Sacramento Injury Attorney Blog

The L.A. Times reports that jurors awarded a man and his wife $39 million as the result of a truck accident that resulted in paralyzing injuries.

The man - a C.H.P. Officer - had pulled over a motorist on U.S. Highway 101 north of Ventura. While the C.H.P. Officer was conducting the stop, a truck crashed into them, killing the motorist and leaving the CHP Officer a paraplegic.

If you've been injured in any roadway accident, it's critical to contact an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer at once.

Here, the jury awarded the parents of the man who was killed $10.2 million in addition to the $39 million for the officer and his wife. The truck driver pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and transporting marijuana. Often several factors are at play when a trucking accident occurs, including driver error and road conditions. Other times the company that hired a negligent driver may be found at fault in addition to the driver. An experienced attorney can investigate the accident and determine all possible avenues of recovery.

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Parents of a 17-year-old Florida boy, Michael Sclawy-Adelman, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America after he died from heat exhaustion during a hike in the Florida Everglades.

A wrongful death is one caused by a negligent, careless, intentional or reckless act of another person or corporation. If you believe a loved one has died as the result of the negligence of another person or entity, an experienced California personal injury lawyer can discuss your options.

In the Florida case, the parents assert that the Boy Scouts were negligent in the care of Adelman - that they failed to "Be Prepared" as their motto states and that the BSA had failed to live up to its own standards. The complaint emphasizes the relationship between the organization, its members and their families, and the fact that the organization states that one of its own key virtues is trustworthiness. According to ABC News, family asserts that they trusted the scouts not to place their son in harms way, and to take the necessary steps if something should go wrong. Here, Adelman started showing signs of fatigue and distress, but the scouts pressed on.

This is not the first Boy Scout death. The L.A. Times reports that in the last 5 years, 32 Boy Scouts, adult leaders and invited guests have died in outdoor activities, including 3 California Boy Scout deaths from falls and electrocution.

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As the result of numerous fatal and serious California car accidents, Corte Madera has started the Start Smart safe driving program designed to teach teen drivers about road safety and the dangers of drunk driving. One person attending was from Novato High School where a drunk driving accident recently claimed the life of a classmate.

One method the Smart Start program uses to teach about the effects of drinking on your driving skills is to provide goggles that simulate the effects of being intoxicated. Wearing the goggles, students are instructed to try to complete common field sobriety tests. They also shown instructional - and frightening - films such as "Red Asphalt" designed to warn teens about the dangers of drink and driving, as well as distracted driving.

According to the Novato Patch, teens account for 14% of traffic deaths in California, with the most common reasons being drunk driving and distracted driving. Statistically distracted driving has been shown to be more dangerous than drunk driving due in large part to the frequency teens text and drive and the misguided belief that you can send "a quick text" without losing focus on the road.

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A 23-year-old California woman now faces a wrongful death lawsuit arising out of a car crash that killed CHP Officer Brett Oswald. Kaylee Ann Weisenberg was speeding and high on methamphetamine when the crash occurred. She was driving too fast when she turned a corner and lost control of her car. Oswald was out of his vehicle at the time, and was struck by his own patrol car after Weisenberg crashed into it. Oswald was a 21-year veteran of the CHP.

As a result of the fatal car accident, Weisenberg faces four criminal charges, including murder. Oswald's family has now filed a civil suit for personal injury, wrongful death and property damage. A wrongful death lawsuit can be brought by the family of a victim killed by the negligent, careless, intentional or reckless acts of another.

Under California law, the families of those killed in a wrongful death lawsuit are entitled to compensation including medical costs, funeral expenses, loss of love and companionship, lost financial support and in some cases, punitive damages. An experienced California personal injury attorney can advise you concerning your options.

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