Worst Celebrity Car Wrecks

Hollywood celebrities may be talented when it comes to acting, singing and dancing, but not always to driving. A lot of them in fact, have been involved in some ridiculous or silly, if not fatal, car crashes.

See below how some of the big stars of yesterday and today wreck their expensive vehicles in different road crashes:

James Dean

The East of Eden’s star wrecked his new Porsche 550 Spyder on September 30, 1955 in a head-on collision with a 1950 Fort Tutor during an auto rally in Salinas, California. The said incident caused the actor’s early death at the young age of 24.

Ryan Dunn

The Jackass’ star totaled his Porsche 911 GT3 after he flew it off the road in Pennsylvania on June 2011. Over-speeding was seen as a major factor for the incident. The same also caused the actor and his passenger’s death.

Rowan Atkinson

Best known as Mr. Bean, Atkinson crashed his McLaren F1 not once, but twice. He first crash occurred in 1999 when he reversed into a Rover, while the second one occurred near Haddon in Cambridgeshire, England on August, 2011. According to reports, he lost control of his car and then struck into a tree and then into a lamppost, which caused it to catch fire.

Jay Kay

The Grammy Award-winner musician wrecked his purple Lamborghini Diablo SE30 after making a difficult turn at a high speed in Park Lane in Central London way back in 2006. Allegedly, a friend who borrowed his car was the one driving when the incident occurred. The car was useless total wreck thereafter. Some wonder if Jay Kay ever felt the lost of that fancy car since it was just one of the many he has in his high-end car collection. In fact, he once claimed that he had around 37 cars.

Nick Hogan

The son of the famous and controversial wrestler, Hulk Hogan, in his estranged wife, Linda, totaled his father’s Toyota Supra in a horrible accident in 2007 at Clearwater, Florida. Reports claimed that he lost control of the car and crashed it into a tree. Unfortunately, his passenger, who was a member of his drifting team’s pit crew, was permanently paralyzed after the incident.

Eddie Griffin

The comedian crashed his rare Ferrari Enzo into a concrete barrier in February 2009 while practicing for a charity race that promoted a then-upcoming film. Fortunately for Griffin, he left the scene unscathed though his sports car was severely damaged.

Lindsay Lohan

The Mean Girls’ star slammed his black Mercedez Benz SLG65 AMG into a minivan after she was swarmed by dozens of paparazzi who were pursuing her right from the clothing store where she shopped way back in 2005. Although it is not Lohan’s only road mishap, it is probably the worst since she badly damaged her car and sustained minor injuries, and was transported to a hospital.

Almost everyday, there is at least one celebrity that gets involved in a road crash. Therefore, the accidents involving the said stars are only a few of the worst celebrity car accidents that are mostly undisclosed to public for some reasons that a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer definitely understand.

Honda Globally Announces another Huge Product Recall

After Honda’s massive product recall last October, the Japanese automaker is again announcing that it will be recalling hundreds of thousands of its vehicles worldwide for roll away risks.

According to recent news reports, Honda announced last Wednesday that it will be recalling more than 871,000 vehicles to fix a defect that could cause the cars to roll away when drivers thought that it has been parked securely.

The recall decision came after the giant automakers received two reports of minor injuries resulting from the defect. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether the victims have filed for product liability claims.

Following the complaints, Honda conducted an investigation which subsequently determined that when the car’s transmission was not shifted to park, its ignition interlock mechanism can be damaged or worn to the point where it is possible to remove the key.

In a statement released by Honda, it thoroughly explained that if the transmission is not in park and the parking brake is not set, the car could roll away and a car crash could occur.

Meanwhile, affected vehicles in the recall include some 347,244 Honda Odyssey, around 276,850 Honda Pilot (2003-2004 model years), and approximately 247,179 Acura MDX (2003-2006 model years). Additionally, 807,000 of the recalled vehicles will be in the United States while the rest will be in Canada.

Honda further claimed that it will send a mail notice to vehicle owners by February and will conduct the repairs free of charge.

Apparently, this is the third time this year that the Japanese automaker had conducted a product recall. It can be remembered that last May, it recalled around 53,000 Acuras with V6 engines with model years between 2003 and 2007. After a few months, Honda made another massive recall which affected roughly 572,000 mid-sized Accords for fire risk.

As by definition of a product liability claim, if a vehicle seatbelt failed to restrain a passenger during an accident due to a defective part and resulted in an injury, the automaker, including the company that designed the defective par, is a possible defendant. Therefore, this is probably what the giant automaker wants to avoid – being in a pool of defendants as a result of negligence, speculated by several personal injury lawyers.

Addiction Counselor Drives for Miles with Dying Man on Windshield

A Southern California driver now faces multiple charges as a result of her drunk driving with a dying man in her car’s windshield.

As reported, 51-year-old addiction counselor, Sherri Wilkins, was driving under the influence of controlled substance when she struck a pedestrian on Torrance Boulevard last November 24.

The pedestrian, who was identified as Phillip Moreno, 31, was knocked out of his shoes and was sent to the car’s windshield due to the strong impact of the collision. Subsequently, instead of stopping her vehicle, Wilkins continued driving for more than two miles with the bloodied, dying man lying on top of her windshield.

Wilkins only came to a stop when a concerned motorist swarmed her car at a traffic light and grabbed her keys. Shortly thereafter, she was arrested while Moreno was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Based on initial investigation, Wilkins was heading home after having a few drinks with friends at a bar near her office while Moreno was then crossing the street on his way home when the accident occurred.

Consequently, Wilkins is now facing charges of vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving after the investigation revealed that her blood alcohol level content was twice the legal limit. Also, police told media sources that they may likely add felony hit-and-run to Wilkins’ list of charges.

Incidentally, court records revealed that Wilkins was convicted for first-degree burglary in 1989 and in the following month, she was likewise convicted for having narcotics while in custody. In 1994, she was again convicted for burglary and was put behind bars for nine years. In 2001, she was further convicted for having a controlled substance while in jail until she was paroled in 2008, according to the California Department of Corrections.

Moreover, some two years later, Wilkins was again arrested for hit-and-run after she knocked a power pole which was then struck by three other cars. Nevertheless, the case was dismissed after she and the other driver reached a settlement agreement, according to a City Attorney, Patrick Sullivan.

Following the incident, Wilkin took to her MySpace account and admitted that she had been heavily using drugs way back in 2009 until she lost all her loved ones and her freedom in 2010. She further affirmed in her social media account that she has been drug free for eleven years. In fact, she already has a degree in drug and alcohol counseling and that she will be having her BA soon.

Apparently, that is some good news that she was over with her drug addiction days. However, it would not exclude her from all her liabilities from the fatal incident, a Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer said.

Consumer Alert: Dangerous Toys Announced

Just in time for the upcoming season of gift giving, consumers were alerted by the U.S.-based Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) through an early announcement of unsafe toys for children.

In its statement, the group noted that although the majority of toys can be considered safe, there are still some that are not appropriate for children but are still being displayed in stores’ shelves. The group warned that toys which can impair children’s hearing, have choking hazards, contain toxic chemicals, and/or contain powerful magnets can be fatal for children if swallowed.

On the other hand, a toymaker trade group, The Toy Industry Association, claimed that the said report is off the mark, stressing that most of the enlisted products comply with the nation’s strict safety standards, according to media sources.

Meanwhile, the report doesn’t seem to claim to be a comprehensive list of dangerous toys, since the PIRG only listed a few toys sold in the U.S. market that it believes to be dangerous.

Said list was quoted below as a ready reference:

Noisy toys

•    Fisher-Price’s Dora Guitar which emits more than 85 decibels (dB)
•    Toy State’s CAT Car Wheel/Horn which emits more than 85 dB
•    Maison Joseph Battat Ltd.’s FunKeys Car Keys which emits 80 dB if held to the ear

Choking hazards

•    Z-Windups’ Dragster Cars
•    Cool Novelty Products’ Bowling Game
•    RT Toy’s Factory Ball on a Stick Launcher
•    Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Play Food
•    Unique Industry Inc.’s Baby’s 1st Birthday Balloons and Baby’s 2nd Birthday Balloon
•    Aoxing Toys Factory’s Golfing Game

Chemical-filled toys

•    Global Design Concepts Inc.’s Dora backpack contains phthalates
•    GreenBrier International Inc.’s Morphobot contains 180 parts per million (ppm) of lead

Magnet risks
•    GreenBrier International Inc.’s Snake Eggs has shape for easy swallowing

Nevertheless, although the PIRG found significant evidence of dangers in the said products, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there has been any product liability claim brought against its manufacturers, according to a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles. However, he warned consumers to be mindful of choosing the best gift for children and to always consider their safety when buying toys for them.

FDA: 5 Hour Energy Drink Linked to Multiple Deaths

Following news reports about the alleged link between Monster Energy drink and five deaths last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now investigating the 5-Hour Energy drink after receiving claims that the highly caffeinated drink may have led to 13 deaths and 33 hospitalizations over the past four years.

Incidentally, 5-Hour Energy, which comes in 2 ounce packages and contains a powerful caffeine punch which can be an equivalent of two cups of coffee, is manufactured and distributed by the Michigan-based manufacturer, Living Essentials.

According to the USC Director of Toxicology, Dr. Sean Patrick Nord, if someone consumes multiple packages of the said energy drink, it is when the side effects begin to take place. In fact, one can consume huge quantity of caffeine that can be equivalent to 30 to 40 cups of coffee by consuming multiple cans of it.

Based on Consumer Reports, the caffeine concentration of the 2 ounce shot of 5-Hour Energy is 215 milligrams, which is far higher than the FDA’s legal limits. Under the FDA protocol, any soda drink must only contain 72 milligrams of caffeine per 2 ounce. 

Meanwhile, the manufacturer strongly affirmed that these are just product liability claims and there are no proven links yet between the energy drink and the deaths. In addition, its founder and CEO, Manoj Bhargava, told some media sources that the 5-Hour Energy is intended only for busy adults. He added that it doesn’t do any harm if and only it was consumed as directed.

Consequently, critics highlighted their concerns about children with underlying heart problems who drink energy beverages since they are more dangerous than coffee due to temperature.

On the other hand, a Los Angeles injury attorney here claims that although there is no proven link yet between the reported deaths and the highly caffeinated drinks, consumers should nevertheless start taking precautions at this early point of time before anything bad happens.

Judge Rules over Justin Bieber’s Wild Paparazzi Chase

Just when Justin Bieber is visibly having rough days after his break up with Selena Gomez while becoming a rough driver as well, an update regarding his wild paparazzi chase case has finally came to light.

According to news reports, a judge in Bieber’s wild car chase recently ruled that the California paparazzi law is unconstitutional.

Consequently, the presiding judge threw two out of the four criminal charges that were set against the photographer who chased Bieber while trying to shoot pictures of him. Accordingly, the charges that were dropped were based on the new paparazzi law. In fact, the judge called the said law as ‘problematic,’ as it prevented lawful activities by the media.

Incidentally, the said wild paparazzi chase has been a center of disputes ever since. In fact, shortly after that wild chase incident in July, deputies have been arguing whether Bieber should be cited for the high speed chase or not.

Nevertheless, the deputies still considered the paparazzo as the biggest offender for the wild chase.

Eventually, the paparazzo was prosecuted since he committed a misdemeanor outside the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) presence, according to traffic enforcers.

So far, the said ruling will not have an immediate effect since it was laid down by a trial judge. The L.A. City attorney was said to appeal the ruling.

Unfortunately, if the court of appeals likewise sides with the trial judge’s previous ruling, definitely, it could have a big impact on how the paparazzi are prosecuted across the state. Moreover, it could also mean that it is no longer safe for celebrities and even for other drivers and pedestrians to roam around the streets of L.A. when there are paparazzi around, speculated by a Los Angeles automobile accident attorney.

Minor Car Accident Distracts Driver, Causes Major Crash

An 18-year-old driver looking at a minor car accident along Garner Lane caused another car crash, which resulted in two passengers getting severe injuries.

According to news reports, the accident occurred at around 5 o’clock in the afternoon last Wednesday on Highway 99 at Garner Lane, Chico, Butte, California.

Police reports revealed that a northbound Toyota Tacoma driven by Matthew Ledford crashed into a red Honda Civic driven by Luke Mellis, 20, who was waiting for the southbound traffic to turn into an orchard.

Ledford was blamed for the incident since Mellis had his blinker on while waiting to make a turn when the distracted Ledford hit his Honda Civic.

Fortunately, both drivers were left unscathed while two teen female passengers were severely injured after hitting their heads hard. The two women were transported to the nearest hospital, according to California Highway Patrol spokesperson Mark Keyes.

Apparently, it appeared from the initial investigation that the Toyota’s airbags deployed but the Honda’s did not due to the strong impact of the collision. In addition, the vehicle model of the Honda had no passenger airbags installed.

Meanwhile, police claimed that alcohol or drugs is not a factor to the incident but only an indication of a distracted driver.

Incidentally, such type of accidents can be prevented if only the driver stayed focus on driving. Distracted driving is dangerous and in split second can cause devastation into one’s life. Therefore, if drivers would not pay their full attention on driving, further similar accidents are likely to happen, reminded by a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.

Bobby Brown Busted again for DUI

Photo gives credit to original owner, 

John M. Heller of Getty images.

Whitney Houston’s former husband, Bobby Brown, was again indicted after he was spotted driving recklessly in Los Angeles streets.

According to news reports, Bobby was pulled over by cops after he was seen driving aimlessly and erratically last Thursday. Police claimed that they immediately smelled the strong odor of alcohol in Bobby. Therefore, he was given a series of sobriety tests, which he repeatedly failed.

Consequently, he was taken under the custody of the apprehending officers.

Incidentally, the DUI arrest is Bobby’s third following his first offense way back in 1996 and another one just last March this year. Subsequently, Bobby has sought rehab treatment for his addiction issues.

Whether he got depressed over his estranged wife’s death or there must have been some other reason behind his alcohol dependency, it is not confirmed.

Bobbi and Whitney Houston was married for a little more than 14 years. They had a child named Bobbi Kristina.

Meanwhile, speaking about the couple’s only child, it could be remembered that Bobbi Kristina and her boyfriend was reportedly involved in a car accident more than a month ago.

Further details regarding the incident remain undisclosed until present. However, according to previous reports, Bobbi Kristina and her boyfriend, Nicholas “Nick” Gordon, were seen arguing while the car was moving when the accident occurred.  Allegedly, Nick’s Camaro was wrecked following the incident.

Going back with Bobby’s DUI arrest, the news regarding the same allegedly surfaced just a day after his daughter announced her pregnancy with her boyfriend Nick. Nick is Whitney Huston’s adopted child. After the latter’s death, the two became close to each other and ended up as lovers. In fact, recent news claim that the two were engaged and were actually planning a wedding.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles injury lawyer here who has monitored the late singer’s career and how she developed a family was likewise rejoicing now that everything about her family seems like getting smooth—except for Bobby.

Incidentally, Bobbi Kristina’s grandmother, Cissy Houston, was initially keeping off Bobbi Kristina from her inherited funds. However,the two reportedly settled their personal issues and in fact, Cissy is now permitting her granddaughter to take over her millions.

Merced County Proclaims October as Railroad Safety Month

Merced County is where two of California’s major railroads, BNSF Railway and Union Pacific, continuously rumble down to deliver freight to far destinations.

Incidentally, approximately 103 accidents happen annually in California, more than half of which ends in deaths, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. Other than that, the data also revealed that California was listed as the state with the most number of railroad trespassing incidents last year.

During a meeting last Tuesday, Merced County officials voted unanimously to pass an item proclaiming October as Railroad Safety Month.

Basically, such campaign is being conducted to spread awareness to the public.

According to one of the campaign’s advocates, Supervisor John Pedrozo, he, on behalf of his other colleagues, wants people to remember how important it is to stay off railroad tracks and observe the law.

Moreover, Pedrozo disclosed that the said initiative was kept alive by a former railroad employee from Bakersfield, Bob Alexander, who was very dedicated in educating people about the importance of train safety. In fact, Alexander was actually working with a non-profit organization, Operation Lifesaver, before he died last March.

Operation Lifesaver was founded in 1972 to spread awareness to communities over the state regarding rail safety and reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

Advocates of the said initiatives believe that by spreading awareness to the community—including the city councils, students, and drivers—railroad and other train accidents can be avoided.

Also, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reminds residents near railroads that crossing over railroad tracks could mean trespassing since they are considered as private properties. In addition, there are properly designated public crossing for cars and pedestrians.

Meanwhile, aside from the advocates of the said campaign, a Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer also agrees that parents play a very significant role in educating children. He stressed that parents are considered the most responsible parties in teaching their young children about railroad safety precautions.

Another California School Bus Accident Injures 17

Just a few days following the Ventura school bus accident, another school bus crash occurred in Victorville, California.

According to recent reports, at least 16 children and the bus driver was injured in the said accident.

A spokesperson from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) told that the accident was reported at around 2 o’clock in the afternoon, Thursday.

Initial investigation revealed that the accident occurred when a U-haul truck pulling out of the driveway struck the school bus.

CHP officer Joaquin Zubieta said that the school bus tried to swerve to avoid the crash but unfortunately failed.

Apparently, the U-haul truck was driven by a mother while her daughter was sending signal from the rear of the vehicle to aid her in pulling the truck from the driveway. Subsequently, a miscommunication occurred between the mom and the daughter, which resulted in the collision.
   
As a result of the collision, two children incurred serious injuries and were transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center. Meanwhile, the other 14 and the driver who sustained minor injuries were also transported to nearby hospitals.

On the other hand, the mother and the daughter were left unscathed.

Apparently, the school bus was carrying a total of 40 children bound home from Galileo Academy in Victorville when the accident happened.

After the crash, parents were called to be informed about the incident and were asked to pick up their kids as well.

In the meantime, the crash is still under investigation.

Truck accidents are definitely one of the most disturbing road accidents. This could be attributed to trucks being the biggest vehicles in the roadways.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles accident attorney was grateful that nothing dire happened to the children since in most accidents involving trucks and other huge vehicles like buses, the result often becomes debilitating and sometimes fatal.

Walmart Faces New Employment Discrimination Raps

In recent news, Walmart was reportedly facing another employment discrimination lawsuit on the basis of gender filed by its female employees.

According to reports, three Tennessee long time female employees of Walmart recently filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the giant shop retailer before the federal court of Nashville.

According to the charge, complainants Cheryl Phipps, Bobbi Millner, and Shawn Gibbons have spent between 11 and 26 years working for the company’s retail stores in three different towns in Tennessee. They claimed that they were being denied for promotions, accusing the huge retailer of intentionally discriminating against women.

Aside from being passed over for promotions, they were also paid less than men who were doing similar jobs as theirs. The women further claimed that although they informed the retailer’s management about their concerns, the latter failed to act on the matter. 

Allegedly, the women were told by a store manager that they cannot be promoted to management post since it was a man’s job.

The women are seeking for unspecified damages in their lawsuit and are anticipating that the said lawsuit will help hundreds of thousands of other women who suffered employment discrimination from Walmart stores.

Incidentally, it is not the first time that Walmart is being sued for employment discrimination on the basis of gender by its female employees.

It can be recalled that in 2011, the Supreme Court dismissed a class action lawsuit against the giant retailer brought by an overwhelming 1.5 million female employees. It was in fact, the largest gender discrimination lawsuit in the U.S. history.

According to the said ruling, the court found that the women’s jobs were too varied to qualify as a class action lawsuit. However, the same did not bar possible future class action lawsuits such as this one.

On a related note, a Los Angeles labor lawyer explained that as opposed to harassment, which deals with proper legal actions taken against the employee, employment discrimination claim arises from actual employment practices including promotions, wages, and benefits.

California Governor Vetoes 3-foot Bicycle Passing Bill

The new California bill that was approved by the State’s Senate last month was recently vetoed by the Golden State’s Governor, Jerry Brown.

The bill called SB 1416, which would supposedly require vehicle drivers to yield 3 feet of space to bicyclists on the road particularly when they are passing from behind, was returned unsigned to legislature last September 28.

Nevertheless, Gov. Brown explained his part about vetoing the bill to the California State Senate. In his memo quoted below, Gov. Brown noted:

“Crossing a double yellow line is an inherently dangerous act that increases the risk of head-on collisions. When a collision occurs, it will result in a lawsuit where the state is likely to be sued as a ‘deep pocket.’ By making it legal to cross a double yellow line, that weakens the state’s defense to these lawsuits,”

Incidentally, the said bill expressly allows vehicle to cross a double yellow line, according to Gov. Brown. He also added that although he approved of better bicycle safety, legally permitting vehicles to cross a double yellow line when passing would eventually expose California lawsuits that might stem from head-on collisions.

Furthermore, Gov. Brown also noted that the state’s Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) had recently offered amendments to the proposed bill that would protect the state from possible lawsuits. However, rumors have it that the bill’s author, Sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) is more likely to disagree to the changes of the bill.

It could be recalled that last year, a similar bill was likewise passed in the State Senate but was similarly vetoed by the California governor due to its speed limit requirement. As a result of which, advocates of the said bill removed the speed limit and then introduced this modified one, which was recently denied by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles bike accident lawyer here speculates that probably the next bill favoring bicyclists’ safety on the road would be customized enough to pass the Governor’s strict approval after it has been denied a couple of times.

Massive Peanut Butter Recall Expands beyond California

Previously, more than a dozen brands of peanut butter and almond butter manufactured by Sunland, Inc. have been voluntarily recalled all over the country following a salmonella outbreak.

According to recent news reports, at least 29 people were left sick with the disease in 18 states across the country.

Initially, the said recall only affected Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter at Trader Joe’s grocery store. But now, the product recall became significantly massive, affecting all peanut butters manufactured by Sunland.

The Consumer Protection Commissioner, William M. Rubenstein, said that the massive product recall affects a far greater number of brands than earlier thought.

Rubenstein added that it is important that consumers, school cafeterias, restaurants, hospitals, and other food preparation sites check their food storage for the products recalled. He likewise reminded people who have any of the recalled products to return the same from the store where they purchased it for a full refund. He warned them against eating those contaminated products. 

At present, the Department of Consumer Protection is working to inspect and ensure compliance with the said recall.

The FDA calls for the attention of everyone to check the date of manufacturing of all peanut butters in their shelves and cabinets. Those products that were manufactured by Sunland, Inc. between May 1 and September 24 could be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria, an organism that can cause serious illness and sometimes death to humans.

Incidentally, three of the peanut butters recalled are available at Trader Joe’s. Therefore, the said grocery store chain removed those items from its store shelves and had them destroyed, according to a notice posted in its official website.

So far, other states that recently reported cases of salmonella illnesses that have been linked to peanut butter include California, New Jersey, Washington, Arizona, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Apparently, the peanut butter products were distributed nationwide to several huge supermarket chains. Therefore, the number of contamination cases is more likely to increase if both consumers and federal regulators failed to provide significant attention to the product recall, speculated a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.

On the other hand, if such products caused injury or illnesses, victims can possibly mount a product liability claim against the manufacturer since it failed to provide safe and uncontaminated product for its consumers.

Lindsay Lohan Arrested for Hit-and-run after Striking Pedestrian

Photo gives credit to Daily Mail.

The Mean Girls star, Lindsay Lohan was reportedly busted again on early morning last Wednesday after being charged with hit-and-run.

According to reports, Lohan was about to park her Porsche Cayenne at the Dream Hotel, a luxury Manhattan hotel, when her car allegedly hit the knee of Manhattan chef Jose Rodriguez. Shortly thereafter, Lohan and her other passengers allegedly stepped out of the car to check for vehicle damage and then proceeded into the hotel to attend an event as if nothing happened.

After the event, when Lindsay came out from the hotel, she was subsequently arrested by the New York police who were called by the victim for assistance.

Meanwhile, although the 34-year-old pedestrian did not sustain severe injury, he was still transported to Bellevue Hospital after complaining of pain. According to the attending physicians who examined Rodriguez, he had torn tendons, and he was given morphine for the pain.

Consequently, the 26-year-old actress was booked for a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of a pedestrian accident. However, she was later released with a desk appearance ticket, which means that she was not required by the police to pay bail. Moreover, Lohan was required to appear in court on October 23.

Furthermore, according to police commissioner Raymond Kelly, no breathalyzer test had been conducted during Lohan’s arrest since law enforcers believed that Lohan was sober.

Unfortunately for Lohan, the said incident could trigger her previous probations once a jury ruled that it was a violation of her probation terms. It is more likely that the young actress would face longer jail time or community service, cited by a Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer.

It could be remembered that aside from her previous road mishaps, Lohan was also charged with theft just a while ago. Therefore, further engagement in troubles could definitely mean a more serious predicament for her.

NFL Donates $30 Million for Brain Injury Research

Surprisingly, among all institutions, the National Football League (NFL) awarded a huge amount of donation to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund brain injury research.

In its years of history, this was said to be the first time that the football league donated such a huge amount of money. The donation that amounted to $30 million is typically distributed in a grant system.

According to a statement released by the NIH, it is way too early to determine how the money will be distributed or whether it will benefit any of the numerous brain research centers in San Diego.

Incidentally, the UCSD Department of Radiology has previously received donation from NFL charities to fund brain injury researches on high school and college athletes. Consequently, if the department will receive another grant this time, it will help the team in pursuing its ongoing research.

Meanwhile, the Professor of Radiology in Residence, Dr. Ronald R. Lee, claimed in a statement that although football is a great game, professional experts like him need to protect players. Lee further said that that it is very important to learn more about brain injuries and to make accurate diagnosis such as when it is already safe for players to go back into the game.

Furthermore, the donation was also meant to benefit homecoming soldiers with head injuries. In fact, approximately 20 percent of the veterans coming back to San Diego, California from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars would benefit from the grant.

Researchers in San Diego admitted that there is a lot more research that needs to be accomplished on brain injuries. Therefore, the NFL’s generous donation will definitely make a big difference to this cause.

Also, Lee added in his statement that he and his co-researchers are quite aware that aside from brain injuries, football players could have many other injuries. However, Lee claimed that the brain is the most important organ of the body, which is why it is the most important concern of the researchers.

At present, about 3,400 former and current NFL players have already sued the league over brain injury claims or concussions.

Probably, the NFL’s overwhelming complaints over brain injury have majorly contributed to the league’s drive to donate such a huge amount of grant to brain injury research despite the rumors that it is currently struggling following the nation’s economic downfall. However, several personal injury lawyers are glad upon knowing that the league has finally made its great move to prevent further brain injuries among its players.

California Approves Spinal Cord Injury Research Bill

A spinal cord injury research bill authored by Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) was recently approved by way of 46 to 27 voting during the California State Assembly last August 27.

The bill, titled AB 1657, aimed to raise funds to sustain a program backed by disability rights advocates, biotech industry, and neuro-scientists that provide important research into spinal cord injuries.

At present, the approved bill is awaiting Governor Jerry Brown’s approval. Once the California governor signed the bill, it will finally become a law.

While being victorious with the initial success earned by his proposed bill, Wieckowski in his statement claimed that by putting the best scientific minds to work in universities, a state of the art research that will improve the quality of life for thousands of Californians with spinal cord injury will be achieved. The bill does not only give hope to the disabled but also shows that the Golden State’s current leaders want to maintain its position in the field of bioscience, Wieckowski added.

It can be remembered that way back in 2000, the state’s program called “The Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund” was created. The said fund is run out of the University of California and supervised out of the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at UC Irvine.

Furthermore, it was initially funded out of the state general fund; however, upon years of budget deficit, its funding has been eliminated. Originally, for every dollar in state funds invested, $5 of federal funds was received.

Now, the bill would fund the program through a $1 penalty on every moving traffic violation. In fact, aside from California, at least seven other U.S. states use the same method to collect funds for spinal cord injury research.

Wieckowski further explained that traffic accidents are the major cause of spinal cord injuries in the county. Through the said bill, drivers are expected to become more responsible and vigilant while behind the wheel to avoid being charged with extra penalties. 

Meanwhile, advocates of the bill include the University of California, the huge industry group, Bay Bio, The California Healthcare Institute, the Boston Scientific, and other teams of medical researchers throughout the state.

Apparently, the approval of the said bill comes in line with the previous declaration of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie proclaiming the month of September as spinal cord injury awareness month. Of course, California would not miss its opportunity to show the nation that like any other states, California likewise intends to lead the way to cure paralysis, claimed a Los Angeles injury lawyer.

NFL, San Francisco 49ers Face Premise Liability Lawsuit

The two men who were beaten and shot during the NFL’s 49ers-Raiders game last August 20, 2011 are now suing the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Candlestick Park parking lot security company in a premise liability claim.

According to the lawsuits filed by Daniel Long and Gabriel Navarette before the San Francisco Superior Court, the 49ers failed to proactively provide an environment that is free from quarreling, fighting, taunting, threatening remarks, or gestures and gang activity.

The two 49ers fans claimed in their lawsuits that one of them was beaten unconscious while the other one who tried to rescue was shot four times.

Aside from the said incident, one more serious beating, two shooting scenes, and several alcohol-fueled fights occurred in Candlestick Park where the 49ers-Raiders game was held.

Shortly after the infamous game, the 49ers’ owner suggested to the NFL to cancel all future games between the two teams. Also, the 49ers tightened up its security measures, including instituting an alcohol ban on postgame and parking lots tailgating. 

However, during a subsequent playoff game, some New Orleans Saints fans still complained about harassment. Therefore, San Francisco police officers started attending games spying under opponent’s jerseys to police rabble-rousers.

The San Francisco 4ers, in its brief statement, claimed that the team is committed in providing a safe game environment for all fans. In fact, its commitment has earned the highest security level rating from the NFL. Meanwhile, both NFL and Landmark Security’s legal representatives declined to comment on the allegations hurled against them.

Unlike any other accidents like vehicle accidents where the cause of damage is apparent and the liability is comparatively clear, premise liability claims often present liability issues. In such cases, a victim has to prove that something within the property caused the injury. Furthermore, a victim has to prove that the property owner failed to do something despite the awareness of the existence of danger on the property, which eventually caused the injury, briefly explained by a Los Angeles premise liability lawyer.

SSA Asks for Bullets to Beef up Security

Recently, the Social Security Administration (SSA) made a big surprise to everyone when as it posted a purchase request for 174,000 rounds of .357 Sig grain bonded jacketed hollow point bullets.

Accordingly, the SSA only employs 295 special agents with the law enforcement authority and such agents are divided among 66 offices across the nation. Therefore, the entire nation is quite amazed when the agency opened up its need for bullets.

Subsequently, in a statement released by the agency to public, it claimed that the ammo that it was requesting was for the purpose of training and security.

The agency further explained that due to more and more Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims that it is receiving each day, the number of traffic in its office increases as well.

The agency likewise pointed out that employees and visitors are the most important priority of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The OIG, together with the Federal Protective Services and other local law enforcement, has jurisdiction over SSA offices.

Moreover, the agency also noted that SSA agents have duties similar to state and federal law enforcement groups. In fact, the agency makes a similar purchase each year, the SSA added.

Unfortunately for the agency, its purchase request has created widespread conspiracy theories on the virtual world. A Los Angeles social security disability lawyer witnessed how such misconception went wrong all over the Internet but at least, the agency had already aired its side regarding the misleading issue.

On a related note, the SSDI is purposely created to replace lost wages due to illness or injury resulting from work. The same is very important to you and your family since it is your best protection against financial disaster.

The fact that people sometimes forget is that although such agency is designed to provide protection to people in need, the agency itself likewise needs protection.

California Toyota Dealership Enters Agreement Settling Harassment and Retaliation Case

A Toyota dealership in Fremont, California has finally agreed to enter into an agreement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to settle the harassment and retaliation case filed against it by the latter.

The said car dealership has agreed to pay $400,000.00 monetary fines and to conduct training to its management staff to end the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claimed that Fremont Toyota’s former general manager blatantly called four Afghan-American salesmen as terrorists and threatened to blow them up with a bomb during a staff meeting way back in 2007. Upon reporting the harassment, the men suffered retaliation like additional harassment and overtly close job monitoring until they eventually decided to file their resignation. Meanwhile, a manager who spoke up for the salesmen was fired, according to the lawsuit.

Ironically, after being referred to as terrorists from their previous job, most of the fired salesmen were said to have found work with the U.S. army serving in Afghanistan and protecting U.S. soldiers from terrorists, said by one of the former salesmen.

On the other hand, Fremont Toyota’s new general manager and legal representative refused to comment on the matter, reports said.

Under the settlement agreement signed and executed by both party, Toyota is required to train all managers, post a notice concerning the lawsuit, and file a report to the EEOC for a three-year period aside from paying the monetary relief to the five fired employees.

Meanwhile, EEOC San Francisco regional attorney William R. Tamayo said that he, on behalf of the agency, anticipates that this case will notify people that the civil rights law of the country aims to protect everyone from employment discrimination, regardless of their national origin or race. Even EEOC San Francisco District Director Michael Baldonado hopes that the settlement would bring awareness to the Afghan community regarding their legal rights and how the federal government can protect them.

Like any other states and counties in U.S., in Los Angeles, workplace discrimination is considered illegal and may lead to the imposition of severe penalties to employers and companies who violate labor laws. Therefore, employers are often discouraged from discriminating employees.

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Following “Expendables 2” Stuntman’s Death

Recently, the family of a stuntman who died from an explosion while filming the movie “The Expendables 2” has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the movie’s producer, Nu Image and Millennium Films, as well as the movie’s stunt coordinator.

The said wrongful death claim was filed before the office of the Los Angeles Superior Court by the parents of the late stuntman, Kun Liu.

Liu died on October 27, 2011 in Bulgaria while making the action sequel. According to court documents, the victim’s spouses, Zong Yu Liu and Tan Mei Bai, claim that the studio, and the second unit director/ stunt coordinator, Chad Stahelski, are responsible for the unsafe conditions during a boat sequence that caused Liu’s death. The lawsuit is seeking for unspecified damages.

Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that the defendants failed to organize, plan, set-up, produce, direct, train, coordinate and prepare for the scene and recklessly implemented the stunt that involved the use of explosives and other extra-risky activities in the rubber boat.

Star-writer Sylvester Stallone, Director Simon West or other co-actors in the film was not involved in the lawsuit. The said movie is set to be released on August 17 by Lionsgate in United States.

Wrongful death is the term used to describe when an individual is tragically killed due to a misconduct or negligence of another individual or party.

In Los Angeles, if you suspect that the main reason for your loved one’s death is due to negligence or misconduct of others, it is best that you get in touch with consult a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer that is competent and passionate in providing service.

California Politician’s Wife, Son OK after Fatal Car Accident

The wife and son of former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado were reportedly doing fine following the fatal car crash Monday in which they figured.

The two only suffered minor injuries, while the 30-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck their car was declared dead.

According to reports, a 1985 Honda Accord bound North of Dominion Road failed to halt at an intersection stop sign, as a result of which, it was struck by Maldonado’s 2008 Cadillac Escalade on its front left portion. Both vehicles came to a stop in an irrigation canal of the north side of Foxen Canyon Road.

The Accord’s driver was not immediately identified by California Highway Patrol (CHP) authorities, while Maldonado and her son were transported to the Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria via private vehicle. After several precautionary examinations for the injuries they sustained, the two were immediately released and are now okay.

Apparently, the Honda car driver was at fault for the accident, but still, Maldonado’s family is sending their deepest condolences and sympathies to the family of the victim.

At present, former Lt. Gov. Maldonado, a Republican is running for the 24th Congressional District seat against Democrat Lois Capps.

Beating the red light or running a stop sign is the most common cause of accidents in intersections. Therefore, drivers should strictly observe traffic rules and regulations in areas with or near intersections.

Each year, the number of car accidents that occur in the state of California reaches to tens of thousands. In some circumstances, a victim sustains serious injuries and other significant losses or damages as a result of car accident that happened due to other people’s negligence. In such case, the victim may have the right to file claims for damages, according to a Los Angeles car accident attorney.