Month: April 2018

Pilot Dies in Fiery San Diego Plane Crash

April 13, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

A pilot of a small Piper Comanche crashed into a hillside at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station yesterday as it was heading to Brown Municipal field. The California airplane accident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. According to the FAA, the pilot made no distress call and simply fell off of radar and radio communication.

The plane and its’ pilot were found and the pilot has been declared dead on scene. FAA officials investigating the crash found that the plane was registered to a Burbank man, but it is not known whether he was the pilot. No other passengers were on board.

The airplane had left from Whiteman Airport in the Los Angeles suburb of Pacoima with its’ planned destination as Brown Field in the San Diego suburb of Otay Mesa. FAA officials are still investigating the airplane crash.

Wind Power Facilities Linked to Deadly Accidents

April 12, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

Wind turbines are often touted as “green” alternatives to generating electricity that don’t rely on petroleum or create greenhouse gases or dangerous radiation, the way conventional coal or nuclear plants often do. However, little attention has been paid recently to the serious accidents that can take place at wind turbine sites, according to a recent article in East County Magazine.

According to researchers, approximately 128 wind turbine workers die each year as a result of workplace accidents. Many of these accidents occur while workers are attempting to repair or maintain the wind turbines’ spinning blades. Although the equipment is supposed to have shut-off systems to prevent accidents caused by moving blades, the turbines are so delicate that even a moderate breeze may start them moving, causing accidents.

The height of most wind turbines also creates a risk for workers. Several fatal work accidents since 2003 have involved workers whose safety equipment has malfunctioned or been caught in wind turbine equipment and broken, causing them to fall several hundred feet to the ground. Finally, weather conditions often contribute to wind turbine injuries and deaths, such as a 1994 Minnesota accident in which a man was seriously injured by chunks of ice falling from wind turbine blades.

Our trained San Diego workplace accident attorneys apply their legal skills and practical experience to fight for outstanding results for each client we represent. We’re dedicated to helping injured workers and their families get the compensation they need so they can focus on getting back on their feet. For a free and confidential consultation, contact us today.

San Diego DUI Driver that Killed Mother Found Guilty

April 11, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

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.

Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Kills Stuntwoman

April 11, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

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 the 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 the California Highway Patrol, Stirton was drag for nearly 10 miles before the truck driver realized what had happened. Stirton has worked on shows like CSI and True Blood.

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 drag 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?

Woman Arrested for DUI after Fatal Anaheim Car Accident

April 10, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

Cameron Cook, 18, of Ladera Ranch was killed in a fatal Orange County DUI car accident that occurred on April 2, 2011 around 11:40 p.m., south of Katella Avenue along the 57 freeway in Anaheim, approximately 91 miles from San Diego. California Highway Patrol officers reported that Cook was a passenger in a Camaro that was struck by a Honda Civic driven by Ashley Bryan.

California Highway Patrol officer Devon Boatman said that the Camaro spun after being struck and finally came to rest facing north on the right shoulder of No. 5 lane along the southbound 57 freeway. The vehicle was then struck by Bryan’s vehicle, pushing Cook over the edge of an overpass to the ground below. Cook was immediately transported to a local hospital for treatment where he was later pronounced dead.

Officials later arrested Bryan on suspicion of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter. From the available information, it is clear that Bryan’s negligent actions lead to this fatal car accident that killed the teenager. It is indeed an unfortunate thing that due to the negligent and intoxicated driver the young teenager lost her life. Bryan 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.”

Cook’s family members should consult with an experienced wrongful death lawyer in Orange County to obtain compensation to pay funeral and burial costs, loss of earnings and financial support, and loss of love and companionship. Our law office offers sincere condolences to all those who knew and loved Cook for their loss.

U-Turn Attempt on CR-98 Results in Injuries

April 10, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

A man who tried to make an improper U-turn on CR-98 near Woodland recently caused a crash that left him with possibly severe injuries, according to a recent article in The Daily Democrat.

The driver, a 90-year-old Woodland resident, tried to make a U-turn and head in the opposite direction on CR-98 from the way he was driving. During the turn, his vehicle crashed into a truck driven by another Woodland resident, a 58-year-old woman. Rescue workers took the 90-year-old to a local hospital for evaluation of the bloody nose and neck pain he suffered in the crash. The other driver did not appear to be injured at the scene.

Failing to obey traffic rules is a common cause of auto accidents in California. Many traffic rules are indicated by signs, signals, and lines painted on roadways, but others are not always made obvious on every stretch of road. Drivers are expected to know the rules of the road and to follow them in order to avoid serious accidents that may leave themselves and others injured or even killed.

Our diligent California car accident injury lawyers can help you and your loved ones through every step of the process after an accident, from filing claims with any insurance companies to seeking compensation from negligent parties in court. For more information about your legal rights and options, call us today for a free, confidential telephone consultation.

Dangerous Pit Bull Dog on the Loose in University City Neighborhood of San Diego

April 6, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

Last Friday evening San Diego police warned University City residents of a dangerous pit bull on the loose. The pit bull attacked another dog at the University Gardens neighborhood park on Governor Dr. at around 5:30 p.m.

A San Diego police officer that responded to the dog attack was also attacked by the pit bull. The San Diego officer shot the pit bull, but it then fled into the canyon nearby. A San Diego police helicopter helped officers search for the pit bull and warned University City residents of the dangerous dog on the loose. San Diego police did not find the dog that evening and Animal Control continued the search on Saturday.

Studies Show Cell Phone Conversations Cause Dangerous Distractions

April 4, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

Driver distraction is a major cause of car accidents in San Diego and throughout the U.S., and distraction has increased over the past decade largely because cell phone use has become commonplace. Where most of the population used to make phone calls only from land lines in houses, offices, or pay phones, today 93 percent of U.S. drivers have cell phones, and far too many of them have phone conversations while behind the wheel.

Recent laws passed in California and other states have limited the use of cell phones in cars, banning acts like texting or holding the phone in one’s hand in order to use it. However, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, having a cell phone conversation even while using a hands-free device increases the risk of a crash as much as holding the cell phone in one’s hand in order to talk on it. Studies show that a person talking on any type of telecommunication device while driving is 37 percent less likely to be able to respond appropriately to sudden driving emergencies, making them four times more likely to cause an accident.

When a person is driving, his or her brain is equally distracted by a conversation, whether it’s over a hands-free device or a handheld one. Understanding what you are being told, deciding how to respond, and then speaking back into the phone may not feel particularly difficult, but every step in the process takes brainpower away from the most critical task: driving the vehicle safely.

Our accomplished San Diego distracted driving crash lawyers have helped many injured people and their families get the compensation they need after an accident. We strive to provide the best possible representation for every client. To discuss your case with us free of charge, contact our office today.

What Doctor Mistakes Frequently Lead to a San Diego Birth Injury?

April 2, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

While techniques for assisting mothers during birth have been developed for thousands of years, the act of birth and delivery is still a delicate process that requires experienced medical help and proper coordination from a medical staff.

Every year, thousands of newborns suffer some form of birth injury and while the effects of some are brief, many others can impair a child for the rest of his or her life.

Doctors are not only responsible for the proper birth of a child, but the well-being of the mother and baby they are assigned to throughout the pregnancy term as well. As such, medical mistakes can lead to a variety of complications and injuries for both child and mother before and during birth. Frequent mistakes that may occur during birth that can cause harm to a newborn include:

  • Improperly resolving shoulder dystocia. When the infant’s shoulder becomes trapped behind the mother’s pubic bone during birth, the doctor must perform certain maneuvers to dislodge the shoulder without harm. A San Diego shoulder dystocia accident injury can permanently damage nerves that keep a child from having full arm function.
  • If the doctor does not recognize fetal distress, then he or she will not take swift and proper actions to help the child and keep injuries caused by suffocation or breech birth from occurring.
  • Modern tools, such as forceps and vacuum suction, can help ease and quicken delivery, but if used improperly can cause both superficial and deadly head and brain injuries to the child.
  • Prior to birth, doctors should examine the baby’s size, the mother’s pelvis size and shape, and other contributing factors in order to determine what actions should be taken for birth. If the proper actions are not taken, such as a cesarean section, then serious injuries could result.

Having a knowledgeable and experienced doctor on your side during birth is essential to keeping your baby safe; unfortunately, even the best doctors can make serious mistakes. If your child has been injured due to medical negligence, call the San Diego birth injury attorneys for a consultation and help with your case.