San Jose authorities are searching for a driver in a suspected hit-and-run accident that occurred early this morning.  The head-on collision killed two women.  Reports indicate that the women were riding in a Toyota Yaris and had taken a left when someone driving a Mercedes sedan slammed into the front of the car.  Just a few minutes earlier police had attempted to pull over the Mercedes sedan after they had seen it driving erratically.   The vehicle drove rapidly through a red light, turning left onto First St., at which point the officers decided not to engage in what they said would have been a risky pursuit on city streets.

If you or a loved one has been injured in any type of car accident – including head-on collisions – it is important to consult with a skilled Sacramento car accident attorney right away.  A knowledgeable car collision attorney can begin an investigation into all of the factors surrounding your case and help ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

The tragic deaths of the two women in this instance was compounded by the fact that the responsible driver fled the scene.    Most states including California require that a driver stop as soon as is safe following an accident.  California Vehicle Code Sec. 20001 provides that any driver regardless of fault must stop after an accident that involves property damage or personal injury and exchange identifying information.   In the event you are not the owner of the car, you must also provide the name and address of the registered owner. 

However, despite laws requiring drivers to stop, people may still flee the scene of an accident for a variety of reasons.  Many times, individuals simply panic and don’t know what to do.  They may be scared, but then later contact the authorities to report an accident.  Other times, a hit-and-run accident may be the result of drunk driving.  In these situations a driver may fear arrest and fail to stop, making the situation and potential penalties even worse.  Whatever the motivation, it’s always better to stop than to flee the scene of an accident.

In this instance, the driver fled on foot.  Police continue their investigation.

For more information, please contact a top Sacramento personal injury lawyer at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

Sacramento news reports that a Sacramento man died following a fatal car vs. bicycle accident on West Capitol Avenue in West Sacramento early last week. According to reports, both the vehicle and the bicyclist were travelling eastbound along the 2000 block of West Capitol when the collision occurred. The bicyclist swerved to avoid a large puddle and veered into the number two lane of traffic. The Sacramento man was then hit by a car. The bicyclist suffered major head trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene. Although the accident remains under investigation, weather conditions have been cited as a possible contributing factor whereas speed and alcohol do not appear to be involved.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Sacramento bicycle accident, it is important to seek the advice of a Sacramento bicycle accident lawyer right away. Many times, it may be possible to recover compensation for your injuries. Types of damages include medical expenses, lost past and future wages, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced Sacramento bike attorney can review your case and provide critical advice concerning your next steps.

While not all bicycle accidents and injuries from bicycle accidents can be avoided, several tips exists that may help improved the safety of California's roadways.

Some of these tips include:

For Bicyclists

• Always wear a helmet. Your chances of sustaining a life threatening injury or serious brain injury significantly decrease if your head is protected.

• Obey the rules of the road. Light signals and traffic signs apply to bicyclists as well as motorists. Use signals to alert motorists to your movements.

• Be on the look out for cars in driveways, cross streets and parking lots.

• Ride as if you're invisible. In other words, ride in such a way that motorists won't hit you even if they don't see you. By riding in such a way that a car has to see you to take action to avoid hitting you (e.g., by their slowing down or changing lanes), then that means they will definitely hit you if they don't see you. But if you stay out of their way, then you won't get hit even if they didn't notice you were there.

For Motorists

For their part, motorists need to learn to share the road with bicyclists and to do their best to anticipate bicyclist's movements. In car v. bicycle accidents, generally bicyclists sustain the most significant injuries. To avoid substantial injuries, drivers must use common sense and provide sufficient room for bicyclists to maneuver.

While not all car/bike accidents can be prevented, with care on the part of motorists and bicyclists California's roads can become safer for all.

For more information or if you or a loved one has been injured in a Sacramento bike accident, contact the top Sacramento bike attorneys at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

California news reports that a the driver responsible for killing a pedestrian in a California drunk driving accident was a drug counselor at a Torrance treatment center. The suspect, Sherri Wilkins, tried to help others deal with the addiction she had "tried to put behind her."

According to the Los Angeles Times, the pedestrian accident occurred when Wilkins allegedly hit a man while she was driving under the influence on Torrance Boulevard. After she struck man, she continued to drive for more than two miles with the victim embedded on her windshield.

The victim, Philip Moreno, still had a pulse when the police officers arrived, but died shortly thereafter at a nearby hospital. Wilkins' blood alcohol content was more than double the legal limit of 0.08. She was subsequently arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence and manslaughter.

This accident is a tragedy for all involved.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident, its important to seek the advice of an experienced Sacramento personal injury attorney at once. Where a drunk driving accident leads to an injury, the driver may face at least two separate and distinct legal proceedings. First, the driver may face criminal charges and penalties as the result of a DUI. Additionally, in a personal injury accident the victim may be able to recover damages in a civil lawsuit. Where a wrongful death occurs, the victim's family may be able to recover compensation in a negligence lawsuit. Talking to a skilled Sacramento injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident is important to determine your rights and protect your interests in the event you are interesting in pursuing a civil lawsuit for damages.

While filing a lawsuit after a tragedy may be the furthest thing from your mind - often the costs associated with a significant personal injury or death can be substantial.

In many situations it may be possible to recover substantial compensation to offset these costs such as:

• Medical expenses

• Current and future wages

• Pain and suffering

• Emotional distress

Sometimes where the negligent actions are particularly reckless it may be possible to recover punitive damages.

Here details from the pedestrian accident are slow to emerge. Wilkins allegedly panicked after hitting Moreno and kept driving. Other drivers somehow managed to stop Wilkins and grab her keys several blocks later at 182nd Street and Crenshaw Boulevard. Wilkins told police she was on her way home from work at the time of the crash however officials from the treatment facility said they were closed at the time of the incident.

Sadly, Wilkins had been on the road to recovery when the accident occurred.

For more information or if you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident, contact a top Sacramento personal injury lawyer at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate appointment.

A preliminary investigation into the accident that claimed the life of a young boy reveals that the zoo met or exceeded all safety requirements for animals and visitors, proving that no exhibit is "fail-proof" as explained by the zoo's president. The horrific accident occurred after the boy fell into an African wild dog exhibit. Although nearby staff responded "within seconds," it was too late to save the boy.

The zoo has been open since 1898 and this was the first time there's been a "visitor incident of this magnitude." The incident occurred after the boy's mother put him on a wooden railing on the edge of a viewing deck. The boy fell and bounced of the netting intended to catch him. He then dropped into the enclosure holding the dogs.

Initial reports reveal no signs of negligence - the Pittsburgh Zoo had successfully completed its five-year review in September and the U.S. Department of Agriculture had inspected zoo recently and found it safe.

Fortunately, incidents like these are rare and show the need to follow strict safety precautions on both the part of the owner/operator of the zoo as well as the patrons. Many times attending an event - whether going to the zoo where there are dangerous animals, spending the day at an amusement park riding rollercoasters or attending a baseball game with the hopes of catching a foul ball - involves a certain amount of risk taking and danger.

Whether the amount of risk you are exposed to is "reasonable" is often a legal question. If you or a loved one has been hurt as a patron, it's important to consult with an experienced Sacramento personal injury attorney. Often, determining whether you may be entitled to compensation involves a complicated analysis of the risks involved, the warnings provided and other factors.

Where an unreasonably dangerous condition exists that an owner or operator knew of or should have known of but failed to either correct or provide sufficient warning, they may be held liable for damages in a "premises liability" lawsuit.

However, in many situations the "danger" is part of the fun - such as amusement park rides where you expect to be frightened and thrilled, just not hurt. California law continues to grapple with the scope of the "assumption of risk" defense - that is where a patron "assumes the risk" of injuries from the inherent risks of an activity.

Where an owner/operator takes steps to eliminate dangers and warn of potential risks, the injured party may face challenges recovering compensation for injuries resulting from a dangerous activity. Alternatively, where an owner/operator allows an unreasonably dangerous condition to exist, they may be held responsible for harm that occurs and required to pay damages.

In the zoo instance, initial reports suggest that this was simply a tragic accident. Other zoos and exhibits are sure to examine just what happened in an effort to prevent other such incidents from occurring again.

For more information about premises liability or dangerous conditions lawsuit, contact the top Sacramento negligence attorneys at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

The family of an Oakland man killed in a bicycling accident while speeding down a hill in Berkeley's Tilden Park has filed a negligence lawsuit against a well-known bicycling website, Strava. According to reports, William "Kim" Flint died after trying to keep his time record for racing down the hill. Flint was biking down the hill at about 40 miles per hour. He was fatally injured after he suddenly braked to avoid a car and flipped over.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, its important to seek the advice of an experienced Sacramento bicycle attorney right away. If you have suffered serious personal injuries, it may be possible to recover damages for your harm. Typical bicycle injuries may include:

• head and neck injuries

• spinal cord injuries

• brain injuries

• broken bones

• road rash

In the event of a fatal accident, a surviving family member may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Negligence and wrongful death suits are based on the legal concept that the careless or reckless conduct of anther person or entity lead to another person's harm, or in this instance, death.

Here, the family has filed a negligence claim against the Strava website based on its actions in encouraging bicyclists to bike too fast. The Strava company hosts virtual races and rewards winners who use a GPS system that track their own time and that of competitors. Flint died after he learned someone on the site had beat his time, and he went out to try to reclaim the title. However, Strava failed to inspect the courses or otherwise ensure that they are safe. A representative noted, "They assume no responsibility. They don't put cones out. They don't have anybody monitor and see whether a course, or a specific segment, is dangerous."

If Strava knows or should have known that the course was dangerous but failed to remove it from the site, they may be held liable.

Even if Flint is held partly responsible for his death, his family still may be able to recover damages for his injuries. California is a comparative law state, which means that an injured party (or in this instance the surviving family members) can recover damages for harm caused - even if they are partly to blame. The amount recovered would be reduced by percentage of the injured party's fault.

This bicycle accident is not the only high profile bicycle accident case linked to Strava. Strava has also been implicated in the recent Castro pedestrian death. According to sources, the cyclist who hit the pedestrian was tracking his time on Strava.

For more information about negligence or wrongful death lawsuits, or if you or a loved one has been injured in a Sacramento bicycle accident, contact the top Sacramento bike accident lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

News from Martinez, California reports that a woman has received a $2.5 million jury award in a negligence lawsuit filed after the women choked on a chicken bone. The woman was eating at a Round Table pizza restaurant and choked on a 1.2 inch bone left in her barbecue chicken pizza. As a result of the incident, she required more than 11 surgeries and spent several months on feeding tubes and liquid diets.

If you have suffered any injury that you believe may be the result of another's negligence, it is important to speak to a Sacramento personal injury lawyer to determine your next steps.

Lawsuit based on negligence arise out of the general premise that people, companies or even governmental body should exercise reasonable care in their actions. If they fail to exercise reasonable care and their actions cause foreseeable harm, then the may be held responsible for any damages caused and be required to pay compensation.

A Contra Costa County jury determined that the franchisee for the South San Francisco Round Table, Foster Poultry Farms and Pizza Bytes, was negligent in allowing bones in the chicken. Reports indicate that between 2005 and 2010, more than 200 customer complaints were issued about bones in the chicken strips.

$2 million of the award is for pain and suffering and $500,000 is for past and future medical expenses. 

For more information about negligence lawsuits or if you believe you have been injured due to another person's negligence, please contact a top Sacramento personal injury lawyer at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

California news reports that a jury has awarded a Fresno teacher has been awarded an $11.5 million personal injury verdict as the result of injuries she sustained in a freak car accident. Susan Reyes, a Fresno schoolteacher, was hit in the head by a "hunk of iron" that flew off of a truck on Highway 99. Reyes incurred significant brain injuries as the result of the truck accident including short-term memory loss and severe headaches. She also suffers from chronic seizures. According to the personal injury lawsuit, Reyes has lost her drivers' license and was unable to continue working as a special assignment teacher with Fresno United school district.

If you have been harmed in any type of personal injury accident, it is important to consult with an experienced California personal injury lawyer right away to answer your personal injury questions and determine your right to compensation. In many situations, more than one cause may contribute to an accident. A knowledgeable Sacramento accident lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation into all possible factors in order to ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

Here, evidence at the trial revealed that Reyes was driving through Bakersfield and was following a big rig owned by Lion Raisins. The truck trailers had cables that held empty wooden bins in place. An accident investigations determined that after the truck's load shifted, a corner iron flew off the truck, likely hitting the pavement then catapulting through Reyes' windshield and into her "right skull and brain." As the result of the accident, Reyes lost control of the car and ended up in the median. She required emergency surgery to stay alive.

Reyes suffered a traumatic brain injury that has led to personality changes and "serious behavioral impairments."

The verdict represented compensation for past and future earnings, past and future medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

If you have been injured in any personal injury accident, including a car accident, bus accident or truck accident it is important to obtain the compensation you deserve. For more information, contact the dedicated Sacramento accident attorneys at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for a free, confidential consultation.

News reports that a Menlo Park man who suffered serious personal injuries in a drunk driving accident has sued Hobo Limousines, Inc. for it's role in providing a "party bus" that allowed minors to drink for 4-hours during a "booze-cruise." In February 2010 after a 21st birthday celebration aboard a party-bus, a minor - 19-year-old Brett Studebaker - got behind the wheel and crash into a car driven by Gregory Hinman. Studebaker died in the drunk driving accident and Hinman suffered permanent brain damage and broken bones.

As a result of the crash, Assemblyman Jerry Hill has proposed legislation making drivers, companies and riders responsible for preventing underage drinking on party busses.

In many situations, more than one party may be at fault for causing an accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident it is important to consult with an experienced Sacramento personal injury attorney to begin an investigation into all of the causes of a particular incident in order to ensure you obtain all the compensation you deserve.

Here, the parties dispute who is at fault for the underage drinking. The company asserts that the people onboard were drinking prior to getting on the bus, but not during the ride, and that parents signed a contract agreeing that minors wouldn't be drinking. Conversely, the parents of Brett Studebaker blame the company asserting that it's the driver's responsibility to ensure that no minors were drinking while on the party bus and that the driver added to the drinking by providing a bottle of champagne.

Because California is a comparative law state, each party who has caused or contributed an injury may be held responsible. Where more than one defendant is found to blame, each party may be held liable for a percentage of the total.

This accident is a tragic reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving. What was meant as a celebratory party ended in heartbreak for two families.

For more information or if you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash or any other type of personal injury accident, contact a dedicated Sacramento personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for a free, confidential consultation.

San Francisco news reports that distracted driving may be a substantial factor in the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) shuttle bus crash that killed a passenger. Reports indicate that the driver, Wallace Richardson, may have been distracted by a conversation with the man who died in the accident. As a result of the crash, Dr. Kevin Mack died from serious injuries sustained after being thrown from the vehicle.

The shuttle bus accident occurred moments after Richardson was engaged in a conversation with Mack. According to reports, Richardson was talking with Mack then subsequently ran a red light. The shuttle bus then collided with a big-rig truck. The truck driver tried to avoid the accident by slamming on the brakes, but wasn't able to stop the semi from crashing into the shuttle bus.

If you have been involved in any motorvehicle accident it is important to consult with an experienced Sacramento injury attorney to discuss your rights and determine your next steps. In many situations, it may be possible to obtain compensation for your injuries.

The shuttle involved in this accident did not have seat belts however none were required by law. Whether factors other than driver error played a role in causing the accident or impacting the extent of the injuries will be investigated.

In any personal injury accident more than one factor may be to blame. Under California law, where more than one person is responsible for causing an injury, each person may be responsible for paying damages based on their percentage of fault.

An experienced accident attorney can make an investigation into each factor and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

For more information or if you or a loved one has been injured in an Sacramento automobile accident, contact the knowledgeable Sacramento personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for a free immediate consultation.

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.

Whatever the reason behind an accident, contacting an experienced Sacramento car crash attorney at once is important. By speaking to a knowledgeable Sacramento auto accident lawyer immediately, you can begin an investigation into the causes of an incident and preserve crucial evidence.

As a Sacramento personal injury lawyer, I am hopeful Northern California car accident statistic wills improve. For more information or if you or a loved one has been injured in a Sacramento car accident, please contact the dedicated Sacramento auto accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for immediate attention.