Recent Blog Posts in February 2009

Recently, on California Highway 99, due to dense fog, a total of 53 vehicles were involved in a multi-motor-vehicle car accident pile-up.  Of the fifty-three vehicles involved, fourty-nine of them were cars, and four of them were tractor trailer big rigs.

At the time of these major accidents, the fog limited vision to about 200 feet.  For vehicles traveling at 65 mph, they are traveling at about 100 feet/second.  Therefore, these vehicles would only have about two seconds to respond to seeing an accident occur in front of them.  However, human reaction time is about 3/4 of a second to move your foot from the gas pedal to the break pedal.  Therefore, the drivers involved in this major pile up only had about 1.25 seconds to bring their vehicle to complete a stop.  For those cars, trucks, and semi tractor trailers that stopped in time, most of them were still rear-ended by the cars and semi tractor trailers behind them that were unable to stop in time.

Highway 99 has many accidents on it every year, especially in times where road conditions warrant drivers to be traveling at speeds slower than the posted speed limit.  Be sure to always leave enough room ahead of you, with a minimum of three-seconds (3 secs.), but feel free to travel slower and with your low-beam headlights on when traveling in fog to further assist with your vision, even if the sun is out.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, truck, semi, motorcycle, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, or motor-vehicle accident on Highway 99 in or around Fresno, please contact one of our Fresno Auto Accident Lawyers, Fresno Trucking Accident Attorneys or Fresno Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for a free confidential initial consultation.

The insurance industry expects that an increasing number of drivers, for various reasons including the economy, will be driving on the road without insurance.  In the event you or a loved one is involved in an accident with one of these insured motoritsts, it is essential that you are protected and insured to cover any medical costs as well as damage done to your vehicle.  There is an equal balance that must be struck to protect yourselves, without paying necessary fees and expenses to your insurance company.

1. Carry uninsured motorist coverage

If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, and you didn't have uninsured motorist coverage, you may go after the individual personally to recover, but if they don't carry insurance, then it is likely that they don't have much money or investments to begin with.

If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, and you have uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance company will pay damages directly resulting from your car accident for you, your passengers, and your car.  This insurance further covers hit-and-run accidents as well as if the other party leaves the scene of the accident.   Although it is possible for your insurance company to raise your rates as much as 10% for having to pay for your injuries, it is better that you are fully covered rather than having to pay all of these expenses out of pocket.

2. Uninsured Motorist Coverage too High or too Low

Typical uninsured motorist coverage is approximately $100,000 per person/accident and $300,000 for any singular accident.  The correct amount of uninsured coverage is subjective, and one should carry enough to recoup for personal injuries as well as lost-wages and car, motorcycle, or truck repair.  If your car alone is worth $60,000, then you may wish to increase your uninsured motorist coverage.

3. Insurance Costs When Shopping for a Motorcycle, Car, Automobile, Truck or Big-Rig

Depending on the type of car, motorcycle or truck you purchase, your insurance company will charge you insurance premiums which directly correspond to crash data for this type of vehicle, your demographics, and your previous driving record.  They will further consider the safety and reliabilty, likelihood of this model of vehicle being stolen, as well as safety equipment such as anti-lock brakes, air-bags, alarm-systems, etc.  All of these may affect insurance premiums which may make a reasonably priced car too expensive when making insurance payments.

4. Insurance Discounts

Many insurance companies offer significant discounts if you insure multiple vehicles, or have multiple insurance policies with them.  For example, if you have a motorcycle insurance, car insurance, truck insurance, homeowners insurance, boat insurance, umbrella policy insurance and renters insurance with the same insurance company, they will give you a favorable client discount.  Also, depending on your profession, some insurance companies will offer further discounts, so be sure to inquire if they offer profession insurance discounts.

5. Paying a Low Deductible vs. Lower Monthly Insurance Payments

By increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000, you may decrease your monthly insurance policy premiums.  However, if you would be unable to make an out-of-pocket payment of $1,000 in the event you are involved in an accident, then it may be better to pay slightly higher monthly payments to make sure you can pay the $500 deductible and have all of your expenses covered.

6. Review and Update Your Insurance Policies

As your vehicle depreciates in value, you may begin to lower your collision coverage.  Your initial insurance payments were on the full market value of the vehicle you were driving, and the insurance company is not going to inform you that your vehicle is now worth less, as they always want to recover the maximum from you.  Therefore, it is essential to continually examine your insurance policy, as well as informing them of anything that make reduce payments (see insurance discounts, above).

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with or without an uninsured motorist in Fresno, please contact one of our skilled and knowledgable Fresno Personal Injury Lawyers for a free confidential initial consultation.

In California, it is a misdemeanor to be driving under the influence, and not a felony, until after the fourth conviction and / or an accident occurs where someone is injured to any degree.

A Fresno Police Officer received his first DUI in 1999, his second nine-months later in 2000, a third in 2003 and a fourth in 2007.  Fellow DUI Officers, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, would like to see a first DUI offense to carry harsher sentences than a misdemeanor as people have been seriously injured and even killed as a result of people drinking.  This occurs for those drunk drivers who are nowhere near the California legal indicator of .08 BAC or B.A.C. who are still driving while intoxicated.

After receiving an anonymous tip as to this Fresno Police Officer, fellow Fresno police officers attempted to pull him over, but the Fresno Police Officer fled and headed south on Maroa at an estimated 70-80 miles an hour where there was a failure-to-stop at stop-signs and red stop-lights.  The Fresno Police Officers eventually ended the high-speed pursuit as they didn't want anyone to be injured or hurt.  The Fresno Police Officer was eventually located through GPS of his cell phone.

If you ever observe someone who you believe to be drinking, call 621-4DUI to report these individuals.

Further, if you or a loved one has been involved in an accident as a result of the negligent drinking and driving of another person in Fresno, contact one of our Fresno Personal Injury Lawyers immediately for a free confidential initial consultation.

Around 2:00 a.m. on February 2, 2009, a pick-up truck began driving the wrong direction on Highway 99.  The suspect's pick-up truck struck a Jeep carrying a man and an infant who were traveling southbound on Highway 99 near Earlimart.

The California Highway Patrol arrested the suspect at the scene of the fatal car crash accident.  The suspect now faces felony DUI and felony vehicular manslaughter charges.  The suspect was most likely driving while intoxicated under some substance to be driving the wrong way on the highway.

The accident is still under investigation, and the identities of both the male and infant occupant victims of the Jeep have not yet been released.  There is no initial indication as to whether the infant was in a child seat, booster seat, seat belt, or other safety equipment.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Fresno, please contact the premiere Fresno Vehicular Manslaughter Auto Accident Attorneys immediately for a free confidential initial consultation to discuss the facts of your case so you may begin receiving medical treatment and compensation for your injuries.

A younng may was killed resulting from an industrial construction accident.  The young man was using an auger to drill holes in the ground for fence posts at a farm in the 6300 block of Eucalyptus Avenue.  An auger is a type of industrial construction machinery which has a rotating helical portion (similar to a drill bit) which moves the excess soil material along the axis of rotation and out of the hole where it may be easily removed.

As the auger can spin at very high rates of speed, the young man's jacket became caught on the auger, and he was ultimately crushed by the auger.  The young man was on the ground as another industrial construction employee was in the cab of the tractor who was controlling the positioning and operation of the auger construction equipment.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an industrial construction accident in Fresno, please contact one of our Fresno Construction Accident Attorneys for a free confidential initial consultation.

A 2000 Nissan pickup truck began traveling north in a southbound lane on Highway 99 around 2:00 a.m. on February 2, 2009.  This pickup truck collided with a southbound 2001 Ford Escape.  This auto accident occurred just north of Avenue 56 on Highway 99.  The two-car accident resulted in at least one of the vehicles catching on fire which may have further intensified the severe injuries.

One of the passengers of the Ford Escape was pronounced dead at the scene.  Additionally, a 10-month-old baby boy was emergency evacuated and flown to a Bakersfield hospital.  This young boy was in such critical condition that he later died at the hospital.  The driver of the vehicle struck in the auto accident was transported to Community Regional Medical Center where she was reported to be in stable condition.

The suspected wrong-way driver was transported to Tulare District Hospital and later transferred to Community Regional Medical Center where he was reported to be in a stable condition.  This driver who killed the two other passengers in the auto accident was also arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.  Highway 99's southbound lanes were closed as a result of this fatal car accident from about 3:00 a.m. to about 5:00 a.m.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Fresno Auto Accident where the other party was either negligent or was under the influence of a substance or alcohol, please contact one of our Fresno Auto Accident Lawyers for a free confidential initial consultation immediately.

On the morning of January 25, 2009, a deadly crash at Belmont and Trimmer Springs in Fresno County, California, took the life of an elderly man.  According to the California Highway Patrol, Paul Bazar, 78 years-old, died when his car crashed into a tree.

The car crash investigators determined that he lost control of his car.  Upon losing control of his vehicle, his vehicle proceeded to travel off of the roadway, at which point his car struck a tree on the side of the roadway.

The California Highway Patrol is presently investigating what caused the driver to lose control of his car.  Some potential causes may have been a product defect or a medication error which caused the driver to lose consciousness.  Such an investigation may be ongoing for awhile.  If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a fatal auto accident in Fresno, California, please contact one of our Fresno Auto Accident Attorneys for a free confidential initial consultation.

On January 24, 2009, around 7:00 p.m., a hit-and-run accident claimed the life of 21-year-old Marcela Ramirez Vasquez at the intersection of Adams and Fruit, in Fresno, California.  This fatal car accident occurred when another driver failed to stop and ran through a stop sign hitting the victim's van. 

Specifically, Ms. Vasquez was a passenger traveling in a van with five other family members when the van was struck by Hector Manzo, which caused the van Ms. Vasquez was in to roll-over which ultimately took her life.

Initially, Hector Manzo fled from the Fresno fatal car accident scene, elevating potential charges to a hit-and-run.  Mr. Manzo was caught shortly thereafter by officials.  Mr. Manzo and his two passengers were all arrested.  Mr. Manzo was expected to be charged with manslaughter and Felony DUI charges.  The California Highway Patrol expected to book Mr. Manzo once he was treated for his head injuries at a local Fresno hospital.

If you or a loved one were injured in a hit-and-run fatal car accident where any injuries were suffered including ;, please contact one of our Fresno Car Accident Attorneys for a free confidential initial consultation to discuss the events of your particular case.

On January 29, 2009, the Madera County Sheriff identified the fatal two-car accident victim which occurred on Highway 59 near the Highway 152 overpass.

The identified victim was Aldo Christian Hernandez-Torres who was only eighteen (18) years-old.  The fatal car accident investigation has indicated that his car crossed over the center line from his southbound lane on Highway 59 and caused a collision with an oncoming car.  This car accident occurred when both drivers were on their way to work just before 6:00 a.m.

The other driver, Jose R. A. Garcia, 25, was seriously injured at the scene of the car accident.  He was then transported to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, California.  As of January 29, 2009, Mr. Garcia was reported to be in critical condition.

The initial reports indicate that alcohol was not a factor in the accident, but the fatal car accident is still under investigation.

While it is still unclear as to all of the factors that created this fatal car accident, some possible factors may have been a product defect which caused Mr. Hernandez-Torres's car to cross over into oncoming traffic, a pharmacy error, or possibly a medication error.  Irrespective of what caused the fatal two-car accident, Mr. Garcia and his family must seek compensation for his injuries, including medical costs, physical therapy, lost-wages, and pain-and-suffering.  If you or a loved one was in a similar car-accident, where the other party was negligent in causing the accident in Fresno, please contact one of our experienced and knowledgable Fresno Auto Accident Lawyers today for a free confidential initial consultation.

On January 28, 2009, an unidentified teenage driver was driving a Mercedes on Highway 59.  As the teenager was driving southbound on Highway 59, the teenage driver apparently permitted his car to veer from his lane and struck an oncoming car.

This car accident fatally killed the teenage driver of the Mercedes.  The driver of the oncoming car involved in the two-car accident was seriously injured as a result of the impact from this car accident.  This injured driver was transported to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto to recover from his injuries.  This driver was reported to be in critical condition.  As a patient in critical condition, the driver's vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits and indicators are unfavorable as to his recovery, but are still possible as a result of this car accident.  Although there is no indication one way or the other, the other driver may be unconscious as a result of the car accident.  While any further facts are still unclear, the other driver suffered severe injuries which could have included brain injury, brain trauma, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and severe bleeding from the head.  Any and all of these injuries will most likely affect the injured driver and his family for his entire life.

Therefore, if you or a loved one has been injured in a car or vehicle accident in Fresno, please contact one of our experienced and knowledgable Fresno Car Accident Attorneys who are available 24-hours a day to offer you a free consultation.

In Northern California, including Fresno County, free rides are being offered to those individuals who were drinking during the 2009 Steelers vs. Cardinals Super Bowl 2009.

During the 2008 Super Bowl, the California Highway Patrol reported that in California alone, twelve (12) people were killed in alcohol related motor vehicle accidents.  This number of fatalities is three times above California's State average.  In addition to these twelve motor vehicle fatalities, there were also one-hundred sixy-seven alcohol related motor vehicle accidents.  The California Highway Patrol also reported that four-hundred and 3 people were arrested for drunk driving.

For those individuals who were arrested for a first time DUI conviction in California, an individual may have to spend up to $12,000 in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees, and added insurance expenses.

To help combat this, the American Automobile Association (AAA) offers a free ride home after the Super Bowl for both you and your vehicle.  The AAA is extending this offer to individuals who aren't AAA members, to reduce fatalities, injuries, and pain and suffering this Super Bowl weekend. 

This free ride service is offered from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Feb. 2 in Northern California, including Fresno County.  The people who may call for this ride can include drivers, potential passengers, party hosts, bartenders, and restaurant managers. 

Simply call 800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) and tell the operator, "I need a Tipsy Tow," and a truck will offer a free one-way tow for the driver and vehicle to the driver's home, up to five miles.

If you or a loved one was injured by a drunk driver in a car accident, truck accident, motorycle accident in Fresno, please contact one of our Fresno Auto Accident Lawyers, Fresno Truck Accident Lawyers, and / or Fresno Motorycycle Accident Lawyers for a free confidential initial consultation.