At least five people were killed and more than two dozen others were injured when a charter bus swerved into a support pole in Northern California early Tuesday.
The pole pierced the bus, trapping some of the injured in their seats for hours, the California Highway Patrol said. It happened around 3:35 a.m. in Merced, Highway Patrol spokesman Moises Onsurez said.
At least 30 people, all of Mexican descent, were on board, and only four escaped unscathed, the Highway Patrol said. Fifteen people suffered serious to critical injuries, while a dozen more sustained lesser injuries.
If you or a loved one was involved in this accident, should call the Law Offices of Saboorian & Associates for a free consultation. We are the leading experts in Bus Accident injury cases.
As cruise ships are becoming more and more popular the injuries aboard cruise ships are also increasing. These type of injuries require the cases to be filed in Federal Courts as well as the statute of limitation on these cases are only one year.
There are clauses on your tickets which requires you to inform the cruise company of your injuries and your intentions to sue. These type of cases usually involve slip and fall as well as premises liability injuries.
For serious cruise ship related injuries, contact Saboorian & Associates, California personal injury law firm, or call us at 310-278-1010 (toll free at 866-347-1851) to schedule a free consultation.
A 13-year-old boy suffered a serious injury to his right arm when he was bitten by a family pit bull on Wednesday. The incident occurred at 4 p.m. at a home in the 43300 block of 166th Street East. Animal control officers were summoned to the home and took custody of the dog “at the owner’s request,” Fender said. There was no arrest or citation issued.
According to dogbite.org, Pit Bulls have the highest number of attacks recorded.
For serius Dog Bite Attack contact Saboorian & Associates, California personal injury law firm, or call us at 310-278-1010 (toll free at 866-347-1851) to schedule a free consultation.
On Saturday November 7, 2015 at 3:11am a crash involving a vehicle and a motorcycle injured five people in the Westwood area, police said. Two people suffered critical injuries and three sustained minor-to-moderate injuries, according to the LAPD. Source: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Crash-Involving-Motorcycle-Injures-Five-Two-Critically-Hurt-342429451.html
For serius Motrocycle Injuries and Auto Accident Injuries contact Saboorian & Associates, California personal injury law firm, or call us at 310-278-1010 (toll free at 866-347-1851) to schedule a free consultation.
KCAL 9 News- Ten people were injured Sunday morning after authorities say the driver of a U-Haul truck barreled into a downtown Los Angeles sidewalk. The accident, which unfolded about 1:40 a.m., occurred at the corner of 7th and Spring streets. The Los Angeles Fire Department says the U-Haul truck — going the wrong way on a one-way street — also hit a parked car, a motorcycle with one cyclist on board, and an Uber vehicle with three occupants.
Four people on the sidewalk were struck. Multiple ambulances were dispatched to the scene to find and treat those victims. Three people were transported to local hospitals — none of the injuries was considered serious. Seven others sustained less serious injuries. Authorities said the driver also took out a fire hydrant and a traffic signal.The suspected driver, identified by police as 40-year-old Michael Maurice Wilson, was located after authorities said he attempted to flee.
He was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence as firefighters suspect he was high on both cocaine and marijuana. He reportedly told police he had smoked marijuana and took some prescription pills. Investigators told CBS2’s Jeff Nguyen they also found what appeared to be cocaine in Wilson’s pocket.Nguyen spoke to Wilson’s mother, Helen, who declined to give her last name. “I was watching the news and I said ‘God I hope the people are okay,’ but I didn’t know it was Michael driving,” Helen says. She said she last saw him at her home two-weeks ago. “He stopped by to say hi. I don’t let him in no more. Because he does things I don’t appreciate him doing,” Helen said. Helen had a message for anyone injured in the accident. “I’m sorry people. Anyone that was injured by my son. I hope that God will bless him to be a right man one day,” she said.
San Bernardino police officer was killed early Thursday in a traffic collision in Ontario, authorities said.
He was identified as Bryce Hanes, 40, was headed toward the freeway after dropping off an arrestee at the county jail when his squad car was broadsided by another vehicle at Fourth Street and Etiwanda Avenue just after 2 a.m., said Ontario Police Det. Bill Russell. Source: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-bernardino-police-ontario-fatal-crash-20151105-story.html
Contact Saboorian & Associates, California personal injury law firm, or call us at 310-278-1010 (toll free at 866-347-1851) to schedule a free consultation.
Newark, NJ The car accident involving Saturday Night Live star Tracy Morgan has now resulted in an insurance claim being filed by Walmart against its insurers. Walmart alleges bad faith insurance on the part of some of its insurers who have refused to pay their portion of a settlement with Morgan.
On June 7, 2014, Morgan was in a limo being driven from a casino in Delaware when the vehicle he was in was struck by a Walmart truck. Comedian James McNair was killed in the accident and Morgan was in a coma after the accident and suffered brain trauma as well as broken ribs and a broken nose. Ultimately, six vehicles and 21 people were involved in the accident.On August 11, 2015, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that its investigation found that the driver of the Walmart truck had been awake for more than 28 hours at the time of the crash, having driven 800 miles overnight from Georgia to Delaware. The NTSB noted that due to fatigue, the truck’s driver failed to brake for slowing traffic in time and was speeding through an active work zone, although the agency also noted that passengers in the limo were not wearing seatbelts.
Morgan then filed a lawsuit against Walmart, alleging the retailer was negligent in the accident. The lawsuit was settled in 2015 for an undisclosed amount.
According to NJ.com (10/14/15), in Walmart’s filing against Liberty Insurance Underwriters and Ohio Casualty Insurance, the companies have not paid their portions of the settlement owed under their insurance policies. But Liberty and Ohio Casualty allege Walmart’s settlement was unreasonable and was reached without an attempt to negotiate, before Walmart’s liability had been determined.Arkansas Business (10/26/15) reports that Walmart said it hired an economic expert to review Morgan’s career and give recommendations based on future income, but that the insurance companies demanded more and more information as part of a bad faith attempt to avoid paying.Walmart has reportedly already paid out the settlement to Morgan but says it is owed money from insurance carriers who have not paid their portion. Walmart’s lawsuit against the insurers claims breach of contract and bad faith.Insurance policyholders who believe their company has acted in bad faith may be able to file a lawsuit against their insurance company for breach of contract and/or bad faith insurance.
Contact Saboorian & Associates, California personal injury law firm, or call us at 310-278-1010 (toll free at 866-347-1851) to schedule a free consultation.
Beverly Hills, CA There’s more than one way to suffer personal injury as a result of a serious accident. A 1968 landmark court decision on the right to financial claims for emotional distress related to serious accidents is reported to be one of the most influential California decisions ever made.
Respected attorney Steve Glickman, from Glickman & Glickman, has expertise on the often-cited Dillon v. Legg decision and has represented clients involved in claims for emotional damages in accidents. The cases most often are the result of someone in a serious accident witnessing a close relative being injured or killed.
“The person making the claim must be a close family member for you to be injured emotionally,” explains Glickman. “That’s the test for California law based on Dillon v. Legg.
“But what if it is a lifelong friend that was injured or killed, someone you have known since you were five years old and you have grown up together and you witness your lifelong friend being injured?” says Glickman, posing a rhetorical question.
In that case, a plaintiff can make an argument for “direct liability for emotional distress as opposed to bystander liability,” says Glickman. “This means the plaintiff can collect for emotional distress even if you are not a close family member.”
Consider this case in which the court recognized emotional damages for non-family members.
A tractor-trailer rig separated and collided head-on with a car carrying four people. The wife was driving while her husband sat in the passenger seat and two friends sat in the back. A metal beam fell off the tractor-trailer rig and plunged through the driver’s side, decapitated the wife and impaled the male passenger sitting directly behind her.
“Obviously, the husband can sue for witnessing his wife injured,” says Glickman. “But what about the two passengers in the back?
“The law now says that as long as you are a victim of the gross negligence, and as in this case a victim of the actual impact, you can sue for the emotional distress related to the accident,” explains Glickman. “That means even if you are involved in an accident with someone even if they are not a close family member, you can collect for your severe emotional distress.”
However, there are limits to bystander emotional distress claims. For example, someone may be a witness to a horrific crash and be left with nightmare images that last a lifetime.
“The only two theories recognized in California is the close family member bystander or you have to be in ‘the zone of danger as a direct victim’ to make a claim,” adds Glickman.
“If you’re in a train crash and witness people being injured even if you’re not injured,” says Glickman “you can make an emotional distress claim.
“If you’re standing near the tracks and see horrible images of people being hurt, there is no claim available,” notes Glickman.
Contact Saboorian & Associates, California personal injury law firm, or call us at 310-278-1010 (toll free at 866-347-1851) to schedule a free consultation.
EST COVINA, Calif. (KABC) —
A hit-and-run driver was arrested by West Covina police after allegedly striking and killing a bicyclist Monday night.
The incident occurred near the intersection of S. Valinda and E. Merced avenues just before midnight, police said.
A police officer who was parked at a nearby school writing a report heard the collision, looked up and saw a white vehicle racing away from the area.
“The officer followed the vehicle [and] was able to do a traffic stop a few blocks away. Upon seeing the vehicle had substantial damage, [the officer] went back to the area and located a body in the middle of the street,” West Covina police Officer Eddie Flores said.
The victim, 44-year-old Jose Ruiz-Villanueva, of La Puente, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The hit-and-run driver, identified as 25-year-old Glendora resident Presley Danielle Rodriguez, was booked for driving under the influence and will likely face vehicular manslaughter charges as well. She is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear at West Covina Superior Court on Thursday.
Anyone with information is asked to call the West Covina Police Department at (626) 939-8557.
Contact Saboorian & Associates, California personal injury law firm, or call us at 310-278-1010 (toll free at 866-347-1851) to schedule a free consultation.
Written by Brenda Craig Santa Monica, CAKeyless cars have been on the market since 2003 but the dangers associated with them are fast overtaking the advantages, according to the litigation documents. They have been linked to everything from easy theft to dangerous and deadly cases of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Keyless entry systems work by allowing drivers to start their cars with the push of a button when the car senses that the key fob is nearby. However, it is not always clear how and when to turn the cars off.
California attorney Chris Spagnoli from the firm of Greene, Broillet & Wheeler is currently involved in a suit against Toyota and a deadly case of carbon monoxide poisoning.
“One case in New York that I am currently working on involves a lawyer and his girlfriend,” says Spagnoli. “He died and she was horribly brain damaged. There is another case in Chicago recently and there are some deaths in Florida. It is becoming a big problem.”
Many of the new vehicles equipped with keyless entry systems run so quietly that people don’t realize the car is still running. Or they mistakenly believe it is going to shut off by itself.
“People forget to shut their vehicles off when they pull into their garage,” explains Spagnoli. “They put the vehicle in park and get out and don’t realize, because there is no key that they have to push to shut off the engine.
“The owners of these cars get out of the vehicle, go into the house and the car keeps running. The carbon monoxide either seeps into the house or they walk into the garage sometime later and they are overcome by the carbon monoxide fumes.”
There are an estimated 5 million keyless entry cars on the road in the United States. Key entry systems have been linked to at least 13 deaths by carbon monoxide poisoning.
In August, 10 big automakers including Ford, GM, Hyundai, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW, Chrysler Fiat, Daimler, Honda and Toyota had suits filed against them in carbon monoxide poisoning cases.
“It is one of these things where the more keyless ignition vehicles are out there, the more we are going to see these cases. Some manufacturers have automatic shutoffs and the vehicle will shut down automatically if the key is not present. Some have buzzers or audible noises that sound when you open the vehicle door and you have not shut off the engine by pushing the button,” says Spagnoli.
The problem is that many don’t have any warning systems or do not shut off automatically.
In 2011, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed a new rule and asked for comments on ways to get to train people to turn their keyless entry cars off. Four years later there is still no change.
“There were comments but there has been no action, and there have been injuries and deaths during that time,” says Spagnoli.
Lawsuits may get the attention of the industry.
Contact Saboorian & Associates, California personal injury law firm, or call us at 310-278-1010 (toll free at 866-347-1851) to schedule a free consultation.
Gregory J. Wilcox, Los Angeles Daily News Van Nuys, CA- A woman trying to cross Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys was struck and killed before sunrise Tuesday morning, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
The crash was reported about 6 a.m. in the middle of Victory Boulevard between Sylmar Street and Van Nuys Boulevard, said LAPD Sgt. David Delgado of the Valley Traffic Division.
The woman was trying to cross Victory outside of a crosswalk from the south side to the north side. She was hit by a Toyota SUV that was heading west on Victory, Delgado said.
“At 6 a.m., it is still dark. Obviously darkness was a factor,” he said of the accident.
The driver stopped at the scene, and the pedestrian was pronounced dead after paramedics arrived.
Speed does not appear to be a factor because there were no skid marks, and the SUV stopped not far from where the woman’s body was, Delgado said. The driver was not cited.
The pedestrian’s identification is pending, and detectives were still at the scene Tuesday morning.
Contact Saboorian & Associates, California personal injury law firm, or call us at 310-278-1010 (toll free at 866-347-1851) to schedule a free consultation.
Santa Monica, CA California lawyer has gone to war with car companies and tire makers many times throughout her career. She is now seeing a new and deadly problem. Those tires on your vehicle may have very few miles on them and look fine, but if they are more than six years old, they may be on the road to a catastrophic automotive failure.
The problem is that the rubber ages, it becomes brittle and vulnerable to cracking and tread separation.
The tire might have been in the trunk for six years and never even been used. However, aging, out-of-date tires can be dangerous. “Tires contain antioxidants and when they stop being effective, the rubber gets brittle and it doesn’t have the same flexibility. Even if it has perfect treads, if it is six years or older, the tire is degraded.”
One of her current cases involves a family whose child was killed when the tread separated from the tire and caused a serious accident.
“The vehicle involved was used. It had been traded into a Ford dealer that fixed it up and put it back on the market without checking the age of the tires. The tires looked good but they were more than six years old,” Spagnoli says.
Tread separation is extremely hazardous. It can start slowly but as the tread comes off the tire, it creates a drag. Drivers feel the vehicle pulling toward the damaged tire and pull the steering wheel in the opposite direction. When the tread finally separates, the drag stops and the driver tries to correct the vehicle again creating a rollover situation.
Who’s liable?
Liability in these cases may belong to the tire manufacturer or it may belong to the car company.
In some cases, the tires may be warranted for 40,000 miles but fail because they are more than six years old. Warnings about when to replace tires are, to say the least, inconsistent and the information is not easily available to consumers.
Consumers beware
There have been efforts both nationally and at the state level to get consumer warnings out there about the danger of aging tires. But those efforts have met resistance. The lawsuits are in many ways an education tool because the information does filter down.