Sacramento Injury Attorney Blog

News reports that a 24-year-old man from Eureka was killed in a drunk driving car accident last week on State Route 299. The accident occurred in the early morning hours, just east of Lord Ellis Summit. Reports indicate that Chad Elliot Scott was driving westbound on the road when his car was struck head on by another man's vehicle. The other driver had a level of intoxication above the legal limit and had allowed his vehicle to cross over the double yellow lines. Scott's passenger also sustained serious injuries.

If you have been injured in a car accident or drunk driving accident it is important to contact an experienced Sacramento drunk driving accident attorney to begin investigating the case and advise you on your crucial next steps.

Driver intoxication is one of the leading causes of car accidents in California and across the United States. Nearly 20,000 people are killed each year in alcohol related crash, with thousands more receiving serious injuries. In fact, 40% of all traffic deaths are related to drunk driving. When a drunk driving accident occurs, not only does a driver face criminal penalties as the result of his or her actions, but may also be held liable for injuries caused in a civil personal injury or wrongful death action.

A driver who operates his or her vehicle under the influence may be considered reckless or negligent. Victims injured by negligent drunk drivers face physical pain, medical bills, loss of wages, emotional distress and enjoyment of life. Where injuries are severe or permanent, families may experience economic loss and mental anguish. Where a death occurs, the survivors may bring a wrongful death claim for medical expenses, financial support, loss of love and companionship and in some cases, punitive damages.

Continue reading "Eureka Man Killed In Drunk Driving Accident" »

Oakland news reports that Sacramento Kings guard Francisco Garcia has filed a federal product liability lawsuit against the maker of a defective exercise ball. Garcia was using the ball while weightlifting when the ball exploded, dropping him to the floor and causing him to break his arm. As a result of his injury, Garcia was unable to play a full season and lost significant income.

If you have been injured while using a defective product, an experienced Sacramento products liability lawyer can provide you critical advice regarding your next steps and your right to compensation.

Under California law, a manufacturer may be liable for injuries caused by the use of a defective product where the defect exists before the manufacturer released a product and the defect causes your injury.

Defects are generally classified into three different types:

Design Defects - where the risk of harm is foreseeable and could have been prevented with a different design.

Manufacturing Defects - where an error in the manufacturing process causes a few to be defective. A manufacturer may be liable for failing to provide clear warning of the dangers.

Marketing Defects - where distributors or sellers of a product mislead consumers into buying a defective product.

Here, the lawsuit alleges that distributors should have known that the product was dangerous based on previous incidents and that distributors and sellers were deceptive in their advertising of the defective product.

Continue reading "Sacramento Kings Basketball Player Sues Ball Company In Product Liabilty Lawsuit" »

Allstate Insurance Company has issued it annual list of safest cities for driving - this includes ranking cities based on factors such as fewest car accidents and injuries. Unfortunately, Northern California cities did not rank very high. According to the list, San Francisco ranks 185, Sacramento 140, Stockton 102 and Modesto 91. ABC News cites traffic and busy freeways as reasons big cities don't fare as well on safety rankings.

If you have been involved in a car accident in California, it is important to contact a Sacramento auto accident attorney immediately to protect your rights and to determine your next steps. Even though filing a lawsuit may be the furthest thing from your mind, understanding the steps to take and talking to an experienced Sacramento car accident lawyer can provide you valuable guidance and preserve your options should you decide to file a lawsuit in the future.

Taking the top spot as America's safety driving city is Fort Collins. Fort Collins earned the number one spot for the second year in a row. Based on statistics, an average driver in Fort Collins will have a car accident once every 14 years - nationally the average is once every 10 years.

Many factors may lead to causing a car accident in Sacramento and throughout the country. These include driver error - sometimes caused by negligent or reckless driving such as distracted driving or driving while under the influence. In fact statistics now place distracted driving as causing 80% of all accidents. Drunk driving also leads to significant number of accidents, with DUIs causing nearly 40% of all traffic deaths.

Other causes of auto accidents include defective auto parts - with a record number of recalls blamed this year on parts that were not properly tested or failed to perform as intended. In these situations, it may be possible to file a California product liability lawsuit and recover damages for injuries sustained as the result of a defective part. Another potential contributor to Sacramento car accidents is negligent roadway design. In certain circumstances the design of the road itself may cause an accident, with inadequate signage, improper warnings or lack of proper safety considerations.

Continue reading "Sacramento Car Accidents High On Allstate List " »

KSEE 24 News out of Fresno and Visalia reports that a 32-year-old Encino man has been arrested in a fatal DUI accident that occurred last weekend. Sancho Kibufu was allegedly driving under the influence on Golden State Boulevard in Madera when his car went across the centerline, hitting a car carrying four teenage boys from Chowchilla. Three of the boys suffered serious injuries and one was killed. Kibura is being charged with vehicular manslaughter.

If you have been injured in a car accident, including a drunk driving auto accident it is important to contact an experienced Sacramento auto accident attorney to determine your next steps. Not only do drunk drivers face criminal penalties, but they may also be liable in civil actions for personal injury and wrongful death.

Drunk driving injury accidents are far too common. Statistics provided by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reveal that 17,013 people were killed due to alcohol related car accidents in 2005, representing forty percent of the nation's total traffic deaths. This figure has likely increased since last reported.

Where a victim dies as the result of a drunk driving auto accident, families are torn apart without any warning and suffer an unimaginable loss. Although speaking to a drunk driving accident attorney may be the furthest thing from your mind, it is crucial in order to protect your right to obtain compensation. In many situations, survivors may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages for medical bills, mental anguish and the loss of companionship.

Continue reading "Encino Man Arrested In Fatal Car Crash Involving Chowchilla Teens" »