Man Arrested in Newport Beach Hit-and-Run

Newport Beach, CA—Authorities have made an arrest in the hit-and-run bicycle accident that killed a popular Irvine doctor on September 15, according to an ABC 7 news report.

Michael Jason Lopez of Anaheim was charged with hitting Catherine Ritz and fleeing the scene of the accident. Witnesses described a black pickup truck, and police believe they have recovered the vehicle involved in the Orange County auto collision.

Ritz was riding her bicycle with her husband along Newport Coast Drive near Ocean Vista when she was struck by the pickup, which fled without stopping to help. She was transported to a hospital in Mission Viejo, where she was pronounced dead.

Ritz was described by friends and colleagues as a caring and compassionate doctor who had worked hard to bring quality healthcare to Irvine residents. She is survived by a husband and family.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the victim's family, and my congratulations to the police for finding the driver involved in this accident.

Hit-and-Runs Responsible for Large Number of Deaths

Hit-and-run is more likely to occur at night and it is more likely when drivers are drinking, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, hit-and-run accidents can occur at any time, and they are responsible for many injuries and deaths in pedestrian and bicycle crashes.

The NHTSA estimates that at least eleven percent of all pedestrian fatalities are caused by hit-and-run drivers, and the California Highway Patrol states that 25 percent of all Los Angeles bicycle accidents are hit-and-run. Not all hit-and-run drivers are identified or arrested, although breakthroughs in forensic science have helped police find many drivers who fled the scene of an accident. However, eyewitness reports remain the primary method of finding hit-and-run drivers.

What Will Happen To This Driver?

When a driver commits a hit-and-run, there are two issues facing the authorities and victims. First, the authorities are responsible for charging the driver with criminal action. Hit-and-run is prohibited by California law and can result in much longer sentences than those cases in which the driver stays at the scene of the accident. According to California Criminal Code Section 20001, drivers can be charged with hit-and-run and punished by up to four years in prison for leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. This sentence is in addition to any penalties imposed for other charges stemming from the accident.

Liability Issues In A Hit-and-Run

Although the criminal charges are important, civil suits are also important if the victim is to collect any damages in payment of his or her injuries. Criminal courts do not award damages to the victim, although they are allowed to fine the driver for his or her actions. However, if the victim wants to collect money to pay for medical bills or pain and suffering, the victim must file a civil lawsuit.

A pedestrian accident attorney can help the victim recover these damages by filing a lawsuit for personal injury. Consult an expert Orange County personal injury attorney to discuss your case and determine the best course of action to follow to collect damages for your injuries.

Source: ABC News, “Arrest in Newport Beach hit-and-run accident,”

Five-Car Collision In Orange Leaves One Dead

A five-car collision yesterday morning in the City of Orange has left one woman dead and several others injured.  The accident happened at about 11:00 a.m. at the intersection of Tustin Street and Taft avenue, not too far from The Village mall.  According to news reports, a female driver who ran a red light and triggered the accident died at the scene.  That motorist, 30-year-old Xuan Tran, was apparently traveling eastbound on Taft toward its dead end at Tustin, and for some unknown reason drove through the red light at a high rate of speed without even turning her vehicle.  Tran's car, a small Toyota, then struck a red pickup truck heading south on Tustin which in turn hit another vehicle heading the opposite direction.  Anyone who witnessed the collision is urged to contact the Orange police at 714-744-7444.

See the Orange County Register article and photograph HERE.

It would be easy to assign responsibility for the accident to Tran and simply leave it at that.  However, this accident calls for a detailed investigation into Tran's actions and activities in the hours and minutes that led up to the accident. There are a host of possibilities as to why this young woman would have driven straight into cross-traffic at a dead end street: medical issues caused her to lose consciousness, a mechanical failure caused a steering/braking failure, driver inattention, texting while driving, etc.  In all likelihood, the Orange Police Department will perform a detailed mechanical inspection on the Tran vehicle to determine whether some sort of problem with the car contributed to the happening of this tragic collision.  In addition to that, the police will likely attempt to piece together the last days and/or hours of Tran's life to see if something might explain what could be considered suicidal or reckless actions. Among other things, this will entail some forensic toxicology to determine whether alcohol, medication or drugs played a role.

Compensation for the victims of auto accidents involving reckless or even careless  drivers should be an important concern for everyone.  When a driver like the one above runs a red light , for whatever reason, they or some other responsible party should be held accountable.  An Orange County traffic accident attorney with experience at handling intersection accident cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has more than 21 years of experience handling personal injury cases, including auto accidents caused by mechanical failures and reckless drivers.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been the victim of a serious or fatal automobile 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.

Deputy Sheriff Involved In Fatal Collision

According to news reports, a San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff was involved in a rearend, three-vehicle collision that killed a 38-year-old woman this weekend in Victorville.  The victim, Vanessa Rosales, reportedly died at a hospital approximately 45 minutes after the the crash at 8 p.m. on Sunday.  The collision happened on Air Expressway about a quarter-mile west of Village Drive.  The deputy's patrol car rearended a Honda, and that collision caused the Honda to veer into oncoming traffic where it struck a Mercedes.  Rosales was a passenger in the Honda, and the other two occupants sustained mild to moderate injuries.  The driver of the Mercedes, the sheriff's deputy and a juvenile prisoner all sustained minor injuries.  The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

See the Press Enterprise story HERE.

While this tragic accident is still under investigation, under California law there is a presumption of negligence on the part of the deputy sheriff.   Generally speaking, there is a permissible inference of negligence from the fact of a rear-end collision requiring some explanation or excuse from the driver of the rear car.   Ordinarily, in a collision in which a following motorist collides with the rear end of a vehicle ahead the happening of the accident s some evidence of negligence on the part of the following motorist.  In cases in which the rear car has collided with a stopped or stationary vehicle, the courts have applied the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur and have held that an inference arises that the collision was caused by some negligent conduct on the part of the driver of the rear car, which can be rebutted.  It is not clear from the description of the accident above whether the Honda was stopped when hit by the police cruiser, but there is at least an inference of negligence on the part of the deputy at this point.  The Rosales family and the other victims in this crash are entitled to a fair and complete investigation of the cause so the responsible party can compensate them as well as the law allows.

Compensation for the victims of preventable, rearend automobile accidents should be an important concern for everyone.  When a careless driver causes a crash and a death results,  he or she should be held accountable.   An Orange County wrongful death lawyer with experience at handling auto accident cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has more than 21 years of experience handling auto accident cases, including those involving rearending drivers.   He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been the victim of a serious or fatal rearend automobile 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.

Rollover Crash In Ontario Leaves Five Dead

Early this morning a horrific crash in Ontario left 5 young men dead after a rollover.  According to KTLA news, the accident reportedly happened at about 1:40 a.m. when the driver ran a red light on Haven Avenue south of Creekside Drive.  The vehicle flipped and ultimately came to rest in the backyard of a home.  One of the five occupants was ejected from the Nissan, and he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.  The four occupants who remained the in the car during the accident were all pronounced dead at the scene.  Investigators believe that alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash.

See the KTLA news story HERE.

The cause of this tragic crash will undoubtedly be investigated thoroughly by the responsible police agency.  Unfortunately, at this moment, it would appear to be a solo vehicle accident likely resulting from the driver's intoxication or other impairment.  A late night/early morning crash without an obvious cause, especially one involving a relatively young driver, is often presumed to be the result of drug or alcohol use.  A toxicology screen on the driver and a detailed accident reconstruction will enable the investigators to make a determination of the cause.  Regardless, this accident ended the lives of 5 young men way too early, and it can only be described as heartbreaking for their families.
Compensation for the victims of automobile accidents involving intoxicated or otherwise impaired drivers should be an important concern for everyone.   When an impaired driver causes a crash and lives are lost, like the accident above, he or she should be held accountable.  An Orange County wrongful death lawyer with experience at handling pedestrian accident cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.   Mr. Ralph has more than 21 years of experience handling auto accident cases, including those caused by impaired drivers.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been the victim of a serious or fatal automobile 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.