Southern California Injury Law Blog

Youn Burn Lee, a former Hyundai executive, was held in Orange County jail in lieu of $5 million bail because he is a flight risk and the Deputy District Attorney wants to be sure he will appear in court for his trial.

Mr. Lee faces vehicular manslaughter charges involving a 2005 Costa Mesa traffic fatality involving a very drunk Lee. According to CHP reports, Lee had been drinking heavily at a company party before he got behind the wheel of his company-issued SUV and drove away. Without any headlights on, he crashed into the concrete barrier on the 55 freeway, north of MacArthur Boulevard and stalled his car.

Since the SUV was stalled in traffic with no lights on, Ryan Cook, a young college student on a motorcycle had no idea the upcoming danger. He slammed into the disabled SUV and was thrown to the pavement and died at the scene. Cook was a young musician as well as a college student with his brilliant future ahead of him.

Cook’s family has hired California motorcycle accident attorney and filed a wrongful death suit against Lee, Hyundai Motor of America and several executives of the firm who helped Lee flee the country and avoid prosecution.

We are hopeful that this type of litigation acts as a deterrent, because from a personal injury attorney's perspective, the damage caused by this type of conduct is devastating. If you have been the victim of such a case, please feel free to call us at 1 888 752-7474.

All 50 states are looking forward to funding highway and local municipality projects thanks to the recently passed federal stimulus bill. Most states will receive money to upgrade roads, bridges and various other municipal projects to hopefully make our lives a little safer.

A recent study on the most deadly highways in America ranked 4 of the top ten deadliest roads right here in Southern California. One surprising fact is that these are all interstate highways. Normal expectations are that deadly road accidents involve rural, windy country roads, and while they are dangerous also, these highways are dangerous for a variety of reasons.

I-15 in San Bernardino County was ranked #1 in fatalities during the last five years, and our experience in representing victims of this stretch of road is the same. Ironically, it is dangerous because it is so straight and wide that it is implicated in so many accidents since many drivers fall asleep driving on it. Additionally, alcohol is a factor since this is the major thoroughfare between Southern California and Las Vegas. If you need to consult with a California accident attorney, chose to do so sooner rather than later, so that evidence can be preserved.

I-10 in Riverside County, I-5 in Los Angeles County and I-5 in San Diego County all placed in the top ten. Whether you are driving on local roads or large interstates, keep your focus to avoid any personal injuries or accidents. Of course if you have been a victim of such a collision contact an attorney that specializes is personal injuries in California to protect and preserve your rights.

Funeral services for two local Mission Viejo young men were held last week. Families of the two young men are obviously devastated at their loss. No parent should have to bury their children, and for these families, it is especially heartbreaking since both young men, Alexander Hugard and Andrew Gorum, both were attending Saddleback College in Orange County and had their whole lives ahead of them.

The two young men were killed instantly when their vehicle left the road and hit a eucalyptus tree early one morning. The weather was wet and the roads were slippery.

Unfortunately, the winter weather here in Orange County seems to come all at once. The California Highway Patrol was also busy with many other accidents last week due to the heavy rains.

In the above case, according to OC officials and an independent witness, the boys were traveling at a high rate of speed. Although the Orange County Sheriff’s office is still investigating this accident, they feel many of these factors were involved. We always recommend that an accident be investigated by a competent attorney, and such investigations can be done without cost to you, because the truth is sometimes obscured by the police in their investigations. See our article on police bias for instance. If you were involved in an accident, don’t hesitate to contact a California personal injury attorney.

Since 2000, Anaheim Crest Nursing Center in Anaheim California has received several warnings, but no fines or sanctions. Insanitary food supply, not having properly working doors and improper staff are a few of the several problems that have plagued this and other nursing home facilities in California. However, this month they were fined $75,000 in the choking death of an elderly patient. It is unfortunate that an Anaheim personal injury attorney had not been contacted before this tragic incident.
State Health and Human Services papers showed that autopsy results proved the man had died from choking to death on a sandwich. Initially the center had claimed the man had died from a heart attack and now has since backtracked on their story. Internal investigations have concluded that the man, who had had a history of dementia and prior choking problems, had been put on a strict pureed diet. Somehow the victim had been left near a food cart and had taken one of the sandwiches to eat.
Although the nursing home claims that these “missteps” were unintentional, where are personnel that are supposed to be caring for these individuals? And why did they have to lie about the cause of death to protect the facility?
Kathy Hurst, an attorney for the skilled nursing center has launched another investigation to find out the truth behind this incident. I hope his family has a good California personal injury attorney on their side as well. No one should have to suffer the indignity of dying such a death.

In today's economic environment, insurance companies are affected the same as regular companies. When the market for securities drops, and people are losing their homes, insurance companies are facing non-renewal of premiums and losses in their safe investment of capital. Additionally, many companies have had to pay out huge claims for natural fire and floods, more often than I can recall in recent years.

As a result, many insurance companies are now lowering their payout of claims for personal injury cases. What can we do as aCalifornia personal injury attorneys during this period. Here are a few ideas.

first, I suspect that the reduction in offers and amounts is only temporary while the financial and housing markets settle. Once the largest of the issues is addressed, I expect it will be business as usual.

I also believe that if the carriers are reducing their offers to personal injury victims, they will have to pay the full value of the case later in litigation. therefore, I am recommending that we file and serve in Orange County Superior Court to move the cases along.

Additionally, I am alsop of the oopinion that currently it may be better to file and serve the lawsuit than to attempt a settlement, as a defense attorney is not as likely to be swayed by the current economic environment when evaluating the case for settlement authority.

What I would not encourage during this short troubling time, is settling cases at less than full fvalue. That will give the insurance companies incentive to continue their cost cutting and also reward bad behavior on their part. So let's keep up the good work and get full value in settlement despite the extra effort that current economic times may require.

If you need a California Personal Injury attorneythat is not williong to settle your case for less than full value, call us at 1 888 752 7474 for a free consultation.

How often have you signed up for a gym membership, signing assumption of risk and waiver of liability forms without reading them. What would you do even if you did read them. Would you really not join a gym if it simply said that you assumed all of the risks that were known and unknown at the time of the signing of the document?

The law of assumption of the risk in California has been morphing into a very strict application as against the consumer. Several well-known cases have demonstrated a continued restriction on the ability of a person to file a lawsuit against the company if they have signed an assumption of the risk document. The most bizarre of these examples was a case involving a television set mounted improperly on the wall of a gym. As the patron was walking by, the television set fell on him causing him significant injury. Because he had signed a waiver and assumption of liability risk form with this well-known Gym, the court concluded that he'd waived his right to bring a lawsuit. I doubt any of you would have anticipated and injury from poor installation of a television, and when it fell on your head causing serious injuries as you are walking by, you would agree i when you signed assumption of risk documents, that you would not sue. In fact you probably would assume that the facility is under obligation to make it safe for your use.

There are several excellent defenses to assumption of the risk but they are hard to enforce. It takes a very skilled personal injury attorney to advocate waiver of assumption of the risk. In several high-profile cases that this office has handled over the years, we have been successful in avoiding assumption the risk claims. There are several keys to unlock challenges to signed assumption the risk forms

1. Inspect carefully the release and assumption of risk document to determine whether it is too vague, too broad, or does not comply with the language consistent with cases on the subject

2. Make sure that the defendant can produce the actual signed copy of the assumption of the risk document. We have found that there are numerous occasions where there is a subsequent record of the signing of such a document, but the original document cannot be produced.

3. Make sure that the assumption of risk document was signed by the actual client who was injured. In a gym membership for instance, a spouse who signs up both spouses may be precluded from bringing in action, but the non-signing spouse may still have rights.

In a recent case of Kindrich v Long Beach Yacht Club 167 Cal App 4th1252, a man was injured when disembarking a boat, causing his broken leg. The lower court held that this man could not sue, because he had executed an assumption of the risk document, and was precluded from being bringing an action. However on appeal,, the Court reversed advising that the injuries were actually due to something other than sports and sporting activities, therefore the traditional rules of assumption of the risk would be applicable, and are far less severe than gym membership cases such as the one that was noted above.

If you have a personal injury case and you've signed an assumption of the risk document, consult a personal injury attorney immediately to advance your cause. Don't give any statements to the other side until you've consulted with this attorney, to ensure that all of your rights are protected. As always feel free to contact our a truck or personal injury attorney for a free consultation at 1888 752 7474.

Many clients ask us how we maximize the results in our settlement and trial of cases. To be an effective advocate, it not only takes a thorough investigation into how an accident occurs, but also the ability to simplify, but with detail, the nature of injuries that have been sustained. As an Orange County accident attorney, we have on numerous occasions had to present complex injuries in a believable and understandable way to Orange County juries.

Take the example of a client that had sustained a serious complication to a simple surgery called reflex sympathetic dystrophy. This disease affects the autonomic nervous system and in the case of our client, caused her hand to turn blue and loose blood flow. This is not a disease that a typical juror may have come across in their lifetime. Therefore it is important to take the time to describe the specific injury, and what causes that injury, before you attempt to present your case value.

Taking the time to explain the cause of reflex sympathetic dystrophy took more than 3 1/2 hours of expert testimony. But, even before the jury had heard from the expert, a competent accident attorney will make sure, in opening statement, that jurors were very familiar with the causes and complications of the disease. New attorneys are sometimes afraid to discuss evidence to be submitted, because either they do not understand it, rely too heavily on the expert or simply want to avoid an objection. However, it is important for that accident attorney to have developed a working knowledge with the expert, so that it can be presented properly.

As an Orange County accident attorney for over 24 years, I have found that the more time that is taken to explain injury, the details of her surgery, the nature of the disability, and expertise required to correct the problem, the more likely the jury will award a significant settlement amount. But more to the point, many Orange County accident attorneys assume that insurance company adjusters understand the complications of injury and the need for surgery. I have seen demand letters from other attorneys that do not go to the necessary detail to explain the type of injuries sustained and why this injury caused extraordinary pain, disability or subsequent complications. Many demand letters I have reviewed don't address future medical expenses likely to be incurred, or the complications associated with arthritic changes. I have even seen demand letters where a complicated cervical fusion procedure has been described in one sentence, as if the insurance adjuster understands what was done by simply mentioning cervical surgery. This is the sign of an inexperienced accident attorney and one that does little in their practice as a personal injury attorney.

A qualified Orange County motorcycle accident attorney will take the time to know your case, understand how your motorcycle injuries came about, or how that truck accident caused you unique symptoms, and will advocate for the maximum settlement based on factual understanding of the injuries and damages that were sustained. While it sounds simple to do, the truth is that the ordinary person, untrained in review of medical records, can and will miss the detail and subtle quotations by doctors and nurses, and lacks the investigative efforts to uncover the procedure’s complications.

We hope that you will consider our firm for your case if you want to maximize recovery to you. Please call us for a free consultation at 1-888-752-7474.

The Metrolink Chatsworth disaster here in California was one of the worst train disasters California has experienced. Over 135 persons sustained serious personal injury and 25 people tragically lost their lives. Since that sad day, we have learned more about the terrible set of circumstances that led up to the catastrophic event. Distractions such as texting, driver fatigue due to overworking, and possible mechanical malfunction are all presumed. However did you know the victims and their families have limited time to file their claims?

With all that these families are going through, the last things is to worry about claim forms and filing deadlines. However the cut-off date is quickly approaching for this accident. You must file in early March 2009 claims against Metrolink, track owners, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation authority (LACMTA). The statute of limitations is artificially short for governmental agencies, 'to allow the agencies to investigate". Here it would seem more appropriate to waive the claim filing date cut off, but good luck getting a judge to agree with you.

Unfortunately nearly half of the victims have not filed claims yet and their rights may be forever barred if they don’t act soon. Getting a California personal injury attorney that you trust and that can handle these bureaucratic procedures for you is the most prudent thing you can do. You need an expert on your side to handle the details, know the deadlines, and handle the insurance and governmental agencies.

Personal Injury cases such as these are complicated and need a qualified and highly experienced California personal injury lawyer such as Allen, Flatt, Ballidis & Leslie. They have a team of lawyers ready to fight for your rights and recover for all of your future needs.

Brandon Zucker died recently at Orange County’s Children’s Hospital from complications of an old injury. The boy’s injury drew nationwide attention to the problems of amusement park rides, especially rides here in Orange County, California where we have several major parks.

In September, 2000, Brandon, then only four years old and his family were enjoying a day at Disneyland. Brandon suffered severe injuries after he fell from the Roger Rabbit ride and was dragged about ten feet. In addition, he was trapped underneath the car and suffered severe internal injuries, in fact, so bad that he went into cardiac arrest and suffered brain damage.
Although he survived, he was unable to unable to walk or talk after the accident.

After the 2000 incident, Zucker’s family, their personal injury attorney and Disneyland settled for undisclosed terms. Soon afterward Disneyland overhauled its safety procedures; keeping paramedics in the park, instructing personnel to dial 9-1-1 properly in case of an accident, and naturally making mechanical changes to the Roger Rabbit ride.

An autopsy is still pending on why, after so many years Brandon died at only 13 years old. Our hearts go out to this family for their tragic loss.

If you or your family have been injured in an amusement park ride, don’t hesitate to call a Orange County personal injury attorney immediately to have all of your questions answered and be informed of your rights.

In a recent prominent attorney journal, a well-written article describes the dangers of roadway drop-off. This article of course underscores our complaints about the condition of Ortega Highway, which has caused a number of auto accidents, motorcycle and truck accidents in Orange County California.

As an Orange County personal injury and truck accident attorney, we have, on a number of occasions, written about dangerous drop-offs and represented clients for such road conditions. Unfortunately, little has been done to correct obvious defects in our more rural roads and narrow highways.

In the article for TRIAL February 2009, a Pennsylvania driver traveling on a state highway experienced an asphalt to shoulder drop off of 6 inches next to newly asphalt highway. The driver traveled on the shoulder for 1.5 seconds before over-steering the vehicle back onto the road. Unfortunately she over-steered, causing her to strike trees on the other side of the road.

For those of you who do not know what a drop-off is, it represents a difference in elevation between the roadway surface and the shoulder, usually dirt. When the vehicle is traveling on the roadway surface and the right side tires encounter the off, the natural tendency of the driver is to over-steer in an attempt to regain control of the vehicle and remain on the highway. Unfortunately all too often, the over-steer maneuver causes the vehicle to lose control and collide with objects on the side of the road, or that are traveling in the opposite direction of travel. The result is usually a horrendous auto accident and injuries. Our office represents such a victim who was killed on Ortega Highway in 2008. As he was rounding a curve in the road he also encountered a significant drop-off causing him to over-steer inexplicably steer into oncoming traffic where he was killed.

We have made claims to the state and local agencies but no resolution of this case has taken place yet. Here are some well thought out recommendations given by the article, which mirror our experience as well.

First identify the cause of the drop-off. There are ample explanations for the creation of drop-offs. Excellent investigation always aids in a successful conclusion. In the article's example, the roadway had just been resurfaced but no attention was paid to the shoulder. In our client's case, the drop-off was due to improper care on the part of the state agencies, over use of the roadway surface, rainstorms and significant large truck tread impaction.

Second and equally important, the accident victim should contact an Orange County personal injury attorney immediately to take steps to preserve the condition of the scene. Photographs of the scene, the condition experienced by the driver, and other areas showing wear, are necessary for experts to conduct their calculations and examinations.

Lastly it is important to gather crash statistics at the location scene, and on the highway. Crash statistics may prove noticed to the governmental agency that work needed to be done at the scene. This is by far the most difficult portion of proof.

Roadway drop-off is a serious condition likely to cause additional injury unless addressed by roadway crews. If you have witnessed an accident caused by roadway drop-off on Ortega Highway we want to hear from you. You may very well be able to aid us in the successful prosecution of the case we've mentioned in this article. Please call us at 1-888-752-7474.

Recently, there has been an increase in truck related accidents on the local freeways. In part this is due to increased rain in southern California. But this increase has also been related to poor driving habits of local drivers. In two truck accidents on southern California highways, driver error and not the weather, have been the cause stated in CHP reports. As we continue to have more traffic, truck drivers and motor vehicles have to share more road. This causes more congestion and more difficulty negotiating the freeway on and off ramps. With the further economic downturn there is also a cost cutting attitude underway, hiring of independant trucking companies that skimp on roadway safety.

If you have been a victim of an auto vs truck accident, call a competent California Truck Accident Lawyer to protect your rights.

Call us a t 1 888 752-7474.

In an unusual truck accident that occurred in Georgia, a 22-year-old driver struck the rear of a tractor-trailer that had entered the highway from an emergency Lane. As we all know, trucks pulling onto a roadway require some distance to get up to freeway speed.

In this collision, the truck made little effort to gain speed before pulling into oncoming traffic. The driver, unable to avoid the collision, struck the rear of the tractor-trailer causing his death.

In wrongful death claims such as this, truck companies will frequently argue that it is the inattention of the driver that caused the collision and not the negligence of their driver. Fortunately in this case, the attorney was able to persuade the insurer of the trucking company to pay their policy limits of $2 million.

In California, truck operators are required to be properly trained in the manner of entering or departing from freeways. It is a truck operator's responsibility to make sure that oncoming traffic is not impeded by their entry onto the freeway. A California truck accident lawyer will help identify the laws and reasons why a truck company should be responsible, even if the decedent rear ended the truck.

Personal injury attorneys do not specialize in truck accidents and do not know the unique requirements of truck driver duties in the operation of vehicles with large mass. Therefore when you have been involved in a truck accident it is always better to consult with the California truck accident lawyer that specializes in this area of law rather than an attorney even that specializes in personal injury but has little or no truck accident experience.

Feel free to always consult our office for free at 188-752-7474 or contact us for your truck accident needs.

In a recent California truck accident case a semi truck pulled unexpectedly from a stop sign striking a motorcyclist and killing him. The motorcycle rider was survived by four children. The four children were adults and so therefore id not rely upon the deceased for support.

In wrongful death cases of this nature, where liability may not be in dispute, and is relatively clear, the valuation mainly focuses on the value placed on the loss of life. In loss of life cases, not only is the loss of care love of society evaluated, but also loss of earnings and support.

The surviving family sued the driver alleging that he had failed to keep a proper lookout before pulling from the stop sign. The case settled for $1.75 million paid before trial based upon the damages and loss of consortium of the family.

Wrongful death claims never fully compensates the family for the loss of their loved one. In this case, there was at least an attempt at Justice and a conclusion by the family that the settlement was satisfactory, avoiding the hardship of trial.

A competent California truck accident lawyer understands the implications of wrongful death our family who may not even be relying upon their deceased father for support. This case demonstrates not only the need to hire a California truck accident lawyer, but also a lawyer that understands wrongful death valuation and can successfully obtain compensation for the family.

If you have been a victim of a truck negligently operated truck truck or have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one because of such negligent conduct, please seek out a competent California truck accident lawyer. You're always welcome to call us for a free consultation at 1-888-752-7474.

A number of articles in legal journals and newspapers have recently been pointing out what seems to be a significant increase in truck accidents at interstate interchanges. Our office as a California Truck accident attorney firm has also noted an increase in reported collisions and cases. Interchanges in California and in Orange County have been particularly noted. The 605 to 10 freeway interchange, the 5 to 57 freeway interchange 405 to 5 freeway overpass interchange northbound are just some of the examples. Why are we seemingly experiencing an increase in the number of truck accidents at these interchanges.

As a truck accident attorney, we frequently see the remnants of a truck accident and the damage that it can cause. It is been our experience in handling a number of truck accident victim cases, that with the increased speeds of vehicles and trucks traveling on the freeways, there is inadequate on-ramp off-ramp exposure to allow the truck time to merge or exit.

The prudent truck driver, of course, prepares for this contingency by early lane changes and by maintaining a safe speed. Unfortunately, in more recent accidents, truck drivers are either less experienced, less dedicated than their forbearer's to safety, or there seems to be less policing of their driving habits.

It is not unusual, for instance, to see a large 18 will semi truck traveling in the number two or number three of a 5 Lane Hwy., rather than in the slower right hand lane. This makes other cars vulnerable to the erratic lane changes of the truck, and may even impede the truck driver's ability to move over timely to enter or exit a freeway. Additionally, as evidenced by the recent case of criminal conviction of a truck driver, truck drivers are increasingly tired, over extending their trip times, and not complying with their duties and the law designed to protect the public using public roads.

Reconstructing our freeways does not appear to be a reasonable solution. The cost and congestion would undermine the effort and potentially cause additional accidents or collisions. Instead we would advocate that the policing of trucks be more rigorously enforced. In California, as Truck accident attorneys, would recommend that laws be adopted that only allow trucks to travel in Lane' other than the far right, when passing are overtaking other vehicles or trucks. This would protect motorists from aggressive unexpectedly changes by semi trucks. As a personal injury attorney dedicated to reducing truck accident victims, I would also recommend that stiffer fines be imposed upon not only the driver but also on the company that they operate trucks for in the event that they are traveling in excess of 55 on our speed limit designed to protect motoring public.

Lastly it would be worthwhile for trucking companies to be required to adopt a periodic retraining and review of rules designed to protect motoring public and to hold those companies accountable if they cannot produce evidence of compliance with that effort.

None of these recommendations are urged at her in, but common sense. However until we required the trucking companies complied and bring their drivers to bear our roads will not be as safe as they seem to be 10 years previously.

If you've been a victim of a truck accident please feel free to contact us for a free consultation at 1-888-752-7474 or contact us at Truck accident attorneys,.

Avoiding a dog bite can be a precarious effort. If you run, you entice the dog to chase you. If you yell and scream in an attempt to intimidate the dog, you can actually frighten the dog and in so doing may instigate an attack. If a dog is barking or growling at you, it may be attempting to show you aggression or fear. Are these attacks avoidable?

In our client’s case, attack could not be avoided. The dog had escaped the backyard of the neighbor' s house, and had attacked our client' s dog. When our client attempted to separate them, he was attacked as well. Although he received a $325,000 settlement, for the injuries he had sustained, an after-the-fact settlement still means our client was a victim.

Several dog experts in recent years have proposed methods for avoiding an attack by a dog. However, those methods have been met with mixed results. As alluded to earlier, if you attempt to out run the dog you will likely be brought to the ground from behind and sustain more serious injury. There are several things you can try however that will minimize the possibility of an attack.

1. Don't look the dog directly in the eye. By avoiding direct eye contact, you minimize your appearance of aggression to the dog. Many times you will see the dog become more passive attitude you can move away from each other slowly yet effectively.

2. Don't run at the dog. As a personal injury attorney I have seen a number of cases where a client has attempted to scare the dog by running at it. While the dog may initially begin to turn and flee, in the confusion of the moment more typically the dog circles and attacks from a different direction. Instead simply remain still and if you can't relax. By relaxing, the dog's primal instinct seems to improve its disposition.

3. Some experts have suggested that you show dominance by screaming or yelling to establish authority. Clients that this personal injury attorney has represented has not seen not as effective tool. However, it may be worth your while to appear larger than you are by standing tall in a wrecked, using your code to make your appearance wider and by standing your ground at least until an attack is imminent.

It is an attack is unavoidable, protect yourself with your hands and legs. Injury to these extremities is more readily resolved in significant biting her thrashing of the torso neck or other vulnerable areas. If you've been attacked by a dog, feel free to contact us for a free consultation at 1 888-752-7474. As an expert attorney dedicated to representing dog bite victims, we will provide you with competent and experienced representation that will maximize your damages award.

On May 4th, 2007, Chris and Lori Coble’s lives were turned upside down by the untimely, tragic death of their three children. Returning home from celebrating their son’s 5th birthday party celebration, a semi truck crashed into the family’s min-van, causing serious personal injuries to Lori and her mother, and killing Kyle, Katie and Emma Coble.
Truck driver Jorge Miguel Romero pleaded no contest and was sentenced for misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter this week in Newport Beach. He received a sentence of one year in prison and 5 year’s probation for the deaths of three Coble children in 2007. Lori Coble sat in the courtroom silently crying as the sentence was handed down. This brings partial closure to this chapter of their lives but they continue to turn their grief to action by demanding changes within the trucking industry as well as lobbying changes to Caltrans projects here in Orange County that have been seriously delayed.
The truck driver admitted to negligence because, at the time of the accident, he was on his cell phone checking for messages and this was a major distraction while driving this busy section of Interstate 5 freeway near Mission Viejo. In addition he had falsified his work log and had been overtired as so many commercial drivers are and did not keep the appropriate car length distance as is required by law.
The Cobles are currently busy pushing for changes within the trucking industry as well as taking care of their new triplets that were born last May. Yes, their new triplets were born in May of 2008—almost a year after the horrific accident that took the lives of their first three children. They now have 2 daughters and a son, once again!

Today in San Clemente California on the I 5 freeway and accident was reported at 12:30 PM apparently a vehicle rolled over several times and the cause of a rollover is unknown. However because of the recent rains and excess of moisture on the roadway, it is thought the accident may be related to an out-of-control vehicle

This accident is a reminder that during rainy season in Southern California we are not used to driving on such wet roads. While the rest of the nation deals with whether routinely, drivers in Southern California seem to have an increased propensity for accidents under such conditions. The best you can do is to drive defensively to avoid these people and the possible injury they may cause. If you have been involved in an accident because of the negligence of another please do not hesitate to call a qualified Orange County California personal injury lawyer. We can obtain a recovery that will compensate you for your property damage, personal injury, pain and suffering and medical expenses. Call us at 1 888 752-7474.

As many of you know, our firm has been posting for about 2 years the dangers of Salmonella in peanut butter. We recently resolved a case involving such toxic contents, without having to wait for class acrtion resolution as many of the other Plaintiffs in the Georgia class action lawsuit. One reason is our expertise and ability to handle such cases effectively. Unfortunately, here we are again with a new outbreak. If you need a personal injury attorney that specializes in such cases, call us at 1 888 752-7474.
The nationwide recall of peanut butter products has affected almost all 50 states, including over 66 cases here in California. In Orange County, we have had 6 cases to date with fortunately no deaths. Nationwide over 500 people have become ill and eight people have died.
The American Peanut council is now taking steps to reassure the public on which types of peanut butter products are being affected and which ones are not. The recall all began when one manufacturing plant in Georgia found salmonella contamination. Although their peanut butter primarily went to intuitions such as hospitals and schools, the contamination eventually led to a recall of over 125 products containing peanut butter.
Peanut butter and peanut products are literally everywhere within our packaged food supply. In fact the average consumer eats about six pounds per year. One major Orange County store eliminating products from their shelves are Trader Joe’s which provide celery with peanut butter packs and many popular nutrition bars such as Luna, NutriSystem and Cliff Bar.
Orange County grocery chain stores such as Ralph’s, Vons and Albertson’s have voluntarily removed several peanut butter crackers such as Keebler and Austin brands because the peanut paste used for these cracker products might be tied to the salmonella outbreak. In addition, through their rewards programs they are contacting their customer via their receipts and notifying anyone who has purchased one of the recalled products. Look at the bottom of your receipt the next time you’re purchasing groceries in one of these stores.
Popular peanut butter brands such as “Peter Pan” , “Skippy” and “Jif” are all safe to eat due to the fact that they process their own peanuts and do not buy from a outside distributors. Primarily the recall involves pre-packaged products of peanut butter snack food and not jars of peanut butter.

In a recent case, a young woman with a new baby lost her husband to suicide. Obviously disturbed, he committed another act of violence and loss when he changed his beneficiary on a life insurance policy to an old girlfriend before his death. Having not worked for several years, he didn't even pay for the life insurance.
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The beneficiary did not care that a baby and wife were left with bills and debt, accumulated by the husband. She wanted the death benefit. Our client hired us to represent her, enforcing any rights that she had to the policy. As it turned out, since she paid for the policy and was still married, she had community property rights. Furthermore, there is ample evidence that the two had made mutual promises to keep insurance on the other for the benefit of the child. We are confident that justice will prevail.

Our firm represents injury victims who suffer from wrongdoing of another. If you need an attorney to help you with your rights, call us at 1 888 752-7474 for all your lawyer needs.

About 1.7 million kids live in households with loaded, unlocked firearms. Every day at least 3 children die due to accidental firearms’ deaths. Here in California, accidental firearm deaths have been on the rise since the mid nineties. Is there an unlocked firearm in your home, or better yet does your child know where it is located?
In California each year we read reports of children that have been involved in accidental shootings. This year is no different. Last week a two year old was shot and killed by a 12 year old relative when they were playing in their garage. The child “thought” it was a toy gun until of course it went off and struck the small boy. The owner of the gun was later arrested. Under California law, authorities can hold the gun owner responsible for a death if they leave a handgun or weapon where a child may have access to it.
Child Access Prevention (or CAP) Laws hold gun owners responsible if they leave guns easily accessible to children and a child improperly gains access to the weapon. Eighteen states, including California have established these tougher laws to protect children and reduce serious personal injury. The safe storage laws requires gun owners to one, always keep guns out of reach of children and two, if they chose to have their guns out, to always have a safety device to lock the gun.
Each year more than 16,000 children are injured with guns and since 1990, more than 5,000 kids have died. Many of these incidences are from kids finding guns in a drawer, in a closet or an unlocked gun cabinet in the home. Moreover, in 72% of unintentional deaths and injury cases the firearm was stored in the residence of the victim, relative or friend.
In a study that asked parents about gun safety, 87% of parents believed that their child would never pick up or play with a gun. Experts agree that parents are deceiving themselves and placing too high of expectations on their children to “know” what the right thing to do is. Parent’s surveyed felt their kids were “too smart” or “knew better” to do something reckless. Gun safety is a safety topic, like stranger danger, that should be discussed with your children as soon as they are old enough to understand the danger and play at other friends’ homes, for example during a play date situation.
Even though gun ownership is a fundamental right guaranteed by the second amendment, along with ownership comes responsibility, and way too many guns are getting in the hands of children who are too young or untrained. This combination can lead to accidental deaths or personal injury. Be smart about storing your guns and protect our children.
If you have been injured in a gun related accident, don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury attorney immediately to protect your rights. Allen, Flatt, Ballidis and Leslie have a staff of experienced personal injury attorneys that will assist you through this experience.