Recent Blog Posts in 2008

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Fresno, please visit our Fresno Law Firm website.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at one time determined that Fresno, California ranked eighth statewide annually for motor vehicle accidents and collisions.  Specially, by years-end of 1999, 3,445 injuries and 50 fatalities occurred in Fresno City, CA.  Car and motorcycle crashes are responded to by the Fresno City Fire Department within Fresno city-limits who employ firefighters and certified emergency medical technicians. 

As is a common problem, training and equipment are at the mercy of a city and state's budget.  Specifically, the emergency personnel in Fresno, CA did not have the appropriate extraction equipment needed to remove individuals involved in bicycle accidents, truck accidents, car accidents, or motorcycle accidents which occurred within the city-limits of Fresno, California.  The budget constraints further prevented the Fresno City from disseminating a safety awareness education program, specifically in the use of seat belts, baby car seats, and bicycle helmets to further educate individuals and directly result in the protection and reduction of injuries to children from traffic accidents.

Upon receiving a grant, the City of Fresno immediately created a Vehicle Extrication Program as well as further expanding the existing Fresno public education and awareness program to directly combat its concerns of unnecessary injuries to children involved in both motor vehicle accidents and bicycle crashes.  To further educate the citizens of Fresno, the Fresno Fire Department participated in over 50 safety events in 2000 where over 7,000 children, parents and teachers were further educated.  The Fresno Fire Department further donated over 250 bicycle helmets to children to immediately begin protecting the children of Fresno, CA.

It is essential that your city follow the affirmative steps of Fresno, California to ensure that your residents are kept safe and are assisted with the newest and best technology in the unlikely event that you are involved in a car accident.

Despite these vast improvements to assist individuals who are involved in car accidents or other motor vehicle accidents within Fresno, California - these accidents continue to occur.  A professional and knowledgable Fresno motor vehicle accident lawyer should be hired if you were involved in any vehicle collision, especially if serious injuries, high medical costs, brain injuries or brain trauma resulted as a result of the negligence of another driver.

You should always wear a DOT approved motorcycle helmet in the unlikely event you are involved in a motorcycle crash.

Motorcycle helmets are scientifically proven to save lives.  To properly protect these motorcycle riders, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that all motorcycle helmets sold in the United States meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 defines the minimum helmet crash and performance impact levels that will protect a motorcycle rider's head and brain in the event of a non-fatal accident.  The U.S. Dept. of Transportation conducts compliance testing to ensure those helmets presently being sold in the United States meet the Federal safety standards.  Now, many States also require motorcycle riders to wear helmets that satisfy FMVSS 218 requirements.

Some motorcycle helmet manufacturers attempt to circumvent FMCSS 218 by selling their helmets as novelty items. In the unlikely event of a motorcycle accident while wearing a novelty helmet, the rider may be seriously injured and may not be able to recover because of his failure to wear a DOT approved motorcycle helmet.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Fresno, please visit our website.

On February 4, 2009, a fifteen-year-old girl pedestrian was involved in a pedestrian accident with a car in which she was hit by a car.  The young girl was within the crosswalk on Blackstone Avenue at Weldon Avenue when he was involved in the pedestrian-car-auto-accident where the car failed to stop and give her the right-of-way.

The young girl suffered moderate injuries including cuts to her head as well as injuries to her right hand.  Because of the injuries to her head, she may have either struck her head on the car or on the pavement.  Any time anyone hits their head, no matter how easily or softly, brain injuries, blunt force trauma, and brain trauma can occur which may impact that person's life, for which they should be compensated.  Brain injuries can result in the person being unable to ever smell again or it may limit motor skills, such as lifting one's head, rolling over, sitting up, balancing, crawling, and walking.  There are also may other forms and types of motor skill dysfunction which could result from a pedestrian accident.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident in Fresno, please contact one of our Fresno Pedestrian Accident Attorneys for a free confidential initial consultation.

Two pedestrians walking west along Pershing Avenue attempted to cross Visalia Street and were hit by a car around 7:00 p.m. on February 3, 2009.  The two pedestrian men were hit by a Dodge Stratus car which ultimately resulted in a pedestrian-car-accident.  Both of the pedestrian accident victims were outside of the crosswalk at the time of the car-pedestrian-accident.

One of the pedestrians was knocked to the pavement near the initial car-pedestrian-accident.  The other man was thrown up onto the hood of the Dodge Stratus and cracked and smashed the Dodge Stratus's windshield.  The pedestrian accident victim on the hood remained on the car for about 70 feet before being thrown off and subsequently landing on the hard pavement sustaining further injuries.

Upon the arrival of the ambulances and emergency crews, both of the pedestrian accident victims were unconscious having each suffered brain trauma and brain injuries as a result of the Fresno pedestrian accident.  The man who was thrown up onto the hood of the car suffered from major head injuries and a broken leg -  and he was transported by ambulance to Visalia Municipal Airport where an emergency helicopter flew the pedestrian accident victim to Valley Regional Medical Center in Fresno.  The other pedestrian accident victim had head-injuries and a broken leg.  The case is still under investigation as to negligence and liability.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident involving a car, motorcycle, big-rig, semi-tractor-trailer truck, or any motor-vehicle in Fresno, immediatley contact one of our Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyers for a free confidential initial consultation to discuss the events leading up to your pedestrian accident, and how to best treat your medical injuries.

In Fresno, California a man was fatally shot just before 2:00 a.m. on January 29, 2009 near the streets of Chestnut and Clinton.

Apparently, the male suspect who was fatally shot in Fresno was attempting to force an ex-girlfriend off the road.  The female car occupant dialed 911 while driving home from work, and trying to evade her ex-boyfriend.

California Highway Patrol officers heard the woman's call broadcast over their radio, and further observed both of the vehicles traveling northbound on Chestnut street.  The CHP attempted to stop the male suspect, who ultimately pulled over to the side of the road.  The male suspect then exited his vehicle and began charging at the two CHP officers.  The male suspect was failing to obey the commands and instructions of the CHP officers and was yelling at the officers, which the CHP officers reportedly caused them to believe the male suspect may have been armed with a weapon and was preparing to attack them.

Ultimately, the male suspect was shot by the CHP in the upper body.  An investigation evidenced that the male suspect was never armed with a weapon.  Further, the male suspect was transported to Community Regional Medical Center where he ultimately died from his fatal gun shot wounds.  The Fresno Police Department are handling the investigation of this fatal Fresno gun shooting.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent Police Officer, Sherriff or Deputy in Fresno, please contact one of our Fresno Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss what options are available.

On January 29, 2009 a Tulare County Sheriff's patrol car crashed into a big rig, semi-tractor trailer truck around 10:00 p.m. while the Sheriff was attempting to call for back-up for other Sheriff.  Specifically, the Sheriff was attempting to call for back-up and were driving quickly to assist another Sheriff who had uncooperative suspects.

On the way to the scene, the patrol car crashed into the rear of a semi-tractor trailer truck which created a car-truck accident.  The driver of the patrol car is in critical condition, and his partner who was in the passenger seat suffered severe injuries.  The Sheriff that was following behind this patrol car which was involved in the car-big-rig-tractor-trailer-truck accident witnesses the accident, and stopped to administer first aid to his follow comrades.  The Sheriff which was in critical condition was then emergency evacuated by helicopter to a Fresno Area hospital, where he is presently being treated.  The Sheriff was suffering from injuries which included brain injuries, brain trauma, blunt force trauma, broken bones, severe bleeding, and unconsciousness.

The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the 18-wheeler tractor-trailer truck accident with the patrol car.

If you or a loved one was involved in a 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer truck, big-rig accident where the other vehicle involved in the crash accident was either a bicycle, a scooter, a motorcycle, a car, an SUV, a truck or another 18 wheeler tractor-trailer truck in Fresno, California, please contact one of our Fresno Auto Accident Attorneys, Fresno Motorycycle Accident Attorneys, or Fresno Truck Accident Attorneys immediately so you can begin receiving the medical treatment you require and eventually the compensation you deserve.

On February 1, 2009, the Parlier Police Department set up D.U.I. checkpoints on Super Bowl Sunday. 

All of the checkpoint locations were advertised in the local Fresno paper, but the officers still made five (5) DUI arrests, most of the drivers were well above the legal limit.  Last year, there were only three (3) D.U.I. arrests.

Each of this years DUI arrests had a Blood-Alcohol-Content (B.A.C. or BAC) or .11 or higher.  To be legally drunk in Fresno, California - a driver need only have a .08 BAC.  The highest BAC that the Fresno police tested was a .21, which indicates that this driver was having a lot of hard alcohol and was having much of it.

Despite these five (5) arrests in Fresno, there were still many auto and motor-vehicle accidents in and around Fresno as a direct result of other drivers who were not stopped and arrested at these DUI checkpoints.

If you or a loved one was involved in a Fresno Auto Accident as a result of the negligent drinking of another driver, please contact one of our experienced Fresno Auto Accident Lawyers who can assist you in receiving compensation for your injuries.

On January 31, 2009, a Ford Explorer rolled-over and came to rest upside down on its roof and hood around 1:00 p.m. on Highway 41 near Floral Avenue.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a minivan pulled out in front of the Ford Explorer, and the two vehicles were involved in a Fresno auto accident.  A young girl in the SUV was killed at the scene of this Fresno car accident, and another passenger of the Ford Explorer was transported to a nearby Fresno hospital because they were suffering from major injuries.  There is no indication as yet as to whether the young girl was wearing any safety equipment, such as a seat-belt, booster-seat, or car-seat.

The California Highway Patrol further reported that alcohol, drugs, and / or fog appeared to not be factors in the two-car accident.  Further, the driver of the SUV suffered only minor injuries, and the three adults and three children in the minivan did not have any physical injuries.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a roll-over accident in Fresno, please contact one of our Fresno Car Accident Lawyers for a free confidential initial consultation to discuss the facts of your car accident.

On February 2, 2009, the driver of a Dodge Ram 2500 pick-up truck was involved in a truck-automobile-car, bicycle accident along Highway 88, west of Blue Sky Drive.  The critically injured bicyclist involved in the bicycle accident was evacuated from the scene of the bicycle accident via emergency helicopter. 

Authorities believe the bicyclist was struck from behind by the pickup truck, and the bicyclist wasn't discovered until 1:40 a.m. on February 2, 2009 where he was laying on the right side of the shoulder next to his mangled bicycle.

The Dodge Ram 2500 involved in the truck-bicycle accident had it's passenger side mirror and support arm break off as a result of the bicycle accident.  It was this piece that investigators used to identify the make of the vehicle. 

If anyone has information as to the identity of the driver of the Dodge Ram 2500, you may contact the California Highway Patrol's Amador County unit.

Additionally, if you or a loved one has been involved in a bicycle accident in Fresno, please contact one of our experienced Fresno Bicycle Accident Attorneys for a free confidential initial consultation to discuss the facts of your case and potential compensation for your injuries.

On February 2, 2009, two motorcyle riders were out riding side by side Highway 88, just East of Tabeaud Road.  Both motorcycle riders were riding westbound on Highway 88.  According to the California Highway Patrol, both motorcycles drifted over the double-yellow-lines into oncoming traffic traveling eastbound.

The driver of a 2002 Toyota Sienna Van veered to the right in an attempt to avoid both motorcycle riders.  One of the motorcycle riders was grazed by the van and was knocked off his motorcycle and skidded along the ground.  His passengerless motorcycle continued driving on for a couple hundred feet prior coming to rest.  The other motorcycle rider was hit in a head-on collision with the van.  This motorcycle accident was fatal for this motorcycle rider who died from his critical injuries as a direct result of this motorcycle accident.  The other motorcycle rider involved in the motorcycle accident was transported to Sutter Amador Hospital in Jackson with serious injuries, including a broken left ankle and a sprained left wrist.  The driver of the van was not physically harmed.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a similar motorcycle accident in Fresno, please contact one of our Fresno Motorcycle Accident Attorneys for a confidential free initial consultation.

On January 31, 2009, shortly before 7:00 a.m., along Palmdale Road, east of Petaluma Road, a woman, 50, walked into the path of a pickup truck.

According to the San Bernardino Sherrif and Coroner's Officials, the woman attempted to walk across a roadway, directly in the path of the pick up truck.  The driver stayed at the scene after the accident, and gave the report that he saw the woman step in front of his pick-up truck, and tried to stop to prevent from hitting her.  He further stated that there wasn't enough time and not enough space between his truck and the woman to avoid hitting her.

Anyone with information may contact the San Bernardino Sherriffs Department.

If you or a loved one has been struck by a pedestrian by a truck, car, motorcycle, big-rig, 18-wheeler or any type of motor-vehicle as a pedestrian in Fresno, contact one of our Fresno Pedestrian Accident Attoneys for a free confidential initial consultation so you may begin receiving the compensation your deserve for your severe injuries.

On January 31, 2009, a mother and her two-children were run-over at Bonnie Brae Street and Olympic Boulevard around 6:00 p.m.  The driver failed-to-stop and became a hit-and-run driver.

The mother was pushing her two children in a stroller within a crosswalk.  Other cars were stopped waiting for her to cross the street when a black 1991 Honda, license plate 2ZDN987, struck the mother and her stroller in which her two children were seated.

The mother's baby was pronounced dead at the hospital with brain injuries and brain trauma.  The baby's older sister was hospitalized in critical, but stable condition.  The mother sustained minor physical injuries, but undoubtedly has suffered exteme and severe emotional injuries as she watched her two children get struck by a negligent car driver who nearly ran her over as well.

The hit-and-run driver is currently being held on a charge of vehicular homicide.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a hit-and-run driver in Fresno, contact one of our Fresno Auto Accident Vehicular Homicide Attorneys, Fresno Pedestrian Accident Attorneys and / or Fresno Hit-And-Run Attorneys for a free confidential initial consultation.

On February 2, 2009, a semi-tractor-trailer jack-knifed on the right side of the westbound lane of Highway 78 in San Marcos, California near Fresno County.

This jack-knifed truck created a multi-vehicle accident pile-up.  Two other motor vehicles were involved in this car-big-rig-truck accident in which severe injuries were suffered in which two people were taken to local hospitals shortly after the accident occurred.

Approximately an hour after the car-truck accident, the traffic on Highway 78 was standing still from Interstate 15 to Woodland Parkway.  The traffic was so bad that the tow-truck called to the scene moved only 50 feet in 15 minutes.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck, tractor-trailer, big-rig, semi-truck, 18-wheeler, car, and multi-motor-vehicle accident in Fresno, California, please contact one of our Fresno Auto Accident Lawyers and / or Fresno Truck Accident Lawyers for a free confidential initial consultation to discuss your accident.

A grandmother suffered a terrible truck driving accident involving her car, which was broadsided by a semi tractor trailer truck.  The big-rig driver was transporting supplies to be used for a charity, when he caused serious injuries to this innocent grandmother.  After the accident, the truck driver had a B.A.C. of .08%, thus he was legally drunk in the State of California by satisfying the statutory limit for being legally drunk.  To further exacerbate things, the truck driver arrived at work in a drunken state, thus also making his employer liable for the accident, especially since the negligent driver responsible for the trucking accident was acting within the defined limits of his truck driving job.  This truck driver later pleaded guilty to driving under the influence (DUI) and was sented to serve a year jail term.

The injuries suffered by the grandmother as a result of this truck-car-accident in Fresno caused her to remain bedridden.  This innocent grandmother is now intensely sensitive to noise, and when watching TV must do so without sound, because if the sound is on, she begins to suffer one of her many excruciating headaches.

Ultimately, a civil suit for the grandmother's injuries was filed in Fresno, as the accident occurred in Fresno County.  After hearing the month-long-case, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the seriously injured grandmother for $10.5 Million Dollars.  $6.5 Million Dollars was for the grandmother's pain and suffering, and the remaining $4 Million Dollars was to compensate her and her loving family for her present and future medical expenses and bills.

Clearly no amount of money will ever return this poor grandmother to a condition prior to the serious trucking accident, but with such a large settlement, neither she nor her family needs to worry about paying for expensive prescription drugs as well as other medical expenses, including the in-home care-giver or nursing staff.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries as a result of the negligent driving of a truck, big-rig, 18-wheeler, semi-tractor-trailer truck, or semi-truck driver in Fresno, please contact one of our Fresno Trucking Accident Lawyers for a free confidential initial consultation.