San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Blog

ESCONDIDO - A horrible Escondido pedestrian accident left a 6-year-old boy with a broken leg at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the child was hit by a vehicle that was making a left turn from La Terraza Boulevard and onto West Valley Parkway. The young boy, whose name was not released, was with family members at the time of the incident, however, no one else was reported to be injured. Police at the scene noted the driver stopped following the accident and that neither drugs nor alcohol were factors in the collision.

Escondido Pedestrian Accident Injury Liability

The accident on January 4th remains under the investigation by the Escondido Police Department. However, while the limited information provided by news reports did not clearly indicate what caused the crash, if police come to a conclusion that the accident was due to unsafe driving, negligence, or distracted driving, the driver can be held accountable for the child's injuries.

Therefore, in situations such as this one, the family of the boy would be well-advised to contact a knowledgeable and experienced Escondido personal injury lawyer. An attorney who has handled numerous pedestrian accidents, can advise the family of their legal rights and best course of action to recover the maximum compensation for the child's injuries, including medical care expenses, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and other damages relating to this terrible pedestrian accident.

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SAN DIEGO COUNTY -- A motorcyclist was tragically struck and injured by two vehicles in Escondido on Tuesday morning, North County Times reported. The accident occurred at about 5:50 a.m., when the driver of a 2003 Saturn, Michael Maclean, 29, of Escondido, failed to stop at the intersection of Bear Valley Parkway and Birch Avenue, and then struck the 21-year-old Escondido motorcyclist Edgar Hernandez-Rodriguez. The collision caused the motorcyclist to be ejected from the bike and land on the road.

While Hernandez-Rodriguez was laying on the road, the driver of 2003 Dodge Dakota, Matthew Bertrand, 41, of Santee, struck him about 8 minutes after the crash. According to CHP officer Chris Parent, people at the scene tried to warn Bertrand of the injured motorcyclist lying on the road, but he failed to stop.

Following this horrific accident, Hernandez-Rodriguez sustained major injuries and was taken to Palomar Medical Center where he is listed in critical condition.

Cause of the Motorcycle Crash in Escondido

Based on the information provided by North County Times, it appears the driver of Saturn may be at fault for the collision due to failing to stop at stop sign. However, it is not evident what caused the driver of the Dakota to hit the injured motorcyclist while being warned by people about the incident. Therefore, the California Highway Patrol will investigate this December 13th motorcycle collision, and determine who are responsible for the accident.

Motorcycle Accident Injury Personal Injury Liability

In situations such as this one, the injured victim or the family members of the victim would be well-advised to contact a San Diego motorcycle accident lawyer. An experienced attorney who has handled unique and complex motorcycle accidents, can help the victim protect his legal rights in a personal injury claim, and hold the responsible party and/or parties financially liable for the victim's injuries, including medical care expenses, lost earnings, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and other related damages in this horrible motorcycle accident.

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ESCONDIDO - A 54-year-old woman suffered serious injuries Saturday morning when her motorcycle collided with a white 2006 Chevrolet van on northbound Interstate 15, the North County Times reported. The accident occurred near El Norte Parkway at 10:45 a.m., when a 28-year-old San Marcos man veered in front of the woman's bike. The woman, who was not identified, was riding with a group of female motorcycle riders when the van moved in front of the group. The driver of the van was arrested on suspicion of driving without a license. The CHP reported the driver appeared to be extremely fatigued. A drug test indicated he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Cause of the Interstate 15 Motorcycle Accident

The cause of the July 2nd Escondido motorcycle accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Based on the limited information provided in news reports, the cause of the accident is not clear. It appears that the motorcyclist likely could have done nothing to avoid the collision. Hopefully, the investigation by the CHP will reveal exactly what happened, and who was ultimately responsible.

Motorcycle Accident Personal Injury Liability

If it is determined that the driver of the Chevy van caused the accident, he may be liable for the serious injuries sustained by the Fallbrook woman. While this injury accident remains under investigation, the injured victim or her family members would be well-advised to speak to an experienced San Diego motorcycle accident attorney. A personal injury lawyer who specializes in the unique legal issues of motorcycle accidents can advise the victim of her legal rights and best course of action to recover damages for her medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages. After any serious injury accident, it is advisable to speak with an attorney soon following an accident, while witness recollections and important evidence can most easily be obtained

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ESCONDIDO - A 15-year-old boy suffered very serious injuries Wednesday afternoon when an elderly driver making a left turn came up onto the sidewalk and struck him, 10 News reported. The accident occurred at about 12:36 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15th at Rose Street and Grand Avenue. According to news reports, the driver, an 84-year-old Escondido man, was driving a Chrysler Town and Country van north on Rose Street when he made a left turn onto Grand Avenue.

The van reportedly turned very wide and jumped the sidewalk, colliding with a traffic pole before going into the side of a building. The boy, who was not identified,
was sitting on a bicycle waiting to cross the street when he was struck by the van.

The boy was airlifted to Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, where he remained in a medically induced coma Thursday. According to police reports, the boy lost his right eye and several bottom teeth, and also suffered a broken ankle.

Cause of the Accident

The NC Times reported that an early investigation intended the driver of the van placed his foot on the gas pedal when he intended to hit the brake pedal, causing him to lose control as he tried to make the turn onto Grand Avenue. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Michael Garcia at 760-839-4729.

Elderly Driver "Pedal Misapplication" Accidents and Personal Injury Liability

Accidents such as this one, where the driver intends to hit the brake pedal but instead pushes down on the accelerator are unfortunately fairly common occurrences. In March of last year, an elderly driver ran over a 40-year-old man at the Costco warehouse store on Morena Boulevard, in Rose Canyon, causing catastrophic injuries (Estey Bomberger is currently representing the family in that case).

Pedal misapplication accidents such as this June 15th accident on Rose Street can be caused by conditions such as loss of sensation due to Diabetes, prescription medications, Parkinson's disease, arthritis and poor vision.

While Escondido Police are continuing to investigate this crash, the family of the injured teenager would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable San Diego personal injury lawyer. An attorney who understands the unique legal issues of accidents involving pedal misapplication can help the family protect their rights to hold accountable the responsible parties, and recover compensation for medical care and expenses, as well as pain and suffering.

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ESCONDIDO - The North County Times reported an 18-year-old woman died early Tuesday morning in a crash on northbound I-15. The accident was reported to the California Highway Patrol at 2:51 a.m., near Felicita Road. The woman, who was not immediately identified, was travelling at speeds estimated between 70-75 mph when for reasons under investigation, her vehicle drifted into the center divide of the freeway and struck the end of a concrete barrier. She died at the scene of the crash. The cause of the fatal April 12th Escondido car accident remains under investigation.

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ESCONDIDO - A motorcyclist tragically died Friday night, less than an hour after he was struck by a Mercedes SUV that pulled out in front of him on West El Norte Parkway, 10 News reported. The fatal accident was reported just before 11 p.m. According to police reports, the motorcyclist, identified only as a male, had been riding westbound in the 1000 block of El Norte Parkway when a woman driving a Mercedes Benz M-Class SUV turned left from the Vons Shopping Center into the path of his motorcycle. The motorcyclist was rushed to a nearby hospital, but died of his injuries less than an hour after the collision.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Escondido Police; no arrests were made immediately following the crash. Escondido Police will surely look at the speed of both vehicles, whether either the motorcyclist or the driver of the SUV was driving under the influence at the time of the crash, in determining what happened and why, and who was ultimately responsible.

Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Death Liability

If police determine that the driver of the SUV was responsible for this fatal collision, she may be cited or arrested for failing to yield to the right-of-way of the motorcyclist. While this incident remains under investigation, the family members of the motorcyclist may benefit from speaking with an experienced and knowledgeable San Diego motorcycle accident lawyer. An experienced attorney can help the victim's family understand and protect their legal rights. If the driver of the SUV was responsible for this crash, the family may be able to recover damages for their loss in a wrongful death claim, including funeral and burial expenses, lost earnings and benefits the decedent would have earned, and loss of love, care and companionship.

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A Lakeside man was tragically killed early Tuesday morning in an accident on southbound Interstate 15 between Felicita Road and Via Rancho Parkway in Escondido, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office reported. The accident occurred at about 12:35 a.m. Tuesday, June 15th. The California Highway Patrol reported that some unsecured items, including a barbecue grill and what appeared to be a piece of wooden furniture, fell off a vehicle, and the motorcycle struck it. The driver of the motorcycle, David Ronald Jensen, 49, of Lakeside, and his wife were both thrown from the bike. According to San Diego 6 News, both were able to get up after the crash. However, Jensen was struck by a passing Toyota Prius moments later and killed. Jensen's wife was taken to Palomar Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Road Debris Accident Statistics

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, vehicle parts, cargo, or other material that has been unintentionally discharged from vehicles onto the roadway is estimated to cause over 25,000 crashes per year in North America resulting in approximately 80-90 fatalities. The most common forms of vehicle-related road debris include tire treads, garbage from waste haulers, and lumber and construction materials. Particularly for motorcyclists, road debris is a serious safety concern.

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