As a personal injury attorney in San Diego, I often see tragic cases of injury that could have possibly been avoided. And even though injuries can happen from car accidents, safety oversights, workplace errors, home accidents, and more, it’s preventative injuries that remind us to take the extra step to keep our homes, families, and neighbors safe.
Unfortunately, after a tragic accident, a family mourns the death of a loved one this holiday season resulting from a pit bull attack in San Diego.
A 76 year-old-woman was attacked earlier this year by her neighbors’ pit bulls, resulting in catastrophic injury that she initially survived. Her left arm and left leg were amputated after the mauling caused enough serious injury to permanently damage both her limbs. But while the woman was recuperating from the initial attack, a family member told San Diego 10 News that she passed away on Christmas Eve. No word on whether or not her wrongful death arose from the initial San Diego dog attack.
Emako Mendoza was attacked early Saturday morning, June 18, after her neighbor’s dogs had reportedly escaped their enclosure.
“What woke me up [were] the girls next door,” said James Mendoza, the late woman’s husband. “They come knocking on the door, they said that their dogs had gotten loose and they thought they were in my backyard.”
The dogs were reported to have entered the Mendoza’s yard through a hole in a fence according to Frank Cali of the San Diego Police Department.
“My wife was lying [in the back yard],” he said. “She was still screaming… I took her and I covered her up the best I could and I ran in there and called 911.” The injured woman was immediately transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital in critical condition.
Neighbors Alba Medina Cornelio, 39, and Carla Ramirez Cornelio, 19, owners of the pit bulls, pleaded not guilty to felony counts of having a mischievous animal causing serious bodily injury, and six other misdemeanors arising from the incident.
Preventing dog bite accidents in San Diego
Many dogs can turn vicious if trained to be ferocious, or if allowed to become aggressive. It’s never been more important for dog owners to practice diligence and responsibility in keeping their dogs trained and docile. And as proactive citizens, understanding dog safety and knowing what to do in an attack is an important part of keeping our families safe.
Dog owners: do your part
Photo Credit: The Humane Society
It goes without saying, but dog owners must be responsible in keeping their dogs trained and people-friendly. Pit bulls have garnered a bad rap for being vicious dogs, but many other breeds are capable of causing personal injury if left untrained. Consider the following tips for your safety, and the safety of others.
- Train and socialize your dog properly. Please take the time to be a responsible dog owner and get your dog the proper training it deserves. A professional training regimen can ensure your dog responds to commands in the event of a scare or potential attack.
- Patch any holes in your fence. A tense or scared dog may attack unnecessarily if they encounter a surprise. To avoid any potential attacks, be sure to keep your yard properly enclosed including patching holes or loose boards. Do not allow your dogs to roam your property unleashed, especially when you own a dog that tends to be naturally defensive.
- Spay or neuter. Hormones can intensify your dog’s reaction to bite or attack. Do the right thing and spay or neuter your animal.
- Do not tie up your dog for long periods of time. Keeping your dog chained up is a perfect disaster in stressing the animal. When an animal is not socialized properly, or allowed to roam free in a fully-enclosed area or dog run, the dog can become more prone to attack. Keep your dog in a safe, protected area with enough room to roam.
Keeping yourself safe in a dog attack
If you are put in a precarious situation and are facing an unstable or angry dog, use the following tips to keep yourself as safe as possible. Remember, dog attacks happen most often to children, and it’s important to teach your young ones on dog safety as well.
- If faced with an angry dog, don’t scream and run away. Even though our instinct tells us to run away from danger, The Humane Society of the United States warns not to, and to instead remain motionless when you sense a dog may attack. If you run away, you are likely to trigger the dog’s natural response to catch you.
- Do not approach an unfamiliar dog. While the family dog may prove to be safe and approachable, a stranger’s dog is not likely to welcome you in the same gregarious fashion.
- Avoid surprising a dog. If a dog is eating, sleeping, caring for their young, or in some other way occupied (even with a toy), don’t surprise the dog or disturb it. If you sense your own dog displays erratic behaviors when disturbed, get professional dog training.
- If attacked, do not react. If you are attacked by a dog, The Human Society says to curl up into a ball and “feed” the dog the object it wants (purse, jacket, coat, even bicycle) in order to put something between you and the dog and possibly avoid further injury.
San Diego dog bite injury
If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog, do not hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-655-6585 for a free and confidential legal review of your case. A San Diego personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Michael Pines will answer your questions free of charge. Call us today.
About Michael PinesMichael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.
When fresh rain hits the surface of our city roads, the risk of San Diego car accidents increases substantially. As car accident attorneys in San Diego, we often work with clients who have been involved in crashes due to rain – and while no accident is completely unavoidable, rain can often increase the risk be the culprit for collisions.
While some accidents can result in fender-benders, others can be catastrophic and cause a lifetime of tragedy for the families involved.
Unfortunately, rain-slicked roads affected one family Tuesday when their vehicle slid across slick roads just after a fresh rainfall on Interstate 805. The accident killed the woman, just 42, as she was driving to work, NBC San Diego reported.
“I don’t know what to do,” the woman’s husband said.
The accident occurred just moments after the woman left her house – near the intersection of Telegraph Canyon Road and I-805 – after her car lost control and slid beneath a semi-truck.
“It appears that the Mazda went out of control and hit the front of the truck and then bounced off of that and continued to spin and then ended up wedging underneath the trailer,” said Officer Art Athens.
The California Highway Patrol says the accident was likely caused by rain-slicked roads and speed.
There’s no doubt that tragic car accidents affect families for the rest of their lives. It’s never been more important to help prevent the next San Diego car accident – starting with family members we love the most. Although San Diego is known for its great weather, rain can inevitably find its way along our coastlines and inland areas. When rain hits, consider the following tips to reduce your risk of car accident injury.
“I just can’t believe this is happening,” her husband said. “Why good people like that have to go, I don’t know.”
Tips for driving in rainy weather
#5 – Keep your tires and car well-maintained
Over-worn tires can often have adverse affects in the rain. With spotty or inexistent tread, your car can instantly lose control on wet roadways. Speed can worsen the affect. Also, keep your car in good shape otherwise and replace old or broken windshield wipers, headlights, and safety mirrors.
#4 – Drive in the tracks ahead of you
The closer your vehicle is to the road surface, the better control you have over your vehicle. Driving on even a thin layer of water can compromise your vehicle’s stability. By driving in the tracks of the vehicle ahead, you can ensure your vehicle is in closest contact to the asphalt, ensuring a more stable and safer drive. But remember: don’t drive too close and avoid driving near busses and semis altogether!
#3 – Don’t slam on the brakes
Fast use of your car’s braking system can instantly be dangerous on wet roads. Keep it safe and pump your breaks instead to avoid hydroplaning.
#2 – Keep your headlights on
Even in misty weather, be sure to put your headlights on to ensure that others can see you. Some cars are even equipped with daytime running lights, a big plus when driving in inclement weather.
#1 – Slow down
This tip is sensible and applicable to all! At the slightest hint of moisture, slow your car down and increase the distance between you and the vehicle ahead. In fact, slowing down is a good rule of thumb all around as it can greatly contribute to the reduction of car accidents altogether.
About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC
If you have been injured in a car accident, and suspect the other person was at fault, do not hesitate to give our firm a call for a free legal review of your case. You will learn of all your legal rights and how we can help you seek maximum financial recovery from your injuries. Call us now at 1-800-655-6585.
About Michael PinesMichael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.
Teachers, principals, and other school officials work hard to make school a safe place for our children. Toys, books, and other classroom materials like scissors or paints are usually stored safely in secure cabinets, away from the child’s reach. In addition, teacher supervision is important if not critical in helping to keep our kids safe from personal injury.
When an accident does happen, it is tragic and frustrating for both schools and families alike. Now, in a case out of Oceanside, a family still grieves after their son choked on a pushpin at school, causing the young boy’s death.
The accident occurred earlier this year on August 8 after the child, Tyler Howell, 3, was left unsupervised in the bathroom where thumbtacks were in easily in reach, says the family. The parents have also expressed concern over the storage of the sharp objects, which should have ordinarily been stored in locked cabinet.
The family believes the accident could have been easily avoided.
In addition to seeking legal action against the school, the family also aims to get laws changed that would not allow thumbtacks in a preschool.
Parents: get involved at your child’s school
Getting involved in your child’s school can be one of the best ways to help prevent an injury. While avoiding all accidents is probably unlikely, parents can make a difference by speaking to teachers and principals in making sure the classroom environment is free from dangerous and potentially life-threatening items.
Open house: take advantage of it
What better time to discuss classroom safety with your child’s teacher than at open house? Take some time to ask your child’s teacher how the classroom is secured. Where are obvious threats like scissors or toxic paints and craft items stored? Are heavy bookcases strapped to the wall? Is there an emergency exit plan in place? These are all important questions to ask your child’s teacher.
Another recommendation is asking teachers about posted classroom rules. There should be obvious rules like “no running with scissors” but consider talking to your child’s teacher about non-conventional rules like bringing unapproved toys to school or sharing lunches. Even a life-threatening allergy such as milk or peanut reaction can be instantly dangerous to your child or other students.
Lastly, not only is it important to have classroom rules in place, but enforcement is also just as important. During open house, talk to your child’s teacher about how rules are enforced. What’s the classroom policy if a rule is broken? Are parents notified if their child breaks a rule? Students should have clear expectations in place in addition to consequences for rules that are broken. When parents get involved in the classroom, many accidents have the potential to be avoided.
About the Law Offices of Michael Pines
Children’s injuries are tragic for any family. We have helped many families throughout the San Diego area seek fair and maximum recovery for their child’s injury. If your child has been injured and you suspect it was due to someone else’s wrongdoing, we can help. Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or submit your case online and we’ll answer all your legal questions for free.
About Michael PinesMichael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.
Signs like these discourage dangerous driving on neighborhood streets | Photo credit: Amazon
When car accidents affect our little ones, nothing can be more devastating for a family or a community. And in the case of baby Izaiah, a pedestrian toddler injured last winter, hope is renewed as doctors report remarkable progress in his recovery.
The severity of Izaiah’s brain injury initially gave doctors the impression the toddler would be paralyzed from the chest down for the rest of his life. But amazingly, baby Izaiah has begun to show signs of feeling in his lower limbs, and he has been able to move his feet.
Izaiah’s family and his doctors were both stunned and elated by this incredible breakthrough.
Medical technology heals in a new way
According to San Diego 10News, Dr. Dennis Maness of the BrainTek institute has made baby Izaiah’s amazing improvement possible. Maness and his team, who are providing their services for free, use sound waves to send messages to Izaiah’s brain that are meant to create a calm and relaxing environment to promote healing.
Dr. Maness described the excitement he felt over Izaiah’s rapid improvement – he was released from the hospital just two weeks ago, completely paralyzed from the chest down – and expressed his hope and belief that Izaiah will continue to recover from his injuries.
Now that Izaiah has demonstrated the ability to move his lower limbs, they will soon be working to achieve the next milestone in his journey to recovery. Dr. Maness hopes to have his patient standing and crawling within the next few months.
Baby Izaiah’s family and his team of caregivers remain hopeful that his condition will continue to improve. It’s very possible that with continued medical care, Izaiah may be able to lead a normal, happy life.
Pedestrian safety: Let’s work together to create safer road conditions
We can come together as a community to stop needless injury such as the baby Izaiah case. Consider implementing the following tips in your neighborhood to help end car accident injury on your streets.
Lawn Signs
You might have seen community safety signs in your neighborhood, as shown on the left. These useful “lawn signs,” as often called, can be lifesavers for neighborhood children. Consider installing one on your front yard to discourage inconsiderate, speeding drivers from racing down your street.
Contact the city
If you have an especially busy corner with lots of pedestrian traffic, call the city of San Diego to ask for improved signage. They may be able to install a pedestrian crossing, reduce speed limits if possible, or install speed bumps. Often, the city won’t take action until notified of a potential hazard. Let’s improve our city one person at a time.
To report a hazard, call the San Diego Traffic Hazard Committee (TAC) at (858) 874-4030.
About the Law Offices of Michael Pines
Michael Pines is San Diego’s Safety Ambassador and has worked to educate the city of San Diego on ways to improve safety in our community. The law firm has worked hard to help injured people seek fair recovery when car accidents or personal injury has affected their lives. Follow Mike on Twitter and join in on the conversation.
About Michael PinesMichael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.
Anthony Guarino, 57, the defendant in a San Diego fatal DUI car accident case, pleaded not guilty to charges connecting him to the death of Marc Durham, 65, a retiree in Carmel Mountain Ranch. Prosecution says his “I don’t care” attitude led Guarino to cause the fatal car crash, but defense says not so fast—they argue that Guarino was asleep at the wheel and should be acquitted of most charges.
Guarino was driving an estimated 50 to 60 mph the evening Aug. 20 when the fatal car accident occurred. In addition to killing Durham, the car accident also injured five other people including a 9-year-old boy.
Prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Chandelle Konstanzer said “the defendant acted with an ‘I don’t care’ type of attitude,” which led to the cause of the crash.
But Guarino’s defense attorney says his client was asleep at the wheel, due to his client’s severe sleep apnea, when the accident occurred.
Details of the fatal DUI car accident case
The prosecutor said Guarino admitted to drinking alcohol the evening of the car crash – 11 shots of jack Daniels whisky, to be exact. A witness in the case testified to the defendant’s coherency, which could have placed Guarino with a blood alcohol level as high as .20 percent that evening. About 2 ½ hours after the accident occurred, the defendant was measured at a .15 percent blood alcohol level.
“There is no way he was not under the influence of alcohol,” said prosecution. “The result was devastating.”
The defense, however, argued to the jury that Guarino was asleep at the wheel, and that he should not be held responsible for the crime. The defense told jurors that prosecutors have the obligation to prove Guarino didn’t drift into a so-called ‘microsleep’.
Jurors are currently evaluating the case.
Fatal DUI Car Accident Statistics in California
Unfortunately, this case is among many other fatal DUI car accident cases in the state of California. About 38% of all fatal crashes are caused by DUI driving in California, according to the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs.
Many of these cases find their way through the court system, and often result in wrongful death cases. If your loved one has been victim to a fatal DUI car accident, do not hesitate to call our San Diego wrongful death attorneys at 1-800-655-6585 or fill out our contact form online. Our legal evaluations are free and confidential. Call today.
For more information on how California is working to reduce DUIs, visit:
The California Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
About Michael PinesMichael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.
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