Personal Injury Law

Linda Burnett, 69, Christopher De La Cruz, 49, and Julia Allen, 27, were all killed in a Newport Beach car accident involving 10 vehicles. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal car accident, which occurred at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Riverside Avenue the night of January 15, 2011, also left three others injured, one of them critically.

Police said a Ford Taurus sedan and a Toyota Tacoma truck collided first and that triggered a chain-reaction accident involving a motorcycle, a convertible, a pickup truck and a Volkswagen car. Burnett was apparently a passenger in the pickup truck. Police also said De La Cruz was driving another pickup and that Allen was driving a car that collided with the first pickup. Investigators are still sifting through the evidence to determine what caused this tragic car accident.

I offer my deepest condolences to the families and friends of Linda Burnett, Christopher De La Cruz and Julia Allen, who were killed in this car accident. My thoughts and prayers are also with the three injured victims. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were six fatalities and 439 injuries involving car accidents in Newport Beach. Also, during the same year, 152 people died and 13,414 were injured in Orange County car accidents.

What Caused This Tragic Car Accident

Based on available news reports, it appears that officials are still piecing eyewitness reports, evidence and other information together in order to determine how or why this fatal car accident occurred. This intersection is about a mile south of Newport Boulevard. The Chart House and Billy’s at the Beach restaurants are on the bay side of West Coast Highway at the intersection with Riverside Avenue. China Palace restaurant and the Wells Fargo Bank are on the opposite side of the street at the intersection. I have driven through this intersection many times. It is definitely not a spot where I would suspect a accident so violent.

Fault and Liability

A commenter on the Register’s web site stated that one of the vehicles involved in this accident was traveling at 80 mph or more. The speed limit in that part of Coast Highway is not more than 40 mph. Obviously, this was an extremely violent accident. In my opinion, someone was traveling at a very high rate of speed to cause such damage.

The injured victims of this car accident and families of the deceased victims would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced Newport Beach personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.

In any car accident where multiple vehicles and multiple parties are involved, the investigation is likely to be complex. It would be in victims’ best interests not to talk to insurance adjusters or attorneys for other parties until they have consulted their own injury lawyer. Victims should also refrain from rushing into a settlement with their insurance company or another party’s insurance company or signing any papers without first consulting a lawyer, who will fight to protect their legal rights and look out for their best interests.

Lost a family member in a Newport Beach car accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Newport Beach truck accident. Call 800-849-4905. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE Newport Beach wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.

The above blog post was written by guest bloggers from Bisnar Chase in California. We at Shulman DuBois LLC hope you find it useful.

Living in Portland, Oregon, it’s easy to see how lucky we are. But sometimes we lose sight, and a tragedy like the Haiti earthquake reminds us. As personal injury lawyers, we talk a lot of no-fault suits and wrongful deaths, but this is an example of this to the extreme.

This is an effort we believe is worthy of our time and money. Mercy Corps is local and it’s doing amazing things on the global stage. We hope you will be able to help.

Just click on the image below to give today.

New laws could affect your Oregon injury/accident case. Changes have been made to Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and liability insurance laws in Oregon, starting January 1, 2010.

Click here and scroll down to “Personal Injury” to see what they are. Then contact us if you have any questions. Or read the em>7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case to increase your chances of winning your Oregon injury case.
Read the rest »

Date: May 20, 2009
Location: SE 82nd Avenue, Portland, OR
Type:  Car Accident
Outcome: 3 Minor Injuries
Names: Not released

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday evening on SE 82nd Avenue in Portland, OR. The driver of a 2009 Chevy Impala, who appeared to have passed out while driving, crashed into the side of a Honda Civic in front of her.  Both vehicles ended up going off the road, knocking down a power pole and hitting a fire hydrant.

All three parties were transported to a hospital.  Fortunately, none of their injuries seemed to be life-threatening, Portland Police Officer Greg Pashley reported.

It is unclear at this point whether or not the woman driving the Impala had a previous medical condition that may have caused her to lose consciousness at the wheel, or was otherwise impaired. These kinds of car accidents can be especially complicated, because it is difficult to say exactly who, if anybody, is at fault. It may be that the woman knew that she had a certain medical condition, and should not have been driving. It may be that she was on prescription medication that had side effects her doctor did not warn her about. And it may be that it was a completely random incident. Thorough research and investigation will be needed to sort out the details of this case — something that a competent personal injury lawyer should be able to do.

Date: May 1, 2009
Location: Highway 224 East of I-205
Type:  Car Accident, Wrongful Death, Motor Vehicle Collision
Names: Jonathan J. Christianson, Gerardo Gutierrez-Castillo, Rothchild Scott, Juan Rambila-Ramos, Alvaro Naranjo-Montano, and one child
Outcome:  One death, Several Injuries

According to the Oregon State Police “Flash Alert”, a tragic three-car accident occurred on Oregon Highway 224, east of I-205, at approximately 7:40 am on May 1st.  The driver of a ’92 GMC pickup Jonathan J. Christianson, 40, was heading east on 224 when he crossed the center left turn lane and crashed into a 2007 Ford F550 truck, driven by 21 year-old Gerardo Gutierrez-Castillo.  Christianson’s GMC spun around and stopped facing west.  Rothchild Scott, age 54, the westbound driver of a 2007 Acura MDX was unable to avoid the two vehicles involved, and struck them from behind.

Scott and his child-passenger received minor injuries.  The Ford F550 included two passengers, Juan Rambila-Ramos, 24, and Alvaro Naranjo-Mantano (age undetermined).  All three occupants received treatment for minor injuries at local medical facilities.  Christianson’s passenger, Jennifer Mowry, 37, also sustained injuries deemed non-life threatening.  Christianson was taken via helicopter to Legacy Emmanuel Hospital where he subsequently died, according to the Oregonian.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this unfortunate incident.  It goes to show how a careless driver, a distracted driver or a driver with a lapse of judgment can affect so many.  Sx people’s lives were endangered and the driver apparently at fault lost his life.

The incident occurred in Clackamas Country, where 32 traffic fatalities occurred in 2007.  Highway 224 is among the most traveled roads in the County.

We at Shulman DuBois LLC take satisfaction in helping those injured in accidents.  Injuries can affect victims in so many ways including rehabilitation, short or long term physical impairment, trauma, employment and loss of income issues, and overall stress.  We understand the plight of victims and commit our experience and tenacity in representing clients to the fullest, during such trying times.

Shulman DuBois, LLC, is located in Portland, Oregon, and serves clients in all Oregon cities and counties, including: Portland, Beaverton, Multnomah County, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Troutdale, Sellwood, Corvallis, Salem, Eugene, and Albany.

Date: 2007
Type: Newspaper article

As a follow-up about Simon Rose of Medford who was hurt riding an ATV, we wanted to call your attention to this incredible series of stories the Oregonian put out back in 2007.  ATVs are dangerous, and the industry has failed to take some obvious steps that could make them safer.

Want to know why they don’t have mandatory roll bars on them?  It’s because the manufacturers fear that this would make people “think they’re dangerous,” and then they’d sell fewer of them.  In my opinion, it should be criminal to sell an ATV without a roll bar.

Shulman DuBois, LLC, is located in Portland, Oregon, and serves clients in all Oregon cities and counties, including: Portland, Beaverton, Multnomah County, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Troutdale, Sellwood, Corvallis, Salem, Eugene, and Albany.