Posts Tagged ‘ Pedestrian Accidents’

Dog Bites Maim 6-Month-Old Baby in Attack

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

A six-month-old baby boy’s testicles were severed recently when two dogs attacked him as he lay unattended in a baby carrier on the floor in a Murrieta apartment. The boy and his mother were at a friend’s apartment when a five-year-old pit bull and an eight-month-old pit bull mix attacked. According to the mother, the baby had been in the carrier for ten minutes. She said she had checked on him once, and he was fine, but approximately three minutes later, she heard the baby screaming and ran to the room to find that her friend’s dogs had ripped off the boy’s diaper and bitten the baby in the groin area.

The baby went to Rancho Springs Medical Center in Murrieta for treatment, and the dogs were euthanized. Pit bulls have been banned in some cities, but the State of California has taken a different approach. Instead of banning pit bulls and other breeds of dogs with reputations for aggressiveness, the state penalizes the owners of dangerous dogs. Unlike many states, in California, owners can be held liable when their dogs attack another person without evidence of negligence.

Los Angeles dog bite lawyers like Samer Habbas witness firsthand the terrible injuries that aggressive dogs can cause. He is an advocate for victims of vicious dog attacks and helps families recover the compensation they are entitled to under the law for injuries caused by dog bites. If you would like to speak with an experienced Southern California dog bite attorney, call 888.848.5084 to schedule a free initial consultation with Samer Habbas.

Resource link: Dog Bites Maim 6-Month-Old Baby in Attack

Pedestrian Rights and Duties

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Keeping safe on the street is everyone’s responsibility. Keeping the streets safe for pedestrians is the responsibility of government agencies such as the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Motor vehicle drivers must observe laws enforced by the state of California and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Pedestrians are not exempt from observing regulations also offered by the DMV. In fact, the DMV has published a list of pedestrian responsibilities on their website. Some of these include:

  • Obey traffic signals.

  • Be aware of traffic conditions.

  • Watch out for hybrid vehicles because they operate silently.

  • If there are no traffic signs, let the vehicles have the right-of-way

  • Make sure an intersection is clear before you attempt to cross a street.

  • Do not hold up traffic while crossing the street.

  • Do not cross a bridge or highway unless there is a sidewalk and you are permitted to cross.

  • Walk facing oncoming traffic if there are no sidewalks.

  • Wear light clothing and carry a flashlight when walking at night.

Now that you understand what a pedestrian’s duties are, it is important to know what a pedestrian’s rights are also.

The California Vehicle Code directs the rights of pedestrians while outlining the responsibilities of government agencies to maintain safe passages. Keeping pedestrian areas safe is critical to ensuring people are not injured or die because of negligence. If an accident should occur, the victim or his or her immediate family has the right to seek the help of an Orange County injury lawyer to sue for damages.

Chapter 5 Division 11 of the California Vehicle Code represents similar regulations to the ones listed in the Pedestrian Responsibilities. However, the Code also includes these rights:

  • Pedestrians have the right to convenient access and travel without being injured.

  • Vehicles should yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at crosswalks and sidewalks.

  • Vehicles shall exercise care while reducing speed to ensure pedestrian safety.

  • When a vehicle has stopped at a crosswalk, the driver in the rear may not overtake the vehicle in front.

Samer Habbas Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

At the Law Offices of Samer Habbas, we stay current on the vehicle and pedestrian regulations that affect the safety and welfare of California residents. We want to hear from you if you have been hurt as a pedestrian in a motor vehicle accident. We can help you recover compensation for your injuries. Call us for a free consultation at 888.848.5084 or complete the web form for a prompt response.

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.

Man Struck by Two Cars and Killed in Anaheim Pedestrian Accident

Monday, January 4th, 2010

The Orange County Register reported that two vehicles on Western Avenue near Tyler Avenue fatally struck an Anaheim man in a pedestrian accident around 8 p.m. on Nov. 22. Anaheim police say the 35-year-old victim was crossing the street when he was struck by one car and was thrown into the path of another that also struck him. Police say that the man was first hit by a Toyota Camry northbound on Western Avenue traveling around 40 mph. Witnesses said that the victim was able to get up after being struck by the Camry, but was struck and killed by a Toyota RAV4 southbound in the No. 1 lane of Western Avenue.

Accident investigators said that the RAV4’s driver saw the victim and tried to avoid striking the man, but was unable to swerve out of the way in time. The Anaheim pedestrian accident victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The pedestrian accident is still under investigation.

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Costa Mesa Man Ordered to Stand Trial for Newport Beach Pedestrian Accident

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

A Costa Mesa driver will stand trial for allegedly striking and killing a pedestrian with his car after texting on his cell phone while driving. As recounted in this Los Angeles Times article, an Orange County judge rejected the driver’s defense request to reduce the charges after prosecutors suggested that the man’s use of his cell phone and other factors suggested he was operating his vehicle in a negligent manner.

The 42-year-old driver was charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Prosecutors produced phone records that indicated that the driver had been sending and receiving text messages for 30 minutes before the Newport Beach pedestrian accident occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Westcliff Drive near Dover Drive in Newport Beach. The accident victim was reportedly struck and killed while crossing the street in a marked crosswalk.

One accident witness told police officials that just before the accident occurred, the driver behind the Costa Mesa driver had to honk his horn to get the driver to notice that the light had changed to green.

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