Fatal accidents happen when various conditions are met, including:

• High speeds
• Trucks
• Drunk driving, especially when combined with high speeds and trucks
• Trains

In many instances, high speeds and drunk driving may be considered to be the negligent behavior that causes heinous injuries and wrongful death in vehicle accidents. If a loved one died in a fatal accident, contact an accident attorney as soon as possible. Our experienced fatal accident attorneys advise you of your rights when wrongful death is involved in an accident.

Filing a case because of a wrongful death caused by a fatal accident must be done within a certain time frame because of California’s statute of limitations. As soon as you are able, contact a California fatal accident attorney to get your case started. If heinous behavior is found to be a contributing factor in the death of your loved one, you may be entitled to additional compensation for your loss and to compensate for your standard of living.

- DUI Enforcement: California Highway Patrol (CHP) is promising to be out in full force throughout the duration of the Labor Day weekend in an effort to crack down on drunk and reckless driving. Additional checkpoints will be set up in undisclosed locations throughout the state and drivers are forewarned to call a taxi service or arrange for a designated driver if planning to drink. Driving while intoxicated carries an injury, fatality and property damage risk that far outweighs any taxi fare or inconvenience to a sober friend. Last Labor Day, 21 people were killed in crashes over the Labor Day weekend and 1,521 motorists were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

- Hit-and-Run Death: Family members and the Sonoma County Alliance are offering a $12,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a driver who tragically ran down an attorney with the San Francisco Civil Service Commission. The victim was jogging along the shoulder of a road in Forrestville on August 14 when he was struck and killed by a white Ford pick-up truck. CHP believes the truck would have noticeable damage to its right side.

- Drunk Drivers Collide: CHP reports that a Thursday-afternoon fender bender involved two drunk drivers at an intersection in El Camino Del Mar. The first driver had stopped for pedestrians at a crosswalk when the second driver rear-ended him. When CHP arrived on scene, they quickly realized both drivers were intoxicated and both were arrested under a suspicion of driving under the influence.

- Fatal Accident in Sacramento: Highway 50 was the scene of a tragic and fatal accident Thursday evening in the area of Harbour Boulevard. Lanes traveling in both directions were closed for some time as CHP pieced together the evidence and facts of the incident- which involved a single-vehicle collision. The driver escaped from his overturned vehicle and attempted to run from police. In doing so, he crossed the center median and was struck by an oncoming car.

- Fresno County Accident Claims 3 Lives: Three people were killed early Friday morning in a hit-and-run incident on Belmont Avenue, west of Mendota. According to CHP, eight farmworkers were heading to work this morning when the vehicle they were traveling in was struck by a big rig. The rig was pulling out of a field and the workers’ vehicle was attempting to avoid a collision with the truck. Despite the impact, the big rig continued driving. In addition to the three fatalities, one passenger was treated for serious injuries and the other four were unharmed.

A Santa Ana man is to be arraigned today on murder charges stemming from the DUI-related death of his nephew. Police assert that the defendant refused offers from a bartender for a taxi service after a night of heavy drinking. The man then crashed his SUV into a light pole and fled the scene. The incident took place in December, 2010. The man’s 20-year old nephew was riding in the backseat of the vehicle and died at the scene. In the front seat, the driver’s 34-year old brother in law sustained severe injuries including a double leg fracture, broken ribs and lacerations to the liver and spleen.

The driver’s blood alcohol content registered at 0.17 over 90 minutes after the crash took place. In addition to his alcohol-induced incoherency and lack of cooperation with police, the driver was also operating his vehicle under a suspended driver’s license and was still serving probation for a 2004 DUI offense.

As for the night in question, facts have emerged that the defendant was drinking with friends at the Newport Five Cocktail Lounge in Tustin on the evening of December 20, 2010. The bartender eventually asked the driver and his friends to leave around 1:15am after their demeanor evolved from jovial to rowdy. The defendant reportedly remained in the parking lot until 2am despite the bartender’s repeated attempts to call a cab for the man. At 2:20am, an officer from the Destin police department even offered to call a cab for the man- an offer that was declined after the man claimed he was already waiting on a ride.

Moments later, the man and his family members piled into his Suburban and headed for home. The crash occurred shortly thereafter and witnesses reported that the driver was adamantly opposed to calling 911 to help his injured and dying family members. He then attempted to run away and was quickly apprehended.

The man has been charged with felony hit and run with injury and driving on a suspended license in addition to the murder charges.

The surviving parents of a 43-year old man killed by a taser have filled an assault, battery and negligence lawsuit against the San Bernadino sheriff’s department, the county of San Bernadino and three deputies. The victim was driving in the town of Rimforest, 60 miles northeast of Los Angeles, when he allegedly honked his horn at a patrol car that had turned in front of him. The deputy then positioned his vehicle behind the victim’s and pulled him over in a nearby gas station.

From there, court documents detail allegations that the deputy ordered the victim out of his vehicle at gunpoint, forced him to the ground and was at that point joined by two other law enforcement officers. Details are unclear as to whether the victim and the officer exchanged words or were otherwise engaged in an altercation. According to the lawsuit, the three officers all expended five taser cartridges on the victim and the victim then stopped breathing.

In addition to allegations of assault and battery, the suit contends that the officers were negligent in not offering to help resuscitate the victim after all three deputies failed to perform CPR on the victim.

In a statement released earlier this year, the precinct insists the victim was “combative” towards the officer and that one deputy did in fact attempt to perform CPR on the man. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter at a local hospital.

The surviving family is seeking compensatory and general damages.

High-speed chases are part of CHP’s repertoire of tasks required for the job. A Wednesday-evening domestic violence call quickly escalated into a chase commencing in Norco finally comg to an end near Temescal Avenue. CHP responded to reports of a violent domestic offender evading police late Wednesday night. Instead of surrendering to police, the offender chose to flee and CHP was quickly called to intervene. After pursuing an unsuccessful pursuit intervention technique, CHP continued to follow the vehicle until it eventually landed in the Santa Ana River.

The suspect fled on foot as the CHP patrol car sped out of control, crashing violently into a utility pole. The suspect continued to flee by way of the Santa Ana River and was quickly apprehended by the help of a Riverside police dog who was able to follow the scent trail of the offender.

The CHP officer survived the crash and his condition is unknown at this time. The offender’s age and identity were not publicly released either.

This story goes to show that even the most highly-trained law enforcement officials are not exempt from serious car accidents and roadway injuries. If you were recently injured in a motor vehicle accident, regardless of the circumstances, feel free to give us a call as soon as possible. We would love to help you with your case.

Methyl iodide is a chemical compound used primarily in fruit production as a pesticide. It is linked to medical complications including miscarriages, thyroid malfunction and cancer. In addition to the medical hazards presented by direct ingestion of the toxin, many are upset about the reduced buffer zones around fruit and vegetable fields while has lead to the transfer of methyl iodide onto school playgrounds and and into neighborhoods. Other states like New York and Washington have refused to allow the use of methyl iodide despite approval by the Environmental Protection Agency. Environmentally-conscious California hopes to be the next state to escape the effects of this hazardous and life-threatening chemical.

With respect to the approval of methyl iodide, tempers have flared on both sides of the argument. Central to the issue is California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation which oversees the use of pesticides within California’s agricultural sector. Some have criticized the DPR for “hand-picking” data to use in making its decision to allow the use of methyl iodide while ignoring other significant data contradicting its safety.

With respect to buffer zones, several scientists contend that miles-wide buffer zones are necessary to protect surrounding homes and businesses from exposure to methyl iodide. DPR did acknowledge that this safety precaution would be warranted but still allowed for reduced buffer zones in order to reduce hardship on the manufacturer of methyl iodide. As a result, homes and schools in some areas are within 25 feet of farm fields where this pesticide is released.

Other criticisms include the irreverence with which DPR regards the effect of methyl iodide on infants, children and pregnant women. Reports reveal that the chemical was never tested for its potential for birth defects. Scientists advising the DPR suggested that approval of the pesticide should be restricted to two parts-per-million to reduce the risk of birth defects. However, California and the EPA approved use at ten parts-per-million.

Both drivers then lost control of their vehicles while lead to a third vehicle, a Toyota Sienna, colliding with the Taurus in a t-bone position. A Toyota Prius then slammed into the flatbed as it careened across the highway.

The driver of the Taurus was pronounced dead at the scene. He has yet to be identified and CHP can reveal that the driver was a male in his 50′s. The Toyota Sienna was carrying six passengers, all of which were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the Toyota Prius was also taken to the hospital reporting aches and pains. The driver of the flatbed truck escaped the incident uninjured.

Highway 12 was closed in both directions from the time of the accident until nearly 5pm. CHP’s major accident team was on scene the majority of the day taking measurements and investigating the likely cause of the crash. Investigators have not ruled out drugs, alcohol or distracted driving as of yet.

Distracted driving accounts for a significant number of traffic injuries and fatalities across California’s roadways. As cellular phones began to grow in popularity, law enforcement began to see a dramatic increase in traffic accidents caused by drivers talking on the phone. The California legislature outlawed the use of handheld devices on July 1, 2008 making it a crime to drive while holding a cell phone. The legislature quickly surmised that text messaging and driving is also a significant problem and banned texting and driving effective January 1, 2009.

Studies have likened the effects of texting and driving to the impairment caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Texting and driving is a significant problem among younger drivers, particularly teenagers, who do not possess the experience and driving prowess commiserate with the skill set necessary to perform multiple tasks at once while behind the wheel. In a 2006 study of 900 teenage drivers, 46% admitted to texting while driving and 37% reported being extremely distracted while doing so.

The defendant, a 30-year old male, received a sentencing enhancement for his use of a deadly weapon during the altercation-turned-murder-scene that took place back in March. The murder trial took place before an Orange County jury who deliberated for nearly three hours before returning with a verdict of “guilty.”

On March 14, police found the victim stabbed to death inside his apartment around 3:30am. As the facts emerged, it became clear that the victim and defendant had spent the evening drinking together at a bar before returning home in the same car together. The prosecution set forth evidence that the defendant was driving the vehicle of an unidentified third party in a manner so reckless and defiant that the victim spoke up and told him to slow down. It was then that the defendant became so enraged that he followed the victim into his home and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife- which he later tossed into the courtyard of the victim’s apartment complex.

The sentence will be rendered in mid-October and the defendant could face a maximum life sentence.