Milazzo had just finished a hike on the trails of Black Mountain with her husband and sister. The group was ready to cross Camino Del Sur Road in Del Sur when she was hit and killed, resulting in her wrongful death. Prosecutors in the case say Farry was driving 87 MPH when the Del Sur car accident occurred.

“She was in the gutter about to go on the curb when she was struck by the front right of the vehicle, the vehicle hit her and her body was propelled onto this vegetative area,” said Deputy District Attorney Chandelle Konstanzer.

In opening statements at San Diego Superior Court, Konstanzer said Farry was reckless in his driving – the primary contributing factor to Milazzo’s death.

“Had the defendant been going 50 mph, which is what he believed was the posted speed limit, he would have avoided striking Mrs. Milazzo by 122 feet,” added Konstanzer.

Representing attorney for Farry said the young man was speeding but was not negligent in this case. Farry did not flee the scene of the accident, but called 9-1-1 once the collision occurred.

The young man faces up to a year in prison if convicted of his charges.

Young drivers: safety first

It’s tragically too often that we see young drivers caught up in speeding car accidents. Just recently, a group of La Jolla teens were involved in a fatal car accident where police suspected car racing as the cause of collision. It’s never been more important to educate teens and young drivers on the importance of obeying traffic laws.

Speeding is the second highest contributor to car accident injury in San Diego, falling second only to distracted driving. Nearly one third of car accidents can be attributed to speeding.

Consider the following ideas to reduce speeding:

• Leave a few minutes early so you’re less likely to want to speed
• Play soothing or calming music during your drive
• Use cruise control when appropriate and set it to the speed limit
• Finally, if you’re still finding yourself inclined to speed, consider buying a slower car for your next vehicle purchase.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC

Michael Pines, founder, is San Diego’s Accident and Injury Expert with a running safety column at the La Jolla Light. When injured people need legal representation, they turn to the Law Offices of Michael Pines for expert advice. There are no fees unless we win. If you’ve been injured in an accident, call a personal injury attorney in San Diego at 1-800-655-6585 for a free legal consultation with no out-of-pocket costs involved.

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Other than teenagers, senior citizens are the most likely group of drivers to be killed behind the wheel, according to The New York Times. But, elderly drivers are also doing surprisingly better than before. The New York Times reports that “while highway deaths have dropped across the board, the decline in fatal crash involvement from 1997 to 2006 for drivers over 70 was much greater — 37 percent — than it was among drivers ages 35 to 54.”

These findings may explain why senior citizens have the highest fatal auto accident rate per mile of any age group except teenagers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If a car accident does occur, an elderly driver has a greater chance for sustaining age-related personal injury. That’s why it’s never been more important to encourage elderly drivers to stay safe on the road. However, be aware that conversations about defensive driving can spur emotional reactions from some elderly drivers. We recommend using these tips as a constructive communication tools for you and your family.

#1 – Older drivers can sign up for CarFit

CarFit is a practical way for elderly drivers to find out if their daily driver is the right match for their lifestyle. This educational program is designed to address the comfort and safety of the older driver in their vehicle, therefore reducing personal injury occurring from car accidents.

#2 – Consider installing a driver assistance device

A device such as the Roadside Review by AAA can privately assess an individual’s functional abilities while behind the wheel. This device can also call for roadside assistance almost instantly, designating the driver’s location automatically instead of fumbling for a cell phone device and having to describe the location.

#3 – Computer-savvy drivers can take a software-based defensive driving course

Taking a software-based course in defensive driving can be beneficial for both the driver and the car insurance company: the driver can earn a insurance rate discount for taking an approved course, and the insurance company can rest assured their driver is driving safer on the road. A software program such as DriveSharp can help drivers of all ages develop good driving habits. This popular program can speed up visual processing, decreases reaction time, and cut at-fault crash risk by 50%, according to The Los Angeles Times.

If you’re an elderly driver involved in a car accident, turn to an experienced San Diego car accident attorney for a case evaluation. Rest assured, our consultations are free and private—contact us today.

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According to the New York Times, the amount of auto accidents causing wrongful death is increasing at a rapid pace.

Auto accident statistics in India rising rapidly creating concerns for government.

If you think avoiding an auto accident with one of 300 million people is hard, try avoiding one with over a billion people.  That’s the problem that the country of India is faced with every day.  In 2006, India passed China in the number of wrongful deaths caused by auto accidents and the number continues to grow — up 40 percent in five years.

By comparison, China is doing better as their official numbers for fatal auto accidents have been dropping for much of the last ten years.  Rising numbers in India are a result of a microcosm of reasons including a surge in automobiles as well as poor road planning and insufficient law enforcement.

Indian drivers and non-drivers face the same dangers as Americans.  Reckless driving and the increasing amount of pedestrians in streets create an auto accident scenario waiting to happen.  Reporters taking a 40-minute ride on the highway saw various infractions on that a highway going from Delhi to Greater Noida.  Wrong-way driving, an illegal stop and distracted driving were just samples of the greater problem.

Kamal Nath, India’s minister of road transport and highways said in an interview that “road safety is one of the major issues” the ministry is addressing.  Funds in excess of $45 billion from private investors may increase highway expansion plans to extend India’s 2-million-mile road network.

Some government opponents say that wrongful deaths in India aren’t likely to decline with new roadways, but examples in Brazil already show that new private highways have lower fatal auto accident rates than others.

If you live in a country where one highway has the nickname “Expressway to Death”, you should begin to question how much is being done to prevent fatal auto accidents.  Our auto accident lawyers in San Diego know the problems that American drivers face pale into comparison to what Indian drivers do.  Hopefully, more roads will be added to help lower numbers to make roads safer.

Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced San Diego auto accident attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.

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Drunk driving has been a leading cause of auto accidents for decades.  It’s a growing problem state lawmakers and police have battling with new technologies and stiffer penalties.  If you’re a convicted drunk driver, obey the law and pay your penalty for making a bad mistake.  Don’t make another one by continuing to drive putting others in danger.

Drunk drivers with suspended licenses may cause other auto accidents.

State officials estimate more than 180,000 Californians have suspended licenses or have their privileges taken away because of drunk driving.  Of that number, 70,000 continue to drive.  It’s a statistic lawmakers want to change only they have difficulty doing so.

“A lot of DUI drivers do slip through the cracks, and the reason for that is quite simple — it’s a resource issue,” said Creg Datig, director of the state Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor program.  “It’s a common issue throughout the state.”

About 5,000 warrants are on file for people facing drunk driving charges in Ventura County as of late 2009, and 16 to 18 percent of people in the county’s alcohol education program are repeat offenders.  Not only that, but 48 of the 205 cars impounded by officers in the California Highway Patrol’s Moorpark district were from suspended licenses of drunk drivers.

Obviously, something must be done because some repeat offenders aren’t getting the message.

Some experts believe that a pilot program that expands the use of ignition interlock systems will correct the problem of repeat drunk driving offenders.  Interlock devices work by a driver blowing into the system prior to turning the key.  If the driver has had one too many, the ignition becomes locked preventing a start.

California judges can order repeat drunk driving offenders to get the ignition system, but it’s up to the judge.  About 20 percent of people who have been convicted in Ventura County are ordered to get the device.  Pilot programs will begin in four other counties including Los Angeles to make ignition devices mandatory for first-time DUI offenders.

Repeat drunk drivers cause our auto accident attorneys in San Diego to become upset.  These accidents are completely preventable by either calling a taxi or calling a friend.  There’s no reason for you or anyone else to drink and drive as there are plenty of safer alternatives.

Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced San Diego auto accident attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.

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The New York Times recently reported about a new study that shows when one children’s injury occurs in a household, siblings are also at risk.  According to the article, there is that a condition called “post-traumatic arousal” and is an indicator of a re-occurring injury, not only in one child, but in their brothers and sisters, too.

If children’s injuries happen to one child, does it pass on to their siblings?

Keep your kids free from children's injuries this summer!

Post-traumatic arousal is part of of post-traumatic stress disorder, which can unbalance kids and might cause them to overreact if a children’s injury happens to one of their siblings.

Dr. Brian D. Johnston, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington, studies large groups of children around the country.  He and his team have discovered that if a child is severely hurt — with an injury requiring hospitalization — then all children in that household are at high risk of getting hurt for the next three months.  Johnson’s research shows that medical treatment was necessary in nearly 20 percent of the families who’s son or daughter sustain a children’s injury or re-injured themselves badly enough in the following months.

Car accidents and drowning seem to be the biggest causes of wrongful deaths for kids 12-years-old and younger.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a report two years ago saying that 9.2 million children received emergency room care every year for injuries unrelated to abuse in the time frame of 2000-2006.  This was the leading cause of fatalities in young boys and girls, with close to 12,000 wrongful deaths each year occurring from these types of accidents.

Personal injuries that are considered non-life threatening and send kids into the emergency room are most often from slip and falls, interaction with animals and insects, or being hit (or getting hit) with a hard object.  So, as a parent, should you be worried that if one child slips and falls down the stairs, another one is going to do the same?  Not necessarily.  The injuries reported in the study were all varied from one another — a little girl gets burned and her sister drops something on her foot, not the same exact injury for both kids.

The best course of action to take is to practice vigilance, regardless or not if children’s injuries are contagious among siblings.  If one of your children get injured, then be on the lookout for another injury coming in the next one to three months.  It may never arrive and that’s a good thing, because you were keeping track of your children every step of the way.

With the arrival of summer, children’s injuries are likely to increase as kids have more unsupervised free time on their hands.  Avoid injuries before they happen by knowing where your kids are playing, who they are playing with, and what hazards might be associated with their fun activities.

As the saying goes, “it is all fun and games until someone gets hurt.”

Contact us anytime if your child was hurt.  We are here to take your call day or night at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE Consultation with a personal injury lawyers in San Diego or click here to submit your case for a FREE Online Review.  Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe nothing until we recover money at the end of your claim.

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Our auto accident lawyers know that emergency workers — firemen, policemen and paramedics — save lives everyday, but this particular fireman (who now lives in the Bay Area) went above and beyond the call of duty and deserves to be recognized for his heroism after an auto accident nearly drowned a woman in a canal.

Janet Hogan’s ‘angel’ saved her from drowning after the auto accident.

Dave Manzeck, 36, and Janet Hogan, 79, had never met before April 11, 2010, but the events of that day have made them friends for life.

Dave Manzeck, a fireman born in San Diego, holds a photo of his rescue of Janet Hogan after her family’s car crashed into a creek. (Glenn Moore/Our Town)

Hogan was the front seat passenger as her husband, James, drove with their son, Tim — who was visiting from San Diego — in the backseat after they ate dinner near Walnut Creek.  Suddenly, James had a seizure.  After passing out behind the wheel, his leg pinned and floored the gas pedal.  Janet tried in vain to regain control of the car and move her husband’s foot off the pedal but she was unsuccessful.

“The next thing I know, we hit the fence, and we went over the fence and into the water,” Hogan told the Tracy Press, who originally reported this story in its weekly town feature.  As her husband and son drowned in the creek, Hogan began to hope for a miracle.

That’s when Dave Manzeck entered Janet’s world.

Manzeck is a rescue swimmer for the Contra Costa Fire Department, and he was called to the auto accident scene.  Even with rescue workers lined up early half-mile of the waterway, the water was flowing at 20 mph, so Manzeck needed to do something drastic if he wanted a shot to save Janet.

As a California Highway Patrol helicopter flew overhead, Manzeck signaled for the pilot — remembering signals he’d learned when he was in EMT training — to hoist him over and into the creek.  Once in the creek, he found himself in the midst of his most dangerous rescue yet.  Janet was heading straight towards a “swirling, drain-like” area that Manzeck described as a “point of no return”.

Nearly drowning and after taking a second to catch some air, Manzeck caught his bearings and grabbed a hold of Janet.  She hit Manzeck’s knee with her head and blacked out, and he suffered a torn labrum, torn rotator cuff and a dislocated joint in his right shoulder as well as an infected cornea.  Still he reached her and swam ashore where both of them were taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

After recovering in the hospital from her tragic car accident, Janet met with her rescuer.  They’re since become family friends.

“I think I’m a miracle,” Janet said.  “He’s really a wonderful guy, and I’m so glad.”

If you were injured in a car accident, contact our bilingual law offices ASAP at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE Consultation with an auto accident lawyer or click here to submit your case for a FREE Online Review.

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According to LAist, a multi-car accident on the 405 / San Diego Freeway shutdown traffic on the north and southbound lanes for most of the day as the CHP tried to piece together what happened.

San Diego Freeway was closed after a car accident injured a CHP officer on a motorcycle.

A California Highway Patrol officer was injured on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles. (Source: LA Times)

Around 8:35 a.m., Officer Phillip Ortiz — who was outfitted on a motorcycle that morning — pulled over a Honda SUV.  At that point that an Infiniti sedan — speeding in the shoulder on the freeway — collided with the Ortiz and the other vehicles.

The driver of the Infiniti “will be a major focus of our investigation,” CHP Officer Mark Garrett told the Daily News.  ”At some point our investigators will be interviewing him.  After that, they will determine what if any charges may be filed against him.”

Ortiz is currently receiving medical treatment at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

Motorcycle injuries usually don’t involve incidents were the motorcycle is stopped and the rider is off of the vehicle, but this goes to show how little protection you have out on the road.  Even if the officer was on his motorcycle, there would be no barriers on the motorcycle to shield him or absorb part of the impact.  It is dangerous to be outside a vehicle on a major highway.

UPDATE: According to a press release, Ortiz passed away “succumbed to his injuries on June 22, 2010 at approximately 5:50 P.M.”  He was 48-years-old.

Our firm’s San Diego car accident lawyers are dedicated to keeping people safe out on the road, no matter what kind of vehicle they drive.  That’s why we set up a motorcycle accident blog so that you can have a resource for protecting yourself while on motorcycle.

Hopefully you never have to experience an accident, like this, but if you were hurt in a motorcycle or car accident, our firm is here to help you. Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced San Diego car accident lawyer or click here to submit your case for a FREE Online review.

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San Diego 6 News has reported that a police chase involving a wrong way driver lead to a car accident in the early morning hours of June 10, 2010.  According to San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officials, three people sustained personal injuries during the crash — two of them being law enforcement officers.

Wrong way driving + police chase = car accident with serious injuries involved.

A police chase suspect and two SDPD officers were injured in an early morning car accident. (Source: San Diego 6 News)

Around 4:30 a.m., a police chase started around the 3700 block of Van Dyke Avenue, but came to a dramatic end several minutes later at Orange and Altadena Avenue.  High speeds caused the officers in pursuit to lose the suspect at least once during the chase.

The suspect was thrown from his vehicle during the car accident, seriously injuring himself.  Two of the officers involved in the chase sustained non-fatal wounds.  Several parked cars, along with the vehicles involved in the chase, accrued property damage during the car accident.

What should you do if a car is coming towards you in the wrong lane?  Flash your headlights to try and signal the driver.  Regardless or not if you capture their attention, immediately pull over to the side of the road.  This way, you will clear a path and avoid a car accident that’s seconds away from happening.

Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced San Diego car accident lawyer or click here to submit your case for a FREE Online review.  Hopefully you never have to experience an accident, like this, but if you were hurt in a car accident, our firm is here to help you.

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Usually the number of children’s injuries goes up during the summer season, but adults can sustain catastrophic injuries while playing sports or taking part in recreational activities if they do not come properly prepared.

Tips for avoiding personal injuries this summer.

“Summer is what we call trauma season,” says Matthew Denenberg, division chief for pediatrics at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Deneberg has assisted parents and children who come in with injuries from boating, swimming, and burn injuries.  Each year, it seems the same mistakes keep getting made.

So what can you do?  Here are some helpful tips, courtesy of Serious Accidents, to stay personal injury free this season!

1.  Teach your children how to swim. Experts used to take the stance that children should not take swimming lessons until their 4th birthday has passed.  Now others are starting to disagree with that statement.  As a parent, when your son or daughter learns to swim should be at your discretion, but sooner is better than later.

If you have a home pool and a child too young to be in it by themselves, put fencing around the water and install an in-pool alarm system.  If kids are in the pool, never leave them alone and put ones who have trouble swimming in a life jacket.

2.  Keep lawns clear of rocks, dirt, and other heavy objects. When mowing the lawn, go over your yard and clear it of any debris that could get caught in the mower.  Rocks that get sucked up into the blades can shoot out and cause brain injuries if they hit someone in the head.

3.  Tell children that cars are not things to use for play. Car accidents can happen even when the car is not running.  Children can suffer hypothermia and overheat when left in a hot car.  They can also crawl under cars when you are not around and get hurt when a driver starts up the vehicle.  Tell your kids that unless you are in the car with them, they should stay away from it.

4.  Fire is to be handled by adults. Grilling, barbecuing, or setting up a camp fire can be a lot of fun — just make sure an adult is in charge of it.  Also be sure you are wearing protective gear, do not get too close to the flames or the fuel source, and always remember to turn off the gas if you are using a propane stove or grill.  Keep matches and lighters out of reach from children’s hands.  When leaving camp sites, douse your fire with a mixture of water and dirt.

5.  Wheels should always be companied by protective gear. Even for short rides on a bike or all-terrain vehicle (ATV), helmets are a must.  Every year, over 500,000 people receive emergency room medical treatment for injuries that happened during a bicycle accident.  ATVs are growing in popularity, as are accidents related to their usage (with children accounting for nearly 33 percent of all ATV-related injuries).

If you are curious about more tips to keep you and your family safe, check back with Serious Accidents throughout the summer.  You can also get more suggestions from a great site call “Emergency Care For You.”  This summer, have fun and be safe!

If your child has suffered an injury because of the carelessness of someone else, you should contact our bilingual law firm to find out if you are eligible to recover a settlement.  Dial 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE Consultation with a personal injury lawyer 24 hours a day, seven days a week or click here to submit your case for a FREE Online Review.

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From what our firm’s San Diego car accident lawyers have learned, one student was transported to a hospital for medical treatment as a precautionary measure, but that everyone else looks to have sustain only minor personal injuries.

Car accident involving a school bus injured eight people in Oceanside.

A school bus rolled over after being hit by a car in Oceanside. (Source: San Diego Union Tribune)

“There were a lot of minor bumps and bruises and scrapes, possibly a broken bone,” said Steve Lombard, a spokesman with the Oceanside Unified School District, in regards to the accident which happened along North El Camino Real at North Douglas Drive just before noon.

Our San Diego car accident lawyers have learned that an 81-year-old Betty Hoke was in her white Toyota Corolla, exiting the Laguna Vista mobile home park and merging into traffic.  The Toyota began moving parallel to the school bus until Hoke allegedly made an unsafe lane change into the bus.  As she did, the Toyota caught the left rear tire of the bus, which spun the vehicle out of control and caused it to rollover onto one side.

“It looks like that person merged right under the bus, which sent the bus out of control,” Oceanside police Sgt. Jeff Brandt said.  “A set of wheels went right over the top of the car.  You can see the tire tread marks up over the hood of the car.”

A total of 23 students — who were a part of a cross-age tutoring program — were on board the bus at the time of the accident.  All of those students sustain children’s injuries were taken to two nearby hospitals and the rest who were not hurt were returned to El Camino High School.

Our firm’s San Diego car accident lawyers want to share a fact with you: on average, 142 people suffer wrongful deaths from school-related car accidents each year.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that those riding in school vehicles accounted for close to 8 percent of fatalities on the road in 2008.

This unfortunate bus-car accident seems to have rekindled the debate as to whether or not school buses should be retrofitted with lap and shoulder seat belts.  Do you think we should buckle up our children when they are on a school bus?

If your child has suffered an injury because of the carelessness of someone else, you should contact our bilingual law firm to find out if you are eligible to recover a settlement.  Dial 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE Consultation with a San Diego County car accident lawyer in Oceanside 24 hours a day, seven days a week or click here to submit your case for a FREE Online Review.

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