that will help your case. The reason why is because you do not want to risk the possibility that the insurance company, in an effort to dampen the evidence against their insured, will use a photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop to alter pictures of your vehicle thereby giving the impression that the traffic collision was not so severe.

Photoshop is a program that can not only reduce shadows, alter colors, but it can also distort images through elongation and airbrushing. Here is an example from an Ann Taylor catalogue where the website retouched the photo to make the model look thinner:

If trained professionals can reduce the diameter of a woman's stomach, torso, and legs, what do you think they can do to that dent in your car's bumper? Photoshop is a very useful tool in the hands of the insurance company to make small, but significant collisions seem as if no property damage was incurred.

Now, the Courts are realizing that today's digital images are not the old photographs of old--they can be altered on the fly and very easily. Recently in the criminal case People v. Khaled, the appellate court ruled that a red light traffic ticket must overturned due to a conviction based upon unsubstantiated photographs taken by a camera at an intersection. The Court ruled that where the prosecution failed to lay the foundation for the photographs by submitting testimony establishing when and how the photographs were taken and that they were not altered. The Court ruled that the hearsay rule will exclude the evidence barring testimony laying out this foundation.

It is good that the courts are finally starting to recognize the ease to which photographic images can be altered and that the old business records exception to the hearsay rule cannot by itself allow for the introduction of photographs into evidence. However, what this should mean to you and to any other member of the public , is that it is better not to even give the insurance company an opportunity to alter photographs of your vehicle. The only way to do so is to make sure that you have taken pictures of your car so that you can keep the insurance company honest.

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 Jurewitz Law Group, a California personal injury law firm with offices in San Diego and Carlsbad, recently launched the latest version of its very useful and helpful website designed to assist people injured in serious accidents. The new website design includes 20 new videos, additional helpful articles for consumers, and FAQ articles intended to answer common questions and concerns for injury accident victims.

The launch of the new website also coincides with the release of the law firm's new helpful e-book for motorcycle accident victims, The Ultimate California Motorcycle Accident Book: How to Protect Yourself from Day One. As a public service to motorcyclists and their passengers, this book is free to all Californians.

Be sure to stop by and look around the new site!