A police officer was injured in a Long Beach car accident after his motorcycle collided with a vehicle that made a left turn in front of him. According to a news report in The Long Beach Press-Telegram, the motorcycle accident occurred at the intersection of Anaheim Street at Walnut Avenue in Long Beach, the evening of February 5, 2012. Officials say a 47-year-old unlicensed man driving a Ford Focus turned left in front of the officer. The motorcycle officer was unable to avoid the collision. He was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Ford Focus was cited for making an unsafe turn.

My thoughts and prayers are with the officer who has been injured in this street intersection collision. I wish him the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), six people were killed and 83 were injured in Long Beach motorcycle accidents. During that same year, 83 fatalities and 2,719 injuries occurred as a result of Los Angeles County motorcycle accidents.

Unsafe Left Turn

Based on this news report, the Focus turned left in front of the motorcycle officer. California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety."

Liability Issues

In this particular case, the driver who made the left turn in front of the motorcycle officer can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Injured victims can seek compensation from the at-fault party to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. The motorcycle officer here may also be able to claim workers compensation benefits because he was on the job at the time. Accident victims would be well advised to contact a skilled Long Beach personal injury lawyer who will ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. If the at-fault driver is uninsured, then, the victim may be able to seek compensation through the uninsured motorist clause of his or her own auto insurance policy.

An Orange County Sheriff’s deputy was injured in an Santa Ana car accident after being struck by a car at an intersection. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the accident occurred at Newhope and First streets in Santa Ana, the evening of February 2, 2012. Officials say the patrol car had its emergency lights on when it slowed down to enter the intersection, before being broadsided by a Toyota Camry. The deputy and the other motorist suffered non-life-threatening injuries. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.

My thoughts and prayers are with both individuals who were injured in this Orange County car accident. I wish them the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

Orange County Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 11 people were killed and 1,359 were injured in Santa Ana car accidents. During that same year, 141 fatalities and 13,373 injuries occurred as a result of Orange County car accidents.

Right-of-Way Issues

Based on this news report, the sheriff’s deputy was responding to an emergency call and had the emergency lights on. California Vehicle Code Section 21806 states: “Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle which is sounding a siren and which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible…the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway, clear of any intersection, and thereupon shall stop and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.”

Liability Issues

If the police officer was at fault here, then, the injured victim can seek compensation from the at-fault officer and his employer. On the other hand, if the Toyota's driver is determined to have been at fault, then the police officer, in addition to seeking workers compensation benefits, may also file a personal injury claim seeking damages from the at-fault driver. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, loss of wages and benefits, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related expenses. An experienced Santa Ana personal injury lawyer will better advise victims and their families in such cases about their legal rights and options.

A worker suffered major job injuries after an explosion at an Orange County manufacturing facility. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the incident occurred the morning of November 17, 2011 at the 30,000-square-foot L.A. Spas manufacturing facility in the 1300 block of North Blue Gum Street in Anaheim. Fire officials say the explosion may have been triggered by a chemical reaction. Employees at the facility were apparently mixing small amounts of chemicals when there was a reaction causing smoke and an explosion with fire. The injured employee suffered a burn injury to his ear. No one else was reportedly injured. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to the injured worker. I'm relieved to hear that he did not sustain life-threatening injuries and to note that none of his co-workers were injured. I wish the injured victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Worksite Accident Statistics

There were six fatalities in California worksites involving fires and explosions in the year 2009, according to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health, also known as Cal/OSHA. In 2009, there were a total of 409 fatalities as a result of job-related accidents in California.

What Caused This Worksite Accident?

Based on this news report, it is unclear as to what led to this chemical explosion. There are several unanswered questions here. Was this accident the result of a defective product or faulty equipment? Were the workers, who were mixing the chemicals, supervised at the time? Were they properly trained to do the job? Were they apprised of the safety measures that must be taken before mixing chemicals? Were the workers provided with necessary safety gear and equipment such as gloves, goggles, or face shields before performing the job? I trust OSHA investigators are looking into these and other factors in order to determine what caused this accident and if it could have been avoided.

Compensation for Injured Workers

Victims injured on the job can seek workers compensation benefits from their employers. In some cases, workers will also be able to file a third-party claim against an individual or entity whose negligence caused or contributed to the incident. Examples of third parties include, but are not limited to, general contractors, sub-contractors, property owners, and manufacturers of defective products.

Injured workers would be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the incident and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.

A deputy was injured in a Los Angeles car accident after an unlicensed driver crashed into a sheriff's patrol car. According to a City News Service report, the collision occurred at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Overland Avenue in Culver City, the evening of November 15, 2011. Officials say the deputy was turning right onto Overland, with his emergency lights and siren on, when his patrol car was broadsided by the other vehicle. He was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The 41-year-old driver of the other vehicle has been arrested.

My thoughts and prayers are with the deputy injured in this car crash. I wish him the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

Los Angeles Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), one person was killed and 258 were injured in Culver City car accidents. During that same year, Los Angeles County car accidents led to 554 fatalities and caused 50,817 injuries.

Right-of-Way Issues

Based on this news report, the deputy had his emergency lights on at the time of the accident. California Vehicle Code Section 21806 states: "Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle which is sounding a siren and which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway, clear of any intersection, and thereupon shall stop and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed." It appears in this case that the driver of the other vehicle did not have a valid license.

Liability Issues

I trust investigators are determining what caused the car driver to fail to yield to the patrol car. If the driver is found to have been at fault, then, he could be held liable for the officer's injuries. Injured accident victims can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. In this particular incident, the deputy was on the job. So, he could claim workers compensation benefits as well. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise injured victims about their legal rights and options.

Mario Casillas Arreola, 68, suffered fatal job injuries after he was crushed to death by a forklift. According to a City News Service report, the fatal workplace accident occurred at a DHL building at 2555 E. Olympic Blvd. in Boyle Heights, the night of October 28, 2011. Los Angeles police have not said exactly what caused the accident, but stated that the forklift fell on the worker. Cal/OSHA officials are expected to investigate this fatal workplace accident.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family members and friends of Mario Casillas Arreola, the deceased victim, for their devastating loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Forklift Accidents

According to statistics provided by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) there are about 85 forklift accident fatalities each year, nationwide. This number includes workers as well as pedestrians and bystanders. OSHA also estimates that each year in the United States, about 35,000 people are seriously injured in forklift accidents. A majority of fatalities relating to forklift accidents occur in manufacturing facilities and construction zones.

What Caused This Fatal Incident?

Based on this news report, it is unclear as to what caused the forklift to fall on the worker. There are more questions here than answers at this time. Was this accident the result of a defective product or a malfunctioning piece of equipment? Who was operating the forklift at the time? Was this a case of operator error? Was the worker properly trained to do the job, and given adequate safety training? Was he provided with any necessary safety equipment? Was the equipment at the facility maintained properly? I trust Cal/OSHA investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

Compensation for Workers' Families

In such cases, families of deceased workers can seek financial compensation through workers compensation benefits. However, these benefits may not be sufficient to compensate the family of a worker who has been severely injured or killed. Families would be well advised to contact an experiencedLos Angeles personal injury lawyer who has experience successfully filing third party claims.

Third party claims are claims filed against parties other than employers, and whose negligence may have caused or contributed to the injury and accident. Examples of third parties include contractors, sub-contractors, an equipment maintenance firm, or the manufacturer of a defective product. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.

Duane Pfannkuch, 33, suffered fatal job injuries while doing electrical work at the Los Angeles International Airport. According to a news report in The Daily Breeze, the fatal electrocution accident occurred at Terminal 6 of LAX, the morning of September 20, 2011, as the victim was working inside a mechanical room. He died shortly thereafter in a nearby hospital. Pfannkuch was an employee of Morrow Meadows Corp., a City of Industry-based sub-contractor for Hensel Phelps Construction Co. Alaska Airlines hired Hensel Phelps to complete renovations at the terminal. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of this fatal accident.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Duane Pfannkuch following this tragic accident. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

Electrocution Statistics

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) reports that 1,213 workers were killed by an electric shock in the United States between the years 2003 and 2007. Power lines were involved in 43 percent of all fatal electrical fatalities during that five-year period. In the year 2007, 212 people were killed and 2,540 were injured in on-the-job incidents involving electrical shock.

What Caused This Fatal Accident?

There are a number of electrocution hazards at any given worksite. Some construction workers have to navigate equipment around power lines. Others work in wet or damp locations that put them at risk. Electricians and construction workers are in constant danger of coming into contact with a live wire, which can cause a serious injury or even death. There are many unanswered questions as far as this incident at the LAX is concerned. Was this accident the result of a defective product? Was the worker properly trained for the job? Was there a dangerous condition at the terminal? Was there any negligence on the part of Alaska Airlines, or the contractor in charge of the renovation project?

Claim for Compensation

In this particular case, the worker's family will receive workers compensation benefits from his employer. In addition, there could be a third party claim here. Third party claims are usually filed against parties other than employers, whose negligence may have caused or contributed to the accident. Examples of third parties include general contractors, property owners and manufacturers of defective products. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims' families in such cases about their legal rights and options.

Three men suffered injuries on the job at a San Diego construction site when they fell off scaffolding. According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, the injury accident occurred on Park Row, near Union Place Circle, in La Jolla, the afternoon of September 20, 2011. It is unclear at this time what caused the workers to fall from the scaffolding. The report states that they fell about 15 feet. All three suffered non-life-threatening injuries including injuries to the leg, back, wrist and ankle. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.

My thoughts and prayers are with the three victims of this San Diego construction accident. I wish them the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

Scaffolding Accident Statistics

According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 88 people were killed in scaffolding accidents in the year 2007 in the United States. Also 72 percent of scaffolding-related injury accidents involved the planking or the support giving way, or the employee suffering an injury because of a falling object.

What Caused This Scaffolding Accident?

Based on this news report, it is not exactly clear how the accident occurred. Was the scaffolding properly braced when it was assembled? Did the workers who built the scaffolding have proper training or supervision? Was this accident caused by a defective product? Did weather conditions play a part? Did the workers have fall protection equipment at the time? I trust Cal/OSHA investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine what caused this accident and how it may have been prevented.

Workers' Claim for Compensation

In this particular case, the injured workers can seek workers compensation benefits from their employer to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, and physical therapy costs. However, very often, workers compensation benefits in California are extremely inadequate and do not fully compensate an injured worker or his family for all losses. This is where an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer can help and will determine whether the injured worker can file a third party claim.

These types of claims, which are worth a lot more than workers compensation benefits, are filed against parties other than the employer, such as general contractors, sub contractors, or manufacturers of defective products. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured workers and their families.

A man suffered a serious job injury after his hand got caught in a machine, the night of July 19, 2011. According to a City News Service report, the workplace accident occurred on North San Fernando Road in a Cypress Park commercial business in Los Angeles. Officials say that the man may have suffered broken bones when his hand was caught in the machine. It is unclear at this time what caused the accident. An investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers are with the man injured in this Los Angeles industrial accident. I wish him the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

Accidents Involving Machinery

Accidents involving machinery and equipment can result in devastating injuries such as broken bones and amputations. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that three-fifths of all work-related amputations involve a worker's finger or arm getting caught in a piece of machinery. Approximately 49 percent of injuries related to mechanical power presses, for example, result in amputations.

What Caused This Work-Related Injury Accident?

The report does not specify how this accident occurred. Was the machine defective in any way? Was this accident the result of a defective product? Was it properly maintained? Was the worker fully trained in how to safely use the machine? Could the accident have been prevented if there were more oversight or supervision? Was the victim overworked or fatigued at the time of the injury accident? I trust investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what caused this accident and why.

Worker's Claim for Compensation

Injured workers may file for workers compensation benefits when they are hurt in a work-related accident. In cases involving negligence, additional compensation may be available through a third-party liability claim. A third party claim is usually filed when the accident was caused by a party other than an employer. Examples of third parties include contractors, sub-contractors, equipment maintenance firms and manufacturers of defective products.

In such cases, it is important that the machinery or equipment that caused the injuries be preserved intact so it can be thoroughly examined by an expert for evidence of defects or malfunctions. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to help injured workers and their families better understand their legal rights and options.

Seriously injured in a Los Angeles County on-the-job 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 workplace accident. Call 866-990-8787. 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.

California Personal Injury Lawyers

Employees who suffer serious workplace injuries can experience long periods of recovery, and are put in a very tough position if they do not have long-term disability insurance. Do you feel employers should be required to provide long-term disability? Yes No Depends on what type of job Current Results

A 27-year-old man sustained a fatal job injury after he was electrocuted while working on a pool in Palm Desert. According to a news report in The Desert Sun, the incident occurred at The Lakes Country Club on Country Club Drive, the morning of August 19, 2010. The contract worker was apparently standing on the steps of the pool when a damaged extension cord with exposed wires came into contact with the metal handrail and electrocuted him. Security personnel performed CPR and the authorities were called to the scene. But the man was pronounced dead at the hospital. Cal-OSHA officials are investigating the accident.

I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this man. His grieving family members and friends will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.

Workplace Fatalities Statistics

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, 404 Californians died on the job. According to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health's web site, in 2005, 24 workers died after being electrocuted on the job.

Workplace Accident Claims

In this particular case, it is not clear exactly what caused this worker's fatal accident. There are several unanswered questions here. Why were the electric wires damaged and exposed? Who else was at the worksite? Did the club, where the worker was on the job, create a hazardous condition for the worker? Were there any defective products involved? Were any other employees or contractors responsible for the damaged wires at that location? I trust Cal/OSHA investigators will be looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

In such cases, injured workers or their families will usually be entitled to California worker's compensation benefits from their employer. However, if the accident was caused due to the negligence of another individual or entity, that person or entity can also be held liable for the worker's injuries or wrongful death. In a fatal case, the deceased worker's family can file what is known as a "third-party claim" against the at-fault party. These claims are usually worth many times more than worker's compensation, which is usually inadequate to cover such a major loss. An experienced Riverside personal injury lawyer will be able to advise workers and their families about their legal rights and options.

Is there a danger of serious injury at your workplace? We would like to hear your concerns about the dangers you face on the job every day.

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.

Angel Celaya, 48, suffered serious personal injury in a workplace accident the afternoon of September 21, 2009 after he fell off a scissor lift. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Celaya was working in one of the buildings at Boeing's Huntington Beach campus when he fell off the lift. Huntington Beach firefighters responded to the call, but Celaya was pronounced dead just nine minutes after his fall.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Angel Celaya for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

Work Injury Statistics in California

According to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal-OSHA), in 2005, a total of 453 people were killed in industrial accidents. Out of these fatalities, 59 deaths were attributed to falls and 25 were caused by workers getting trapped in machinery.

In this particular case, it's not quite clear what caused this fatal job injury. There are many questions here. Who was Celaya working for? What kind of a job was he doing? Was Celaya properly trained to perform the task he was doing at the time of his fall? Were all the required safety procedures being enforced? Was there any negligence involved on someone's part that caused this accident?

An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

The tragic aspect of an industrial or workplace accident is that it can cause devastating injuries that can prove fatal or result in permanent, lifelong disabilities for the worker. In many cases, the injured or deceased worker is the sole breadwinner for his family. Workers and their families are usually covered by California workers compensation benefits. However, these benefits are woefully inadequate and often do not compensate an injured worker or his family to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of long term care and other related losses and damages.

In cases where a death is involved, the family of deceased worker may be able to file a wrongful death claim against a "third party" who could be a contractor, sub-contractor or the manufacturer of a defective product that may have caused the fatal injury. Such third party claims are worth a lot more to families than workers compensation benefits. An experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer will be able to explain to families of victims about their legal rights and options in such cases. The best injury law firms will offer free and comprehensive consultations to injured workers and their families.

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 source for the facts 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, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.

We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.