Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Car while Jaywalking

Pedestrians are required to use designated crosswalks to avoid being hit by approaching vehicles. The consequences of ignoring this rule may be seen in a fatal pedestrian accident that recently occurred in Pacoima.

According to reports, the male pedestrian may have been jaywalking when he was struck and killed by a vehicle along Laurel Canyon and Van Nuys boulevards.

The man was reportedly hit by a vehicle that was moving southbound along Laurel Canyon Boulevard.

Reports said the driver stopped and was interviewed by the police.

Authorities have made no arrests following the fatal accident.

The man is just one of the many pedestrians who were unfortunately killed while trying to cross the road. In fact, statistics show that at least 100,000 pedestrian accidents happen in the country. The worst part is that over 50% of these incidents result in fatalities.

These accidents may be avoided if both pedestrians and drivers will respect each other’s presence on the roads. Pedestrians can avoid being involved in an accident by using marked crosswalks. Meanwhile, drivers can avoid hitting pedestrians if they drive cautiously and avoid any kinds of distractions while out on the roads.

Chain-Reaction Accident Causes Armored Car to Flip

Motorists are always expected to make safe turns and maneuvers to avoid hitting or being hit by other vehicles. They should keep in mind that they can be held accountable for any damage or injury that they cause to other motorists during an accident.

Recently, an armored vehicle carrying an undisclosed amount of money flipped to its side as it tried to avoid hitting another vehicle.

It is reported that at least six patrol cars surrounded the vehicle after it flipped on its side and ended at the center divider of Whittier Boulevard.

The chain accident occurred after a vehicle suddenly pulled out from an establishment causing the driver of an approaching car to swerve into the lane of the armored car. The driver failed to control the vehicle as it swerved and flipped on its side.

Thankfully, no one was injured in the accident. Authorities are still trying to locate the driver of the vehicle that started the chain reaction as he fled the scene before authorities were able to question him.

Avoiding Road Crashes Made Possible through Teen Driving Education Program

Different statistics have shown that drivers who are aged 16-19 are more often involved in traffic accidents compared to other drivers in older age groups. They also have the highest number of traffic violation citations including speeding, tailgating, and failure to yield the right-of-way.

To address these problems, a driving education program was scheduled to teach teen drivers the proper skills that are needed just to stay alive while traveling along dangerous roads.

According to reports, the Tire Rack Street Survival driver education program will be held at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego this coming March 28. It will enhance a driver’s competence by providing him with “hands-on experiences” in different actual driving situations.

Participants are required to drive their own vehicles so that they can directly apply the skills they will learn to their own driving experiences, said reports.

Licensed and permitted drivers who are aged 16-21 are encouraged to participate in this program, which only costs around $75 per participant.

Dropped Ice Cream Leads to Fatal Rollover Accident in Interstate 40

A 25-year-old driver lost her mother in a rollover accident all because of a dropped ice cream.

The accident occurred at about 5pm the other day in Interstate 40 near Newberry Springs.

According to the CHP, the woman lost control of her Toyota Prius shortly after dropping her ice cream cone.

The car accident claimed the life of her 53-year-old mother who removed her seatbelt to help her clean up the mess.

CHP said that because of the spilled ice cream the driver took her attention off the roadway and allowed the vehicle to drift.

The driver then overcorrected and the Prius overturned on the median.

The driver sustained major injuries including a possible broken arm.

Although DUI and reckless driving are the ones that are always on the news, driver distractions are actually the leading cause of car accidents in the US.

And that is exactly what happened in this incident.

From the reports, the driver was eating ice cream while driving at about 70mph on Interstate 40; that is just not safe driving.

Our focus should be on the road whenever we are driving especially on high-speed roads like freeways.

Hopefully, this sends a strong message against motorists who multi task while driving.

2 Injured and 10 Cars Damaged in San Francisco Tow Truck Accident

A tow truck accident in San Francisco has injured two people, damaged ten parked cars and disrupted the Muni Railway’s N-Judah line.

According to reports, the tow truck was either returning or removing a car when the car slipped and the driver lost control of the tow truck.

The tow truck proceeded to roll about half a block down Third Avenue hitting ten parked cars along the way.

The driver of the car that slipped off the tow truck and another person who was inside one of the parked cars sustained minor injuries.

The cars that were struck sustained major damages and Muni’s N-Judah line was out of service up to 12:43 pm.

The injured parties can file a personal injury claim for the medical expenses they have spent for their injuries while the car owners can file a property damage claim against the tow truck company.

When filing a property damage claim, get at least two estimates for the repair of the car. It will help speed up the processing of your claim.

Hopefully the insurance company of the tow truck company will take care of all the needed expenses as I don’t see much reason for any claim to be denied.

However it is still advisable to hire the services of a personal injury and property damage attorney for assistance and to avoid being at the short end of any negotiation.

Wrong Way Driver Pleads Not Guilty for Death of Santee Deputy in Car Crash

The wrong-way driver that was being chased by Deputy Ken Collier before the crash that ended his life has pleaded not guilty to the charge of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Jose Pedro Lopez, 22, may face up to 11 years in prison if convicted.

Lopez was arrested following the car accident on state route 52 last weekend.

Deputy ken Collier of the Santee Sheriff’s Department spotted Lopez going east on the westbound lanes and was moving one lane to the other.

Deputy Collier made a U-turn and tried to halt the vehicle but he ran out of room and struck the concrete abutment for an overpass between Santo road and Mast Boulevard.

Deputy Collier’s SUV fell about 500-600 feet down a ravine.

He was brought to a hospital where he later died of his injuries.

Although most of us want Lopez in jail, I am not so sure if the manslaughter charge will stick because Lopez did not hit Collier’s car.

It is working on the assumption that if not for Lopez actions, then Collier would not have died.

Other factors may have caused the crash like other vehicles, Collier’s own driving abilities or even the SUV itself (SUVs are notorious for being prone to rollovers).

In criminal law, guilt has to be proven without reasonable doubt, and it will be difficult to prove that in this case.

The family of Collier may try filing a wrongful death against Lopez in civil court regardless of what happens in the criminal case.

The standards for proving liability in civil court is not as stringent because unlike in criminal court where the defendant’s freedom is at stake, damages in civil lawsuit are often just monetary.

Officer Saylor’s Family Files Lawsuit against Toyota for Fiery Crash

Family members of a California Highway Patrol Officer who died with his family in a fiery vehicle crash that sparked Toyota recalls has filed a lawsuit Tuesday for the wrongful death of the four vehicle occupants.

CHP Officer John Saylor was with his daughter, wife, and brother-in-law when the fatal accident occurred in Santee. The family was said to have picked-up their daughter, Mahala, from a practice before the accident.

The family was using a loaned car as they had their vehicle checked-up. Reports show that the vehicle, a Lexus, was earlier loaned by the dealership to another person who complained about acceleration problems caused by defective floor mats.

Moments before the crash, Saylor’s brother-in-law, Christopher Lastrella, was able to place a 911 call asking for help as Saylor appeared to have no control over the vehicle’s acceleration.

After the accident, Toyota started to issue recalls on millions of its vehicle.

Product manufacturers should always prioritize the safety of their consumers over their profit. This will also help them avoid liability over accidents that could be caused by their product’s defects and malfunctions.

Pickup Driver Dies in Moorpark Train Accident

A pickup driver died at the scene of a train accident in rural Ventura County yesterday morning.

According to Amtrak, a Toyota Tundra collided with a northbound Pacific Surfliner in a private crossing in Moorpark.

The pickup driver was still breathing and was even coherent when he was pulled by the CHP from the wreckage.

Sadly, he died even before he was brought to a hospital.
Nobody else was hurt in the crash.

Does the family of the driver have any legal recourse against the railroad company?
Not much.

Trains always have the right of way in railroad crossings just because of the simple fact that they cannot stop right away.

Other vehicles are supposed to give way and not the other way around.

The possible angle where the family can file a wrongful death case is by looking for negligence on the part of the rail company.

Did the company provide enough safety measures and warnings to prevent this type of accident? If they have been negligent then the family may be able to win the case.

Victim of Fatal Motorcycle Accident in West Covina Identified

Authorities identified the victim of the fatal motorcycle accident in West Covina the other day.

Alfredo E. Gonzales, 33, of Covina was pronounced dead at the scene after the 2004 Suzuki GSXR 1000 motorcycle he was riding collided with a 1992 Honda Accord in Sunset Avenue.

The 22-year-old woman who was driving the Accord was not arrested.

The family of Gonzales should seriously consider getting the services of a wrongful death attorney.

Although the woman was not arrested or charged, it is not an indication that she is not civilly liable for the death.

The standards in proving liability in a civil lawsuit like a wrongful death case is not like in criminal law where guilt has to be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

In civil law, the plaintiff has to prove that the defendant was negligent or has acted below the standards of how another reasonable person would have acted in the same or similar situation.

An experienced wrongful attorney should be able to give sound advice on that regard.