2010 July Archive

Car crashes can occur in any number of ways. According to a San Francisco Examiner article, a recent auto accident involving a San Mateo man did not involve another motorist, but a Pacifica home owner’s garage. Reportedly, the 25-year-old driver of the vehicle lost control of his SUV immediately before crashing into the detached garage. Luckily, no one was injured during the incident, including the 25-year-old motorist. Investigation into the cause of the San Mateo County vehicle accident is underway.

Regardless of the cause of an accident, San Mateo motorists involved in Northern California car crashes may want to retain the services of an experienced San Mateo County auto accident attorney to ensure that the circumstances of the accident are thoroughly examined. Sometimes, the true cause of an accident is not immediately evident, and it may appear as though one party was responsible for the accident when in fact multiple parties are liable.

Car accidents in San Mateo and throughout Northern California may be caused by a defective vehicle part that alters a motorist’s ability to control or maneuver the car, thus leading to an accident that could potentially cause personal injury. Regardless of whether a faulty car component or a negligent driver causes an accident, it is important for professionals to thoroughly investigate an accident and utilize accident reconstruction to determine a collision’s precise cause.

If you’ve been involved in a San Mateo car accident, get in contact with an experienced San Mateo personal injury lawyer with experience handling auto accident cases. At Van Der Walde & Associates, our San Mateo car accident attorneys will examine the circumstances surrounding your accident and protect your rights as an accident victim. For more information and a free consultation, please call 877-862-6288.

A recent Greyhound bus crash in Fresno, California has left six people dead and several injured, according to a MSNBC news report. The bus was carrying 47 total passengers at the time of the crash, which occurred at 2:14AM PST. Two other vehicles were involved in the Central Valley bus accident, and it is still unclear whether or not the six fatality victims and others injured were all passengers on the bus, or motorists/passengers from one or both of the other two vehicles involved. Those injured were transported to Fresno Community Regional Medical Center for treatment. Although the number of individuals injured was not known at the time of this article’s release, KMPH-TV did report that a total of nine people were taken to the hospital, but this number has not been confirmed.

The Fresno Greyhound bus crash is still being investigated, but the California Highway Patrol did report that the bus driver attempted to avoid an overturned vehicle prior to losing control of the bus. As a consequence, the bus crashed into a concrete divider and hit one of the two other involved vehicles. Further details of the crash will undoubtedly reveal themselves in the coming days, as investigators attempt to determine whether or not any other factors played a contributing role in the California bus accident. If it is determined that negligence played a role in the collision, then the party or parties responsible for said negligence may be held liable for their actions in a court of law.

The Fresno bus accident attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates send their condolences to the victims and families affected by this tragic accident. For more information about bus accidents, please don’t hesitate to contact our Northern California personal injury attorneys today at 877-862-6288.

According to Santa Cruz’s local CBS-affiliate, KION-46, a 19-year-old motorcyclist was involved in an accident with a Ford Expedition being driven by a 31-year-old motorist. Reportedly, the driver of the Expedition was stopped at an intersection waiting to make a left-hand turn while traveling northbound. The teenage motorcyclist, traveling eastbound, was unable to make a controlled stop, lost control of his bike, and crashed into the driver’s side of the SUV as it was turning. Unfortunately, the extent of injuries sustained by the 19-year-old was too great, and the teenager was pronounced dead at Natividad Medical Center.

While no further details surrounding this Northern California vehicle accident were made available, a more thorough investigation will undoubtedly take place in order to determine as accurately as possible exactly what happened.

The California Department of Transportation notes that there were 452,595 vehicle accidents in 2008, 3,113 of which led to the death of a vehicle occupant. In any traffic accident in California, it is essential that all available evidence is carefully examined to determine whether or not negligence contributed towards the accident and subsequent injuries or wrongful death. In some cases, dangerous road conditions may be deemed at least partially responsible for causing an accident. More specifically, if roads are not properly maintained by local municipalities and construction crews, then those roads may be dangerous to travel over for motorists. Motorists injured as a result of such improper maintenance may be able to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions in a court of law.

If you’ve been involved in a Santa Cruz motorcycle accident, your best course of action should always involve retaining the services of an experienced Santa Cruz personal injury lawyer. At Van Der Walde & Associates, our skilled Santa Cruz motorcycle accident attorneys will fight to ensure that your rights as an accident victim are not infringed upon. For more information and a free consultation, please call us today at 877-862-6288.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, what would have been a minor traffic stop turned into a San Jose car crash when a motorist attempted to flee police, ran a red light, and struck another vehicle, injuring a mother and her three children. Reportedly, the driver made an illegal right-hand turn at a red light, prompting a nearby police cruiser to take pursuit. Rather than stopping his vehicle though, the 24-year-old driver attempted to evade police, recklessly maneuvering his vehicle before striking the vehicle being driven by the 35-year-old mother.

Both drivers, along with a female passenger in the 24-year-old male’s car, sustained minor to moderate injuries. However, the impact was great enough that it practically tore the 35-year-old mother’s vehicle in half, and launched her 15-year-old daughter out of the car and into traffic. The 15-year-old was unable to recover from her injuries. At the time of this report, the woman’s 12 and 6-year-old sons, both passengers in the backseat, are listed in stable condition.

Reckless driving of any kind greatly increases the likelihood of personal injury and wrongful death accidents in San Jose and throughout Northern California. In the event that an individual is injured due to the negligent behavior of another motorist, the injured party has the right to seek damages from the individual or individuals who caused them harm.

If you’ve been involved in San Jose car accident, it is essential that you retain the services of an experienced San Jose personal injury attorney. At Van Der Walde & Associates, our San Jose car accident lawyers will examine the circumstances surrounding your accident, ensuring that all negligent parties responsible for your injuries are held accountable for their actions. For more information and a free consultation, please contact us today at 877-862-6288.

Fourth of July celebrations have already begun throughout Northern California. While a patriotic spirit is understandable, citizens must not overlook safety when choosing to use fireworks or other potentially dangerous objects. A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) study reveals that fireworks-related incidents were responsible for two deaths in 2009 and approximately 9,000 emergency room visits for injuries. According to the CPSC, throughout the 30 days near last year’s holiday, about 6,000 injuries involving fireworks were reported in which half of the injuries related to firecrackers, bottle rockets, and sparklers.

Consumers below the age of 20 are the most prone to fireworks injuries; however, the risk of serious injury or even death still exists for anyone within close proximity of fireworks or other pyrotechnics. Some common fireworks injuries and hazards include:

• Lacerations
• Burns
• Loss of Limbs
• Wrongful Death
• Residential Fires

Parental supervision is very important if legal fireworks are being used. Do not allow young children to ignite or tamper with fireworks or other gadgets. It is also crucial to never throw or point fireworks at another person. To find out more about how you can help prevent severe injuries related to fireworks this Fourth of July holiday, please refer to the CPSC’s website for consumer fireworks safety tips.

The San Jose personal injury attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates cannot stress enough the importance of consumer safety during the Independence Day holiday both in California and nationwide. Take every necessary precaution to keep your loved ones safe.