Three people were injured in a San Diego car accident that involved a driver, who officials say ran a stop sign. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the injury crash occurred the afternoon of December 29, 2011 near the intersection of Miramar Road and Padgett Street. A man driving a Toyota Camry failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a Chevy truck whose driver was making a left turn. The truck was then pushed into a Mercedes Benz waiting in a left turn lane. The driver of the Camry, a man in his 40s, suffered a brain injury. The drivers of the two other vehicles were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say alcohol was not a factor in this crash. An investigation is ongoing.

More

A 19-year-old woman was injured in a San Diego car accident after she was hit by a vehicle while crossing the street, the night of December 30, 2011. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the injury pedestrian accident occurred on East H Street near Hidden Vista Drive in Chula Vista. Officials say the woman may have been crossing the street in an attempt to catch a bus when the car struck her. She was hospitalized with critical injuries. Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor, but an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision.

My heart goes out to the teenager who was severely injured in this San Diego pedestrian accident. I wish her the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

More

Many people make crucial errors when choosing a personal injury lawyer. No doubt this is in some ways due to unrealistic expectations of what a personal injury lawyer does. However, it is easy to choose the right personal injury attorney if you know the mistakes to avoid.

1. Do not be lured by flashing advertising. Many personal injury attorneys advertise, but those who go out of the way to advertise with show are often the ones who do not take as much personal time with your case.
2. Beware the "personal injury mill." If a lawyer takes too many clients, he or she cannot give your case the requisite amount of attention it deserves. The fact that an attorney has successful closed many cases is a good recommendation; the fact that he has 150 open cases is not necessarily a good reference.
3. Do not deal with an attorney who will not answer your questions. Choosing the right personal injury attorney is a very important step. You should be able to ask any questions and receive reasonable answers.
4. Do not deal with an attorney with whom you do not feel comfortable. Closely related to #3 is the caution that you should feel comfortable with your attorney. Not only should you be able to ask questions, you should not feel uncomfortable with anything your attorney asks you to do.
5. Do not deal with an attorney without a written fee agreement. You should get a fee agreement in writing which both you and the attorney sign. Keep your copy for reference, and read it thoroughly; it outlines what you will pay your attorney for his or her services.
6. Do not sign your fee agreement without understanding which fees are your responsibility. Your lawyer may ask you to pay for some items in advance; be sure you understand which ones are your responsibility.
7. Do not expect a huge settlement for a small case. One of the most important conversations you can have with your attorney is on the subject of target settlement amount. Listen carefully and ask questions; do not expect more for your case than it is worth.
8. Do not settle for a small amount simply to get the case closed. This is truly the hallmark of a poor personal injury lawyer: one who wants to get the case settled too quickly simply to collect a fee.
9. Do not contact your attorney constantly for updates. This behavior is understandable; you are nervous about your case. However, it does not advance your case and takes time which your attorney could be using to work on your settlement.
10. Do not be afraid to voice your opinion concerning your case. While you should not "pester," it is your right and your responsibility to give your input on the case. Your attorney wants to know where you stand, and your opinion is valuable.

Five people were injured in a San Diego car accident involving two vehicles. According to a City News Service report, the injury accident occurred on westbound State Route 94 near Otay Lakes Road in San Diego, the morning of December 27, 2011. The California Highway Patrol has not released information regarding how the two-car collision occurred. The five injured victims of the crash were treated at a nearby hospital for minor to moderate injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

My thoughts and prayers are with the many injured victims of this San Diego accident. I wish them all the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

More

December 22, 2011—The investigation continues into the death of a 7-year-old boy at a Tahoe ski life.  John Henderson, a member of the resort’s ski team, fell 52 feet from the ski lift at Sugar Bowl, succumbing to his injuries on Tuesday.

Henderson suffered head trauma from the fall, the cause of which has yet to be determined.  Members of the Sugar Bowl Ski Patrol are in the process of interviewing witnesses and examining evidence to try to reconstruct the causes of the ski accident.  Henderson was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.  The boy was known to be an expert skier and was a member of the Sugar Bowl Ski Team.

I want to offer my sincere condolences to the child’s family and fellow team members as they struggle to cope with this terrible tragedy.

Ski Accident Statistics

The National Ski Areas Association estimates that 40 fatalities occur each year in relation to skiing.  Most of these accident involve skiers who strike trees or other objects while skiing at high rates of speed, although some accidents, such as this one, involve ski lifts.  Because ski lifts travel so far above the ground, any falls can be dangerous or even fatal.  Safety equipment is required on ski lifts, and should be inspected regularly to ensure continued safety. More

Child car seats play a critical role in preventing fatalities in the event of a car accident. Recognizing this important fact, a new law will go into effect in California, starting on January 1, 2012, which will make it mandatory for children under the age of 8 to sit in the back seat and be restrained in a car seat or booster seat. There are a few exceptions to the new law. For example, a child under 8 who is 4 feet 9 inches or taller may ride in the back seat without a child seat or booster as long as they use a lap/shoulder belt. Additionally children who are 8 years of age or older who have not reached the said height must continue to use a booster or child car seat.

More

At least seven people were injured in a Ventura car accident involving two vehicles. According to a news report in The Ventura County Star, the injury accident occurred at the intersection of East Pleasant Valley Road and Fifth Street in Camarillo, the night of December 24, 2011. Officials have not released information regarding how the crash occurred. Three or four of the victims suffered critical injuries, while the others sustained moderate injuries. It is not clear if either driver will be cited for the collision.

My thoughts and prayers are with the many victims of this car accident. I wish them all the very best for a complete and quick recovery.

More

A 24-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were injured in a Los Angeles car accident, after a suspected drunk driver struck their motorcycle. According to a report in The Whittier Daily News, the DUI collision occurred on Telegraph Road at Victoria Avenue in the unincorporated county area of South Whittier, the night of December 21, 2011. Officials say the driver involved in the crash was an underage drunk driver. The man and woman were hospitalized with unknown injuries. The motorist, Pedro Saucedo, 18, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this motorcycle accident. I wish them the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

More

Fairfield residents Christopher Valdueza, 19, Sukhpreet Singh, 20, Michael Valdueza, 20, and 20-year-old Timothy Beaver were injured in a San Francisco area car accident, which police report, involved a drunk driver. According to a news article in The Reporter, the DUI collision occurred on Ramsey Road near Gold Hill Road in Fairfield, during the early morning hours of December 20, 2011. Officials say the car's driver, Vandor Alde, 20, was traveling at about 80 mph in a 65 mph zone when he lost control of the 2008 Dodge Charger and crashed through a fence and struck a tree.

More

Michelle Simmons is offering a $1,500 cash reward to anyone that can help her locate the hit-and-run driver responsible for causing the San Francisco area car accident that resulted in serious injuries for her and a passenger. The hit-and-run car accident occurred the evening of November 29, 2011 on Watsonville Road in the unincorporated Gilroy area of Santa Clara.

According to The Morgan Hill Times, Simmons was driving a Honda convertible and rounding a blind curve when her vehicle approached a car in her lane of traffic. The vehicle clipped the front of her Honda sending it spinning into a telephone pole and down a roadside ravine. Simmons suffered a leg injury and burns to her face. Her passenger sustained a broken back and both of them still suffer from whiplash-related back problems. Simmons is offering the reward to anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the hit-and-run driver in this case.

More