Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Two Boys Struck by Car in Sonoma Crosswalk


Two boys were injured in a Sonoma crosswalk after being struck by a car.  The frightening accident occurred while the boys were in a marked crosswalk at the intersection Fifth Street West and Curtin Lane near Sassarini Elementary School. 
According to published reports, the boys were struck by aToyota Corolla which was being operated by 92-year-old Sonoma resident Levon Arkelian.  Mr. Arkelian told Sonoma County Sheriff‘s Department investigators that he did not see the boys when he passed through the crosswalk.  Mr. Arkelian received a traffic citation for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

The crosswalk is reportedly marked with a flashing sign and flashing lights embedded in the roadway.  Witnesses have indicated that the flashing lights were activated when the boys were crossing the street. Had the crosswalk not been adequately marked a government entity could have been held accountable.
It appears that driver inattention or driver confusion contributed to this terrible accident.  The safety of pedestrians is put at risk whenever a driver is not paying full attention to the roadway.   An inattentive driver can be held liable for any injuries and damages caused by his negligence.

One of the boys was immediately taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa.  He was treated for a skull fracture and eventually released from the hospital.  The other victim was transported to Sonoma Valley Hospital and treated for various abrasions.  At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP we wish both the young victims a speedy and complete recovery.

Our law firm is committed to fighting on behalf of pedestrian accident victims and their families.  Our experienced trial lawyers do not hesitate to take a case to court when insurance companies fail to offer a reasonable settlement.  We fight zealously for our clients to get them the compensation they deserve.  This can include damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of consortium and other damages. 
If you or a loved one have experienced a traumatic pedestrian accident call Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP for a free consultation.   

Monday, October 22, 2012

Santa Rosa Pedestrian Suffers Severe Injuries After Being Struck By Car


A tragic pedestrian accident occurred in Santa Rosa on October 20, 2012.  According to published reports, the scene of the accident was the east side of Mission Boulevard near Randall Lane.  This stretch of Mission Boulevard is heavily traveled by motorists as a thoroughfare between Montecito Boulevard and Highway 12. 
Early reports indicate that that the victim, who appeared to be a man in his twenties, was in the crosswalk when he was struck by the car.  Fortunately, a Kaiser Permanente emergency room nurse was nearby when the accident occurred.  He was able to provide some emergency care until paramedics arrived on the scene. The victim sustained critical injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.  At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and his family. 

Following this shocking accident, concerned local residents expressed their frustrations regarding the dangerous intersection and crosswalk.  An intersection can be unsafe for a variety of reasons including: improper phasing of traffic signals; poor design; lack of visual controls; or inadequate signage.  A crosswalk is unsafe if it is not sufficiently marked to provide a safe crossing for pedestrians. 

A state or city that is aware that an intersection or crosswalk is dangerous and fails to remedy the unsafe situation can be held liable for any accidents and injuries.  If you or a loved one have experienced a pedestrian accident it is imperative to contact an experienced pedestrian accident attorney immediately to preserve your rights.  Time is of the essence as certain claims against public entities for a dangerous condition of public property must be filed within six months of the accident.  Call our office today for a free consultation with one of our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys.     
The experienced legal team at Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP is committed to standing up for the rights of pedestrians. We fight on behalf of our clients to hold public entities and reckless drivers accountable for their negligence.         

Monday, October 15, 2012

Hayward Pedestrian Killed After Being Struck by Motorcycle in Crosswalk

A 66-year-old Hayward man suffered fatal injuries after being struck by a motorcycle. According to published reports, the tragic accident occurred on Saturday October 13, 2012, at the intersection of Jackson Street and Silva Avenue. The Hayward Police Department has reported that motorcycle was travelling eastbound on Jackson Street at an excessive rate of speed when it struck the pedestrian. The pedestrian victim was reportedly crossing the street in a marked crosswalk at the moment of impact.
The pedestrian victim and the motorcyclist were both transported to the Eden Hospital Trauma Center. Tragically, the pedestrian was unable to recover from his severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP we would like to offer our sincerest condolences to the victim's family.
Early reports indicate that alcohol played a factor in this fatal accident. 
Regrettably, driver intoxication is a common cause of pedestrian accidents in California. The safety of pedestrians is put at risk whenever an intoxicated driver is on the road. The legal team at Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP is committed to making intoxicated, reckless, and negligent drivers pay for any heartache and pain they cause.
The loss of a loved one in a pedestrian accident is a terrible tragedy. An instant of driver negligence can tear a family apart. Our dedicated legal team takes pride in helping families who have experienced the wrongful death of a loved one in a traumatic pedestrian or bicycle accident. We fight for our clients to get them the financial compensation they deserve to help rebuild their lives.

Our experienced trial lawyers have obtained successful results for our clients in courtrooms throughout California. If you or a loved one have experienced a pedestrian accident call our office today for a free consultation.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Cyclist Dies After Being Struck by Big-Rig Truck in Stockton


A deadly bicycle accident occurred on October 9, 2012, in Stockton, California.  The scene of the deadly crash was the Fremont Street crossing over Highway 99.  According to a California Highway Patrol spokesperson, an unidentified cyclist was riding a silver mountain bike in the bike lane when he was struck by a big-rig truck.  The cyclist reportedly went under the big-rig truck after impact.  Sadly, the cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and his family.  
Cyclists are susceptible to fatal injuries whenever they are involved in a collision with any type of vehicle.  The loss of a loved one in a bicycle accident is a traumatic experience that no individual should be forced to endure.  Although no amount of money can bring back a lost loved one, our dedicated attorneys fight to get our clients the compensation they deserve.      

If a bicycle accident victim survives an accident they often suffer severe injuries that may last a lifetime.  The experienced trial attorneys of Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP have experience litigating on behalf of cyclists who have suffered a wide range of severe injuries including: traumatic brain injuries, fractured bones, concussions, and spinal cord injuries.  Regardless of the severity of the injury, our dedicated trial lawyers fight zealously to help our clients receive maximum compensation for their damages, pain, and suffering.   
Our legal team is passionate about defending the rights of cyclists. The dedicated attorneys of Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP can help regardless of whether the bicycle accident was caused by a negligent driver, an unsafe intersection, or a defective product.  If you or a loved one have been involved in a bicycle accident call our office for a free consultation. 

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Tragedy in Daly City After Minivan Strikes Pedestrians


A tragic pedestrian accident took the life of one young victim and left two other victims with life-threatening injuries. This horrific accident occurred on Saturday October 6, 2012 at approximately 9:00 a.m. in Daly City, California.
According to published reports, the victims were walking through the parking lot at Saint Andrew Catholic Church on Southgate Avenue when they were struck by a Toyota minivan.  The three victims were treated at the scene before being transported to San Francisco General Hospital.

Tragically, one of the victims was unable to recover from her injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.  The young victim has been identified as 6-year-old Danielle Naval of Daly City.  The other two victims reportedly sustained undisclosed life threatening injuries.  At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.    
Pedestrian accidents can cause a lifetime of heartache in an instant.  Families are torn apart and lives are shattered in a fleeting moment of driver negligence.  The pain associated with losing a loved one in a preventable pedestrian accident is unimaginable. 

The driver of the Toyota minivan has not yet been identified by authorities.  The cause of this tragic accident also remains unclear.  However, based on the fact that the accident occurred in a parking lot during daylight it appears that driver negligence may have contributed to this accident.  

A driver of a car or truck has an enormous responsibility to ensure the safety of pedestrians.  Sadly, pedestrian accidents often occur when drivers are not paying attention to the roadway.  Drivers can be distracted for a multitude of reasons including: talking on the cellphone, texting, eating, fiddling with the radio or putting on makeup.  If a driver’s attention is not completely focused on the road, the safety of pedestrians is put at risk. 

The experienced trial lawyers of Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP are dedicated to helping victims of pedestrian accidents.  We fight for those whose lives have been devastated as a result of pedestrian accidents.  Our goal is always to get our clients the financial compensation they deserve to help rebuild their lives.  Call our legal team today for a free consultation.     

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Girl Killed in Novato Bicycle Accident


The close-knit community of Novato, California is reeling following a tragic bicycle accident.  The accident occurred on Novato Boulevard on September 28, 2012, when an SUV inexplicably struck a twelve-year-old girl. 
Immediately following the accident, the victim was rushed by paramedics to Novato Community Hospital and later airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Oakland.  Tragically, the injuries were too severe and the young victim was pronounced dead.  At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our thoughts and prayers are with the victim, her family, and the entire Novato community. 
The Marin County Coroner’s Office has since identified the victim as Sinaloa Middle School student Hailey Ratliff.  A vigil was held in Hailey’s honor at her school where her classmates, teachers, and her pastor remembered her beautiful spirit.    
Investigators have not yet determined the cause of this fatal accident.  At this point it is unknown whether driver inattention, aggressiveness, or recklessness played any role in this accident.  Traffic investigators are in the process of reconstructing the accident to determine the cause and hopefully prevent this type of unimaginable tragedy from happening again.
According to published reports, the stretch of Novato Boulevard where this accident occurred is known to be dangerous.  A public entity may be liable for an accident if they have knowledge of a dangerous condition of public property and fail to remedy it.  
Losing a family member in a fatal bicycle accident is something that no person should be forced to endure.  The heartache and pain is beyond words.  The compassionate bicycle accident lawyers of Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP understand that no amount of financial compensation can bring back a lost loved one.  Neverthless, we are comitted to fighting on behalf of our clients to help them rebuild their lives following fatal and severe bicycle accidents.