2012 July Archive

A teenage skateboarder was hospitalized after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver on July 21, 2012, around 9:30 p.m. in Lemon Grove. A witness said that the victim was walking across Massachusetts Avenue when a small black car ran a red light and struck the teen in the crosswalk.

The impact of the collision made the victim go over the top of the car, and he was carried about 100 feet before he fell off the car and into the street. The motorist slowed for a moment, but later sped away from the scene.

The injured victim was immediately transported to a nearby hospital to receive medical treatment for the injuries he suffered.

According to government statistics, nearly 11% of all motor vehicle accidents are hit and run cases. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reports that red-light running crashes caused 762 deaths in the year 2008.

California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) states: “The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident.” Since the driver did not stop after running the red light and hitting the teenage boy, the driver is in violation of this code.

If this accident was caused by the negligent and speeding driving of the car driver, then he may be held liable for this incident.

At this time, the injured victims may benefit from seeking the guidance of an experienced San Diego hit and run accident lawyer, who will make sure that the at-fault motorist is brought to justice.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed because a careless driver ran a red light, talk to the experienced San Diego County auto accident attorneys to ensure that your legal rights are protected. For a free assessment of your case, call our personal injury law office at 1(888) 233-5020.

A female passenger was killed and the male driver suffered major injuries in a California motorcycle crash that took place on July 21, 2012, around 10:25 p.m. in Rancho Santa Fe. According to California Highway Patrol, the victim was a passenger on the bike driven by 58-year-old William Jimenez that went off the road and struck several trees.

The female passenger sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Jimenez suffered serious injuries and was transported to Scripps La Jolla Hospital for immediate medical attention.

California Highway Patrol suspects that alcohol contributed to this fatal crash. It is indeed an unfortunate thing to think that if the driver was not intoxicated, the female passenger may not have lost her life. The exact cause is still under investigation.

Jimenez 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.” Under California law, it is also illegal to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 27 people were killed and 748 were injured in alcohol-related crashes in San Diego.
The victim’s family members should immediately get in touch with an experienced DUI accident lawyer so that they can inspect all the evidence and assure that the at-fault party is dealt with.

The victim’s family can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver seeking compensation for medical and funeral expenses, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a drunken driving accident, talk to an experienced San Diego County DUI accident lawyer to ensure that your legal rights are protected. For a free assessment of your case, call our legal team at 1(888) 233-5020.

A pedestrian was fatally struck by a pickup truck on July 17 around 12:15 a.m. in the 1100 block of West Washington Street in the Mission Hills area. According to the police, the pedestrian stepped into the path of the Ford pickup and was struck.

We offer our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends for such a tragic loss.

Based on this news report, the exact cause of this fatal pedestrian accident remains unclear. Investigating officers need to figure out whether the motorist was speeding or distracted or if the pedestrian was in the crosswalk.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 18 people have been killed and 494 were injured in pedestrian accidents in San Diego.

If it is determined that the truck driver was speeding or negligent, then he may be held liable for this fatal pedestrian accident. In the case that the driver is at fault, the deceased pedestrian’s family members can file a wrongful death claim against the pickup driver to obtain compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of anticipated earnings, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed due to a negligent or speeding driver, talk to the experienced San Diego County pedestrian accident attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group to ensure that your legal rights are protected. For a free assessment of your case, call our San Diego legal team at (888) 233-5020.

A man and a woman suffered serious injuries when the motorcycle they were riding struck a car from behind on July 17 around 7:30 p.m. in San Diego’s Torrey Pines neighborhood. According to the police, the victims’ Yamaha motorcycle rear-ended a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta travelling northbound. Both are in their 20s.

The two passengers in the car suffered minor bruises and scratches. The driver, who is in his 50s, was unhurt.

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics from 2007, in 68 percent of read-end crashes involving motorcycles and vehicles, the motorcycle was the striking vehicle.

In cases where two vehicles are involved, investigating officers need to determine if the driver or biker was driving negligently. Did the car driver stop suddenly? Was the biker distracted at the time of the accident? These are questions that will need to be answered before police can determine who was at fault.

At this time, the injured victims may benefit from seeking an experienced San Diego motorcycle accident lawyer to make sure the negligent party is held liable.

If you have suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident that was caused by someone’s negligence, get the representation you need against the at-fault party. Call the Jurewitz Law Group at (888) 233-5020 for a free consultation.

Four people suffered major to moderate injuries when a speeding SUV struck the PT Cruiser they were in on July 14 around 9:15 p.m. on Melrose Lane in El Cajon.

According to California Highway Patrol (CHP), a speeding Mitsubishi Montero driven by a drunk driver collided into the passenger side of a PT Cruiser. The PT Cruiser was waiting for skateboarders to cross the street in order to turn into a driveway.

One of the occupants in the PT cruiser sustained a severe head injury and was rescued by the fire personnel using hydraulic rescue tools. The three other occupants suffered minor injuries. All the injured victims were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

A truck standing behind the PT Cruiser was also struck by the speeding vehicle and its occupant sustained minor bruises and scratches.

Based on this news report, it appears that the SUV driver was speeding and driving while under the influence of alcohol. According to the CHP’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, drunk driving crashes have led to the death of 27 people in San Diego.

According to California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a): “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.”

The injured victims may file a personal injury claim against the at-fault SUV driver to obtain compensation to cover treatment and medical costs, loss of wages, loss of earning capacity, and any other accident-related damages.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a drunken driving accident, contact our San Diego County DUI car accident attorneys to learn how we can help you successfully pursue compensation and hold the at-fault party responsible for his or her actions. For a complimentary assessment of your case, call our legal team at (888) 233-5020.

A 90-year-old man was hospitalized after he was hit by a pickup truck that was backing out of a driveway in the Serra Mesa neighborhood on July 10 around 11:10 a.m. According to San Diego Police, the victim was run over by a Ford F-250 pickup being driven by a 50-year-old man.

The injured victim suffered a severe laceration over his left eye and a bruised brain and was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. From the facts presented in the news story, it appears that the truck driver was at fault for causing the accident, because he backed the vehicle without checking his blind spots.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2010, there were 3092 fatalities in crashes involving a distracted driver and approximately 416,000 suffered injuries in the auto crashes that involved a distracted driver.

If it is determined that the truck driver was at fault, then he might be held liable for the injuries suffered by the elderly victim and would be required to compensate the victim for all related damages.

If you have suffered because of a careless motorist, the experienced San Diego auto accident injury lawyers can get you the compensation you deserve and hold the at-fault party responsible for his or her actions. Call our personal injury law office at (888) 233-5020 for a complimentary consultation on your case.

Three people were hospitalized in a two-car crash that took place on July 8 around 10:41 a.m. at the corner of Jack in the Box in Imperial Beach. Sheriff’s deputies believe a silver sedan travelling northbound on Ninth Street near Palm Avenue struck a black sedan that ran red light.

The silver sedan driver tried to avoid the collision but struck the black sedan and then crashed into the restaurant. There was no structural damage done to the building and no one inside the restaurant was injured.

However, three of the five occupants in the Silver Sedan were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Emergency crew had to extricate the front seat passenger from the car.

It is unclear from the facts of the story why the Imperial Beach intersection accident occurred and if drugs or alcohol played a role. Though, the accident may have been the result of negligent driving and reckless actions of the black sedan driver.

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, there were more than 2.3 million red light crossing-related crashes, resulting in more than 7,770 fatalities and approximately 733,000 injury crashes. NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reports that red-light running crashes alone caused 762 deaths in 2008.

If the black Sedan driver is found to be at fault, then the injured passengers can file a claim against him to seek damages. The at-fault motorist may be liable to pay the injured victims with compensation to cover all losses that resulted from the crash.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed because a careless driver ran a red light, talk to the experienced San Diego County auto accident attorneys to ensure that your legal rights are protected. For a free complimentary consultation on your possible case, contact our personal injury law office at (888) 233-5020.

A female pedestrian suffered serious injuries after she was hit by a cyclist participating in a “Critical Mass” event on June 29 at the Mission Beach boardwalk. According to SDPD Assistant Chief Boyd Long, a cyclist bumped the woman, who fell and cracked her chin. Her husband got into a scuffle with another cyclist when he tried to confront the biker.

Police are investigating whether the “Critical Mass” group was riding recklessly and how the collision occurred. We wish the injured pedestrian all the very best for a complete and quick recovery.

The couple, who are in their 50s, can file a personal injury claim against the negligent cyclist to seek damages such as medical bills and emotional and mental harm caused by the accident.

Each year in California, more than one hundred people are killed and thousands more are injured in bicycle accidents. A study by two researchers at Hunter College found that at least 38,000 bicycle-pedestrian crashes occurred between 1980 and 2009, which is about the same number of people who die in car accidents every year.

California law requires bicyclists, just like cars, to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks.

If you or someone you love has been killed or injured in a bicycle accident, get the representation you need against the at-fault party. Call a San Diego pedestrian injury lawyer at the Jurewitz Law Group at (888) 233-5020 for a free consultation.

53-year-old “Twilight” fan Gisella G. was fatally hit outside the San Diego Convention Center around 9:20 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9, 2012, while crossing the street to line up for admission into Hall H. The tragic accident occurred at Fifth Avenue and Harbor Drive, a major intersection in front of the building.

The injured pedestrian was bleeding heavily from the head and was rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, life-saving efforts were unsuccessful, and the woman was later pronounced dead.

The 67-year-old driver of the Subaru station wagon and his wife remained at the scene and were cooperative with police. The couple had plans to be part of the convention this week but are devastated by what happened. SDPD ruled out speeding and alcohol as a factor in this fatal pedestrian accident.

This comes as a huge shock to the Comic-Con community, who came together to pay tribute to the fallen Twilight fan. Friends of the victim say the woman had been camping out with a group of other Twilight fans since Sunday, waiting to see the films’ stars.

In order to prevent another accident from happening, Comic-Con organizers are now asking fans not to line up until set-up is complete.

We, at the Jurewitz Law Group, send our deepest condolences to all involved, from the family of the victim to the Comic-Con fans who ran her over.

As a San Diego-based firm, we understand how confusing some of the intersections can be for pedestrians, like the one where the victim was hit. We are currently handling a similar case and are suing the City of San Diego for negligence. What we have discovered is that the “No Ped Crossing” R49 signs are often placed in the wrong location, a direct violation of CalTrans and City standards.

These placements are difficult for people on street-level to see. This makes the busy intersection on Fifth and Harbor even more dangerous, especially for tourists who come for big events like Comic-Con and are not familiar with the area.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an accident and you believe it is due to poor city ordinances or other forms of negligence, contact the personal injury attorneys in San Diego at the Jurewitz Law Group. Call our office toll-free at (888) 233-5020, and we will give you a free assessment of your case.

11-year-old Kyle Glover, stepson to R&B superstar Usher Raymond, sustained a massive head injury on Friday, July 6 while inner tubing at Atlanta’s Lake Lanier.

According to the incident report by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Glover and another friend were being towed on an inner tube by another boat at approximately 3:25 p.m. ET when a Jet Ski crashed into the juveniles. Glover was hit in the head and knocked unconscious.

Both of the injured children were flown to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egelston Hospital. On Sunday, doctors declared the 11-year-old brain dead. This condition is used to describe patients who cease to have brain activity, are in a coma, and are no longer breathing by themselves. The second victim, a 15-year-old girl, suffered a cut to the head and a broken arm.

The watercraft’s operator was identified as Jeffrey S. Hubbard, a friend of the family. Alcohol and drugs did not play a factor in this accident.

Despite the fact that Usher and ex-wife Tameka Raymond are currently undergoing a divorce, both are said to be at the child’s bedside.

The Jurewitz Law Group sends our prayers to the victim’s family and friends.

We understand how difficult it is to cope with a tragedy that could have been prevented. In 2003, our firm handled a similar case on Mission Bay in San Diego, after a Jet Ski struck our client while being pulled on an inner tube. At the time and even today, California residents are not required to carry personal watercraft (PWC) insurance for their Jet Skis. However, many other states require that you carry the minimum of liability and collision coverage when owning or leasing a Jet Ski.

Though boating and Jet Ski insurance are not required by law, you are liable for any damages you cause. Insurance for boats and watercraft is generally inexpensive compared to auto insurance, and it can protect you and those around you in the event of an accident. If you are considering buying a Jet Ski, we highly recommend that you get PWC insurance and learn the proper safety guidelines before you get in the water.

For any questions about California boating rules and regulations, contact our San Diego boat accident injury lawyers toll-free at (888) 233-5020.