San Diego Injury Lawyer Blog

Saturday morning, Lauren Taguchi, 17, of Northridge was killed when her jet-ski collided with another personal watercraft on the Colorado River in Riverside County.

Ms. Taguchi died after her jet-ski struck the other personal water craft head on. The other operator, Ricky Scott Ledford of Las Vegas, helped Ms. Taguchi to a boat ramp where first responders performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. She was taken to Palo Verde Hospital where she later died of her injuries.

Jet-ski accidents are unfortunately fairly common and typically very serious. California has yet to require operators to obtain licenses to operate jet-skis and, although it is unknown whether inexperience was a factor in this case, the number one cause of jet-ski accidents is operator error due to inexperience.

Our prayers go out to Ms. Taguchi's family and we hope that the California legislature looks to this case as yet another example of why jet-ski operating licensing is necessary.

Posted by Ross Jurewitz | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Boating Accidents , Wrongful Death

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A motorcyclist was killed in San Bernardino when she fell off her motorcycle and was run over by a big-rig truck.

Sharon Woodcock, 51, of Long Beach, was driving her motorcycle eastbound on Interstate 10 and making the transition to northbound Interstate 215 when she fell off her Harley Davidson and fell into the adjoining lane. Upon falling into the lane, she was run over by the big-rig truck.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family.

Posted by Ross Jurewitz | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Motorcycle Accidents , Trucking Accidents , Wrongful Death

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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.

Posted by Ross Jurewitz | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Car Accidents , Wrongful Death

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Last Thursday, a construction worker was killed in Chula Vista when a wall fell crushing him to death. The wall was to a building being demolished to make room for Unified Port of San Diego convention and hotel area.

On Sunday, the worker was identified as Austin Sawicki of Escondido.

We are saddened to hear of Mr. Sawicki's passing and give our sympathy to his family.

Posted by Ross Jurewitz | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Construction Accidents , Wrongful Death

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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.

Posted by Ross Jurewitz | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Car Accidents , Wrongful Death

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The December 30, 2006, accident on the San Diego Freeway involving singer Brandy has spawned its' third wrongful death lawsuit related to the death of Awatef Aboudihaj.

Aboudihaj's husband, Marouane Hdidou, has filed a wrongful death claim against Brandy. Hdidou's lawsuit joins two prior lawsuits filed on behalf of Aboudihaj's parents and her two children.

The accident,took place on the San Diego Freeway, leaving Aboudihaj dead and several other motorists severely injured. California Highway Patrol has told prosecutors that Brandy should be charged with misdemeanor manslaughter for causing the multi-car collision. According to police, Brandy was traveling at 65mph, failed to notice that traffic had slowed, which caused her to hit Aboudihaj’s Honda with her Land Rover. The Honda then hit another car, struck the center divide, and was hit by Mallory Ham’s car. According to Ham, she was trying to avoid another vehicle that had gone into her lane.

Ham is also named in the lawsuit. 20 other unnamed "Doe" drivers may also be named. Hdidou alleges that these drivers were driving too vast and following too close for conditions.

Posted by Ross Jurewitz | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Wrongful Death

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