Recent Blog Posts in March 2010

In February we reported that a 5-year-old girl from San Bernardino County was brutally mauled by five dogs, which resulted in multiple critical injuries, including a broken rib cage, a punctured lung, and severe wounds to her head, neck, arms and legs. She had to be placed on a ventilator after the attack.

Her siblings, ages six and seven, were also attacked by the dogs. They suffered from serious dog bite lacerations to their legs that required stitches.

The owners of those dogs, Jose Antonio Lopez Gonzalez and Judith Mendez Lopez, have now been criminally charged with seven counts of owning mischievous animals that caused great bodily injury or death to a person, according to KTLA news. Both were taken into custody where bail was set at $250,000.

Experienced Dog Bite Injury Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been bitten or attacked by a vicious dog, an Antelope Valley personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus can help you take legal action against the dog's owners. California has strict dog bite liability laws in place, which means that even if the owner wasn't negligent or the dog never showed signs of aggressive behavior in the past, the owner can still be held liable for any injuries his or her dog inflicts. With the help of an attorney at our firm, you can pursue a dog bite injury lawsuit against the dog owner for maximum compensation to help cover the cost of your medical expenses, rehabilitation, and lost wages. In addition, compensation can also be sought for your pain and suffering, emotional and psychological trauma, and overall decreased enjoyment of life.

For more information about exercising your legal rights to recovery, please feel free to contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus today at (888) 203-PAIN!

A train accident involving a Metrolink and maintenance truck in the San Gabriel Valley has led to several injuries and one death.

The accident occurred on March 20 when a Metrolink train collided with a maintenance truck stopped near the tracks at the intersection of Temple Avenue, Valley Boulevard, and the northbound 605 ramp. The man killed was an employee of Union Pacific Railroad, and was part of a crew sent to work on nearby freight tracks.

The two people injured were passengers on the Metrolink train. They were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

At this time, it's still not 100% clear what led to the accident. An investigation is underway to determine if the maintenance truck was crossing the tracks, or if it was being driven down the tracks using metal train wheels.

Representing Train Accident Victims in Los Angeles

If you or a loved one was injured in some type of train accident or collision, you should take a moment to consult a Los Angeles personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus. Train accidents rarely result in anything less than serious or catastrophic injuries. These types of injuries often require extensive medical care, hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation, and can prevent a person from enjoying their life to the fullest. Furthermore, depending on the extent of your injuries you may lose your ability to work, at least temporarily.

At the Law Office of Gerald L. Marcus, we understand you are suffering physically, emotionally, and financially, and can help you pursue a lawsuit under California personal injury law to help you secure maximum compensation for your pain and suffering, emotional trauma, medical expenses, lost wages, financial hardship, and decreased quality of life. To schedule an appointment to discuss your rights to recovery, please call (888) 203-PAIN!

Texting while driving has claimed the life of yet another motorist, this time a 51-year-old woman from Wisconsin.

According to the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, an 18-wheeler truck was making a lawful turn onto a road when a driver in a passenger vehicle collided with the truck. Investigators were later able to determine that the driver, Kathy A. Endsley, was texting when the accident took place. Endsley suffered severe injuries in the collision, which ultimately proved to be fatal. She died at the scene. The truck driver was uninjured.

This is just another example of a life tragically cut short due to texting while driving. Distracted driving, which includes texting while driving, sadly leads to thousands of deaths every year. In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that 6,000 lives were lost in accidents involving distracted drivers in 2008.

If you have lost a loved one in an accident caused by a distracted driver, or if you yourself were injured in an accident involving a distracted driver, you should take a moment to consult a Pasadena personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus. Texting while driving in particular is one of the most egregious forms of negligence, and any driver who injuries or kills an innocent person because they weren’t paying attention must be held accountable for their negligence. Let an attorney at our office advocate your rights to compensation by helping you file an auto accident lawsuit against the negligent driver.

For more information about our services, please call (888) 203-PAIN!

An actor who will appear in the upcoming movie “Sex and the City 2” is suffering from multiple injuries following a recent head-on collision.

Max Ryan, who will portray the love interest of Kim Catrall’s character Samantha Jones, was riding his motorcycle in Los Angeles when a car suddenly turned out in front of him, pinning him under the car.

Ryan was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for five broken ribs and a cracked collarbone. Ryan, who is in stable condition, doesn’t expect his injuries to interfere with promoting the movie, which is scheduled for release on May 27.

Police are still investigating the accident. At the this time the driver of the car that hit Ryan has not been cited.

A lawsuit could be filed against a Northern California ski resort after a boy suffered injuries to both legs when he fell out of the skilift chair.

The incident occurred at the Sierra-At-Tahoe Resort in Twin Bridges, a small town just south of Lake Tahoe. Parker Lennig, 5, was riding on the chairlift with his brother, father, and grandfather when he fell out of the chair just shy of the point where he would have gotten off. The chairlift steamrolled Lennig about 10 or 15 feet before it eventually came to a stop.

Lennig suffered multiple injuries, including a dislocated hip. He now has a cast on his body from his hips to his thighs.

Lennig’s parents are accusing the chairlift operator of not paying attention. Lennig’s father said that as soon as Parker fell out of the chair he immediately looked at the operator and saw that she was looking down and hadn’t noticed the accident. But a spokesperson for the resort said the operator was inside the shack and responded immediately when Parker fell. She pressed the stop button right away and then ran out to help the boy. After helping Parker she came back inside the shack and called for help.

Lennig’s parents are considering filing a lawsuit, but at this time haven’t taken any legal action.

If you think another person’s negligence contributed to an accident or incident that led to your injury, you should consider contacting an experienced personal injury attorney about your legal options. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you could be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages, among other things.

At the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus we represent people throughout the Los Angeles County area who’ve been injured in accidents caused by the negligence, recklessness, or carelessness of another. If you think you may have a viable accident claim, please do not hesitate to contact a Los Angeles personal injury attorney at our office today!

An accident involving a charter bus near Maricopa, Arizona has left six people dead and 15 people injured.

The accident occurred on Interstate 10 after the bus rear-ended a passenger vehicle, causing the bus to veer off the side of the road. As the bus veered and rolled over, it hit another passenger car and a semi truck before it eventually came to a stop.

All of the people killed in the accident were passengers on the bus, and two of the 15 people injured were minors.

An accident on Pacific Coast Highway has left a 50-year-old woman dead.

The victim, a pedestrian, was hit by a car around 6:30 a.m. this morning near Winding Way in Malibu.

As a result of the impact, the woman was thrown into the opposite side of the road from where she was hit, and was hit again by multiple vehicles.

The woman, who has only been identified as an Asian woman in her 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver who initially hit the woman has been identified, but police are still working to identify some of the other drivers involved in the accident.

A four-year-old girl was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after she was bitten in the face by a dog.

The girl was visiting her uncle in Pomona when the attack took place. According to a police new release, the pit bull was sleeping when it suddenly awoke and bit the girl. Police think the girl may have startled the dog.

The pit bull was not licensed and was not current on its rabies vaccinations, say police.

A hit and run accident in San Bernardino has left one teenage boy critically injured and another boy dead.

Thomas Meeks, 19, and his brother were riding on the same bicycle near 40 ^th Street when they were struck by the driver. According to witnesses, the boys allegedly turned in front the on-coming vehicle mere moments before they were hit. Witnesses say the driver made no effort to stop and check on them.

Meeks died at the scene. His brother was rushed to a nearby hospital with critical injuries.

Police still have not found the driver, but one witness said he was going very fast. His vehicle is described as a 2000 or newer model white Pontiac or Chrysler with damage around the front end of the car and license plate area. Anyone with information about the accident is urged to contact the San Bernardino Police Department.

An Escondido woman lost her life in a drunk driving accident that took place in the Antelope Valley last month.

The victim, 20-year-old Michelle Garcia, was a passenger in a car being driven by George M. Reyes, also from Escondido. Reyes was driving his Lexus eastbound on Avenue S towards Tovey Avenue when his car drifted onto the right shoulder. In his attempt to veer back into his lane, Reyes lost control of his vehicle. As he crossed the median his car overturned, and he slid across the other side of the road until the car finally came to a rest.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Garcia, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Reyes was taken to the Antelope Valley Hospital with both major and moderate injuries. He received treatment and was then arrested for drunk driving.

In perhaps one of the most unusual injury lawsuits ever filed, a baseball fan has filed a lawsuit against the Kansas City Royals after he experienced trauma to his eye when he was hit in the face by a hot dog thrown by the team’s mascot.

John Coomer was sitting six rows behind the third base dugout at the Royals’ stadium when the accident occurred. Coomer alleges that the team’s mascot threw a hot dog into the stands, hitting him in the face and nearly putting out his left eye.

Coomer is now seeking more than $25,000 in damages, claiming the hot dog caused a detached retina and cataracts.

The Royals have not commented on the case, but are in the process of finding a new mascot. They maintain their search for a new mascot has nothing to do with the hot dog incident.

Suffering From an Injury? An Attorney at Our Office Can Help!

A Santa Clarita personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus can help you take legal action if you have suffered an injury due to the negligent or reckless conduct of another. If you have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit, you can trust an attorney at the firm to protect your best interests and aggressively pursue your rights to just compensation. Let our office help you recover the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

To schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim, please contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus today by calling (888) 203-PAIN!

Three people were killed in a plane crash in Northern California. All of the victims were employees of Tesla Motors, an automaker based in the Silicon Valley. They were on their way to the Hawthorne Airport when the plane crashed into a residential neighborhood in East Palo Alto.

The identities of the victims have not yet been released, but it is known that the plane belonged to Doug Bourn, a senior electric engineer for Tesla. It hasn’t been reported whether or not he was aboard the plane.

The crash set two homes and two vehicles on fire, but fortunately no one was hurt.

According to East Palo Alto Police Capt. John Chambers, the plane lost power shortly after takeoff. It hit a power line tower, which sheared one of the wings, and then landed on a home daycare center in a residential neighborhood.

Menlo Park Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said it is believed the crashed was caused by either a mechanical failure or poor visibility due to dense fog. If an investigation proves the accident was caused by a mechanical failure, the families of the victims will have grounds to file a lawsuit against the plane’s manufacturer. Vehicle makers have a duty to ensure their designs are safe and free of defects that could cause the vehicle to malfunction. When an accident occurs due to a mechanical malfunction, the victims have the right to pursue an injury lawsuit for damages.

Airplane accidents do happen, and as you can probably imagine, there usually aren’t too many survivors. If your loved one was killed in a plane crash, you should consider speaking with an experienced Pasadena personal injury attorney at our office about filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Take the first step in exercising your legal rights by contacting the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus today to arrange a free consultation to discuss your claim.

A bicyclists was killed when he was hit by a minivan in Compton. After hitting the bicyclists, the driver of the minivan fled the scene.

The accident occurred around 8 a.m. at the intersection of Dwight Avenue and Compton Boulevard. Police were tipped off that the accident was a hit and run after viewing surveillance videos from a market across the street shows. The videos show the driver getting out of the van, walking over to the victim, getting back in the van, and driving away. Witnesses speculate that the driver knew what had happened and fled the scene because he was scared.

After the driver drove away, a witness ran over to the victim and called 911. Firefighters tried to help the victim, but he succumbed to his injuries.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is still trying to determine who is at fault for the accident, but one witness said it appeared as if the bicyclist ran the light at the corner. The witness said the driver appeared to be going the speed limit.