California Car Accident Reports

A suspected drunk driver was arrested after causing a car accident in Anaheim that injured another driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the incident occurred the morning of March 10, 2010, when the driver of a Toyota pickup truck hit a parked Toyota Camry as he attempted a U-turn in the 900 block of Gilbert Street. Lori Pelzl, an apartment manager in the area, witnessed the collision and tried to stop the driver, but he drove away. Read the rest of this entry »

By Sergei Lemberg

These days, bill collectors are doing everything they can to squeeze consumers out of every penny they have. Like sharks detecting blood in the water, debt collectors know that people are vulnerable in today’s economy -- and they take advantage of that. A bill collector will use a variety of strategies -- some legal and some illegal -- to crush a person’s spirit and make him or her take desperate measures to stop the harassment. Bill collection agencies count on the fact that most people don’t know which tactics are legal and which are illegal, and don’t know how to stop bill collectors.

Knowing the law not only makes you feel empowered, but it also gives you ammunition with which to fight bill collectors. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act outlines legal and illegal behaviors for debt collectors. Here’s a summary:

Contact You through the Mail: Debt collection agencies can send you letters through the mail, but they’re not allowed to send postcards. When an agency sends a letter, the outside of the envelope can’t indicate in any way that the sender is trying to collect a debt. The reason that postcards and blatant envelopes are illegal is because the law is meant to protect you from public embarrassment.

Phone Calls: Debt collectors can call you, unless you’ve sent them a cease and desist letter. However, they can’t call you early in the morning, late at night, or at work (unless you’ve told them that those are good times to call). They also can’t call so often that you feel harassed by their calls. The law isn’t clear on exactly how many times they can call, but generally more than a couple of times a week is thought to constitute harassment. They also can’t call and hang up repeatedly.

Threats: Even though it’s illegal, debt collectors regularly make threats. They may say that they’ll take away your car or your home. Unless you’ve used these for collateral, this is an empty and illegal threat. Sometimes, they’ll say that you’ll be arrested or go to prison. Again, this is illegal. You’ll never get arrested for being behind on your bills. In extreme cases, a debt collector will threaten a consumer with violence, which is absolutely against the law.

There are many other practices that are forbidden under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Familiarize yourself with the FDCPA, and let the collection agency know that you’re aware of your rights and that you’ll stand up for yourself. Chances are, the bill collector will back down.

A woman sustained injuries in a San Francisco pedestrian accident the morning of March 9, 2010 after she was struck by a city garbage truck. According to a CBS News report, the woman was walking in a marked crosswalk across Presidio Avenue at Pine Street, in the Laurel Heights area, when the truck struck her. The city vehicle was turning on to Presidio Avenue from Pine Street at the time of the collision. The woman was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. The truck driver remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities. Read the rest of this entry »

Robert Junyor, 36, and his girlfriend Brentina Dawn French, 43, were killed in a Bakersfield car accident after their 1997 Isuzu Rodeo was struck by another vehicle and plunged into a canal. According to a news report in The Californian, the tragic car accident occurred the night of March 6, 2010, when the driver of a Chrysler PT Cruiser broadsided the SUV at the intersection of Lerdo Highway and Zerker Road. Read the rest of this entry »

A man killed in a Sacramento bicycle accident the afternoon of March 6, 2010, after a Regional Transit bus struck his bicycle, has been identified as 46-year-old William Detore. According to a news report in the Sacramento Bee, the bus was westbound on L Street close to 5th Street, when the fatal collision occurred. Detore died at the scene. Police say a preliminary investigation shows that the accident was probably not the bus driver's fault although no final determination has been made yet.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of William Detore for their terrible loss. They will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.

Sacramento Bicycle Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 271 injuries involving bicycle accidents in Sacramento. Also, in Sacramento County as a whole, six people died and 569 were injured as a result of bicycle accidents during the same year.

Accident Causes

Based on this news report, it is not exactly clear whose fault this bicycle versus bus accident was. Officials say no "final determination" has been made. Police plan to examine the video cameras on the bus to help them with the accident reconstruction. I trust they will be looking into who had the right-of-way at the time of the collision and also whether the bus driver was impaired, distracted or in any way negligent at the time.

Laws and Liability Issues

Under California law, bicyclists are subject to the same rights and responsibilities as the driver of any other vehicle on the roadway. California Vehicle Code Section 21200(a) states: "Every person riding a bicycle has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division."

However, if the bus driver is determined to have been at fault for this fatal bicycle accident, the transit authority could be held liable. If there was a dangerous condition on the roadway, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable as well. Please remember that any such claim against a California governmental agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. In such cases, victims' families would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

A piece of furniture on the roadway caused a San Diego car accident injuring a female driver. The North County Times reports that the injury collision between a car and a big rig occurred the night of March 1, 2010. The driver of the large truck slowed down when he saw a dresser in traffic lanes of the 15 Freeway in Escondido, and came to a stop. The 17-year-old woman who was driving a Toyota right behind the big rig could not stop in time and crashed into the back of the truck. She sustained injuries, but they are not believed to be life-threatening. According to other drivers, a pickup truck, moments earlier, had dropped the dresser in traffic lanes. Eyewitnesses said the driver of the pickup did not stop or notify authorities. Read the rest of this entry »

A March 1, 2010 Orange County car accident that injured an elderly couple was caused by a suspected drunk driver who is also an Orange County Sheriff's deputy. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the crash injured Benjamin and Dolores Molina. Deputy Allan James Waters was driving his 2008 Mercedes erratically on the Street of the Golden Lantern, in Laguna Niguel, when he made an unsafe turn to the right striking the Molinas' Toyota. The car crashed into a tree. Dolores Molina was hospitalized with injuries. Read the rest of this entry »

A 66-year-old man was killed in a Fresno car accident the morning of March 3, 2010 after he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a vehicle. According to a news report in the Fresno Bee, the man was riding on Trimmer Springs Road near Pine Flat Road, when the fatal injury accident occurred. The 2009 Harley-Davidson motorcycle went into the path of a westbound 1996 Ford Taurus driven by 54-year-old Susan Adams. The motorcyclist was ejected from his bike. He was transported to a local hospital where he died. Adams was uninjured. California Highway Patrol officials said drugs or alcohol do not seem to have been a factor in this fatal motorcycle accident. Read the rest of this entry »

A man was seriously injured in a San Bernardino car accident after he was struck by two cars while crossing Highway 18 in Apple Valley. According to a news report in the San Bernardino Sun, a driver was going east on Highway 18 at Kiowa Road the night of February 28, 2010 when a pedestrian walked in front of his car. Officials said the impact tossed the man into the air. A San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy driving behind the first vehicle also hit the pedestrian. Both drivers stopped to help the injured pedestrian. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment of major injuries. Anyone who witnessed this accident is asked to call San Bernardino Sheriff's officials at 760-240-7400. Read the rest of this entry »

Choosing a DUI defense lawyer for your DUI charge can be tricky as well as confusing, especially for those who have no prior drunk driving charge or conviction on their record. It is important that a defense attorney is chosen with care and after some research so you know that he/she will be able to defend you in court successfully. Here are some tips to help you find a DUI attorney in any State without getting in trouble: Read the rest of this entry »