San Diego Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A 24-year old Sailor, died in a fatal San Diego car accident after his 2010 Chevrolet Camaron crashed into a parked vehicle on Torrey Pines Road near Princess Street at about 12:45 a.m. on March 14, 2010.

The man was westbound when he failed to negotiate a curve and his car came off the roadway crashing into a parked vehicle. Was it a mistake on the driver’s account or some defect with the vehicle, is yet to be determined. The identity of the man could not be verified but it is certain he was on active duty aboard the USS Milius at 32nd Street Naval Station, San Diego.

Our office wishes to offer prayers and condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

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A 60-year old woman was severely injured in a Fresno auto accident when her Toyota Sienna minivan’s brake system ceased to work and it crashed into a truck at an intersection of 15th Street and Grangeville Boulevard, just west of Hanford. The car accident happened on March 13, 2010.

The injured, Lynda Bissenger, broke her feet due to the crash. She claims that the brakes failed to operate at a stop sign and the minivan caught fire after the collision. Her husband, David Beardsley, and the couple’s grandson managed to escape the minivan unhurt. A passerby came to the rescue of Bissenger who was taken to Saint Agnes Medical Centre where the doctors repaired her feet by putting in metal plates. The traffic accident is under investigation reported Jerry Pierce, California Highway Patrol spokesman.

The toll is considerably rising due to the problems found in the Toyota vehicles. Everyday people are getting injured or losing their life because of some type of vehicle malfunction. With the rising number of accidents and injuries, it does not seem that Toyota is doing enough to protect their customers.

Continue reading "Defective Toyota Brakes Seriously Injure Hanford Woman" »

Four people were left injured in a Riverside County car accident that took place on March 13, 2010. The accident happened at Monroe Avenue and Avenue 50 in Indio at about 8:15 p.m.

Though it’s yet uncertain why and how the traffic accident happened, two of the victims received major injuries and the other two minor to moderate injuries. One of the victims was transported to a trauma center by helicopter.

Continue reading "Riverside County Multiple Vehicle Car Accident Injures Four People" »

Three people, including an infant, were injured in a San Diego head-on traffic collision that took place between a Chevrolet and a Toyota Yaris, on March 12, 2010, on State Route 67 (SR-67) near the San Vicente Reservoir. The auto accident occurred around 2 pm.

22-year old Lakeside resident, Jason Cooley lost control of his northbound 2007 Chevrolet Impala just south of Foster Truck Trail, which made it cross over a set of double yellow lines and smash into an oncoming Toyota Yaris. The driver of the Toyota, 23-year old Sean Harkey of San Diego, suffered a broken arm and a fractured leg. He had to be cut out of his vehicle. Cooley and his 12-month old son sustained less serious injuries. It is believed that Cooley may have been intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Our law office expresses our prayers and best wishes to the injured and prays that all have a quick recovery. The numbers of cases that are being reported nowadays related to DUI are on an increase. Almost every day someone seems to be injured or killed because he was driving under influence of alcohol or was hit by someone who was drunk. Those who wish to drink, should do so responsibly and should not get behind the wheel to drive.

Continue reading "San Diego Head on Auto Accident Leaves 3 Injured" »

42-year old Khuong Nguyen suffered serious injuries on the night of March 5, 2010 when a car crashed into him in the parking lot of Ramada Inn Plaza on Garden Grove Boulevard.
The car, a Jeep Liberty SUV, was being driven by 58-year old Dzung Truoung into the parking lot of the Garden Grove hotel when it hit Nguyen and dragged him until he was finally sandwiched between the SUV and a wall. Truoung claims that the brakes failed to operate and he tried to stop but to could not do so. The police officials are investigating the car crash and appropriate legal action might be taken against the auto-makers, in case of brake system malfunction, or Truoung.

The Orange County car accident left Nguyen with severe leg injuries. Nguyen can file a claim in civil court for damages against the Truoung. Our office prays Nguyen has a quick recovery and regains full use of his legs and body. This is a horrible auto accident and clearly one that could have been avoided with reasonable care.

Continue reading "Man Seriously Injured in Orange County Car Accident" »

The Supreme Court of California for the County of Orange will hear the product liability case against automaker Suzuki Motors and the associated Takata Corporation in regards to a July 2006 car accident that left Andrea Bardonner dead.

Andrea Bardonner was accompanied by her two daughters, Nichelle and Makayla, on July 27, 2006, when her 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara tumbled down a steep embankment causing the vehicle to roll-over. Nichelle and Makayla suffered permanent injuries in the accident. Bardonner’s seat belt developed a slack after the roof rails and the windshield bent inwards, resulting in her ejection from the vehicle. This led to severe injuries to Bardonner who later succumbed to death.

Attorneys for the Bardonner family allege that Suzuki Motors and Takata Corporations, which manufactures seatbelts for the Suzuki and is responsible for the driver and passenger restraint systems in place, were well aware of the defects in the safety system and hence the defendant is accused of intended negligence.

As personal injury lawyers, our office always supports the search for truth and justice after someone has been injured. The typical questions that we have to ask following an accident are: (1) was the accident caused by the negligence or carelessness of another person/company; (2) if so, did that negligence actually cause the injury to occur; and (3) what is the extent and nature of that injury so that a jury can determine what amount to compensate the injured person or the family of the wrongful death victim for their loss. Product liability cases like these, involving alleged defective vehicles, are very specialized and require lawyers and experts who are very familiar with the factual issues involved in the manufacturing of cars and SUVs and the required safety components that are used to prevent death and serious injury.

Continue reading "Orange County Car Accident Lawsuit against Suzuki goes to Trial" »

A San Diego lawsuit was filed by the surviving family members of California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor and his family against automaker giant Toyota following the infamous car accident which took their lives. The Toyota 2009 Lexus ES- 350 provided to Officer Saylor by Bob Baker Lexus while Officer Saylor’s vehicle’s was being repaired had started unexpectedly and uncontrollably accelerating. The Lexus raced across San Diego’s freeways and roads before finally crashing and bursting into flames in Santee.

The lawsuit accuses Toyota of manufacturing and distributing a dangerous product along with Bob Baker Lexus, the El Cajon based car dealership who loaned the sedan, for negligence. The surviving relatives are seeking an unspecified amount in damages.

Up to today, 58 people have been killed in the cases involving a Toyota vehicle with acceleration malfunctioning. While even one injury or lost life due to unexpected and uncontrollable acceleration is too many, these deaths are completely inexcusable. One would expect that the gas pedal or brake pedal in your car would work properly at all times. These are the controls that manage the speed of the vehicle itself. For the car to speed away without the guidance of the driver is a scary thought and can certainly cause severe injury and death.

Continue reading "San Diego, CA Family Sues Toyota for Fatal Car Crash" »

61-year old James Sikes found himself in a death trap when his Toyota Prius started auto accelerating and went out of control. Sikes was heading east on Interstate 8 (I-8) in the Lakeside area of San Diego County around 1:30 p.m. when he realized that the hybrid-electric sedan was speeding at 90 mph despite all his efforts to regulate down its speed.

Sikes called 911 and immediately California Highway Patrol officers sprung into action. In spite of their swift response, the car had already traveled 30 miles before it was brought to a halt. The officers put up a brave effort by pulling their cruiser ahead of the Toyota Prius which slowly decelerated as the shock-struck Sikes received instructions from the patrol officers via their vehicle’s public-address system on how to bring the emergency breaks into function.

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Numerous law suits have recently been filed against Toyota as millions of cases pertaining to malfunctioning breaks and acceleration system have been reported in the United States and worldwide. It has not been long when, during August 2009, when a similar malfunction led to the death of CHP Officer Mark Saylor and his family. Our office remembers them with warmth and our thoughts go out to their surviving family members. The Saylor family has filed a lawsuit against Toyota and the dealership that lent them the Lexus rental car involved in their auto accident. Their case is proceeding through the San Diego Superior Court.

Continue reading "San Diego County Toyota Sudden Acceleration Malfunction Nearly Kills Driver" »

Two U.S. Border Patrol agents suffered minor injuries in a San Diego auto accident accident on March 7, 2010, when they were sideswiped by another car near Harris Ranch Road on State Route 94 (SR-94). The car crash took place around 7:20 pm.

The driver who hit the Border Patrol officers took off after the collision but was quickly tracked down at her home. She claims that she did not realize she had hit their patrol vehicle until the investigators contacted her. She also claims that she heard what sounded like a gunshot when she struck the deputies. The driver had her driver’s license for less than 30 days when the accident occurred

We are thankful that nothing serious took place. At the same time we feel that those people who have just learned to drive should be more careful while on the road, not just for their safety but for other’s as well. Also, it is very difficult if not impossible to believe her story about how the collision occurred. Drivers feel when their vehicles strike another object with enough force to cause injury. That was most certainly the case here. She was most likely trying to escape responsibility.

Continue reading "San Diego Swideswipe Car Accident Injures Border Patrol Officers" »

Branden Butler, the 17-year old teenager serving 547 days of service in the Juvenile Hall in Vista, spoke to Rancho Buena Vista High School students in a Vista courtroom on March 5, 2010. On October 4, 2009 Butler rammed his car into a wooden fence on La Granada Road, killing his Torrey Pines High School classmate and friend, Alex Capozza (pictured below).

Butler was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the auto accident. After partying in Rancho Santa Fe, he had gone out with friends to get some food when the fatal car accident took place.

This is the first time that Butler has spoken publicly about what happened and he did so as part of the San Diego Superior Court’s Court Day which featured talks by lawyers and judges about what the Court does on a day-to-day basis. It also featured mock trials and, in the case of Butler, speeches by convicted criminals about the impact their crime has had on their life.

While there is no excuse for Butler’s actions—and drunk driving is completely inexcusable—Butler should be commended for speaking with these students. The source article for this post was not clear whether his presence was court ordered. However, it seems from the subject of his talk and the words that he communicated that his poor choice to drive while intoxicated has caused him a tremendous amount of grief and remorse. He was very remorseful about the loss of his friend and the impact Alex’s death has had on the Capozza family. Unfortunately, it is often only after a fatal auto accident, that people reflect and acknowledge that they made a poor and dangerous choice. If only it could be the other way around.

Continue reading "Convicted Teenage Drunk Driver Speaks to Students about Fatal Rancho Santa Fe Car Accident" »

A 27-year old Torrance man was arrested on March 4, 2010 in connection with a fatal Los Angeles traffic accident that took place on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) near the Crenshaw Boulevard off-ramp. The accident had taken place at around 2:24 am.

Baek was driving southbound on the freeway when he rear-ended a van at a high rate of speed. The driver of the van lost control, veered across two lanes of traffic and struck a third vehicle driving in the slow lane of the freeway. The van left the freeway and went down a steep embankment. Baek was booked on a count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and two counts of driving while intoxicated causing injury or death.
Our office wishes to offer our sincere prayers and condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. We once again urge all drivers to be more careful while attempting to switch lanes. Try not to exceed the speed limits. And never, ever, drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you witness motorist driving erratically, try to avoid them as much as possible. They may be driving while intoxicated.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Auto Accident Leaves Driver Dead" »

An 87-year old man lost his life in a tragic San Diego auto wreck that occurred on March 2, 2010. The victim was driving his Toyota Camry when it crashed into a parked truck just south of Ocean View Boulevard. This car accident took place at around 11:35 am.

The deceased, David Epstein, was heading north on the Interstate 15 (I-15) in the Mountain View area of San Diego when his Toyota sedan veered to the right for unexplained reasons and collided with the parked big-rig truck. Epstein died on the spot.

Given the recent reports of braking system failure issues, unexpected acceleration, and other technical malfunctions in Toyota manufactured cars, this tragic accident might have been caused by one of these defects. We wish to express our condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Epstein. At the same time we urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to arrive at the precise reasons of the car crash.

Continue reading "San Diego Auto Accident Kills Toyota Driver" »