San Diego Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A man was killed and three others were injured in a fatal Riverside County car accident that happened between a Ford pickup and Toyota Prius on March 30, 2010. The auto accident happened at around 12:30 p.m. on the northbound 86 Expressway at Airport Boulevard.

The Ford driver, 42-year old Yucca Valley resident Amber Line, reportedly slammed into the rear of the Toyota while pulling a trailer with her pickup truck. The traffic collision made both the vehicles move around 300 feet from the point of crash. One of the Toyota passengers lost his life and another passenger was sent to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. The two drivers were treated for minor injuries.

Our office wishes to offer our prayers and condolences to the friends and family of the deceased man and the people injured in this wreck. The passenger lost his life to no fault of his own—just the apparent carelessness of the pickup driver. This collision was completely avoidable had the truck driver been paying more attention and leaving more space between his truck and the Prius.

Continue reading " Fatal Riverside County Car Accident Kills Passenger " »

Three people were injured in a San Diego rollover car accident that took place on March 22, 2010 on northbound Interstate 15 (I-15) just south of Deer Springs Road in Escondido.

The vehicle in which they were traveling rear-ended another vehicle which made it roll off the Interstate and crash through a fence. It landed upside down on North Centre City Parkway. Two people were trapped inside the car and had to be rescued by fire fighters.

We are glad that no one was seriously hurt due to this traffic collision. But it goes without saying that one has to be exceedingly cautious on the road, and more so on the freeway. Everyone was very lucky that the injuries suffered in this accident were not more serious.

Continue reading " San Diego Rollover Car Crash on Interstate 15 Leaves 3 Injured " »

Two 90-year old women were injured in a San Diego car accident on March 16, 2010 when their car veered off a La Playa-area street and crashed into a garage.

The driver of the sedan lost control while making a turn onto the 400 block of Rosecrans Street in Point Loma shortly after noon. The vehicle crashed into a garage door, destroying it, and damaging the corner of the carport. Paramedics took the driver and her passenger to UCSD Medical Center for treatment for their injuries.

Though we are glad that no major injuries were suffered and all the property damage can be repaired, we remain very concerned about monitoring the driving ability of elderly drivers. While we understand that senior citizens value their independence and mobility just as much as anyone else, the fact of the matter is that reaction times and motor skills diminish with age. In addition, the likelihood of serious accidents being caused by stroke or heart attack also increases. We support efforts that allow senior citizens to drive provided they undergo more frequent testing in order to keep their drivers’ license.

Continue reading " San Diego Car Wreck Injures Two Women When Car Crashes Into House " »

A 24-year old sailor, died in a fatal San Diego car accident after his 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 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.

Continue reading " San Diego Car Crash Kills Sailor " »

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 " »

A 24-year old man’s body was found on March 2, 2010 in the 12400 block of Highland Valley Road around 7 p.m. San Diego Police Department suspects this to be a solo vehicle car crash. The wreckage of this San Diego car wreck was cited by a passerby in Rancho Bernardo near Lake Hodges.

The victim was found dead when the paramedics reached the site. The deceased, whose identity has been withheld pending family notification, lived in Escondido with his girlfriend. Our office wishes to express sincere prayers and condolences to the family and friends of the victim. We hope that a proper inquiry is initiated into the accident by the authorities before labeling the wreck as a solo-crash.

Continue reading " Escondido Man Killed in Fatal San Diego Car Crash " »

A San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy lost his life after he crashed his cruiser into a bridge embankment while pursuing an alleged drunk driver going the wrong way on a freeway. The car accident occurred in the early hours of February 28, 2010. The deceased, Deputy Ken Collier, 39, died at a hospital shortly after the accident near Santee. The suspect Jose Jasso Lopez, 22, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.

Collier was driving westbound on State Route 52 (SR-52) when he spotted a car heading toward him on the same side of the highway. He made a quick u-turn to pursue the car, turning into an auxiliary lane in the highway median, but then struck a bridge abutment between Mast Boulevard and Santo Road near Mission Trails Regional Park in northeastern San Diego County.

Our office wishes to express our sincere prayers for the family and loved ones of Deputy Ken Collier. It is sad that we lost such a competent officer who was looking out for the safety of others. There are few things more dangerous on San Diego’s highways and streets than a drunk driver—unless, of course, if it is a drunk driver heading the wrong way on a freeway. The damage that Mr. Lopez could have caused had he crashed into another vehicle or vehicles is unimaginable. Not only could he have killed himself, but he would likely have killed anyone he ran into. Deputy Collier understood this and decided to chase Mr. Lopez to prevent this tragedy. Unfortunately, he lost his life doing so. We hope that the San Diego District Attorneys’ Office prosecutes Mr. Lopez to the fullest extent of the law.

Continue reading " San Diego County Deputy Dies in Fatal San Diego Car Crash " »

A 17-year old boy was finally arrested for causing a fatal Riverside car crash on January 16, 2010 that had resulted in the death of the female driver of a Ford Explorer. The auto accident took place on Cottonwood Avenue at Festival Way in Moreno Valley when the victim, Cynthia Rene Whitaker, 54, of Moreno Valley, had swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid a Honda Civic. By doing so, she hit a Nissan Quest.

The Civic in question was being driven by the 17-year old boy who had stolen it in Desert Hot Springs. He also admitted to being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the car crash. The Moreno Valley Police has charged him with vehicular manslaughter, two counts of hit-and-run, and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Our office wishes to highlight the severity of this case! Not only did the teenager steal the car, but was also drunk which might have played a huge part in the death of Ms. Whitaker. Such behavior from anyone, especially from a juvenile, is very disheartening and despicable. We hope that the Riverside County District Attorney prosecutes this teenager as an adult and to the fullest extent of the law. We also hope that Ms. Whitaker’s family receives whatever care, assistance, and compensation they need and deserve.

Continue reading " Juvenile Admits To Causing Fatal Riverside County Car Accident " »