San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer

Soledad Bus Accident Reminds Importance of Bus Safety Guidelines

Margaret Embry — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:21:49 GMT

A charter bus traveling through Soledad, CA on April 28, 2009 overturned on a Highway 101 overpass killing five and injuring dozens of the French tourist passengers, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The bus crashed against a side rail and eventually landed on its side in the middle of the road. The French tourists were on an eight-day sightseeing trip through California.

This horrible accident is a reminder of how important it is to understand bus safety guidelines before riding on any type of bus. In California in 2008, there were 1,228 non-fatal bus crashes and 28 fatal bus crashes, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). On the FMCSA website, you can find safe interstate/motorcoach companies in your area, how to use emergency windows, and audio safety information in several languages.

Some of the safety guidelines the FMCSA presents include knowing where emergency exits are, call 911 in case of an emergency, look to the driver for direction and follow his or her instructions, know where fire extinguishers are located, be aware of the emergency signal device located in the bathroom, use handrails when entering and exiting the bus, and stay seated as much as possible while the bus is in motion.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Margaret Embry

Cable Car Safety Tips

Margaret Embry — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:32:41 GMT

On Thursday, June 4th, a taxi ran into two cable cars in San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. It is unknown what caused the crash, but three cable car operators and the taxi driver were both injured. There were no passengers on the cable cars.

Luckily, the four people invovled in the accident had non-life threatening injuries and there were no passengers aboard, because this could have been a much more serious accident. It is important to be aware of safety guidelines for passengers of cable cars and pedestrians who may encouter cable cars or cable car tracks.

According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI), some of the cable car safety tips for passengers include:

If riding on cable car running boards do not lean outward into the path of oncoming cable cars and other vehicles.

Respect all cable car employees. Obey their instructions. Do not get in their way, and do not block operating equipment.

If you have children, it is your responsibility to keep them safe. Hold their hands.

Remove backpacks and stow them under the seat or carry them on your lap.

Most importantly, hold on!

Cable car safety tips for pedestrians include:

Unlike other modes of transportation, cable cars cannot swerve to avoid pedestrians.

Always cross in the crosswalk at cable car intersections. Make sure to look both ways before stepping into the crosswalk.

If there is more than one track, always wait for the first cable car to go by so you can see both ways before proceeding. Make sure that another cable car is not approaching in your path.

Please be aware that a green X is the “go ahead” signal for cable cars—not for pedestrians.

For a complete list of cable car safety tips for passengers and pedestrians, please see MUNI's Cable Car Safety page.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Margaret Embry

Motorcyclist Under the Influence Kills Nine-Year Old Girl and Critically Injures Her Father

Margaret Embry — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:45:12 GMT

On May 27, 2009, a father and his nine-year old daughter were struck by a motorcycle that was being operated by a man under the influence of alcohol in Novato, CA, according to foxreno.com. The nine-year old girl died from her injuries and the father is still in critical condition. As the father and daughter were crossing the street on a crosswalk, the impaired motorcyclist was speeding and ran a stop sign, subsequently hitting the two pedestrians. The motorcyclist was arrested for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, mayhem, and enhancement alleging infliction of great bodily injury during a felony.

Driving under the influence in any type of vehicle is illegal and extremely unsafe. Operating a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol can put the driver at an even higher risk for injury to themselves or to others. According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Quick Tips for Alcohol Awareness:

Having any alcohol in one’s body increases the chance of crashing by five times.

Having a BAC greater than 0.05% increases the risk of crashing about forty-fold.

46 percent of all motorcyclists killed in crashes were using alcohol.

One fourth of all fatal alcohol-related motorcycle crashes involve motorcyclists running off the road, overturning, or falling from the motorcycle rather than striking another object.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has a helpful Riding Tips Handbook for those interested in learning more about motorcycle safety.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Margaret Embry

I-80 Crash Brings Attention to Avoiding Rear-End Collisons

Claude Wyle — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:58:15 GMT

Despite the fact that rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accidents, injuries from such accidents are typically less severe than those in other types of wrecks, specifically head-on crashes. Unfortunately, this statistic didn't hold true this holiday weekend when a Vallejo man died Monday after being rear-ended by an Apria Healthcare delivery truck on I-80.

CHP Sgt. Jason Hekker said Benito Ramos was driving eastbound in the outside lane when the blue delivery truck driven by Ronald Riker, 22, of Vacaville, struck the back of the Toyota.

The impact smashed the Toyota's rear, pushed the car to the right and through a bush and chain link fence.

Riker was momentarily distracted before striking the car, Hekker said. Witnesses told officers he was "traveling at a high rate of speed," he added.

This tragedy reminds us that in order to avoid rear-end collisions and reduce the number of accidents and people harmed on our roads, it is important to remember seveal key steps. Among them:

Pay very close to your driving when following another car. Avoid distractions like your cell phone.
Watch for shrinking distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you.
Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle you are following. A good guideline is the "two second rule" - leaving at least two seconds between you and the car ahead.
Watch for brake lights several cars ahead of the one you are following. This can increase your response time.

If we all pay more attention to the other cars around us and take the advice found above and in the video below, hopefully sad events like this can be reduced, and California's highways will be safer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc9WaFcIXRU

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Bus Driver Identified In Fatal Bus Crash; Investigation Ongoing

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:09:00 GMT

Officials have not determined the cause of a deadly crash of a tour bus Tuesday in Monterey County. The bus, carrying 34 French tourists and their guide, overturned on a Highway 101 overpass in Soledad.

Five people, including the bus driver, were killed and several passengers were injured.

The driver has been identified as John Egnew, 69, of Riverside County, according to the Monterey County coroner. He died of head and neck injuries after he was thrown from the bus.

The names of the four tourists killed have not been released pending family notification.

Twenty-four people were reported hospitalized, of which two appear to have serious injuries. As of Thursday, 20 were still in the hospital.

The crash came a week after the National Transportation Safety Board called on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to take steps to ensure that bus passengers are protected from collisions by installing seat belts, strengthening bus roofs and installing recorders to monitor driver fatigue. A spokesman for the agency declined comment.

Safety advocates say, over the past decade federal safety regulators have failed to execute many recommendations.

California Highway Patrol accident investigators have not determined the cause of the crash and are still investigating, including road conditions, the drivers history and the speed and condition of the bus that crashed.

In January 2007, Orion Pacific, the company that owns the bus, was given a “satisfactory” rating and underwent 14 vehicle inspections and six driver inspections with no crashes or violations in the past two years, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Commission.

The tour bus left San Francisco Tuesday on a sightseeing trip that began April 19 in Los Angeles.

Update – The AP reports, in 2005, the driver of the tour bus struck and seriously injured a woman in a Nevada crosswalk.

Egnew admitted not seeing the woman before he struck her with a bus as she and her husband crossed the street, according to a Las Vegas police report provided to the AP.

Egnew pleaded no contest in April 2006 to one misdemeanor count of starting improperly from a stopped position. #

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Five Killed In Monterey County Bus Accident

Chrissie Cole — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:27:00 GMT

At least five people were killed and several were injured in a tour bus accident in Monterey County Tuesday on the U.S. 101 overpass near Soledad, officials report.

It appears the driver of the southbound bus veered into a railing on an overpass at Front Street, said Fran Clader of the California Highway patrol.

The tour bus was carrying 36 French and Canadian tourists including the driver and a tour guide when it flipped and rolled over.

When emergency crews arrived, the bus was on its side, with luggage and clothing strewn about the highway. Several of the passengers may have been ejected in the crash. Officials secured the accident scene within minutes and shut down the freeway for two hours.

Every passenger on the bus required medical attention, which proved difficult due to the remoteness of the Salinas Valley site. Eight helicopters and 14 ambulances were present to transport the injured passengers to several hospitals in the region.

An official spokesman for the bus company, Orange County-based Orion Pacific Tour Bus Co., could not be reached for comment, but the company said a statement about the crash would be released later today. #

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Highway Safety the Focus When Motorcycle and Tractor-Trailer Collide in Accident

Claude Wyle — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:36:24 GMT

Sad news earlier this week when a local motorcyclist was killed as a semi made an illegal move across traffic in an attempt to make a freeway connection. According to the San Jose Mercury News:

Herbert Saxton Jr., 33, was killed in the crash that occurred about 6 p.m. when the big-rig drove from the right shoulder of eastbound Interstate 580, just past the split with Interstate 205 west of Tracy, across two freeway lanes and into a dirt gore point separating the two freeways, said Officer Steve Creel.

Driving Safety expert Reed Berry has a great collection of videos about safe driving at VideoJug.com. Below I have included a short video that reminds drivers to be careful on the road, especially around motorcycles.

Since even the safest drivers let their minds wander and lose focus at times, Reed's videos serve as a great safety refresher to reference every now and then. This tragic accident could have been avoided if the truck driver had practiced basic highway driving safety. Remember, if you miss a turn or exit, it's important not to panic. Continuing on until you find a safe way to correct your route may cost time, but it also may save a life.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Six Students Die in SoCal Car Crash

Chrissie Cole — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 04:34:00 GMT

A fiery car crash claimed the lives of six people, including five foreign students, in Santa Barbara County on Thursday night.

The driver of the Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeanne Ostrowski, 19, was seriously injured in the accident and remains in critical condition at Marian Medical Center, the California Highway Patrol said.

The vehicle, traveling from Los Angeles to San Francisco, veered from the left lane of US Highway 101 into the center divider, about 140 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

According to a witness, it appears the driver over-corrected, causing the SUV to hit the median before zooming back across the lanes when the vehicle struck a tree, rolled over and burst into flames. The force of the crash ejected two passengers from the vehicle.

While officials have not released the identities of the other victims, pending family notification, they did confirm they were students of the Embassy Center for English studies in San Francisco.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor. An investigation is being conducted by the CHP Coastal Division Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team based in San Luis Obispo.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

San Francisco Summer's Epidemic of Muni Crashes Demonstrates Need for Greater Accountability

Claude Wyle — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:29:04 GMT

When 14 people were recently injured in San Francisco as a result of a recent crash between two historic street cars in San Francisco, the survivors did not know that this Muni crash was the third Muni rail crash in the last two months, and that the same Muni operator had been warned, nearly an hour before, not to follow too closely. San Francisco has a policy that streetcars should travel a block apart, because they need that much space to slow down safely. Clearly this procedure was not being followed at the time one streetcar crashed into another, so where is the accountability?

Another rear-end collision had occurred on June 14, and involved two Muni light-rail vehicles (LRVs) on King Street near Pac Bell Park, resulting in 16 injuries. Muni’s investigators determined that the operator of that rear train was speeding.

Also, a cable car which derailed July 13, caused personal injuries to four passengers, after both the gripman and the conductor had gotten off to push the cable car, and couldn't reach the brake before the cable car sped up and jumped the tracks.

Muni operations have acknowledged that they need to "re-emphasize safe operating practices." and that more has to be done to improve the safety of the Muni trains in San Francisco. Despite paying lip service to safety, the San Francisco Muni’s record for crashes and injuries caused to motorists and pedestrians, as well as their own passengers, is not improving. The only way to get the City’s attention is to make the City fully accountable for all the harm that they are causing. The civil justice system, through Muni accident attorneys, is the only system truly able to assure accountability and 100% responsibility.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Doctor Arrested For Writing Illegal Prescriptions, 1 Death

Jenny Albano — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:59:55 GMT

A doctor was arrested Tuesday, May 6, for writing numerous illegal painkiller prescriptions, which led to the death of a 28 year-old.

Dr. Wesley Albert, 78, is being held for investigation of second-degree murder in the overdose of Jason Morgan of Riverside, who had 30 bottles of narcotics prescribed by Albert when he died, officials said. Morgan died, they said, after Albert gave him a large prescription for Soma, a muscle relaxant prescribed for acute pain.

Albert was arrested after a 10 month investigation by the San Diego pharmaceutical task force which is run by the state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement. After one of Albert's patients was arrested for possessing illegal prescription drugs, agents found that Albert was selling hundreds of illegal painkiller prescriptions. He would prescribe several times the normal amount of each drug and would receive $50 to $100 for each prescription.

People from Riverside, Orange and San Diego counties learned that Albert was prescribing prescription drugs for cash, and many people flocked to the hotel where he had been residing for months. Albert did not examine his patients and did not ask the questions a normal doctor would ask before prescribing medications. According to staff at his previous job, Albert retired, and his license expired last month.

The cause of Morgan's death was heart failure and Soma intoxication; he had five times the recommended amount of the drug in his system.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano