Three Fatalities In Apparent DUI Crashes

Early Sunday morning, two construction workers were hit and killed by drunk drivers on the northbound 405 Freeway in Torrance.   According to KTLA news, citing official sources, the two cars entered a closed portion of the 405 freeway and collided with each other.  The vehicles then spun into the construction zone and struck the two construction workers, killing the two innocent victims.  The two workers, Ramon Lopez, 56, of Chino Hills, and Ricardo Zamora, 58, of Winchester, had been retained for the job through CalTrans.  

See the KTLA news story and video HERE.

Also on Sunday, a 42-year-old was reportedly killed by a DUI driver while pushing his bicycle in Lytle Creek.  The victim, Dondi Allen Quimby, was walking with a woman shortly before 1 a.m.  The alleged DUI driver,  twenty-year-old Matthew Harry Eldridge of Rancho Cucamonga, was arrested at 2:05 a.m. and booked for investigation of felony drunken driving and vehicular manslaughter.  According to the Press Enterprise, citing a CHP source, the area of Lytle Creek Road has a narrow shoulder and is very dark.

See the Press Enterprise story HERE.

In the first accident, it is almost incomprehensible that two drunk drivers would manage to crash into one another and then cause a multi-fatality accident involving two pedestrians.  If that were not enough, a third driver, also reportedly intoxicated, struck a pedestrian pushing a bicycle and killed him.  All three of these drivers will likely be facing wrongful death lawsuits by the families of Lopez, Zamora and Quimby.  Under California law, the surviving family members have the right to be compensated for the loss of the society, care, comfort, love, affection and support of their deceased relatives, if the deaths occurred because of negligence or during the commission of an unlawful act.  Assuming that Gomez, Casenta and/or Eldridge are convicted of felonies in relation to the happening of these collisions, any suit for wrongful death would necessarily receive priority trial setting preference by the court.  

Compensation for the victims of fatal automobile accidents caused by an intoxicated driver should be an important concern for all Californians.  When an intoxicated driver causes a tragic accident like the ones above, the responsible parties should be held accountable.  An Orange County wrongful death lawyer with experience at handling traffic collision cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has more than 21 years of experience handling Orange County personal injury cases, including those involving DUI drivers.   He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you lost a family member because of an intoxicated 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.

Fatal Santa Ana Collision May Involve Third Vehicle

An automobile accident in Santa Ana on Sunday afternoon took the life of a 19-year-old passenger.  According to the Orange County Register, the accident happened at about 2:25 p.m. at the intersection of Pacific and McFadden Avenue.  The decedent, identified as 19-year-old Daniel Iglesias, was the sole passenger in a Pontiac Grand Am that was traveling westbound on McFadden when the car apparently swerved to avoid a white minivan.  The minivan reportedly entered McFadden from Pacific, which dead ends with a stop sign at McFadden.  The Pontiac swerved into oncoming traffic and was struck by a large SUV.  Police are seeking help in identifying the driver of the white minivan, and anyone with information is asked to call the Santa Ana Police Department at 714-245-8665.

See the Orange County Register article and photographs HERE.

This tragic accident will require a great deal of investigation to determine responsibility.  It would appear from the Register article that conceivably the white minivan driver caused or at least contributed to the happening of this accident.  Assuming the minivan driver did not allow the Pontiac driver his right of way, since the van had a stop sign, then the driver may have caused this accident.  The driver of the Pontiac appears to have taken significant, evasive action which may have been necessitated by the minivan's sudden and perhaps unlawful presence on McFadden.  The law requires that a stopped driver proceed only when it is reasonably safe to do so, especially when there is no signal or stop sign for cross-traffic.  One other issue that frequently comes up in situations like this is "line of sight" and whether the stopped driver has a sufficient opportunity to see cross-traffic as it approaches.

Compensation for the victims of serious or fatal automobile accidents caused by a careless driver and/or a dangerous roadway should be an important concern for all Californians.   When negligence and roadway conditions combine so as to cause a tragic accident like the one above, all of the responsible parties should be held accountable.   An Orange County auto accident lawyer with experience at handling traffic collision cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.   Mr. Ralph has more than 21 years of experience handling Orange County personal injury cases, including those involving dangerous roadways.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been the victim of a careless driver or dangerous roadway?

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.

5-Year-Old Severely Bitten By Dog In Anaheim

On Monday afternoon, a 5-year-old boy suffered serious facial injuries after being attacked by a neighbor's dog.  The incident apparently happened at about 1:45 p.m. when the boy was at a neighbor's house in the 1800 block of West Elm Avenue.  According to the Orange County Register, police arrived at the scene to find the boy had sustained "significant facial injuries."  The dog, reportedly a Labrador retriever mix, had no history of aggressive behavior, but was immediately euthanized by Orange County Animal Control.  

See the Orange County Register article HERE.

What this incident seems to demonstrate is that just about any breed of dog is capable of biting.  While we do not know the precise mix, Labrador retrievers are generally regarded as "kind" and "pleasant" dogs, and it seems surprising this attack occurred.  However, even a seemingly docile animal can attack with little to no provocation.  Under California law, the owner of a dog that bites is strictly liable for the injuries and damages the victim sustains, regardless of whether the dog has a aggressive propensity.  Because of this statute, most homeowner's insurance policies provide coverage for the dog owner, unless the particular breed of dog is excluded under the policy.  More and more, policies are being written to exclude more notorious breeds such as Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. 

Compensation for the victims of dog attacks should be an important concern for all Californians.  When an innocent victim, particularly a small child, is bitten and seriously injured by a dog, the dog's owner(s) should be held accountable for all of the injuries and damages suffered by the victim and their family.   An Orange County dog bite attorney with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has more than 21 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 the victim of a dog 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.

Six Dogs Attack Cyclists in Merced County

Two cyclists were attacked on Wednesday morning by a pack of six dogs in Delhi, a small town in Merced County.  One of the two victims, a 49-year-old man, was severely injured and had to be taken to the hospital where he received dozens of stitches.  The first victim was bitten on the ankle about 20 minutes earlier in the day.  The dogs included a Labrador retriever and five Pit Bulls or Pit Bull mixes.  The dogs were rounded up by Merced County Animal Control and their owners have been identified.  They apparently came from three different households.

See the KTLA news story HERE.


Under California's dog bite statute, the owners of the dogs involved in these two attacks will be held liable for the injuries and damages their dogs have caused.  The Merced County District Attorney's office may also file criminal charges against the owners depending on the precise circumstances and a determination of whether the dogs involved in the attacks had a history of aggressive behavior.  Once again, and not surprisingly, the dogs involved in a human attack were of the Pit Bull breed or at least a mix.  While all dog breeds are capable of aggressive behavior, Pit Bulls appear to have the greater tendency and certainly inflict some of the most serious injuries.  One of the mounting problems facing victims of such dog attacks is the fact that a number of dog owners have no insurance and no assets with which to compensate the victims.  Some homeowner's insurance policies even exclude aggressive breeds such as Pit Bulls and Rottweilers.


Compensation for the victims of dog bites should be an important concern for all Californians.  When an innocent victim is bitten and seriously injured by an aggressive dog or dogs, the dog's owner(s) should be held accountable for all of the injuries and damages suffered by the victim and their family.  An Orange County dog bite lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 21 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 the victim of a dog 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.

Teen Driver Crashes In San Bernardino Injuring Five

A 16-year-old driver apparently caused a crash in in San Bernardino that wrecked three vehicles and sent five to the hospital.  According to the Press Enterprise, the collision happened yesterday evening at about 6:45 p.m. when the teenager ran a red light at the intersection of Waterman Avenue and Ninth Street.   The teen driver was reportedly speeding east in a Ford Excursion SUV when he failed to stop at a red light and collided head-on with a Honda Accord.   The 16-year-old and the Honda's driver, 26-year-old Anselmo Barrajas,  were taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center.  The teen was listed in guarded condition, and Barrajas was in critical condition.  The driver and the passengers in the third vehicle were transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton where they were treated for minor injuries and released. 

See the Press Enterprise article HERE.

Once again, it appears a teen driver has caused an accident that is either a reflection of inexperience or recklessness.  According to the report, the 16-year-old ran a red light at the intersection and hit another vehicle head-on.  It is unknown whether excessive speed, alcohol or drugs played any role in the happening of the accident.  Teen drivers are notorious for exercising poor judgment behind the wheel and getting into accidents that could have been avoided.  While all of the facts of the above accident have yet to be revealed, tragic automobile collisions involving young and inexperienced drivers are all too common.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group.  In 2009, eight teens ages 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries.  Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.   

Compensation for the victims of serious or fatal automobile accidents caused by a teen or inexperienced driver should be an important concern for all Californians.  When a teenager operates their vehicle carelessly or recklessly so as to cause a tragic accident like the one above, they should be held accountable.  An Orange County auto accident lawyer with experience at handling traffic collision cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has more than 21 years of experience handling Orange County personal injury cases, including those involving teen drivers.   He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been the victim of an inexperienced 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.