Vehicle Splits into Two, Kills 5 California Teens

Image gives credit to NBC Los Angeles.

Here is another story of supposedly happy road trip that turned tragic.

According to recent news reports, at least five California high school students were killed after the vehicle they were riding hit a tree and split into two in Orange County.

Initial investigations have revealed that the five Southern California teen students from Irvine Unified School District were heading to the beach to spend a day sharing their immigrant experiences.

All passengers of the Infiniti Sedan were all teens. Police identified the victims as Abdulrahman Alyahyan, the 17-year-old driver, Robin Cabrera, 17, and Aurora Cabrera, 16. The other two occupants of the vehicle were identified as Cecilia Zamora and Nozad Al Hamawendi, both 17-years-old.

According to police report, the vehicle that they were riding veered off the road and struck into a tree. As a result of which, the car split into two and burst into flames. Four of the teens were ejected from the car due to the strong impact of the collision, while the other one was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Due to the severity of the incident, the Orange County’s coroner had to use fingerprints to identify two of the bodies in what the authorities described as one of the worst accidents in Newport Beach in recent history.

The authorities speculate that over was a factor to the incident. The posted speed limit on Jamboree Road, a major six lane street in south Orange County, where the incident took place, is 55 mph but police suspect that the victims’ vehicle must have exceeded the required maximum speed limit.

Meanwhile, in wake of the car crash, a car accident attorney in Los Angeles herein offers his deep thoughts and prayers to the victims. The lawyer herein also recounted that just a few weeks ago, similar incident occurred in California, wherein a group of friends came out to celebrate the recent marriage of their fellow ally. As the victims were riding in a limousine, the vehicle suddenly catches fire which killed at least five of its occupants including its newly-wed occupant. Therefore, he once again renewed his call for everyone to observe traffic law and proper vehicle maintenance to avoid similar accidents.


RESOURCE:
http://www.accidentlawyerlosangeles.us/personal-injury-attorney

Step-by-Step Guide: Making a Personal Injury Compensation Claim

 This is a guest post from Carla Steve of Clear Water Solicitors.

Personal injury compensation claims have been on the rise at a steady pace over the course of the last few years. As an explanation many are now observing that that awareness about legal rights is on the rise. Life is fragile and there’s no two ways about that. Accidents at both home and workplaces have become very common, and either claim the lives of millions of people each year or severely injure them in the process. In the event that an accident occurs, where a person has been injured due to someone’s negligence, certain laws have been formulated and put in place to protect the rights of the victims. If you have suffered a personal injury you can seek compensation on two grounds: special damages and general damages. The following steps can help streamline the process, and lead to a better understanding of what to do:

What constitutes a personal injury?

For you to be able to make a personal injury compensation claim you must first understand what a personal injury is. Accidents are aplenty and can leave emotional and physical scars on a person. You can pursue a personal injury claim if an accident that you were involved in resulted in the following:

•    An ailment, infection, disorder or physical injury
•    A cognitive or psychological disorder, injury, ailment
The most important element of a personal injury is that it is occurs because of an accident caused by someone else. Most personal injuries can be pursued under tort.

Understanding personal injury: What it alludes to:

•    Injuries obtained at the work place or those acquired as a result of working with faulty or dangerous equipment
•    Psychological condition acquired as a result of stress at the work place
•    Injuries incurred due to road accidents
•    Injuries caused by defected or damaged products or faulty services
•    Any injury caused by tripping over faults with pavements
•    Psychological condition caused by any kind of child abuse
•    Erroneous medical treatments or wrong vaccinations
•    Injuries inflicted upon a victim while a criminal activity is underway (could be psychological)
•    Psychological or physical ailment caused due to unfair distinction or harassment at the work-place

Actions you can take:

•    Inform the necessary authorities like the police with reference to a crime or accident, health and other insurance companies.
•    Procure evidence for the authorities – the injury needs to be documented, photographs of the site, accounts of witnesses and victims
•    If the injury is physical, make sure you consult a doctor who can help with medical reports that can be presented for the health insurance requirements
•    If the injury takes place at work then an entry must be made in the accident book, or a report should be given to the employer.

Complaints: The ins and outs

For a compensation claim to work you need to first bring it forward as a proper account. There is a chance that you may be able to settle the matter with a formal apology. In the event that your personal injury compensation claim stems from a serious injury you can take a different course (i.e. make a formal complaint).

Depending on the situation you are an, a formal complaint can be lodged with a department within the government, the authorities or the police, the educational institute that you’re attached with, or a hospital.

Compensation: What you need to know

In order to get compensation for your claim you can go through certain channels. In general there are claims managers or claims assessors that can guide you. You can also take up the matter in court and pursue it legally. Alternatively, the personal injury lawyers can also be approached to help you lodge an official claim. There are also special compensation schemes that one can take advantage of.

Legal action: The breakdown

•    If you want to avoid going to court
•    Find a solicitor and provide him with all the necessary evidence and accounts of the incident of the personal injury
•    Individuals with legal expenses insurance should provide a copy of their insurance to their solicitor
•    After the initial consultation, the solicitor will decide whether or not to on the case
•    A claim is sent to the defendant with an expected reply within a particular period. If the defendant accepts responsibility then the solicitor tries to settle the matter outside the court
•    A part 36 offer or a compensation offer is made on the basis of the value of the claim and could be presented from either side in order to settle matters outside court
•    If you are insistent on legal action by the court
•    In case the defendant does not accept liability or the matter isn’t resolved through compensation, the case can be presented in front of a judge after consultation of the solicitor.


About the Author:

Carla Steve researches about compensation claims for personal injury and other issues relating to injuries. She is passionate also about work accident compensation claims and other employee rights issues.  She also loves cheering on Chelsea FC and listening to RnB music.

Witnesses’ Testimonies Intensify Michael Jackson’s Wrongful Death Case Atmosphere

Since Michael Jackson’s wrongful death trial has commenced, a series of developments started to surface from several witnesses who wish for the case’s final resolution.

Apparently, the case filed by MJ’s mother, Katherine Jackson and his three children, in wake of the pop star’s death started to shed light after several witnesses have recently took the witness stand.

Previous reports have confirmed that the King of Pop’s make-up artist, a health expert, and a paramedic have recently testified in the said wrongful death case. In her emotional testimony, MJ’s former make-up artist, Karen Faye described how MJ has changed over 27 years. She claimed that she was shocked upon seeing that the King of Pop’s once muscular body has turned thin, and actually skeletal. He seemed not strong enough for the rigorous concert schedule during the preparation of his comeback concert, ‘This Is It’, she said.

Faye also recounted few moments wherein she felt broken hearted while preparing for MJ’s upcoming concert. She testified how she pitied MJ after the singer’s costume designer claimed that he could already see MJ’s heart beating through his skin. In response, MJ’s manager simply said “Get him a bucket of chicken.” She also told the court that she was alarmed by Jackson’s use of painkillers since the time he was accidentally burned during the filming of a Pepsi commercial to the day of his concert rehearsals before he died.

Meanwhile, in a testimony provided by the paramedic and firefighter, Richard Sennef, who was a part of the rescue team during MJ’s death, he affirmed that Dr. Conrad Murray, MJ’s attending physician during the time his death, made multiple statements to cover up what really happened that resulted to the singer’s cardiac arrest.

Sennef described what he saw in the singer’s bedroom during their arrival at the scene. He claimed that there was an IV pole, but no heart monitor or resuscitation equipment inside the room. The way he looked at MJ that time, he thought that the singer, who remained unresponsive despite all efforts to revive him, was at the end of a disease process. He looks pale and emancipated, he said.

He claimed that Murray looks frazzled, pale and sweaty while reviving the singer. In his perceptive, MJ’s blue hands, feet and lips all signaled that he was already dead and haven’t breathing for a long time. On the other hand, Murray reiterated that Jackson was only dehydrated and exhausted. Also, Murray even denied that MJ was on medication, and did not mention anything about the Propofol, the powerful sedative that the autopsy has confirmed to cause the singer’s death.

Furthermore, an expert cardiologist was also called in court to testify. In s statement released by Dr. Daniel Wohlgelemter, a Santa Monica-based cardiologist, he claimed that after reviewing Murray’s credentials as a health care provider, he found him unqualified to treat the singer for his insomnia or drug addiction.

Wohlgelmter found out that Murray had no formal training on how to treat such problems, making him impossible to treat the singer’s sleeping issue as well as to administer the powerful anesthetic, Propofol, to help the singer sleep.

In addition, Murray also made a mistake by improperly focusing on the singer’s heart during the resuscitation. Wohlgelmter further claimed that the company should have asked why Jackson and Murray wanted to work with each other, but apparently, the company failed to do so.

So far, more witnesses are expected to take the witness stand in the next few days. Therefore, a Los Angeles injury attorney speculates that many other private moments from the singer’s private life will be publicly exposed as the case moves forward.

AEG Warns about Michael Jackson’s ‘Ugly Stuff’ to be Revealed as Wrongful Death Trial Begins

As the trial begins on Michael Jackson’s wrongful death lawsuit, recent news reports emerged claimed that during the opening statement, AEG Live lawyers warned jurors about the possibility of exposing the King of Pop’s biggest hidden secrets as the civil case commence.

According to Reuters, in his opening statement, AEG’s lawyer, Marvin Putnam affirmed that the three-month trial would bring to light some ‘ugly stuff’ that people don’t know about the renowned singer.

To begin with, Putnam asserted that during his lifetime, MJ put a wall between him and his family. Therefore, even his family wasn’t sure what was going on with the pop icon. He distanced himself to anyone who could have helped him with his unusual behavior.

Ironically, while Putnam claimed that Jackson has been using the powerful anesthetic Propofol for years to help him sleep, he likewise reiterated that AEG had no idea that MJ was taking the surgical anesthetic that led to his death.

MJ’s mother, Katherine Jackson and the his three children, Prince, Paris and Blanket, are accusing AEG for negligently hiring Dr. Conrad Murray to look after the singer’s health condition in preparation for his comeback concert, ‘This Is It’ in 2009.

Meanwhile, AEG still contends that it did not hire or supervise Murray in administering the powerful surgical anesthetic to MJ.

During Monday’s trial, a handful of MJ’s fans gathered outside the court and anticipating for justice for the pop icon while the Jackson family didn’t showed up in the house.

Fortunately for MJ’s family, despite the fact that the defendant party is continuously throwing unpleasant revelations (which we do not know whether it is truth or threaded lies) about the King of Pop, his fans still remain supportive with him all this time, admired by a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.

Los Angeles Motorcycle Attorney Tackles Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Following the Distracted Driving Awareness Month that was held last month, the nation is now celebrating Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, in which a Los Angeles law firm ensured to take part on the event.

In an effort to support the celebration of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, several lawyers herein talk about how you can maintain safe driving in your bikes.

Unfortunately, although there are many traffic rules and regulations that are being implemented in Los Angeles to make sure that the safety of motorists and even pedestrians, they are not always observed, resulting in more motorcycle accidents. In fact, based on recent statistic, figures revealed that 361 people died from motorcycle accidents while some 11,000 people were injured.

Consequently, a Los Angeles motorcycle attorney from the firm is once again reminding all motorcycle drivers to obtain the proper safety equipments and professional training as required by the law before hitting the road with your bikes.

Each year, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is holding a series of Basic Rider Courses, which the agency strictly recommends for drivers to take.  Other private facilities are also offering valuable advanced training, highlighting subjects ranging from off-road driving skills to road-racing techniques.

The law firm further warned motorists of using unapproved helmets. It is best to invest on a more expensive helmet approved by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards than stick to the cheaper ones that usually fail during collisions.

While motorcycle helmets can reduce the risk of a traumatic brain injury resulting from accidents, motorcycle clothing and other protective gears can help prevent severe injuries. In addition, constant training can significantly help save lives.

Moreover, although strict maintenance for motorcycles is a bit costly, keep in mind that a defective or damaged part of the vehicle could likely result in a tragedy. The Mesriani Law Group advised to have a regular motorcycle inspection and tune-up.

Last but not the least, the law firm further noted that there is a higher chance of getting involved in an accident when driving on shoulder lanes.

Given the long years of experience in handling motorcycle accident cases, the law firm herein was able to provide the above-said safety precautions to help motorist in preventing possible accidents and injuries from being involved in such misfortunes.

5 of the Most Notable Product Liability Lawsuits in History

Each year, thousands of product liability lawsuits are filed across the country.  Some of the past lawsuits have reached verdicts, while others were resolved through settlements. Usually, faulty or sub-standard products are the main cause of most complaints.

Generally, the lawsuits are filed by consumers, consequently requiring the company in question to maintain safety standards and spend extra resources for product testing.

Below are some of the most remarkable product liability lawsuit in history that marked several changes in the current product safety standards and reliability:

McDonald’s coffee

Coffee is usually served and consumed hot, but not too hot to the point of burning one’s skin.

In 1994, Stella Liebeck filed a lawsuit against the fast food chain giant claiming that she suffered third degree burns on her thighs, groin and buttocks after a hot coffee accidentally poured into her. Liebeck claimed in her lawsuit that company served coffee at a temperature of 180 to 190 degree Fahrenheit while other companies served only at a reasonable 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The complainant was awarded with $2.7 million in damages and some $160,000.00 for her medical expenses.

Ledraplastic balancing ball

Balancing balls are purposely created primarily for athletes to protect their body from hard surfaces and literally for balancing while exercising. Unfortunately, it didn’t function as expected during a warm up exercise session of the Sacramento Kings team. 

In 2009, Francisco Garcia of Sacramento Kings sued Ledraplastic after a 75-meter balancing ball burst into him while he was balancing along with weights. He sustained fractures in his right forearm and was unable to play for four months in his first year of contract with the Kings. Both Garcia and the Kings filed a product liability claim against the company. The complainants were awarded with $4 million in lost wages and some $29.6 million in damages.

Toyota cars

In 2010, Toyota model cars were involved in one of the biggest litigation cases in history, as well as a class action lawsuit. The automaker failed to install a safety feature called “brake to idle fail safe.” The safety feature was used to reduce the chances of an accident once the accelerator malfunctioned. Toyota agreed to pay a staggering amount of $1.1 billion to settle the lawsuits.

Blitz gas cans

Blitz was formerly the largest producer of portable gas cans in the U.S. but the company was forced to file bankruptcy in 2012 after paying an average of $4 million each of the more than 30 complainants in a series of product liability lawsuits. Complainants claimed that the gas cans would explode when used to pour gas to start a fire. Now the company ceased its operation.

Remington rifle models 700 and 710

Since 1979 until present, Remington has received thousands of customer complaints product liability claims. Unfortunately, instead of admitting the defect and correct what has went wrong in its products, the company chose to pay millions in settlements. Complainants claimed in their lawsuit that the rifle model 700 and 710 were proven to have faulty fire control system which can cause it to automatically fire even the trigger was not pulled.

Generally, product liability claims arise when someone has been injured to an apparent product defect. However, many personal injury lawyers remind that it is not always necessary that someone has to be injured to be able to file such claim. Keep in mind that if a product that is designed to function for a particular function but failed or malfunction, it clearly imposes threat. Therefore, everybody must fully understand the three types of product defects – the manufacturing defect, design defect and warning defects.

California Glorifies Distracted Driving Awareness Month by Cracking Down on Violators

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Therefore, law enforcement agencies across the Golden State, particularly the California Highway Patrol (CHP), continuously exert efforts to educate motorists about the dangers of distracted driving.

Over the years, distracted driving has grown to be a huge traffic safety concern not only in the state, but also across the entire country. Apparently, there is indeed a strong need to exert more efforts to put an end to it, agreed a Los Angeles car accident attorney.

Consequently, the CHP kicked off the Distracted Driving Awareness Month by curbing drivers who are violating California’s distracted driving laws. Law enforcements are keeping an eagle-eye for distracted drivers who wrap their one hand on the wheel while the other is holding a cell phone. In fact, at least 255 local agencies are joining this zero-tolerance effort.

Tickets issued on violators don’t come cheap, as said by a spokesperson from the San Jose police. For the first offense, a driver will be given a fine of $159.00, which would rise to at least $279.00 for the following offenses.  With these fines, officials are suggesting that motorists should turn off their cell phones or put it out of reach when driving. Also, drivers can leave a message via voicemail, saying that phone won’t be answered when driving.

Last year, the same effort was made by state regulators to mark the Distracted Driving Awareness Month, with more than 57,000 tickets issued to traffic violators across the state. Also, during the last Super Bowl event, several agencies dispatched DUI patrols across the state to go after drunk drivers.

Based on statistics, drivers who are using cell phones are four times more likely to get into a car accident and get injured than someone who is not. By spreading awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, law enforcements believe that they could somehow reduce the number of injuries and fatalities brought by such driving behavior.

Clark Gable’s Son Arrested after Allegedly Hitting 6 Parked Cars in Malibu

Image gives credit to Nelson Barnardo / Getty Images

Recent reports confirmed that the son of the Hollywood legend William Clark Gable, John Clark, was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving after he allegedly being involved in multiple car crash in Malibu.

Media sources say that Gable was arrested on last April 2 following a rear-end crash on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Gable allegedly fled the accident scene and continued to drive until he struck six parked cars. The incident did not stop there as he continued driving. He only came to a stop when his vehicle struck the garage of a home nearby the area.

So far, no information has been released regarding the occupants of the involved vehicles. Also, there were no reported injuries associated with the incident. Nevertheless, the 52-year-old Gable was taken into police custody on suspicion of both driving under the influence (DUI) and hit-and-run before he was transported to the Sheriff’s station.

Subsequently, reports claimed that authorities contend that alcohol and drugs were seen as factors to the incident.

According to certain news articles, John Clark inherited his famous father’s good looks and interest in acting. In fact, he is reportedly filming a movie entitled “Sunset at Dawn,” which is expected to be released by 2014. 

“You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously,” quoted by a Los Angeles auto accident attorney. If only Gable stopped right after the first car crash incident, the he would have avoided the subsequent mishaps as well as the hit-and-run charges, said by the lawyer herein.

Truck Driver Loses Consciousness After Choking on Food; Causes California Fatal Crash

Image is a screenshot of the original photo taken by KCRA3.

Distracted driving laws only prohibit the use of handheld devices, but who knows in the near future, state regulators might also ban eating while driving following a tragic truck accident that killed and injured other motorists on the road.

According to recent news reports, at least two people were killed after a truck driver who choked on food and lost consciousness on California Highway just near Sacramento lost control of the big rig that he was driving.

Police reports claimed that the truck driver choke on food and lost his unconsciousness while driving along the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80, which is 15 miles west of Sacramento. Subsequently, the big rig drifted onto the right shoulder of the road and then sharply veered back to the left, going across the highway and over the center divider. As a result of which, it struck into an approaching BMW, which burst into flames before killing its two passengers.

The driver of the truck regained consciousness but it was too late to avoid another collision. The big rig further crashed into other two vehicles leaving three other motorists with minor to moderate injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol spokesperson.

The truck driver suffered minor to moderate injuries including burns. All lanes in the highway were closed to traffic for hours.

So far, the identity of the victims and the truck driver remains unveiled.

Truck accidents rarely occur. In fact, it accounts for only a small percentage on all vehicle accidents all over the country. However, when such accidents happen, it is often fatal and results to severe injuries, observed by a Los Angeles personal injury attorney. 

San Mateo County Cracks Down on Distracted Drivers on Intersections

Vehicle accidents commonly occur at intersections where traffic moves in several different directions. Accidents on intersections are likely to occur especially if a driver is distracted or does not observe traffic laws. Moreover, it is often devastating and can lead to serious bodily injury and costly damages since it can create a huge impact and may involve other vehicles.

Consequently, the San Mateo County has come to a point of cracking down distracted drivers on intersections.

According to reports, two dozens of traffic enforcers in motorcycles from all over the Peninsula were dispatched at Redwood City and Menlo Park, wherein some of the most dangerous crossings lie last Wednesday.

Apparently, the officers did not have a hard time nabbing drivers who failed to yield for pedestrians at crosswalks since they were on their motorcycles to go after the traffic violators.

Traffic collision date revealed that Redwood City was identified as having some of the most dangerous intersections. Also, in the same location, there has been overwhelming complaints of traffic accidents from the citizens, according to Burlingame police Captain Eric Wollman.

Unfortunately, traffic enforcers also put their lives in danger when cracking down unyielding drivers. In fact, many of them admitted that vehicles get past them, nearly running them over.

Subsequently, police told media sources that they issued nearly 200 citations from their recent traffic enforcement operation. Tickets may range from approximately $200.00 to $400 dollars, the officer said.

Furthermore, the officers are expected to have another operation at Millbrae and in some other cities next month, the report confirmed.

As it is, the San Mateo County sees taking such severe precautionary measures as the best way to end distracted driving. It is like educating all its residents about the dangers that it present, agreed by a Los Angeles injury attorney.

Giant Nursing Home Found Guilty in California Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Sometimes, it is hard to make a decision on where to take a family member for a care. Often times, it ends up picking the best nursing home in town regardless of its extra-expensive asking price to make sure that a loved one will be in good hands. However, the fact that we don’t know and might surprise us in the end is that either small time or big time nursing home, both have their own ups and downs.

Surprisingly, recent news reports revealed that one of the biggest known nursing home in the country was found guilty in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against it.

According to reports, the Sacramento Superior Court has returned verdicts of wrongful death lawsuit and elder abuse against the largest assisted living company all over the country, the Emeritus Corp.

The said lawsuit was filed by the family of a former patient of Emeritus facility who died shortly after leaving the nursing home about five years ago. Accordingly, Joan Boice, who has been under Emeritus’ custody since she had Alzheimer’s disease until she died shortly after she left the nursing home in 2008. She was 82-years-old at the time of her death. She had at least four bedsores that were listed as major factors in her death.

Boice’s family’s legal representative has argued during the trial that understaffing and lack of training represented a strategy on Emeritus’ part to cut costs.

On the other hand, a spokesperson for the nursing home giant affirmed that the company is dedicated in providing excellent care to its residents. Apparently, the assisted living company was disappointed with the recent verdict.

Following this news, a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer speculated that this will probably make a change to all the nursing home facilities out there as well as to those people who are investing too much money on what they believed to be the best nursing home in town. For the nursing homes, instead of eyeing at their profits alone, they should also be looking on every single detail of what is going on inside their residences. Meanwhile, for the families who entrust their loved ones to the assisted living homes, make a wise decision, he added.

Speedway Crash that Injured 33 NASCAR Fans Raises Safety Issues

Following the terrifying Daytona International Speedway crash last Saturday, which injured 33 NASCAR fans, questions regarding safety at racetracks were raised.

According to previous news reports, the accident occurred after Kyle Larson’s car went flying during the final lap of a second-tier race. The car came to a stop on the barrier that separates the cars from fans. As a result of which, the fence was shredded and large pieces of debris including a tire sprayed into the upper and lower section of the stands.

At least 33 people were said to be injured from the crash, and many of who stayed in the hospital until Sunday. On the other hand, the driver of the car was left uninjured.

In a statement released by track president Joie Chitwood, he assured that the workers have successfully repaired the section of the fence that was damaged from the Saturday’s crash.

It is expected for fans that would be going for the NASCAR’s biggest race on Sunday will feel uncomfortable with their seating, particularly those who will be seated up-close at the race track.

Consequently, Chitwood further claimed that he has also assigned officials for the upcoming Daytona 500 for the fans who wouldn’t feel comfortable with their seating location. Fans are rest assured that they would receive every accommodation that the premise management can do.

Nevertheless, after the Saturday’s crash, some of the fans would still definitely doubt about their safety while inside the premise despite the outstanding preparedness exhibited by the speedway’s crews and paramedics, commented by a Los Angeles injury lawyer. Unfortunately, no matter how we try to take car of ourselves and avoid accidents whenever we are, accidents still occur, he added.

Mariposa County School Bus Accident Leaves 4 Students Injured

Photo gives credit to ABC Local.

As recently reported, four students were injured in a school bus accident after the huge vehicle rolled over the highway.

Based on the initial investigation, the accident occurred around 4:30 in the afternoon, Tuesday, as high school students were heading home. According to the police report, the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle traveling along Highway 49 near Greely Hill Road in Mariposa County, California.

Four students of Mariposa County High School and the bus driver were reportedly injured. Fortunately, none of them were listed in critical condition. According to the police, the trees along the highway did a significant role to prevent a tragedy

Other students riding the bus survived unscathed described the incident to the authorities. According to media sources, the students told the authorities that the bus skidded off the highway and over an embankment and then rolled over on its side. In fact, it nearly went all the way down to a snowy hill on Highway 49.

Moreover, one of the 16 students on board claimed that the speeding driver did not realize that he was going around a sharp curve too fast without considering the bad road condition. 

The next day following the incident, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) shut down Highway 49 to give way to tow truck drivers to pull the bus back into the roadways. Also, the school cancelled classes on the same day due to the remaining snow and ice on the roads.

So far, the investigation regarding the incident is still under progress but the authorities were said to be starting to figure out that speed is a factor.

Apparently, during snowy weather conditions, the best advice for drivers is not to drive at all. However, if you can’t avoid it, at least make sure that your vehicle is prepared and that you know very well how to handle bad road conditions to avoid such road misfortunes, reminded by a Los Angeles vehicle accident lawyer.

The Biggest Car Accident Insurance Claim In British History Goes To…

More than a year after Rowan Atkinson’s rare McLaren was severely wrecked from a car accident, the exotic car is now up and running.

The said news recently took center stage after reports about the staggering amount of repairs surfaced.

Unfortunately for the Mr. Bean star’s insurer, the company was forced to shell out a total of £910,000.00 to repair the actor’s McLaren F1. In fact, it was said to be the biggest car accident insurance claim in British history.

Ironically, the actor bought his sports car for £640,000.00 in 1997. Obviously, the amount of repairs was significantly higher than its original price. Also, it is three times higher than the previous record-holding insurance payout way back in 2010.

On a related note, a specialty insurer explained that the high performance car needs extensive use of carbon fiber, as well as expert care, making its repair costs so expensive.

In a statement released by Ben Stagg, an insurance expert of RK Harrison, he said that all modern supercars like Lamborghinis and Ferraris are generally carbon fiber. In fact, even the smallest ring in carbon fiber is a huge repair job. In addition, a part of its engine bay is made of gold, since it is the best heat conductor. The materials used in such cars compared to everyday cars make it so expensive.

After the repairs and all, Atkinson is back into the driver’s seat of his high-end car unlike many sports car enthusiasts who only drive their cars few times in a year under perfect weather conditions.

Meanwhile, during an interview documented by Classic & Sports Car magazine, the actor claimed that he feels depressed when such great cars are just hidden away. For him, it is a crime not to use it.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles accident lawyer here who once featured the news about the actor’s previous car accidents involving the same sports car in one of his blogs was not surprised to learn that he is back again into its driver’s seat. Seeing him hitting the road using his McLaren F1 after those unfortunate accidents is no longer surprising since he has been known for his extensive passion for driving, especially high-end ones.

Southern California Tour Bus Accident Kills 8; Injures Dozens

At least eight people were reportedly killed and dozens were injured in a horrific tour bus accident in Southern California last Sunday night.

As previously reported, the said tour bus traveling down in Southern California mountain road en route to Tijuana, Mexico lost its control, slammed into a car and then flipped, then plowed a pick-up truck.

Initially, seven people were reportedly killed from the incident while 38 were injured including children. However, recent reports updated the death toll to eight, and some of the injured victims still remain in critical condition.

As a result of the crash’s impact, some people were ejected from the bus while several were trapped. The driver of the bus survived but was injured, while the driver of the pick-up truck later succumbed to death, the authorities said. 

Firefighters and rescue personnel including the California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers, Caltrans officials, paramedics and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were immediately dispatched at the scene. Unfortunately, the severity of the wreckage made it difficult for them to extricate all the injured.  In fact, in a statement released by the Caltrans spokesperson, Michelle Profant, she told media sources that the scene was really messed up with body parts.

Following the accident, during an interview, the driver of the bus claimed that the bus suffered brake problems as it was heading down the mountain that is why it rear ended a car and flipped and then struck a pick-up truck.

Meanwhile, authorities are also considering speed as a factor. Additionally, they are also eyeing on road conditions and possible driver error or fatigue as contributing causes in the fatal crash.

Based on the initial findings gathered by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), it revealed that the tour bus is operated by Scapadas Magicas LLC, a company based in National City, California. Nevertheless, the Federal transportation records show that the company is licensed to carry passengers for interstate level and that it had no recorded crashes in the past two years.

Further investigation revealed that the tour bus was on a trip organized by InterBus Tours for families from Tijuana, Mexico for a day of skiing in Big Bear when the accident occurred.

Incidentally, bus accidents only account for a small percentage on all vehicle accidents in the United States. However, it such road misfortune occur, it absolutely result into series injuries and death, particularly for other motorists riding in smaller vehicles, noted by a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.

Google Driverless Car on Car Accident Liability Issue

For years, Google has been working hard to fully develop its driverless car which is designed to reduce traffic mishaps. Also, it is expected to ease traffic congestion through as it promotes more consistent driving. In fact, Google pledged that its driverless cars are the future of the automobile industry.

Consequently, several states have already stepped forward to pave way to the autonomous vehicle.

However, before the self-driving car totally become a reality, issues regarding who will be at fault in case of car accident is currently creating a stir.

In some states like California and Florida, since they were the first states to welcome the driverless cars in their roadways, they have already passed a bill that would require the Registries of Motor Vehicles to provide traffic rules for the self-driving vehicles over the next one to two years.

Unfortunately for the car manufacturers, they do not have any idea what those rules would be, which in turn could lead them to a pause from developing the vehicles. Most probably, if the automakers believe that they could be held liable for the autonomous car accidents, then they may hesitate in manufacturing the vehicles, regardless of safety records for prototype vehicles.

So far, due to the bright future eyed by the automakers behind the driverless cars, they were said to have cashed out a considerable amount of money to fight against possible liability laws.

It could be remembered that way back in 2010, Google’s car have been involved in a minor accident after it was rear-ended by another vehicle. Also, in the following year, another Google car caused a multiple car pile-up. However, investigation result subsequently proved that the two incidents were caused by human error. The first incident was caused by the driver of the other car that rear-ended the autonomous vehicle while in the second incident, Google car was manually driven by a human driver.

Apparently, it only shows that in any type of vehicles, accidents are likely to occur. Therefore, there is indeed a need for a customized traffic laws for the autonomous vehicles of the future, agreed by a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles.

Junior Seau’s Family Finally Sues NFL over Brain Injury

Photo gives credit to Getty Images.

Soon after the relatives of the late Junior Seau was informed that the former NFL player’s brain was tested positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the family immediately filed a lawsuit against the NFL.

More than a week ago, the experts from the National Institute of Health (NIH) released the complete result of the brain study conducted in Seau’s brain. According to the report, the deceased football player’s suffered brain injury during his lifetime.

In fact, even before the lab result came out, Seau’s family already believes that the disease had prompted the former player to commit suicide.

Subsequently, after Seau’s brain test result confirmed that he likewise sustained head injuries during his career, the family finally stepped forward and filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the football league.

In the said lawsuit, which was filed in San Diego, California, Seau’s family claimed that the NFL willfully concealed the truth about the dangers of repetitive concussion to the head, which are often sustained by every football player. The lawsuit further claim that Seau suffered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as a result of repeated concussions and, that his condition drove him to take his own life.

In addition, the NFL helmet manufacturer, Riddell, is also named in the lawsuit for producing helmets that are dangerous. The lawsuit claimed that the manufacturing company has been negligent in its helmet design.

Seau committed suicide last May by shooting himself in the chest. His family and friends speculated that he probably can no longer endure the pain and sufferings, which prompted him to take away his own life. Media sources found out that although Seau was never formally diagnosed with a concussion during his lifetime, he regularly complained of symptoms associated with such condition.

Consequently, after his death, his brain was donated to science for brain injury study just like what the families of the former NFL players who died did.

Experts explained that although patients with CTE show symptoms such as aggressiveness, forgetfulness, depression and sometimes suicidal, the condition can only be diagnosed after death.

So far, more than 30 NFL players who passed away have been diagnosed with CTE while there are some 4,000 retired players who already filed lawsuits against the league over its alleged failure to inform players about the dangers that has been associated with the sport.

Meanwhile, in a statement released by Seau’s family after filing the lawsuit, it claimed that even thought the lawsuit could no longer bring back Junior, at least it will send several important message to the league as well as to the players and future generations.

Apparently, the family’s purpose in filing for a wrongful death claim serves just right, commented by a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer. Aside from receiving the right compensation for the death of their loved one, they will also set an example to the other victims of brain injury. They should never be afraid to come out and claim what is due for them, he added.