San Mateo, CA (September 30, 2016) – On behalf of the family of Calvin Bennett, age 85, attorneys Chris Dolan and Aimee Kirby of the Dolan Law Firm filed earlier this year an elder abuse and wrongful death lawsuit against a San Mateo County assisted living facility and its owner Karin Lastimosa. Bennett died at Elle’s Care Home located in Broadmoor Village on May 30, 2015.
Recently I was approached by a prospective client, who, while walking along a busy San Francisco Street, was hit by a car in the crosswalk. She was thrown to the ground and sustained a fracture to her wrist and tailbone. The car took off and there was/is no way to identify it or the driver. She wanted to know if there was any way she could bring a legal action to recover the costs of her medical bills, which were in the thousands of dollars. She did not have health insurance, she did not own a car, nor was she on any applicable policy of insurance held by a family member which would have given her coverage.
Vallejo, CA (September 29, 2016) – A motorcyclist riding a 2001 Harley Davidson motorcycle was struck and killed by a Freightliner heavy truck on Interstate Highway 80 just before 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2016.
West Sacramento, CA (September 27, 2016) – Three crashes occurred between 2:33 a.m. and 2:45 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 80 along the Yolo Causeway, east of Webster Road and west of West Sacramento on Monday, September 26, 2016. The first collision involved a 2015 Ford Fusion that was stalled in the right lane after being involved in a fender-bender collision. There were no injuries with regard to the first crash. Afterward, the driver of the Ford and his female passenger got out of their vehicle and walked to the right shoulder of the road away from their vehicle. The Ford remained in the right lane of the road.
Brentwood, CA (September 26, 2016) – At 6:02 a.m. on Monday, September 26, 2016, a two car crash occurred at Marsh Creek Road and Deer Valley Road in an unincorporated portion of Brentwood.
Oakhurst, CA (September 26, 2016) – A charter bus carrying children and their chaperones from China crashed after visiting Yosemite National Park at around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2016, resulting the death of a thirteen-year-old girl. Four passengers had major injuries, including one person critically injured. Six other passengers had moderate to minor injuries.
I wish to pause from answering reader questions this week to highlight that the California Legislature has proclaimed September as both “Rail Safety Month” and “Pedestrian Safety Month.”
Let’s start with the topic of rail safety. Unfortunately, California leads the nation in annual rail fatalities. Part of the reason why there are so many fatalities is the known fact that it is extremely difficult to judge the speed of an approaching train. A Caltrain commuter train can reach a top speed of 79 miles per hour. A locomotive with five passenger cars can take a quarter-mile or more for the train to make a full stop. The average freight train takes a mile or more to stop.
Child Reportedly Chased Ball Into Street; Investigation Underway If Bus Was Speeding
Oakland, CA (September 20, 2016) – A 2-year-old boy was hit and killed by an AC Transit bus in Oakland on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of 35th Avenue and Penniman Avenue when he was chasing a ball. The 2-year-old boy was identified by his aunt as Jeremiah Esera. Jeremiah was pronounced dead upon the arrival of Oakland police officers.
Ashley from Rockridge asks: “Chris, last week I used the casual car pool to commute into the City. While moving slowly through the Bay Bridge maze, the driver took out his smartphone and typed in an address on a map application to get directions to a business. He then called the business holding the phone to his ear. I voiced my concern over his lack of attention to other cars in the maze. He didn’t take kindly to me expressing an opinion on the safety of his driving and claimed the law only prohibits texting while driving. Is that right?”
San Jose, CA (September 20, 2016) – A pedestrian was killed in San Jose in a hit-and-run crash at cross streets of King Road and Tully Road on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at around midnight. Officers responded to the scene at 12:22 a.m. and located the man who was killed and pronounced the man deceased at the scene.