Archive for January, 2010

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Worker Struck and Injured by Falling Object at John Wayne Airport

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

A 30-year-old construction worker at the new parking structure of the John Wayne Airport incurred injuries when a falling piece of metal struck his head early in the morning on Nov. 30. The Orange County Register reported that emergency personnel transported the worker to a nearby hospital. The accident investigators reported that the worker was wearing his hardhat at the time of the accident. The severity of his injuries was unknown at the time of publication.

“He was conscious, so that’s hopefully a good sign,” one investigator said.

The construction worker was on site at the airport’s new parking structure when the accident was reported at 10:35 a.m. Investigators said that the man was part of a crew driving hundreds of steel-reinforced piles into the ground for the parking structure. They said that the victim was standing on the ground near a pile rig when a metal object fell and struck his hardhat. The accident is currently under investigation by airport officials who said they notified OSHA. Investigators did not yet know what the metal object was or how far it had fallen before it struck the man.

(more…)

Police Seek Hit-and-Run Driver in Fatal Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Southern California Public Radio reports that law enforcement authorities are looking for the driver of a van who struck and killed a motorcycle rider in South Los Angeles. Emergency response personnel pronounced the motorcyclist dead at the scene of the accident. A representative for the Los Angeles Police Department’s South Traffic Division said that the Los Angeles motorcycle accident occurred at 8:48 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the intersection of 120th and South Main Streets. LA police say the van was westbound on 120th Street when the driver “blew a red phase tri-light and struck the motorist, who was riding south on Main Street,” according to one LAPD detective.

Police say that they are looking for a white Dodge van made in the 1980s “with a blue stripe running down the middle of the vehicle.”

The age, name and address of the victim of this Los Angeles motorcycle accident was not available at the time of publication, but his motorcycle was as a 2001 Suzuki 750cc model. (more…)

Pedestrian v. Hit and Run Motor Vehicle – $240,000.00 Settlement

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Attorney Samer Habbas resolved a pedestrian hit and run at the University of Southern California for $240,000.00.  Client was a pedestrian crossing in a cross-walk when he was struck by a vehicle.  The collision caused him to suffer a pelvic fracture.  The injury did not require surgery or physical therapy.  Although the hit and run driver was never located, Attorney Samer Habbas was able to resolve the claim for $240,00.00 with the client’s own insurance company under his Uninsured Motorist coverage.

This case shows the importance of carrying uninsured motorist coverage in the state of California.  Even though the client was not in a motor vehicle at the time, his uninsured motorist coverage still applied to pay for his damages.  Many individuals including this client did not have knowledge that uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage applied for pedestrian accidents.  Furthermore, it was beneficial to this client that he carried an uninsured motorist policy that had substantial limits, making it possible for him to achieve just settlement for his injuries regardless of the unknown identity of the driver that struck him.  If you are reading this, you should take the time to immediately check your own policy to see if you are protecting yourself and your family in the event that they are struck by an uninsured or underinsured driver.  Should you have any questions regarding your policy, please contact The Law Offices of Samer Habbas  and we will assist you in making sure you have the proper insurance coverage.

"Very Pleased with My Settlement… Thank You Samer Habbas"

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

I was very happy with the way my case was handled at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas.  I felt that he handled my case very well.  I was very pleased with my settlement and feel that I settled for what I deserved.  I would like to thank you Samer Habbas for your services.

- L. Brown

Irvine Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Motorcyclist While Driving Drunk

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

The Los Angeles Times reports that an Irvine man who fled the country to avoid prosecution for killing a 23-year-old man riding a motorcycle while driving drunk has entered a guilty plea in connection with the case. The 42-year-old man fled to South Korea after striking and killing a motorcyclist in October 2005. The accused was reportedly driving his SUV on the 55 Freeway in Santa Ana with his headlights off late at night when he crashed into the center median on 55. After the man crashed his SUV, the motorcyclist could not see the vehicle and crashed into the rear of it, causing him to be thrown onto the freeway where he was run over by several vehicles.

Prosecutors in the case said that the man and six co-workers had drunk 14 bottles of a Korean rice wine called soju before they went to a karaoke bar and continued drinking the night of the accident. The Orange County district attorney’s office said that the man fled from the accident scene and boarded a flight for South Korea the next day. He was arrested on a fugitive warrant there in December 2008, and was returned to the United States to stand trial the following January. He could be sentenced to a maximum of nine years in a California state prison. (more…)

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