It’s a nightmare for any homeowner: an out-of-control vehicle crashes through the walls of your home only to strike and injure a family member or loved one. Unfortunately, this nightmare became a reality for one Escondido resident as a suspected DUI driver crashed through her condominium on Country Club Lane. Lisa Vidaurri tells NBC San Diego of her horrific experience.
The Escondido car accident occurred when a driver behind the wheel of a pickup truck hopped a curb, immediately tearing through the walls of the home thereafter, and later causing a massive power outage throughout the neighborhood. The driver, Brandon Morris, 23, had been previously convicted of a DUI and was driving on a suspended license.
“It’s devastating,” Vidaurri said to NBC San Diego. “I don’t have a home.”
She said she was in the kitchen when she saw a flash of light coming through the window. “And all of a sudden, like a bomb exploded, it went through my wall,” she said.
The truck barely missed her daughter, Laurel, who was sitting at the dining table when the truck collided through the Vidaurri home.
“For a split second, I thought she had been killed,” she said. Fortunately, their daughter was not injured in the car accident.
As Vidaurri realized what had happened, she went to look for her husband who was in the backyard with the couple’s two dogs. As she scrambled to locate him, the driver shifted gears and gunned the engine in an attempt to exit the home.
“He tried several times to back out, and I’m screaming and then I hear moaning and I realize Tony is underneath the truck,” Vidaurri said. “There’s a pool of blood next to his head.”
Tony Vidaurri suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries as a result of the DUI car accident in Escondido. It took rescuers 20 minutes to get Vidaurri out from underneath the vehicle, and he was rushed to the hospital immediately thereafter.
“I am just so lucky that he is alive,” Lisa Vidaurri said.
Tony Vidaurri does not have health insurance and those who wish to help the family are encouraged to donate via the family’s Facebook page called “Escondido DUI Victim.”
If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver
DUI car accidents are devastating for everyone involved. While there isn’t much a driver can do to avoid a drunk driver from hitting them, there are legal rights that you may be entitled to. You may be entitled to compensation for injuries occurring as a result of a DUI car accident. If you have been injured in a car accident and suspect the other driver was intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance, call the Law Offices of Michael Pines at 1-800-655-6585 for a free and confidential legal review of your case. Every personal injury lawyer at our firm works hard to seek maximum financial recovery for your injury. Call us today for a no-cost evaluation or submit the details of your case online.
Seat belts are critical safety devices that can save your life in a car accident. Most all vehicles on the road are equipped with seat belts and they should be worn at all times.
While most drivers are aware of the importance of seat belts, surprisingly, some vehicles are not actually equipped with them. Early model vehicles like classic cars are often found without seat belts and are often driven regardless of the risk.
In a tragic case out of Chula Vista, a 25-year-old woman died after her 1955 Chevy truck flipped over, hitting the center divider on Interstate 805 near H Street in Chula Vista. Wendy Hamabata of San Diego lost control over her vehicle, although an exact cause as to why the Chula Vista accident occurred was not immediately known.
Hambata was pronounced dead at the scene. According to authorities, Hamabata’s father had just purchased the vehicle and was driving behind her when the Chula Vista accident occurred.
Classic cars are often found without seat belts and are commonly not retrofitted appropriately. Many drivers of vintage vehicles often overlook seat belts in wake of preserving the car’s authenticity. As Hamabata’s boyfriend Christopher White explains, it was his girlfriend’s dream to own a classic car. “There was no talking her out of it,” he said.
“Wendy was a beautiful young lady inside and out,” said Melissa Velarde of San Diego. “Her and I worked together at the Hyatt and had a few great memories over the summertime and at work. She will be greatly missed.”
Classic cars: the safety features you need now
Classic cars are fun to drive and are always eye-catching. In San Diego, beach cruiser classics are often found in Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Carlsbad and other beach towns. If you love classics, do not overlook the importance of installing updated safety features. These are just some of the updates classic car owners should consider – and speak to a qualified mechanic to learn more about which retrofits and updates are safest for your make and model.
Seat belts
It nearly goes without saying, but seat belts are critical safety features that all cars need. Taking your classic car to a respected mechanic for a seat belt retrofit should be done first thing after purchasing your dream vintage vehicle.
Windshield wipers
Some vintage cars have poor windshield wiper systems. In rainy weather, windshield wipers are absolutely necessary to avoid car accidents. Have a good mechanic update your windshield system.
Brakes
Classic cars need updated brake systems. Depending on the vehicle, some brake systems are outdated and take much longer to stop the vehicle. Get an updated brake system to help reduce the risk of car accidents.
About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC
If you have been injured in an automobile accident, a qualified personal injury attorney in Chula Vista can help you understand your legal rights and options. The Law Offices of Michael Pines serves the Chula Vista area and has helped local residents seek maximum financial recovery for car accident injuries. Don’t talk to your insurance agency before you talk to us. Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a free, no-cost legal consultation.
Creature comforts like GPS, WiFi, integrated music, and even Facebook access while driving is the raging trend among young car buyers. But as a new report suggests, the technology does not come without its major drawback since the risk for San Diego car accident injury can increase significantly.
The fact is that car manufacturers often compete with one another year-to-year on technology. As consumers continue to place importance on car technology, auto companies will continue to produce the latest and greatest creature comforts.
One of the latest trends includes Ford’s Sync technology, a voice-activated system that allows the driver to command the vehicle just by saying it out loud.
“You can receive text messages,” said Ford’s spokesperson. ”You don’t have to do anything other than drive the car and use voice commands. On the screen it will have a button, or you can use the voice command ‘Listen to text message’ and it will read it back to you. You can also respond with one of 20 messages that we have in the system.”
Needless to say, texting and driving is one of the major epidemics on our roadways today. While many states including California have enacted no-texting-while-driving laws, unfortunately there are still many drivers who engage in distracted driving, contributing to nearly 500,000 injuries every year, many of which are right here in San Diego.
The idea behind Ford Sync technology is to allow drivers to engage in activities that are safer – such as voice commanded texting – since drivers are going to likely text and drive regardless of the consequences.
“People are going to get text messages while they’re driving down the road, and their tendency is they’re going to want to look at it,” said Ford’s spokesperson. “So it makes it easier for you by actually having it read it to you instead of you fumbling on your phone and looking at the text message.”
Increase safety by decreasing distraction
Many drivers are already aware that texting and driving is against the law in California. Don’t risk a San Diego car accident injury and keep texting as an activity done outside the vehicle. Use these helpful hints to stay on the right side of the law – most importantly, it can save your life!
Use a text demobilizer app
A cell phone app like Drive Safe.ly can help you kick your habit of texting and driving. Other apps use innovative technology that prevents texts from being sent or received while the car is moving. And, some apps even award drivers with cash and gift cards.
Use Bluetooth technology
While texting and driving is still an epidemic, cell phone use is still largely responsible for car accidents nationwide. Use a Bluetooth device to accept emergency calls when necessary. Preferably, however, if you must make or receive a call, do so by pulling over to a safe and legal location such as a parking lot as opposed to a shoulder or on-ramp. Never stop your vehicle on a public roadway unless it is for an emergency.
‘Old-fashioned’ distraction is still a distraction
Radio, a car full of children, eating, applying makeup, or any other activity that takes your eyes off the road can be dangerous to you, your passengers and the other drivers around you. Do not engage in activities that will prevent you from concentrating on the road ahead. And if you find yourself in a stressful situation, try reducing the distractions around you. For instance, if you have a car full of children, turn off the radio altogether to reduce the distraction levels within the vehicle.
About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC
Michael Pines, founder, is a personal injury attorney specializing in car accidents with a running column at the La Jolla Light, Del Mar Times, and Rancho Santa Fe Review. Michael is a trusted legal advisor for those injured in car accidents within the greater San Diego area.
The San Diego personal injury attorneys at our firm often see accidents that occur as a result of drowsiness, but a high-profile case reminds all of us that sleep-related accidents can happen to anyone. Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Murray of drove off Interstate 190 last week in what was reported to have occurred as a result of sleepiness despite arising speculation.
The accident occurred in the pre-dawn hours, a common time of day when sleep-related accidents can often occur. Lt. Gov. Murray said in a statement that he had been obeying traffic laws by driving 65 miles-per-hour but the details of his accident were unclear, although he stated he had slid off black ice.
“Listen, this was an accident. It happened very quickly and I’ve taken responsibility for that. I don’t know what more I can say other than that I’m anxious to get back to work,” Murray replied.
The Boston Globe reported that Murray cited poor sleep the night before since his 5-year-old daughter had been up the night before. Despite speculation, Murray assures the public the accident had occurred due to falling asleep.
“Around quarter of five I gave up trying to sleep and decided to take a drive, get a coffee and a paper and prepare for the day,’’ he said in a statement to the paper. “I did so to get a sense of the storm and power damage in the aftermath of the surprise snow storm that had just hit much of the state.’’
Keeping alert behind the wheel
It’s never been more important to drive while you’re well-rested and alert. Sleepy driving is one of our top causes of car accidents in San Diego. Although it’s often easier said than done, you can do your part to reduce the risk of accident by considering these tips for safe driving.
Try to drive during daylight hours
If you have a flexible schedule, arrange your meetings in the afternoon to avoid dusk and dawn, some of the most common times for sleep-related car accidents.
Do not drive when fatigued
It goes without saying, but consider driving when you’re alert, well-rested, and able to do so without the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel.
Know the warning signs of fatigue
If you feel any of the following symptoms, avoid driving. Keep it safe, and either pull to a safe rest area, ask another driver to take over, or simply sleep until you are ready to safety drive.
- Heavy eyes
- Stiffness and cramps
- Humming in ears
- Delayed reaction times
- Fumbling with ordinary car functions
- Crossing lanes unintentionally
If you’ve been injured in a car accident
Sometimes, car accidents can happen even with prevention in place. If you have been involved in an accident and suspect it was someone else’s fault, we may be able to help. Every San Diego personal injury lawyer at our firm works hard to get injured people maximum compensation. The consultation is free so call us now at 1-800-655-6585.
A local Indian restaurant is picking up the pieces after a car accident in Mira Mesa plowed through the front glass windows in what’s said to be a case of mixed-up car pedals. The accident occurred Friday after a local woman said she accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brakes, instantly careening into a restaurant filled with hungry patrons.
The unidentified woman was reportedly driving a 2000 Honda at around 2 p.m. when it accidentally collided with the front of the restaurant in Mira Mesa.
The restaurant owner was on-site when the accident occurred.
“There were another two ladies sitting right in the middle,” Raj Patel told ABC News. “When the car hit that table, the table went up high and the two people went flying.”
Three restaurant patrons suffered personal injury as a result of accident including one man who was thrown back by the impact of the uncontrollable vehicle. “He got pushed into the door and got thrown back … and landed on the floor,” the restaurant owner said.
The injured people were taken to a Mira Mesa hospital where they received care for scrapes and various bruises according to San Diego police.
Officials are investigating the crash and have not attributed the accident to drinking or drug use. According to officials, the car’s brakes and transmission were in working order.
“Looks like they probably stepped on a little bit of the gas pedal as well, causing the car to actually go into the restaurant,” San Diego Police Department Lt. Jerry Hara said.
Personal injury in inconspicuous places
Unfortunately, personal injury accidents can happen in places considered to be generally safe including public areas like restaurants or even shopping malls, hotels, airports, and other commonly frequented areas. When a car is involved, the accident can often be catastrophic.
Although an accident is difficult to avoid entirely, our personal injury attorneys in San Diego recommend the following considerations to help avoid your next car accident:
- Don’t drive when you are tired, drowsy, or ill.
- If you are driving an unfamiliar car, take the time to cautiously try out its features and caveats. Often, an unfamiliar car and lead to an increased risk of a car accident. Take it slow, and take your time.
- Consider brushing up on driving courses if you haven’t driven in a while. Many insurance companies offer incentives for defensive driving courses which could mean a discount on your premium. Check with your insurance agency for more information.
About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC
The Law Offices of Michael Pines specializes in car accident injury. Even if you’re a pedestrian or patron and injured by a car, you may be entitled to compensation. If you have been injured in an accident, call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a free and confidential legal evaluation of your case.
