According to the Placer County District Attorney's Office, a man from the Antelope Valley who pled guilty to hitting and killing a pedestrian with his vehicle will be sentenced in August.

The District Attorney's office says that the man, Jeremy Sarguis, is expected to receive sentencing on August 10.  In May, Sarguis pled guilty to one count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death as well as two counts of conspiracy.

During the morning hours of February 4^th, Sarguis hit a 47 year old woman by the name of Vickie Janell Scott on Interstate 80.  Instead of stopping, he fled the scene of the car accident and conspired with his two passengers to repair and clean his car.

Now, Sarguis faces five years in state prison for his offense.

If you were injured due to the negligent actions of a driver in Antelope Valley, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus to discuss your case and injuries with an Antelope Valley personal injury attorney.

In Los Angeles, it is reported that a motorcycle officer with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) died this week.  The officer, Phillip Ortiz, died on Tuesday at 5:50 PM at Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, California.

Two weeks ago, Officer Ortiz was critically injured during a motorcycle accident.  The incident occurred on June 9^th when Ortiz pulled over a SUV on the right shoulder of a highway near Interstate 10.  While performing the stop, Ortiz was hit from behind by a car that was trying to pass slower moving traffic. 

When the car struck Ortiz, it pushed him and his motorcycle directly into the SUV, which had stopped.  The officer was pinned between vehicles when rescuers arrived at the scene and extricated him.

Officer Ortiz remained in a coma until his recent death.

Were you involved in a Los Angeles motorcycle accident that left you with pain and suffering?  If so, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus and set up a time to speak with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney.

On Thursday morning, reports came in that a motorcyclist who was traveling on the 5 Freeway was involved in an accident.  During the motorcycle accident, the biker was hit by three separate motor vehicles.  Traffic had to be stopped for three hours by law enforcement.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Al Perez, the motorcyclist was traveling north when he crashed and was thrown off of his bike.  The accident took place around 4:25 AM near Pioneer Boulevard. 

After he was thrown from his bike, he was struck by three vehicles.  He had been traveling with a group of bikers, but he sped away from them and then crashed.  CHP says that the victim died at the scene of the accident.  The victim's name has not been released at this time.

Were you involved in a serious motorcycle accident?  Do you think negligence was involved?  Contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus to learn more about your legal rights.  A Los Angeles personal injury attorney from our office will take the time to meet with you in person and will provide you with legal insight.

In Oceanside, California, a sailor that was riding a bicycle while in Camp Pendleton died this past Tuesday evening.  Officials say that he died from injuries during a bicycle accident that occurred when a motor vehicle crashed into him.

The sailor, who was 27 years old, was riding his bike on Vandergrift Boulevard near the Wire Mountain housing area.  At 5:00 PM, he was struck by a driver in a Honda Odyssey SUV.  Immediately following the collision, he was flown to Scripps La Jolla Hospital via a medical helicopter.  Reports indicate that he died from his blunt force injuries at 11:20 PM. 

At this time, the accident is being looked into by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.  The sailor's name has not been made public.

Were you involved in a bicycle accident that led to you suffering painful injuries?  If so, you may wish to discuss your legal options with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.  Contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus to learn how we can advise you today!

On Wednesday, a 19 year old man by the name of Jorge Luis Perez died during a fatal car accident.  The young man was killed when his vehicle crashed on Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo County.

Police say that Perez lost control of his 2002 Saturn which led to it entering a right hand curve on the highway.  Perez suffered catastrophic injuries and died at the scene of the accident.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said that the car crashed broadside into a tree near the edge of Highway 101.  The collision caused Perez's vehicle to stop rather suddenly.  Perez was the only person in the Saturn.

At this time, police are trying to determine if speeding played a role in the accident and Perez's death.  They are interviewing witnesses to get a sense of how fast Perez was driving before the collision occurred.

If you or someone you car for has been involved in a car accident that was caused by someone else's reckless driving behaviors, such as speeding, now is the time to discuss your legal options with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus.  Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation!

A family that lost a close loved one has decided to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).  The family lost 25 year old Devin Leigh Petelski after she was hit by a police cruiser on October 15.

The lawsuit was filed on Thursday and it alleges that the officer that was operating the police patrol car was negligent.  The family claims that the officer did not have its flashing lights or sirens on when it sped up to answer a burglary call and crashed into Petelski.  After being hit, Petelski was rushed to UCLA Medical Center and died two days after the accident.  

Many residents were outraged when they heard of the car accident and Petelski's death.  They gathered together to hold a candlelight vigil and even created a Facebook page to seek out witnesses who may have seen the accident.

The lawsuit mentions officers Ramon Vasquez and James Eldridge.  Investigators told news sources that neither officer notified dispatch that they were answering the burglary-in-progress call and that the officers were driving above the 40 mph speed limit.

If you lost a loved one due to another person's negligence or recklessness in Los Angeles County, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus to set up an initial consultation.  During your consultation, you will have the opportunity to speak with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who can advise you of your rights and help you understand your legal options.

Car accidents occur every day, and for a variety of reasons. Sometimes poor weather conditions create a hazardous driving environment, other times a defect in the road or a problem with a traffic sign or signal causes an accident to occur. Some accidents occur due to a defect with the vehicle, or simply because a driver was acting recklessly or not paying attention.

When a car accident occurs due to the negligence of another, the victims of the accident are entitled to financial compensation under California personal injury law. Examples of negligence that often lead to auto accidents include:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Texting while driving
• Talking on a cell phone while driving
• Making an illegal turn
• Failing to yield
• Running a red light
• Failing to stop at a stop sign
• Racing or speeding excessively

Sometimes it is not a driver who is responsible for an accident. When a defect with the vehicle causes the car to malfunction and consequently crash, the victim has the right to sue the automobile manufacturer for compensation.

If you were recently injured in a car accident, a Los Angeles personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus would be happy to advise you of your rights and discuss your legal options. We can help you identify who should be held liable for your injuries and help you pursue a car accident lawsuit for maximum compensation. Our goal is to help you recover the largest possible settlement to ensure you have the financial resources needed to cover your property damage, lost wages, medical bills, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.

Contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus today at (888) 203-PAIN to arrange a free consultation!

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!

National statistics prove that Super Bowl Sunday is a dangerous day to be driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half of the fatal accidents that occurred from kickoff through early Monday morning involved a drunk or intoxicated driver. This same data also found that drivers or motorcyclists involved in these fatal accidents had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or more. The NHTSA also found that men were more likely to drive while intoxicated and not wear their seatbelts than women.

These statistics are based on the figures for the 2008 Super Bowl weekend, but you can be sure that plenty of people drove while intoxicated this year as well. If you or someone you love was injured or killed in a  car accident caused by an alcohol-impaired driver this Super Bowl weekend, you should speak with a knowledgeable  Santa Clarita personal injury attorney about your legal options. As a victim of a drunk driving accident, you stand to recover compensation for your pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and decreased quality of life.

To learn more about filing an accident claim against the responsible party, contact the Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus today by calling (888) 203-PAIN!

A Northern California woman has filed a lawsuit against Caltrans and Monterey County after sustaining multiple catastrophic injuries in a car accident.

The accident occurred about a year ago at the intersection of Highway 101 and San Juan Road. Anna Reznik, 66, was driving south on the 101 when another driver pulled out in front of her from San Juan Road in an attempt to turn onto the northbound side of the freeway. 

As a result of the collision, Reznik broke most of the bones from her toes all the way to her pelvis. She also suffered a massive head injury, was bedridden for six months, and now remains in a wheelchair. She now also requires around-the-clock care, and until very recently hasn’t been able to return home. Her passenger, Olga Tarcher, perished in the accident.

In her lawsuit, Reznik claims that both the county and Caltrans were negligent in maintaining public property in a dangerous condition.  According to Reznik’s attorney, Boris Efron, that intersection is highly dangerous.

Reznik is also suing the driver of the vehicle for negligence.

Both lawsuits are seeking an unspecified amount in general and special damages.

A driver responsible for a three-car collision on the 10 Freeway last week is suspected of driving under the influence.

The accident occurred around 9:50 a.m. on the 10 Freeway in San Bernardino.  Two California Highway Patrol officers were responding to the scene of an accident after a Cathedral City woman lost control of her vehicle in the rain and spun out.  Luckily there were no injuries.

The woman and the two officers were waiting in the center divider, out of traffic’s way, for a tow truck to arrive when the police cruiser was rear-ended by 45-year-old Gordon Wilson. Wilson’s car hit the officers’ cruiser, which then hit the woman’s car.

The woman suffered no injuries, the officers reported only minor injuries, but Wilson suffered major injuries.

Wilson was taken to the hospital and later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.  Police are still investigating the accident.