At least two people were injured in a Los Angeles bus accident after a Metro bus collided with a FedEx truck, the morning of January 25, 2012. According to a KABC news report, the crash happened in the 9600 block of Van Nuys Boulevard. The impact from the crash knocked the delivery truck on its side and spilled an unknown amount of fuel on to the roadway. Two people were taken to an area hospital with injuries. Officials are still looking into what led to this crash.

My thoughts and prayers are with the two injured victims of this collision. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery, and sincerely hope that they were not seriously hurt.

Los Angeles Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 227 fatalities and 25,043 injuries involving Los Angeles car accidents. Countywide, car accidents claimed 554 lives and injured 50,817 people, during the same year.

What Caused This Crash?

Based on this news report, it is unclear as to what caused this bus versus truck accident. There are still several unanswered questions here. Who was at fault for this crash? Did one of the vehicles make an unsafe turn? Did the bus or the FedEx truck make an unsafe lane change? Did one of the drivers fail to yield the right-of-way? Did impairment, driver distraction, inattention, speed or some other form of negligence play a part in this injury crash? I trust officials are looking into these and other factors in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

Fault and Liability

If the bus driver is determined to have been at fault, then, the driver and his or her employer can be held liable. On the other hand, if the FedEx truck driver is found to have been at fault, that driver as well as his or her employer can be held financially responsible for the resulting injuries and damages. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages and benefits, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. An accident victim would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to victims and their families.

Romeo Jimenez-Zavaleta, 35, was killed in an Orange County car accident after he was hit by an OCTA bus. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal bicycle accident occurred at the intersection of Paseo de Valencia and Alicia Parkway in Laguna Hills, the evening of November 12, 2011. Police say the bicyclist was riding across Alicia in the westbound crosswalk when an Orange County Transportation Authority bus turned right and struck him. Jimenez-Zavaleta was transported to an area hospital where he died. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Romeo Jimenez-Zavaleta. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Orange County Bicycle Accident Statistics

There were no fatalities but eight injuries occurred involving bicycle accidents in Laguna Hills in 2009, according to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Orange County as a whole, bicycle accidents claimed 12 lives and injured 1,199 people, during the same year.

Bicycle Laws

Based on this news report, the bicyclist was riding his bike in a crosswalk at the time of the crash. It is not against California law to ride a bicycle in a crosswalk. California Vehicle Code Section 21650 says that "Upon all highways a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:" subsection (g) states that "This section does not prohibit the operation of bicycles on any should or a highway, on any sidewalk, on any bicycle path within a highway, or along any crosswalk or bicycle path crossing, where the operation is not otherwise prohibited by this code or local ordinance."

Liability Issues

I trust authorities are looking into whether the bus driver was distracted, inattentive, impaired, or otherwise negligent here. In cases involving negligence or wrongdoing, at-fault motorists can be held liable for the victim's wrongful death. Victims' families in such cases would be well advised to retain the services of an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the investigation and make sure their best interests and legal rights are protected.

Six people were injured in a San Francisco car accident involving a van and an Alameda-Contra Costa Transit bus. According to CBS San Francisco, the bus accident occurred on Foothill Boulevard and 5th Avenue in Oakland the afternoon of May 12, 2011. Officials say the van went through a red light before being broadsided by the bus. Four passengers on the bus as well as both drivers were injured in the collision. It is unclear how severe the injuries suffered were or if the van driver will be cited for the accident.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this Oakland car accident. I wish them all a complete and speedy recovery.

Alameda County Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 34 people were killed and 2,211 were injured in Oakland car accidents. During that same year, 82 fatalities and 6,935 injuries occurred due to Alameda County car accidents.

Possible Red Light Violation

Based on this news report, the driver of the van reportedly ran a red light causing this street intersection accident. California Vehicle Code Section 21453 (a) states: "A driver facing a circular red signal shall stop at the limit line before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown." Vehicles are also required to yield right-of-way to oncoming vehicles at street intersections.

Liability Issues

Injured victims of negligent drivers may pursue financial compensation for their losses by filing a personal injury claim. If the driver of the van is determined to have caused this accident, he or she may not only face citations or criminal charges, but can also be held financially liable for the resulting injuries and damages.

Depending upon the circumstances, compensation may be available for medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization rehabilitation and other related damages. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will better advise injured victims about their legal rights and options. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation to car accident victims and their families.

Seriously injured in a San Francisco bus accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after an Oakland street intersection accident. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE San Francisco personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.

A pedestrian was killed in a Los Angeles bus accident after he was hit by a Metro bus at a street intersection. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred the afternoon of April 14, 2011 at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Apple Street in Culver City. Metro officials say the bus was turning right onto Washington from Apple Street when it struck the pedestrian, identified only as a man in his 50s. The bus driver was apparently leaving the layover terminal near the 10 Freeway when the injury accident happened. There were no passengers in the bus at the time. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this deceased pedestrian. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 23 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Culver City. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 214 people died and 4,985 were injured in pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Crosswalk Law

Based on this news report, it appears that the pedestrian was crossing the street at an intersection. Motorists are required under the law to yield right-of-way to pedestrians walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks.

California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection." The same section also states that the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk "shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of a vehicle or take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian."

Fault and Liability

I trust officials are looking into whether the Metro bus driver was under the influence, distracted, inattentive or otherwise negligent at the time. If the bus driver is determined to have been at fault, then the driver and his or her employer, the transit authority, can be held liable for the pedestrian's wrongful death.

In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, the family of a deceased accident victim can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party seeking compensation for medical and funeral expenses, lost future income, loss of companionship and other related damages. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise victims' families in such cases about their legal rights and options.

Lost a family member in a Los Angeles County bus accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Culver City pedestrian accident. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.

Eight people were injured in a San Diego car accident after a city bus rear-ended a truck, which in turn collided with another car at a local intersection. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the injury car accident occurred at the intersection of Broadway and 10th Avenue in downtown San Diego the afternoon of March 9, 2011. Police say the driver of a red car had slowed to turn north onto 10th Avenue before stopping completely. The driver of a commercial box truck behind the car also slowed down, but the driver of a Metropolitan Transit System bus failed to stop in time to avoid hitting the back of the truck.

Chain-Reaction Car Accident

The impact of that collision pushed the red car into the intersection. Five passengers in the bus and the driver and passenger in the truck were transported to local hospitals with injuries. But none of the injuries is believed to have been life-threatening. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to everyone who was injured in this bus accident. I wish all the victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

San Diego Car Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 81 fatalities and 6,123 injuries reported as a result of car accidents in the city of San Diego. Countywide, car accidents claimed 246 lives and caused 13,527 injuries in 2008.

Fault and Liability

Based on this news report, it appears that an abrupt stop at the intersection by the driver of the red car may have triggered the chain-reaction crash. I trust officials are looking into whether the driver of the MTS bus was paying attention to the traffic conditions or if the driver was distracted or inattentive in some way.

If it is determined that the driver of the red car caused the accident, he could be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. If officials determine that the bus driver caused or contributed to this car accident, then, the driver and his or her employer, the transit authority, can be held liable. Mass carriers, whether they are public or private companies, owe their passengers the highest duty of care. This means that it is their responsibility to safely transport their passengers.

Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy and other related damages. An experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise car accident victims about their legal rights and options. Please remember that any personal injury claim against a governmental agency in California must be filed within six months of the incident.

Seriously injured in a San Diego County car accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a San Diego bus accident. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE San Diego personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.

One person sustained serious injuries in a bicycle accident in San Francisco the evening of March 2, 2011. According to a Bay City News Service report, the injury bicycle accident occurred at the intersection of Seventh Avenue and Judah Street and involved a 43-Masonic bus. Officials say the bicyclist rear-ended the bus. The Muni bus driver has been placed on leave pending a drug and alcohol test, which is standard procedure. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital with major injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to this seriously injured bicyclist. I wish this injured victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep this victim and his or her family members in your thoughts and prayers.

Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were three fatalities and 471 injuries involving bicycle accidents in San Francisco. Also, during the same year, 35 people died and 3,577 were injured as a result of San Francisco car accidents.

What Caused This Bus Accident?

Based on this news report, it is unclear what caused the bicyclist to rear-end the bus. Did the bus come to a sudden stop? Did the bus drive into the path of the bicycle? Did it occur right at the intersection? Who was at fault for the accident? Was the bus driver impaired, distracted or inattentive at the time of the collision? I trust these are some of the issues investigators are looking into in order to determine what occurred in this case.

Fault and Liability

If it is determined that the Muni bus driver was at fault, the driver and his or her employer, the transit authority, could be held liable for the serious injuries caused to the bicyclist. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages.

An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who has a successful track record of handling personal injury claims against government agencies, will be able to better advise victims about their legal rights and options. Please remember that any claim against government agency in California must be filed within 180 days of the incident, under California Government Code Section 911.2.

Seriously injured in a San Francisco Muni bus accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a San Francisco bicycle accident. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE San Francisco personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.

One person identified as 61-year-old Won Chae was killed and several others were seriously injured in a bus accident in the San Bernardino Mountains the morning of February 21, 2011. According to a report in the Pasadena Star-News, the bus was carrying 18 children – all between the ages of 13 and 17 – and four adults from the Light of Love Mission Church, a Korean Congregation in Pasadena. California Highway Patrol officials say the bus was traveling on Highway 189 at Lake Gregory Drive when it collided with a San Bernardino County Fire Department vehicle and a power pole. The bus fell about 25 feet over the side of the road and hit a tree.

Tragic Bus Accident Causes Critical Injuries

Won Chae, the bus driver, sustained fatal injuries and two others were airlifted with major injuries. At least 10 others suffered serious injuries and were transported to various local hospitals. The injured victims included an off-duty firefighter and his wife, who were in the fire department vehicle. The students were returning from a winter retreat at Twin Pines, officials said.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Won Chae for their heartbreaking loss. Church officials say he was a licensed bus driver and often volunteered to transport church members to various trips and events. My heart also goes out to every one of the injured victims. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep these victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

What Caused This Bus Accident?

Based on this news report, officials are still investigating the cause of this fatal San Bernardino car accident. There are several unanswered questions here. Whose fault was this accident? How did the accident occur? Was the bus driver traveling at a high rate of speed? Was he fatigued or distracted at the time? How much experience did he have as a bus driver? Was this accident caused by the bus driver or the driver of the fire department vehicle? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine what occurred here and why.

Protecting Victims' Rights

If the bus driver is determined to have been at fault, the injured victims of this accident can seek compensation from the church for injuries, damages and losses. If the accident was caused by the driver of the fire department vehicle, then the driver and the fire department could be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer will be able to analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the victims' and their families' legal rights and best interests are protected.

Lost a family member in a San Bernardino County bus accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal San Bernardino car accident. Call 866-594-7392. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE San Bernardino wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.

Multnomah County, Oregon Circuit Judge Stephen Bushong has found former TriMet bus driver Sandi Day guilty on all six traffic charges in Portland, Oregon’s worst transit tragedy in recent history, according to The Oregonian.

On April 24, 2010 shortly before midnight and towards Day’s shift end driving the No. 9 bus route, she made an illegal left turn from Northwest Glisan Street onto Broadway in Portland’s Old Town. Her bus plowed through five people crossing Broadway in a crosswalk. At her traffic trial, a police investigator gave testimony that the 16-ton bus was moving at between 12-14 mph as Day made the sweeping left turn that killed Jenee Hammel, age 26, and Danielle Sale, age 22. Hammel’s older brother, Ryan Hammel and his wife, Jamie, along with Sale’s boyfriend, Erik Gittings, were injured by the bus, but survived.

When asked by the judge whether she wanted to make a statement to the victims’ families, Day refused, saying she wasn’t ready. Family members requested that Bushong issue a ‘just’ sentence that would make a statement to reckless drivers.

Bushong ordered Day to pay in excess of $1000 in fines, finish 200 hours of community service and complete a traffic safety course. It is also possible that she could lose her commercial driver’s license because of the convictions, which included four counts of careless driving, making an illegal left turn, and failing to yield to pedestrians. Oregon law mandates that Day complete her sentence within one year or face a $12,500 fine and having her driving license suspended. A Multnomah County grand jury failed to charge her with any criminal wrongdoing.

Sobbing while she testified at her trial, Day said that she only has memories of seeing shadows before she knew that she had hit the pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Amalgamated Transit Union 757 paid for a crash-reconstruction expert who gave testimony that the bus’s blind spots, dim street lighting and the victims’ dark clothing were factors in the crash. The union had also asked TriMet to reinstate Day on her job after they fired her after the accident. It’s unclear whether Day’s conviction would have an effect on the union’s request.

The victims’ families and Gittings have filed a $30 million lawsuit, naming Day, TriMet, former General Manager Fred Hansen and others, as defendants.

Although Day didn’t make a statement to the victims’ families, her attorney told the court that “she will obviously live with this the rest of her life.”

Our sincere condolences go out to the families of Jenee Hammel and Danielle Sale, as they mourn their loved ones and look for some sort of justice in this tragic accident. It was evident in court that the other family members who were hurt physically are still suffering emotionally, and Ms. Day has suffered knowing that she was responsible for killing two young women. There were no winners in this sad court case.

If you are suffering because of an Oregon pedestrian accident and aren’t sure what to do next, the Portland pedestrian accident lawyers at Shulman DuBois LLC offer free information, including how to find a good lawyer, how much your case might be worth, and our free book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case is available for Oregon residents and people who were in an accident in Oregon. We also offer free consultations, and you can contact us with any questions by calling 503-222-4411.

A woman has been injured in a Los Angeles pedestrian accidents involving a Foothill Transit bus. According to a City News Service report, the bus accident occurred at the intersection of 12th and Olive Streets in downtown Los Angeles the morning of January 26, 2011. It is unclear at the time of this report what caused this pedestrian versus bus accident. The extent of the woman's injuries is also not known at the moment, but she was transported to an area hospital. An investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers are with the woman who was injured in this Los Angeles bus accident. I wish her the very best for a complete and speedy recovery from her injuries.

Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 104 people were killed and 2,716 were injured in Los Angeles pedestrian accidents. During that same year, there were 214 fatalities and 4,985 injuries reported due to Los Angeles County pedestrian accidents.

What Caused This Pedestrian Accident?

It is unclear from this early report what may have caused this injury accident. Investigators will have to determine the answers to a number of questions. Did the bus driver fail to properly yield right-of-way to the victim? Was the pedestrian crossing the street in a safe manner and in a crosswalk or at an intersection? Was the bus driver distracted or exceeding the speed limit? I trust officials are looking at these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here. All drivers are required to yield right-of-way to pedestrians walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks, under California Vehicle Code Section 21950.

Liability Issues

If it is determined that the bus driver was responsible for this accident, then the driver and his or her employer, the transit authority, can be held liable for the injuries caused. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise car accident victims about their legal rights and options. Please remember that any personal injury claim against a governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the incident, under California Government Code Section 911.2.

Seriously injured in a Los Angeles bus accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a Los Angeles pedestrian accident. Call 866-594-7392. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE Los Angeles personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.

A 10-year-old girl sustained injuries in a San Francisco area pedestrian accident after she was hit by a school bus in a crosswalk, the afternoon of January 5, 2011. According to a KTVU news report, the girl was walking across the street near Edsel and Roswell drives in Milpitas, when a school bus that was making a left turn struck her. The girl, who was walking with a friend, sustained injuries, which are not believed to be life-threatening. Her friend was uninjured. The girl was transported to a local hospital for treatment. California Highway Patrol officials are investigating this incident.

I'm relieved to note that this child was not critically injured in this pedestrian versus bus accident. This could have been a lot worse. I wish this young girl the very best for a speedy and complete recovery from the injuries she has sustained.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to CHP's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 11 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Milpitas. In Santa Clara County as a whole, 22 people died and 466 were injured in pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Crosswalk Law

Based on this news report, the driver of the school bus failed to yield right-of-way to the pedestrian, who was walking in a marked crosswalk. California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection." The same section also states that the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk "shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of a vehicle or take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian."

Fault and Liability

In this case, I trust officials are looking into whether the driver of the bus was distracted, impaired, inattentive or otherwise negligent. If the bus driver is determined to have been at fault, then the driver as well as his or her employer, the bus company, could be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. In such cases, injured victims can seek compensation for medical expenses, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise car accident victims or their families about their legal rights and options.

Seriously injured in a San Francisco car accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a Milpitas pedestrian accident. Call 866-594-7392. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE San Francisco personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.