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Many people in Vista, and residents of Southern California more broadly, know that age can sometimes be a factor in motor vehicle collisions. Yet when most of us think about the connection between a driver’s age and their auto accident risk, we think about teenagers who are inexperienced behind the wheel and may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors like texting while driving or intoxicated driving. While studies do show that teen drivers are certainly at higher risk of accidents in many circumstances, it is important to know that older age can also play a role in assessing a person’s risk of being involved in a motor vehicle crash. According to a recent article from Bankrate, senior drivers experience physical and cognitive changes that can impact their safety behind the wheel. Our Vista car accident lawyers can say more.

Getting the Facts About Older Adult Drivers and Motor Vehicle Collisions

What should you know about older adult drivers and motor vehicle accident risk? The following are some key facts and figures cited in the Bankrate article from the NHTSA, the FHA, and the CDC:

Can sex or gender affect a person’s ability to recover from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Vista or elsewhere in Southern California? A recent article from Stanford Medicine discusses the ways in which women may experience brain trauma differently than men, and thus may have distinct recovery issues and timeframes. Our experienced Vista brain injury lawyers want to discuss the article with you and to encourage you to seek help from an attorney if you sustained a TBI because of another party’s negligence or wrongdoing. 

Gender Differences After Traumatic Brain Injuries

The new article from Stanford Medicine profiles Dr. Odette Harris, who is an expert on brain trauma and a professor of neurosurgery. Harris is currently the director of the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence in Palo Alto. According to the article, as Harris began “analyzing brain trauma data from the Department of Veterans Affairs,” she came to realize that there was “a big gender difference in the aftermath of traumatic brain injuries, and no one was talking about it.”

double-fatal-i-15-fiery-crash-300x169The City of San Diego will pay nearly $10 million to two families who lost loved ones in a 2018 car accident in I-15. In the accident, Jesus David Dominguez and Isaac Felix will split $9.7 million from the city and the limits of an additional $300,000 insurance policy maintained by the driver who initially caused the accident.

That car crash that killed Mr. Dominguez and Mr. Felix occurred when a drunk driver named Jeffery Levi rear-ended the Toyota Corolla carrying the two men near Miramar Road on I-15 on January 2, 2018. That left the Corolla disabled and without lights when an off-duty police officer driving a Ford Interceptor issued by the city crashed into the Corolla at full speed, caused the gas tank to explode.

A lawsuit was filed three years ago by attorney Warren Ellis, but was delayed because the criminal prosecution of Levi, who was sentenced to 34 years behind bars.

Nobody expects their bedroom furniture to cause serious injury or death, yet accidents involving bedroom furniture occur more frequently than you might think. For example, certain dressers have been subject to recalls after tipping over and causing fatal injuries to children caught underneath them. Certain types of beds, too, have been known to cause serious and debilitating injuries. Although a Murphy bed might seem like a great solution for a small space, these particular types of beds are much more dangerous than others. And the injury risks associated with these beds have been well-documented, yet consumers continue to purchase and use them. What do you need to know about Murphy beds and personal injuries in Rancho Bernardo?

Murphy Beds Cause Broken Bones and Amputations

As the Sleep Foundation points out, Murphy beds are especially popular for people in urban areas where “space is at a premium.” In small rooms and apartments, it is precisely what gives Murphy beds their “relatively small footprint” that makes them so hazardous. Indeed, Murphy beds have mechanisms that allow them to be folded up into the wall, and then pulled down again when it is time for sleeping. Accordingly, “people who live in small apartments have long looked to Murphy beds to provide a sleeping arrangement that doesn’t sacrifice space.”

Dog bites in Oceanside can result in serious and deadly injuries, and wounds can be particularly severe when children are bitten. While nobody wants to think about a family dog biting a child and causing a severe or even fatal injury, many dog bite incidents involve family pets, and the animal attacks are unexpected. According to a recent study published in The Journal of Pediatrics, dog bite incidents affecting children have “surged” during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in hospital visits and serious injuries while families are grappling with other health concerns and risks. We want to say more about the study and recent dog bite incidents impacting younger kids in Oceanside and throughout Southern California. 

Sheltering at Home Has Meant More Time With Family Pets

Unfortunately, although sheltering at home can have some health benefits since children and adults are at less risk of being exposed to the coronavirus, in-home injury risks rise. When families have one or more dogs in the house, the more time a child spends at home, the higher the possibility of a dog bite case. And just as families engaging in social distancing practices are trying to remain at home while experiencing significant anxiety, family pets are also experiencing higher stress levels. All of that tension in a household can be risky. According to the new study, adults and children alike are experiencing higher levels of stress due to the COVID-19 emergency, and “canine companions can be particularly susceptible to these stresses.” 

arseny-togulev-DE6rYp1nAho-unsplash-1-copy-300x169If you are injured by a defective product in Escondido, you most likely will be eligible to file a product liability lawsuit. Depending upon the defect associated with the product and the way in which you got hurt, you could be able to file a design defect claim, a manufacturing defect lawsuit, or a marketing defect case. However, in some situations, product designers, manufacturers, and sellers may have immunity from certain types of claims. In the new era of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) gives liability to certain manufacturers who are designing and manufacturing products for combatting the coronavirus. Most immediately, the PREP Act could give automakers immunity in situations in which products like ventilators turn out to be defective.

 We want to say more about the PREP Act and how its immunity provision could prevent consumers from filing product liability lawsuits. At the same time, we will explain the limitations of PREP Act immunity for defective products.

Immunity from Product Defect Cases Under the PREP Act 

EastlakeAccident-300x225Chula Vista – It appears that a big rig truck parked illegally on Eastlake Parkway early this morning, July 11th, has caused the death of a 20-year-old man named David Cabrales. Early reports show that the truck driver parked illegally on the road in front of a Jack in the Box restaurant, apparently to walk into the store to get some food. If true, then it would be a remarkable case of negligence on the part of the driver of the big rig truck.

The investigation is ongoing.

Walton Law Firm represents truck accident victims and their families in cases of serious personal injury and wrongful death throughout San Diego and Chula Vista. All case consultations are free, and cases are taken on a contingency fee, meaning the clients pay nothing until the case is completed. To speak with a lawyer about your rights, call (760) 571-5500, or (866) 607-1325.

OsideAccident-300x171An enlisted Navy man was killed on Saturday while parked on the shoulder of State Route 76 in Oceanside. According to reports, 43-year-old Victor Velez pulled off to the right shoulder on the eastbound side of the road near Foussat Rd. and got out of his car. For reasons currently unknown, an eastbound box truck traveling in the right lane struck the man, killing him.

An investigation into the accident is continuing, and police currently do not believe that alcohol was a factor in the crash. Anyone with any information about the accident is encouraged to contact officer David Paul of the Oceanside Police Department at (760) 435-4431.

Last year, Walton Law Firm represented a man in a similar type of accident. That incident occurred on State Route 78, and involved a tow truck driver who was struck when a large truck veered into the shoulder, striking two people, one of whom died. After an investigation by the law firm, it was established that the negligent driver had the sun in his eyes and may have been reaching for his phone at the time of the accident.

Amusement_Center,_Mission_Beach,_San_Diego,_Calif_(79119)Whether you are planning a family visit to Disneyland this summer or simply taking your kids down to one of San Diego’s beaches for the weekend, it is important to think about safety. Often, when we do not plan ahead, our children can sustain serious injuries in preventable accidents. How can you keep your kids safe in a large crowd this summer?

Safety Tips for Identifying Your Kids in Large Crowds

According to a recent report from ABC News and an article in Parent Herald, the following are some important safety tips for ensuring that your child does not get hurt in a large crowd this summer:

construction siteThe construction industry ranks among the most hazardous for employees, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Construction jobs in California are no exception. A recent article from CBS News reported on a deadly structural collapse at a construction site in Oceanside close to El Camino High School. Construction areas can pose hazards both for construction workers at those sites and for passersby who are in or around the area of construction. How did the accident happen? While the accident remains under investigation Cal/OSHA, we can take a closer look at construction accident statistics and safety issues in order to understand the risks posed by this industry.

Employee Fatally Injured by Falling Concrete Slab


Although the recent accident in Oceanside is still being investigated, we do know some facts about the deadly incident from the CBS News article. The accident occurred at around 9 a.m. at a FedEx warehouse facility that was in the process of being built on Avenida del Oro. The construction worker had been positioned “alongside a drainage channel . . . when a section of retaining wall fell on him for unknown reasons.” A crane operator attempted to remove the extremely large concrete slab that fell into the construction employee (a piece of building material estimated to be about three feet by twelve feet), but the worker had already died from injuries.

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