By admin on August 20, 2010 -
The family of a 29 year old Glendale, Arizona woman who was killed when an amphibious Seal Tours vehicle struck her at a dangerous intersection has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of San Diego. 10News reports that the attorneys representing the family filed the suit based on the dangerous design of a “No Crossing” sign, which was small and off to the side, making it difficult for pedestrians to see.
Reports say that the driver of the Seal Tours vehicle did not see the woman when he made a right hand turn at the intersection of Harbor Drive and Pacific Highway, a notoriously busy intersection of the Embarcadero. According to the police report, the driver of the vehicle sat at about 17 feet above ground; however, Old Town Trolleys, the owner of the amphibious vehicle said that it’s closer to 10 feet.
The investigation of this San Diego pedestrian accident is still pending, but there is a possibility that more than one party could be found liable. Since the intersection at which the accident occurred is problematic, the city of San Diego could be held responsible for not maintaining proper signage to ensure public safety. In addition, the Seal Tours vehicle owner and the driver could be held liable as well depending on what the evidence shows.
City and state officials have a responsibility to the public to ensure that proper signage is clearly visible at all intersections to help prevent fatal pedestrian and auto accidents. However, when city streets and signs are not maintained, an otherwise safe area becomes extremely dangerous and can result in serious injury or wrongful death. If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve to understand your rights. Steven Elia, experienced San Diego wrongful death attorney and founder of The Law Offices of Steven A. Elia, has handled a variety of wrongful death cases and can help you decide how to best proceed with your wrongful death claim. To learn more about our firm and to schedule a no obligation consultation, call 619-444-2244 today.
By admin on August 16, 2010 -
An accident involving a pickup truck during the California 200 off-road race in the Mojave Desert has left 12 injured and 8 people dead, including 4 men from San Diego. According to a news article on NBCSanDiego.com, the off-road truck lost control during a jump and slammed into the crowd, trapping spectators beneath it and causing others to be thrown to the side. Since the event was held in a secluded location in the Mojave Desert’s Soggy Dry Lake Bed near the city of Lucerne Valley, it took rescue teams over half an hour to assist injury victims.
The California Highway Patrol reported that hundreds of spectators attended the off-road racing event, including children. Various off-road vehicles careen around obstacles and take jumps, reaching speeds of more than 60mph on the 50-mile course. While alcohol has been ruled out as a contributing factor, it is not clear at this time why the driver lost control of the pickup truck.
This tragic accident has brought to light the many dangers that surround these types of events, mainly due to the fact that there are no rules for spectators to follow and there are rarely any safety barriers or guardrails used to separate the race track from the crowd. The spectators at the Mojave Desert race were watching the event within 10 feet of the track with no barriers between them and the speeding large vehicles.
Photo appears courtesy of Associated Press / NBC San Diego
While state vehicle codes do not apply in relation to this accident since it was a sanctioned racing event held under the federal Bureau of Land Management’s approval, liable parties may still face consequences for the lives that have been lost and for those who have been injured due to a lack of safety precautions and an absence of regulations to monitor the event and those attending.
No one can prepare for the sudden loss of a loved one, which can bring about tremendous grief, especially when an unexpected accident is responsible. As a San Diego wrongful death lawyer, Steven Elia has assisted family members of wrongful death victims in holding negligent parties legally accountable for their oversight or reckless actions. While no amount of money can replace a family’s loss, compensation can help offset the strain of funeral costs and other expenses as well as help prevent similar tragedies from happening again. To learn more about how skilled attorney Steven Elia can help, please call 619-444-2244.
