Last night, a 2-year-old boy was attacked by a pit bull at a home in Fullerton. According to a story in the Orange County Register, the attack left the little boy with a 7-inch cut on his head. The unidentified boy was treated by paramedics before being transported to a nearby hospital. Apparently, when animal control officers arrived to look for the dog they also found marijuana being grown, and the Fullerton Police Department processed the house. According to the Register article, the boy's mother told police she was house sitting for a friend and did not live at the location.
See the Register article and photographs HERE.
Once again, an innocent child has fallen victim to a vicious pit bull attack. It is nothing short of infuriating that an animal with such a reputation for aggression is allowed, unrestrained and unsupervised, in the company of a small child. While it remains to be seen where on this boy's face the wound was inflicted, a 7-inch cut or bite wound could be disfiguring and noticeable for a lifetime. Only a number of months, if not years, of healing and perhaps scar revision can potentially erase the physical scars, but the emotional toll may last a lifetime. Assuming the homeowner/dog owner was covered by a policy of insurance (that did not specifically exclude coverage for pit bulls, which some policies do), this little boy would appear to be entitled to a substantial recovery, providing at least some form of compensation.
Compensation for the victims of vicious dog attacks should be an important concern for all Californians. When an innocent victim is attacked and seriously injured (physically and emotionally), the dog’s owner should be held accountable for all of the injuries and damages suffered. An Orange County injury attorney with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury cases, including just this type. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a family member been a victim of a dog bite or attack?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Cyclist in Orange County Seriously Injured
On Sunday evening, a 50-year-old bicyclist was seriously injured in an Orange County traffic accident. The cyclist, who has yet to be identified, was struck by a vehicle in Santa Ana and was taken to UCI Medical with critical injuries, necessitating emergency surgery. According to the report by the Orange County Register, the traffic accident was reported in the 100 block of North Euclid Street just after 6:15 p.m. Citing official sources, the Register reported the accident is still under investigation, and it is not clear if the bicyclist was in the street or in a crosswalk at the time of the collision. The driver was not arrested and apparently no citations were issued.
See the Orange County Register HERE.
The area of the accident appears to be relatively flat and the roadway is straight. It is unknown if the accident happened at or near an intersection or who had the right of way. Given the time of the accident, it may be that lighting or visibility of the rider played some role in the occurrence of the accident. One issue that should be considered in assessing responsibility and something all bicyclist should keep in mind, a bicycle operated during darkness must be equipped with all of the following:
(1) A lamp emitting a white light that, while the bicycle is in motion, illuminates the highway, sidewalk, or bikeway in front of the bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle.
(2) A red reflector on the rear that shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle.
(3) A white or yellow reflector on each pedal, shoe, or ankle visible from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet.
(4) A white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the center of the bicycle, and a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except that bicycles that are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with these side reflectors.
(California Vehicle Code Section 21201)
Visibility of bike riders is often an issue when a traffic accident occurs. Those operating motor vehicles are rarely looking for bicyclists, and the likelihood a driver will see a cyclist at night (absent the above equipment) seems remote. Given the severity of the accident, the police department will likely do a detailed investigation and analysis to see if the driver was attentive and whether the bicyclist complied with the above statute.
Compensation for the victims of bicycle versus motor vehicle accidents caused by negligent drivers should be an important concern for all Californians. When a driver operates their vehicle without paying careful attention to the roadway, they should be held accountable for the injuries and damages they cause. An Orange County auto accident lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling Orange County automobile accident cases, including those involving bicycle accidents. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been injured or killed in a motor vehicle versus bicycle accident?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Hit-and-Run Driver Involved In Anaheim Crash
A woman was injured and transported to a local hospital this morning after a hit-and-run accident in the city of Anaheim. According to a report by the Orange County Register, the male driver of a Chevrolet Cavalier apparently made a left turn into the path of an oncoming Honda Civic just before 11:00 a.m. today. The accident happened on Euclid Street near its intersection with Catherine Drive in Anaheim. As a result of the impact, the Civic struck a parked car. Fortunately, a 1 -year-old in the Civic was uninjured. The driver of the Cavalier fled the scene of the accident on foot and has yet to be located.
See the Orange County Register article HERE.
The law in California is clear, a left turning driver may only make and continue their turn so long as it is reasonably safe to do so. Under the California Vehicle Code, "The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left at an intersection or into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles which have approached or are approaching from the opposite direction and which are so close as to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to such approaching vehicles until such time as the left turn can be made with reasonable safety.." From the fact the collision occurred and the driver of the Cavalier fled the scene (possibly demonstrating consciousness of guilt), it would appear the Vehicle Code was violated and hit-and-run driver would be liable for the injuries and damages he sustained. Beyond that, he may well have committed a crime in that he left the scene of an injury accident without properly identifying himself or attempting to render aid to the other driver.
Compensation for the victims of automobile accidents caused by negligent drivers should be an important concern for all Californians. When a driver operates their vehicle in violation of the law, they should be held accountable for the injuries and damages they cause. An Orange County auto accident lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling Orange County automobile accident cases, including those involving drivers making illegal turns. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been injured or killed by a left-turning driver?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
See the Orange County Register article HERE.
The law in California is clear, a left turning driver may only make and continue their turn so long as it is reasonably safe to do so. Under the California Vehicle Code, "The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left at an intersection or into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles which have approached or are approaching from the opposite direction and which are so close as to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to such approaching vehicles until such time as the left turn can be made with reasonable safety.." From the fact the collision occurred and the driver of the Cavalier fled the scene (possibly demonstrating consciousness of guilt), it would appear the Vehicle Code was violated and hit-and-run driver would be liable for the injuries and damages he sustained. Beyond that, he may well have committed a crime in that he left the scene of an injury accident without properly identifying himself or attempting to render aid to the other driver.
Compensation for the victims of automobile accidents caused by negligent drivers should be an important concern for all Californians. When a driver operates their vehicle in violation of the law, they should be held accountable for the injuries and damages they cause. An Orange County auto accident lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling Orange County automobile accident cases, including those involving drivers making illegal turns. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been injured or killed by a left-turning driver?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Distracted Drivers Causing Deadly Accidents
Once again, a post-accident investigation has revealed that a tragic, fatal accident was caused by driver distraction. In a multi-fatality accident in Missouri, a 19-year-old pickup truck driver had texted 11 times in the 11 minutes prior to the accident, including one just before the impact. The Associated Press/Yahoo News, has reported a federal investigation into a multiple vehicle accident has revealed the pick-up driver (traveling approximately 55 miles per hour) had texted just prior to driving his vehicle into the back of a tractor truck, setting off a chain collision involving two school buses. The pickup driver and a 15-year-old student aboard one the buses were killed, and 38 more were injured.
See the AP/Yahoo story HERE.
According to the California DMV website, driver distractions are the leading cause of most vehicle crashes and near-crashes. Citing a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), the DMV reported that 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involve some form of driver distraction. The distraction occurred within three seconds before the vehicle crash!
According to the NHTSA and VTTI study, the principal actions that cause distracted driving and lead to vehicle crashes are:
• cell phone use.
• reaching for a moving object inside the vehicle.
• looking at an object or event outside of the vehicle.
• reading.
• applying makeup.
As more and more people purchase smart phones and other similar, electronic devices, it seems a logical inference the number of distraction-related auto accidents will climb. Behind the wheel of a 4 thousand pound vehicle is not the place to try one's hand at multi-tasking. In spite of this, nearly one in a hundred drivers on the road at any one time are texting, e-mailing or otherwise using an electronic device, according the National Highway Safety Administration. How many tragic automobile accidents could be avoided if drivers simply focused on the road while driving?
Compensation for the victims of automobile accidents caused by distracted drivers should be an important concern for all Californians. When a driver operates their vehicle while texting, e-mailing or surfing the web, they should be held accountable for the injuries and damages they cause. An Orange County injury lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling Orange County automobile accident cases, including those involving distracted drivers. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been injured or killed by a distracted driver?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
See the AP/Yahoo story HERE.
According to the California DMV website, driver distractions are the leading cause of most vehicle crashes and near-crashes. Citing a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), the DMV reported that 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involve some form of driver distraction. The distraction occurred within three seconds before the vehicle crash!
According to the NHTSA and VTTI study, the principal actions that cause distracted driving and lead to vehicle crashes are:
• cell phone use.
• reaching for a moving object inside the vehicle.
• looking at an object or event outside of the vehicle.
• reading.
• applying makeup.
As more and more people purchase smart phones and other similar, electronic devices, it seems a logical inference the number of distraction-related auto accidents will climb. Behind the wheel of a 4 thousand pound vehicle is not the place to try one's hand at multi-tasking. In spite of this, nearly one in a hundred drivers on the road at any one time are texting, e-mailing or otherwise using an electronic device, according the National Highway Safety Administration. How many tragic automobile accidents could be avoided if drivers simply focused on the road while driving?
Compensation for the victims of automobile accidents caused by distracted drivers should be an important concern for all Californians. When a driver operates their vehicle while texting, e-mailing or surfing the web, they should be held accountable for the injuries and damages they cause. An Orange County injury lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling Orange County automobile accident cases, including those involving distracted drivers. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been injured or killed by a distracted driver?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Pepper Spray Incident at Walmart Could Have Been Avoided
KTLA news is reporting that the woman suspected of perpetrating the pepper spray incident during a Walmart Black Friday sale may have acted out of necessity. According to the story, a Los Angeles Police official is quoted as having said, "There was no control. People were getting stampeded and trampled. There were people screaming, yelling that they were being trampled or crushed. This woman may have fired her pepper spray in self-defense." Initially, media reports and public sentiment seemed to suggest 32 year-old Elizabeth Macias had acted out of malice or a reckless desire to secure an X-Box console during a buying frenzy. This may not have been the case.
See the KTLA news story HERE.
When a business owner creates or at least allows a potentially volatile situation to exist on their property, ultimately causing injury to someone, they may be held liable. Under California law, in general a business owner has a duty to use reasonable care to protect patrons from another person's harmful conduct on the owner's property if the business can reasonably anticipate such conduct. In the case above, it seems a reasonable inference that Walmart could foresee a Black Friday sale of X-Box consoles, if not well controlled, could get out of hand and lead to customer injuries. Beyond this, assuming that store employees actually witnessed the shoppers were getting unruly and acting aggressively toward one another before the release of the pepper spray, then Walmart could be liable for failing to intervene in time to avoid the injuries that followed.
Compensation for the victims of criminal assaults, occurring on business property, should be an important concern for all Californians. When a business patron is injured because protective measures were not taken by a business owner, the owner should be held accountable and compensation paid to the victim. An Orange County injury lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury cases, including just this type. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a family member been a victim of an assault that could have been prevented?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
See the KTLA news story HERE.
When a business owner creates or at least allows a potentially volatile situation to exist on their property, ultimately causing injury to someone, they may be held liable. Under California law, in general a business owner has a duty to use reasonable care to protect patrons from another person's harmful conduct on the owner's property if the business can reasonably anticipate such conduct. In the case above, it seems a reasonable inference that Walmart could foresee a Black Friday sale of X-Box consoles, if not well controlled, could get out of hand and lead to customer injuries. Beyond this, assuming that store employees actually witnessed the shoppers were getting unruly and acting aggressively toward one another before the release of the pepper spray, then Walmart could be liable for failing to intervene in time to avoid the injuries that followed.
Compensation for the victims of criminal assaults, occurring on business property, should be an important concern for all Californians. When a business patron is injured because protective measures were not taken by a business owner, the owner should be held accountable and compensation paid to the victim. An Orange County injury lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury cases, including just this type. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a family member been a victim of an assault that could have been prevented?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Fire Captain Sentenced For DUI Accident
Just last Tuesday a Long Beach Fire Department captain was sentenced to time in jail and probation after pleading guilty to severely injuring a bicyclist while driving intoxicated. According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, John David Hines of Orange County (Huntington Beach) was driving with a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit when the accident happened. In addition to the one year in jail and the five years of probation, Hines was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $102,000.00 to the victim. The incident happened on April 1st after Hines became intoxicated at the Schooner or Later restaurant in Long Beach before driving erratically, losing control and crashing into a 47 year-old cyclist in Orange County.
See the Los Angeles Times story HERE.
It only takes a moment for a drunk driver to take a life or alter one forever. The victim in the crash above, Jeffrey Gordon, was treated for head trauma, severe lacerations and bruising to his head and body, internal injuries, and spinal and vertebrae injuries. Gordon remained in the hospital for two weeks and continues to suffer pain as a result of his injuries. Gordon apparently filed a victim impact statement, with the court in which he describes the severity of his injuries and the changes in his life since the accident. In addition to the ordered restitution, Gordon has civil remedies at his disposal which may allow him to recover at least some semblance of compensation for the devastation to his life.
Compensation for the victims of drunk driving accidents should be an important concern for all Californians. When a driver operates their vehicle while under the influence and causes a serious or fatal accident, they should be held accountable. An Orange County auto accident lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years years of experience handling Orange County automobile accident cases, including those involving intoxicated drivers. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been severely injured by a drunk driver?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
See the Los Angeles Times story HERE.
It only takes a moment for a drunk driver to take a life or alter one forever. The victim in the crash above, Jeffrey Gordon, was treated for head trauma, severe lacerations and bruising to his head and body, internal injuries, and spinal and vertebrae injuries. Gordon remained in the hospital for two weeks and continues to suffer pain as a result of his injuries. Gordon apparently filed a victim impact statement, with the court in which he describes the severity of his injuries and the changes in his life since the accident. In addition to the ordered restitution, Gordon has civil remedies at his disposal which may allow him to recover at least some semblance of compensation for the devastation to his life.
Compensation for the victims of drunk driving accidents should be an important concern for all Californians. When a driver operates their vehicle while under the influence and causes a serious or fatal accident, they should be held accountable. An Orange County auto accident lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years years of experience handling Orange County automobile accident cases, including those involving intoxicated drivers. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been severely injured by a drunk driver?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Urgent Care Doctor Accused of Molesting Patients
According to a recent KTLA news story, an urgent care doctor at Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Group has been arrested and now stands accused of sexually molesting a number of his female patients. The doctor, Ramon Fawzi Fakhoury, 35, has only been in practice in California since 2003. The alleged assaults reportedly took place in June and July of this year. One of the alleged victims is a 32-year-old woman who was treated by Fakhoury for chest pain in July. Two days after she was seen, the alleged victim reported to police that Fakhoury sexually assaulted her during the exam. Fakhoury is now facing eight felony charges, and the Attorney General's office has filed a formal Accusation against him with the California Medical Board, claiming professional misconduct involving at least four patients. Authorities say there may be additional victims.
See the KTLA news story HERE. You can also review the documents filed with the Medical Board HERE.
The information on the Medical Board's website indicates Fakhoury is a graduate of a Caribbean medical school who has only been licensed as a physician for eight years. It does not appear he had any history of discipline as of the time he reportedly molested at least four patients while working at the Loma Linda urgent care facility. However, it is unknown what history of similar incidents may have been reported to other employers or medical groups with whom Fakhoury worked in the past. According to the Medical Board's investigation, Fakhoury only worked at the Loma Linda urgent care for two months, between June and July of this year. The Medical Board's website lists Fakhoury as practicing in family medicine, with no apparent board certification. Assuming the truth of the allegations against him, Fakhoury could be facing considerable civil and criminal responsibility for the sexual assaults. It remains to be seen whether Loma Linda University was negligent in hiring, training and/or supervising Fakhoury so as to cause or contribute to the happening of these incidents.
Compensation for victims of sexual assault perpetrated by a physician should be an important concern for all Californians. When a doctor molests a patient and causes them physical and/or emotion harm, they should be held accountable. An Orange County medical malpractice lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has over 20 years of experience handling personal injury and medical malpractice cases, including just this type. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been the victim of a sexual assault at the hands of a doctor?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above.This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
See the KTLA news story HERE. You can also review the documents filed with the Medical Board HERE.
The information on the Medical Board's website indicates Fakhoury is a graduate of a Caribbean medical school who has only been licensed as a physician for eight years. It does not appear he had any history of discipline as of the time he reportedly molested at least four patients while working at the Loma Linda urgent care facility. However, it is unknown what history of similar incidents may have been reported to other employers or medical groups with whom Fakhoury worked in the past. According to the Medical Board's investigation, Fakhoury only worked at the Loma Linda urgent care for two months, between June and July of this year. The Medical Board's website lists Fakhoury as practicing in family medicine, with no apparent board certification. Assuming the truth of the allegations against him, Fakhoury could be facing considerable civil and criminal responsibility for the sexual assaults. It remains to be seen whether Loma Linda University was negligent in hiring, training and/or supervising Fakhoury so as to cause or contribute to the happening of these incidents.
Compensation for victims of sexual assault perpetrated by a physician should be an important concern for all Californians. When a doctor molests a patient and causes them physical and/or emotion harm, they should be held accountable. An Orange County medical malpractice lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has over 20 years of experience handling personal injury and medical malpractice cases, including just this type. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been the victim of a sexual assault at the hands of a doctor?
Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above.This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
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