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Crossing the Double Yellow Line-Mistake or Bad Choice?

Claude Wyle — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:12:03 GMT

For outraged commentary by friends and foes of bad biker Joe Silver who caused Harley rider Sam terrible fractures and other personal injuries, and caused the wrongful death of Ronda Anaya, check the link above. Our motorcycle accident attorneys represent the injured Harley rider Sam, and I can tell you that Sam is in agony both physically and emotionally every day. Whether he ever recovers enough to resume his profession is still up in the air, although it is certain that he will never walk normally or without pain. The heated debate referred to above revolves around how harshly the law should treat the rider who killed Ronda and injured Sam.

While many people do not like attorneys, and have very little respect for the civil justice system, it is clear that the criminal system is inadequate to change bad behavior by itself. Only if we make wrongdoers, both individual and corporate, 100% accountable for their actions will we ever be able to change bad behavior. I ride and my partner rides and my paralegal rides, and I can say honestly that the debate is not between cruisers or Harley riders and sport bike riders. Calling Joe Silver's actions in crossing over the double yellow line, around a curve at a high rate of speed a "mistake" is minimizing and belittling his bad conduct. Joe Silver made a conscious choice to pass that day, a choice that cost Ronda Anaya her life, and Sam his health and his ability to walk or earn a living. Any time a biker, whether a cruiser or a sport bike rider crosses that double yellow, they know that it is illegal and that it is dangerous. Still bikers pass over the double yellow, for various reasons. Full civil, along with full criminal, accountability is the key to making people responsible for their choices, and the civil justice system is the only system that is in place to help the survivors of motorcycle accidents. The criminal system puts people in jail and levies fines. But does it put food on the table of the survivors? No.

For more information on this subject matter please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Muni Bus Strikes Pedestrian

Claude Wyle — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:07:10 GMT

Early Tuesday morning, a Muni Bus struck a pedestrian at the corner of 6th and Market Street, in San Francisco, California. Passengers on the bus screamed at the driver to stop, but it was too late, the bus slammed right into the woman. The pedestrian survived, but suffered severe injuries. Police are currently investigating the incident, which is the 18th pedestrian versus Muni accident this year.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Medronic Pulls Defibrillator Wires Off Market

Claude Wyle — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:28:51 GMT

After reports of five deaths, Medronic, Inc., has pulled defibrillator wires of the market. These wires connect defibrillators to the heart. Medronic suspended sales of these wires because the wires can fracture. Fractured wires may result in release of an electrical jolt. Sometimes the jolt can cause mild discomfort; other times the jolt can result in serious injury or organ failure. Surgery to remove the wires may not be the solution, because heart surgery carries its own risks. Medtronic advises patients with the wire to contact their doctors.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Drugs, Medical Devices, and Implants.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

11-year-old Oakland Girl Killed By a Hit-and-Run Driver

Claude Wyle — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:12:09 GMT

Alana Williams, a sixth-grader at Frick Middle School in East Oakland, was killed on October 16, 2009, as she walked through a crosswalk at a busy intersection on her way to school.

Muni finds almost 10% of riders are fare cheats 10.19.09

She had gotten off an AC Transit bus around 8 a.m. and was struck in the crosswalk on 64^th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard by a car described only as black Lexus, approximately three to six yeas old.

The Lexus, also heading south on Foothill, struck the girl as it maneuvered around the bus and turned right onto 64th Avenue and kept driving, police said. Police did not know whether the Lexus had run the stop sign there.

Police have not located the driver of the Lexus, but are continuing to search.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Officer Bellusa with the Oakland Police Department's traffic investigation section at (510) 750-6594.

This story illustrates how important it is to protect our children with cameras and stoplights at unsafe intersections, as well as crossing guards and police presence if possible. Remember, too, that if you are hit by a motorist, whether you are walking or in your car, you may have insurance uninsured motorist coverage through your own auto policy. You should consult with a personal injury attorney who specializes in accidents. Making a claim will not heal the injuries caused by traffic accidents, but some compensation would certainly help with the expenses, medical bills and wage loss, as well compensation for pain and suffering.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Texas Toddler Bitten by Dog

Shannon Weidemann — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:09:00 GMT

A 2-year-old girl was bitten by a dog outside of her Tyler, Texas home and had to receive 80 stitches. The girl was outside with her mother when she left her mother's site and was attacked. The dog bites were on her head. The attack happened last Wednesday.

I come running around the house and there she was coming to find me. Her head was just blood was everywhere. Scared me I didn't know what happened. I could see her skull," said Stacie, "That is a mom's worst fear. Not knowing what happened to their kid and seeing their child in that kind of condition."

Five dogs were put down, including two of the family's pets. None of the dogs had a rabies shot. The little girl is now home and expected to recover completely.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Property Owners' Liability.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Drug May Protect Brain after Head Injury

Staff Writer — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 12:57:30 GMT

I'm an avid reader of Michael Kaplen's brain injury news and information blog. Michael is a New York attorney and the President of the Brain Injury Association of New York. Earlier this week, Michael brought my attention to the story of a study which shows that the drug Progesterone may help humans who have suffered brain trauma.

Because progesterone receptors are widely distributed in the central nervous system, and because progesterone appears to reduce brain swelling and prevent the loss of some nerve cells in animals studied after brain injury, researchers believe it will help humans with head trauma. Sexual effects wear off hours after the drug is administered. ("People are not interested in having sex in the intensive-care unit, anyway," Kellermann quips.)
In the human study, patients got progesterone for three days. Some patients with moderate brain injury were more likely to have better neurological outcomes if they got progesterone, the study found. A patient who got the drug might respond with confused speech to a friend, for instance, while a patient who did not get the steroid might remain unresponsive. Patients on progesterone had a lower 30-day mortality rate.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Deadly San Francisco Intersection Takes Another Life

Claude Wyle — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:27:55 GMT

Sloat and 19th Avenue is one of the most dangerous intersections in the city of San Francisco. Last year, this intersection claimed seven fatal injuries. Wednesday, two cars, in a head-on collision, claimed the life of a 21-year-old pedestrian. An unidentified mother and her toddler were also struck, but survived, with moderate injuries.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Digital Timers Recalled For Shock Hazard

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:01:00 GMT

Intermatic Inc., in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling 200,000 Heavy Duty Digital Timers because they may have a faulty ground connection which can pose a shock hazard to consumers.

The company has not received any reports of injury related to the recall.

Included in the recall are Intermatic DT17 heavy-duty lamp and appliance digital timers. The items were packaged as the “DT17C Heavy Duty Digital Timer” and the “DT17C8 Heavy Duty Digital Timer.” Only products with a date code of “40Z” through “52Z” or date codes ending in “A,” “B” or “C” is included in the recall.

The timers were sold nationwide at retailers and electrical distributors.

The agency advises consumers to immediately unplug the timer and to contact the company for a free replacement.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Intermatic at (800) 704-3595 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.intermatic.com

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Reckless Teen Kills Three in Deadly Auto Accident

Claude Wyle — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:58:33 GMT

Last night a reckless teenage driver took the lives of three others, as he raced at nearly triple the speed limit on a curvy road in Almaden Valley, San Jose. This auto fatality occurred when the reckless driver first struck an elderly couple who were pedestrians standing at the side of the road, and then smashed into two trees. The elderly couple, the driver, and his passenger all suffered fatal injuries. Police believe alcohol and inexperience to be the primary collision factors. Relatives of the victims should consult auto accident attorneys to discuss possible wrongful death claims, or how to make an uninsured motorist claim.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Trucking Accident Causes Fiery Freeway Accident

Claude Wyle — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:37:28 GMT

Two people suffered fatal injuries in a fiery pileup inside a Southern California freeway tunnel on Sunday night. Two trucks triggered the accident when they collided into each other, which led to a serious of chain-reaction accidents, involving at least 15 trucks. Ten people suffered serious injuries, and it took over 300 firefighters to extinguish the blaze.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Tractor-trailer accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle