Accident Attorneys' Group

Personal Injury Lawyers of CA

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Chrysler Refuses to Recall

1993-1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee photographed in ...

1993-1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee photographed in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. Category:Jeep ZJ Grand Cherokee (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The federal government has issued a warning to Chrysler and Chrysler car owners that certain models have defective properties that make them incredibly dangerous; however, the carmaker is declining to officially recall the models.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has asked Chrysler to recall 2.7 million Jeep vehicles. The 1993-2004 Grand Cherokee models and the 2002-2007 Liberty models are all at risk to cause deadly fires.

At this point, fifty-one people have died in these models after being rear-ended and then trapped in a burning vehicle. These specific cars have fuel tanks that are behind the rear axle; and a collision from behind can cause a leak in the tank, which then creates a fire that quickly engulfs the Jeeps.

NHTSA has confronted Chrysler with the problem, but the company has not complied with establishing a recall or a solution. It has until June 18 to issue a formal response to NHTSA explaining why it will not recall the vehicles.

Chrysler stands by its models, claiming that safety is a top priority when manufacturing each vehicle. According to its CEO, Sergio Machionne, “[Chrysler] stands behind the quality of its vehicles.” The company supposedly rejects the recall because the dangers of any rear-end collision are high, and its Jeeps are not to blame specifically for the fatalities.

Though the millions of Jeeps that are under question passed original safety standards, NHTSA does not feel that that is enough to ignore an overlooked defect that it causing dozens of deaths. NHTSA has not provided a way to fix the issue at this point; however, alerting drivers of the dangers and getting the vehicles off of the road officially is a good first step.

Whether you have been injured in an accident due to a defect or something else, contact a Los Angeles accident attorney. A lawyer can assist you in finding negligence, filing claims and can award to you the highest possible compensation for the damages that you have suffered.

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Tragic Accidents Plagued the State this Weekend

A woman is loaded into an air ambulance that l...

A woman is loaded into an air ambulance that landed on Ski Hill Rd. after a head-on crash near Lifford Rd. on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. She was flown to Toronto’s Sunnybrook hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. Another woman was also airlifted to the same hospital with serious injuries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In Southern California, two accidents occurred over the weekend that caused major distress for police officers and those involved. A Los Angeles crash produced one fatality and a San Diego collision left an injured child abandoned in a wrecked vehicle.

On Saturday afternoon in East Los Angeles, a crash occurred after police were led on a high-speed pursuit. A reckless driver in an SUV that may have been stolen sped away from the police after they attempted to pull him over. The chase lasted five minutes and concluded when the SUV crashed into a truck and another car.

The accident took place in El Sereno around the 5300 block of Poplar Boulevard. Paramedics arrived on the scene and immediately found one dead bystander.

Four others were injured from the accident, three men and one woman. One man was in critical condition, while the other three injured parties were reported to be in fair conditions.

The driver of the SUV tried to escape once more after exiting his wrecked vehicle, but officers caught up to him. He was arrested and suffered injuries from bites of a police dog.

The accident is still under investigation, but the driver will likely face criminal charges for both the status of the SUV and the results of the crash.

On Sunday evening in Old Town, San Diego, a vehicle collision occurred resulting with an injured child and a runaway driver. The accident was reported by witnesses who saw a truck dangling off of the edge of the Interstate 5 Southbound freeway.

California Highway Patrol rushed to the scene where they were told by witnesses that a man ran from the crash, despite there being an injured child in the backseat.

Officers found a two-year-old child strapped into the vehicle’s backseat as it hung off of the highway. The child’s condition is currently unknown; however, it was transported to Rady Children’s Hospital immediately.

The driver of the truck is suspected to be a Hispanic male in his 30s. He was seen wearing a white shirt, black shorts, and sandals. CHP is working hard to find the runaway and is currently investigating the registration information of the vehicle.

Accidents are incredibly unfortunate, no matter the situation. If you or someone you know was involved in an accident, whether it caused fatalities or included runaway drivers; contact a Los Angeles accident attorney today for assistance. Our lawyers will help you in finding medical attention and filing claims; and will ensure that you receive the highest possible compensation for the damages that you suffered, including punitive damages for instances of death.

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$5 Million Settlement due to McDonald’s Burger

English: A selection of value-menu hamburgers ...

English: A selection of value-menu hamburgers from American fast food chains. Clockwise from left to right: McDonald’s McDouble, Burger King Buck Double, Sonic Drive-In Jr. Deluxe Burger, Wendy’s Double Stack. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In January 2012, a sheriff’s deputy caused an injurious accident in Santa Clara County that has now cost him $5 million to settle. And it all occurred because of a hamburger.

Deputy Greg Markovic crashed into Diem Van Lam’s 1994 Honda around 4 a.m. on January 9th. According to the report, Markovic was eating a McDonald’s hamburger and took his eyes off of the road due to its distraction.

The accident occurred after the deputy bit into his burger, put it back down, reached for his radio (which got stuck), turned on his rear amber warning lights by accident, looked down to correct the mistake, and then he hit Van Lam’s vehicle on the driver’s side. There is also speculation that the sheriff may have run a red light before impact.

Markovic survived the accident without any real injury, but Van Lam suffered a skull fracture, torn aorta, and broken ribs.

The deputy is no longer on patrol due to a “permanent disability” that he attained after a child rescue mission of another accident.

The claim was brought to the sheriff after the accident and both parties have now agreed on a settlement of $5 million dollars.

Being distracted while driving causes most of the accidents that drivers face. Perhaps your accident was/will not be caused by a fast food hamburger, but distractions come in many forms and they can all be destructive. If you or someone you know has been in an accident, contact the Accident Attorneys’ Group for a free consultation and essential information that will help you move forward.

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Big Rig Crash in Bakersfield

English: In , USA

English: In , USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Two Wisconsin men were involved in an accident on Monday in Bakersfield, California. The driver apparently was enduring a coughing fit when the truck crashed into a canal.

The 37-year-old driver was en route in his semitruck with a passenger resting in the sleeping compartment southbound on Highway 99. He began coughing and his truck veered off of the road. His distraction prevented him from the stopping the movements.

The truck moved across lanes and then crashed into guardrails, down an embankment and into an irrigation canal. The mess took hours to clear.

Traffic was backed up for a large portion of the day as CHP cleared the wreck. Paramedics also arrived on the scene; the driver suffered minor injuries and his passenger was killed in the accident.

The passenger has been identified as Keith Michael Zeamer from De Pere, Wisconsin. His body was found submerged under parts of the cab that had gone underwater.

This accident is very unfortunate for everyone involved. Thankfully the truck did not hit any other cars as it traveled across the lanes; however, it is distressing that the crash still caused a fatality.

Driving while distracted is incredibly dangerous, no matter what the distraction is. It impairs visibility, judgment and reactions. If you find yourself in a situation where you are or will be distracted, take caution to avoid an accident; like pulling over until you’re safe to drive once more.

If you or someone you know has been in an accident, no matter the cause, contact a car accident attorney today. Hiring a lawyer ensures that your claims are all filed correctly and your compensation is competitive.

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Settlement with Edison for 2007 Malibu Fires Totaling $37 Million

Malibu Fires

Malibu Fires (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In 2007, Malibu was among the Southern California cities that experienced the destructive wildfire; and now the city is receiving some compensation from a negligent party. Southern California Edison has agreed to pay $37 million to the state and city to repair the damages that its mistake caused.

According to the settlement agreement, Edison admits blame because it did not take “prompt action to prevent telecommunications company NextG from attaching fiber optic cable to joint poles in Malibu Canyon” after learning the dangers of doing nothing. This caused the poles to exceed state-mandated safety limits for weight.

The overweight pole was one of the three that failed by snapping and starting the fire. The fire then spread across the canyon, burning over 3,800 acres in October.

The case originally asked for $49 million, but the plaintiffs are happy with the outcome still. The settlement equaled 75 percent of the asking amount and will be sufficient in use of reparations. Edison will pay $20 million to the State of California’s General Fund and $17 million will fund pole loading assessments and resulting remediation work in Malibu.

This is great news for Los Angeles County and the state of California. The wild fires destroyed a lot of land and structures in 2007, and this money will aid greatly in the restoration of the area.

Losing property from a fire can be terribly traumatic and then very confusing. It is difficult to know what to do next and how to file paperwork correctly to ensure that everything is recovered. For property damage, accidents, injuries, etc. having an attorney is incredibly helpful. Contact an accident lawyer today to get the support that you need for your case.

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Drunk Driver Not Given Any Legal Breaks

On December 12, 2008, Ashley Schultz drove her 2001 BMW up the off ramp of the I-5 Northbound freeway and collided with an Acura. The crash left her paralyzed, and since then Schultz has been attempting to place blame on someone else.

The accident caused serious bodily injury to Schultz. She broke many bones, including her C4 and C5 vertebrae, and she became a quadriplegic. The other driver was left unharmed for the most part, so she was not faced with criminal charges regarding a third party injury; but she was convicted of drunk driving and fourth degree assault. She was sentenced to two days in jail and one year probation.

After leaving the restaurant, Schultz went to drive home. She turned onto the off ramp at Southwest River Parkway and Harbor Drive and crashed into the Acura immediately. Her blood alcohol content was recorded at .24% on site – three times the legal limit.

Schultz explains that on the evening of her accident, she was having dinner and drinks with work associates. She felt pressured to join in on the drinking and felt that the restaurant over served her and failed to call her taxi. Because of those factors, she has attempted to sue her employer and the restaurant at which she ate the night of her accident for compensation due to her injuries.

Schultz originally filed a lawsuit against her company for denying her worker’s compensation; but the courts ruled in favor of O’Brien Constructors because her injuries did not arise out of her employment. She explains that she was at a work function when she consumed the drinks, but she was really just out with coworkers and the situation was not work-related.

In 2010, she filed a lawsuit against La Costita Mexican Restaurant claiming that it did not act responsibly as it did not stop serving her drinks or call her a cab when it was evident that she had drunk to inebriation. She requested $18.7 million in her claim.

Schultz’s medical bills in 2010 had already totaled to about $900,000, and her future care costs were estimated to be an additional $5 million.

The courts ruled in favor of the restaurant though, and she lost once more. The ruling was partially based on a previous decision made in 2001 where the law then banned customers who voluntarily drink to collect money from restaurants/bars after being injured. Schultz claims that she didn’t voluntarily drink and that her boss was buying her too many drinks, but the court still found her at fault.

She is still seeking money in any way that she can. Though the restaurant is out of the case and she cannot receive worker’s compensation, she is still going after her employers and the coworkers that were with her that night because they supplied the alcohol for her. Schultz expresses how she only went out that night because she did not want to lose her job and felt pressured for them to like her.

It is unknown currently what will happen, but based on her record it is likely that she will not receive the compensation for which she is hoping. It is very rare that a person who was the drunk driver in an accident files lawsuits for damages, so the outcome of this will be interesting. Though everyone, including the restaurant, feels bad for Schultz and her injuries; it cannot be denied that the fault lies with her.

If you or someone you know has been in accident, contact AAG today.

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Police Search for Former Billionaire Club Member and Ex-Convict for Manslaughter Charges

San Francisco just before sunset. This panoram...

San Francisco just before sunset. This panorama was taken at the Twin Peaks and is stitched from 12 portrait format images. For stitching PTGUI was used. Français : San Francisco au coucher du soleil. Vue panoramique depuis Twin Peaks réaliée en assemblant 12 images format portrait avec PTGUI. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In August of last year, Edmond Ralph Capalla was hit and killed by a taxi cab while crossing the street in San Francisco. Justice has not been served, but it can be now.

San Francisco police are searching for Reza Eslaminia, a once wealthy man whose previous trial in the 1980s opened the public’s eyes to the Billionaire Boys Club, onto whom to press charges. He was connected to the 1984 death of his father and was later sentenced to life in prison. However, in an appeal, the charges were dropped and he moved to San Francisco after being freed.

Eslaminia and his father, Hedayat Eslaminia, a former Iranian government official lived in exile in the Bay area. Eslaminia became a member of the Billionaire Boys Club while living with father. This social club was an investment group that recruited sons of billionaires to join in on get-rich-quick schemes. The death of Eslaminia’s father was suspected to be a kind of botched extortion job.

Eslaminia and an associate were brought to trial. They were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life without possibility of parole. In 2000, Eslaminia’s conviction was overturned and he was released from prison. He then began working as a taxi driver in San Francisco.

On the night of Capalla’s death, Eslaminia was driving his taxi and ran a red light. He then hit another car, spun out of control and crashed into Capalla, who was crossing the street. Police immediately arrested him for the crime, but a judge ruled that there was not enough evidence to charge him for a felony and he was released.

Law enforcement is now filing charges against him for misdemeanor manslaughter. The warrant was released on March 29 and he has still not been found. Eslaminia is also wanted in a 2008 DUI case from Los Angeles on a separate warrant.

Once he is arrested, he will be tried and faces possible jail time. It is important that he is captured, as his criminal record needs to be addressed and so future offenses can be stopped.

Accidents happen far too often, unfortunately. Whether it’s a vehicle crash, hit and run or pedestrian collision, it is important to enlist an accident attorney.

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Honda Recalling 75,000 Acura’s

2004-2005 Acura TSX photographed in College Pa...

2004-2005 Acura TSX photographed in College Park, Maryland, USA. Category:Acura TSX CL9 Category:Red sedans (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Honda is being forced to recall 76,253 model-year 2004-08 versions of the Acura TSX. The TSX is a compact sedan sold by Acura. The main reason these vehicles are being recalled is due to electrical problems, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Only cars originally sold in or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia are affected. In these states, corrosive materials (like salt) are used to de-ice roads. If the material enters the car through a driver’s shoe and saturates the carpet over time, it could come in contact with the car’s electronic control unit and cause it to corrode. This could lead to the engine stalling.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident due to a recalled vehicle it is necessary to speak with an injury lawyer. Our attorneys will make sure you are treated correctly and given the necessary compensation for your pain and suffering. You must act quickly to ensure the highest settlement possible. For more information or evaluation on your case, please do not hesitate to call us or visit AAG.

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Uncle Dies After Being Run Over By Nephew

nascar

nascar (Photo credit: rogerblake2)

The victims of a horrible California raceway accident have been identified by the authorities. The accident occurred in the Marysville Park in Santa Rosa. The race car was being driven by Chase Johnson. Johnson lost control of the vehicle and careened off the track. He slammed into the pit row where he unfortunately struck his 68 year old Uncle and a 14- year-old.  The victims were Dale Wondergem Jr. and Marcus Johnson.  Johnson was not injured in the crash.

Wondergem owned one of the cars at the track but not the car involved in the accident.

Steven Blakesley, the race announcer, said Chase Johnson was driving his car on the track at about 90 mph when it couldn’t make a turn.

“There must have been a mechanical problem,” Blakesley said. “The car didn’t slow down.”

As you can tell, accidents can happen at any time. Chase Johnson definitely did not expect to be part of an accident like this. If you or a loved one have been victims of an accident like this, it is necessary to seek legal counsel from an accident attorney. An accident attorney will make sure that you and your family is taken care after something of this magnitude happens. For more information on your case or for a free consultation please visit the Accident Attorney’s Group.

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Russel Brand Sued for More than $145,000

 

russell brand and courtney love

russell brand and courtney love (Photo credit: Wikipedia

A man is currently looking to sue famous British actor and comedian, Russel Brand. He claims that Brand ran him over in Los Angeles while he was walking. The man seeks to be compensated $185,000 in damages relating to the accident.

The legal documents of the case were claimed by TMZ. Victor Sneed says that Russel was driving “negligently” when the accident happened at the beginning of this year. The documents were filed at the LA County Superior Court. The documents claim that Sneed suffered physical damages to his body, including left arm, left hand, neck and wrist injuries.

Sneed says he has paid more than $45,000 in medical bills and needs a lot more funds for future operations.Brand has not admitted to responsibility of the accident. He denies all allegations. The documents also claimed that “any injury or damage” suffered by Sneed was a “direct, proximate and sole result of plaintiff’s physical bodily condition and constitutional composition.”

If you or a loved one have been a victim of a car vs. pedestrian accident you must seek legal counsel. Our attorney’s will make sure that you are compensated for the pain and suffering that has been brought upon you. For more information please do not hesitate to call a Car Accident Attorney for more information.

 

 

 

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