Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Antioch Teenager Dies after Being Struck by Vehicle

A tragic pedestrian accident left the Antioch community in mourning.  The accident occurred on Thursday February 14, 2013, at approximately 6:40 p.m.  According to published reports, the accident occurred at the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Hidden Glen Drive in Antioch, California. 

The victim was struck by an unidentified vehicle as she was attempting to cross Hillcrest Avenue.  She was airlifted to a local hospital where she succumbed to her severe injuries.  The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office has recently identified the victim as 14-year-old Hasanti White of Antioch. At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our thoughts and prayers remain with Hasanti and her family. 

Local officials have not yet released any information regarding the cause of this fatal accident.  Some common causes of pedestrian accidents include: aggressive driving, unsafe intersections, driver intoxication, driver inattention, and texting drivers.  The driver and his insurance carrier can be held liable for this tragic accident if driver negligence is found to have caused this terrible accident. 

The wrongful death of a loved one in a pedestrian accident is a tragedy that no family should be forced to endure. When devastating pedestrian accidents occur families are left searching for answers.  The compassionate legal team at Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP is committed to helping families who have lost a loved one in traumatic pedestrian accidents.  We fight tirelessly for our clients to get them the compensation they deserve.  Call our office today for a free consultation with one of our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys. 

San Francisco Pedestrian Suffers Serious Injuries after Being Struck by MUNI Bus

A frightening pedestrian accident left a San Francisco woman with serious injuries.  The pedestrian accident occurred on Saturday February 16, 2013 at approximately 4:30 p.m.  According to published reports, an outbound No. 18 MUNI bus was traveling on Lake Merced Boulevard near John Muir Drive when it struck thevictim. 

The unidentified pedestrian was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.  At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim.  We hope that she makes a full and complete recovery.

The dedicated pedestrian accident attorneys of Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP have experience fighting on behalf of victims of all types of public transportation accidents.  Various forms of public transportation including: buses, trains, light rail cars, and trolleys are considered to be common carriers.  As such, they owe passengers and pedestrians a heightened duty of care.  Serious and fatal injuries can result whenever there is a breach of thisstandard of care. 

The experienced legal team at Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP are committed to helping pedestrian accident victims.  We initiate a comprehensive investigation on behalf of our clients to identify all potential sources of liability and preserve essential evidence.  This investigation can include: examining the scene of the accident, interviewing witnesses, obtaining police and incident reports and hiring experts. 

Our pedestrian accident attorneys understand the dilatory tactics that insurance companies employ to avoid paying victims the compensation they deserve.  We utilize this understanding to get our clients the financial compensation they deserve.  When insurance carriers refuse to adequately compensate pedestrian accident victims, we never hesitate to take the fight to court where we have a proven track record of success obtaining large verdicts for our clients.  If you or a loved one have experienced a pedestrian accident call Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP today for a free consultation. 

Concord Teen Sustains Severe Injuries in Pedestrian Accident


A shocking pedestrian accident left a Concord teenager hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.  The accident occurred on February 10, 2013, at approximately 1:30 pm.  The scene of this pedestrian accident was Solano Way at the intersection of Grant Street in Concord, California.  According to published reports, the pedestrian was crossing Solano Way in a marked crosswalk when he was struck by a 2004 Scion that was traveling westbound on Solano Way. 
At this early stage in the investigation it is unclear if the driver of the Scion was intoxicated, speeding or inattentive.  The driver can be held liable for the damages that resulted from this terrible accident if driver negligence is found to have been a contributing factor.

The victim has since been identified as 14-year-old Joey Hornsby.  Hornsby is a freshman at Mount Diablo High School and member of the school’s freshmen basketball team.  Hornsby’s friends, classmates and teammates are all praying that he makes a full recovery.   

Immediately following the accident, Hornsby was transported John Muir Medical Center.  He was subsequently transferred to Children’s Hospital in Oakland.  His injuries have been described as life-threatening.   At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our thoughts and prayers are with Joey Hornsby and his family during this difficult and painful time. 
Concerned members of the Concord community have indicated that the intersection where the accident occurred is dangerous and has been the scene of previous accidents involving both pedestrians and cyclists.  There are many factors that can make an intersection unsafe.  For example, an intersection may lack adequate signage, lack clearly designated turning lanes, or have improper phasing of traffic lights. 

The intersection of Solano Way and Grant Street has no stop light or stop sign.  The crosswalk is only delineated by paint markings on the pavement and a small sign indicating the existence of a pedestrian crossing.  The City of Concord may be liable for this accident if the intersection is determined to have constituted a dangerous condition of public property and the City had prior notice of its dangerous propensities. 

If you or a loved one have experienced a pedestrian accident call the legal team at Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP.  Our experienced trial attorneys are committed to fighting on behalf of pedestrian accident victims and their families.  We have helped pedestrian accident victims who have experienced all types of accidents including those caused by negligent drivers, public transportation, commercial trucks, dangerous premises and unsafe intersections Call our office today for free consultation with one of our dedicated pedestrian accident lawyers.         

Thursday, February 14, 2013

San Francisco Cyclist Suffers Fatal Injuries after Being Struck by Truck

A tragic bicycle accident claimed the life of a San Francisco woman on February 9, 2013.  The preventable accident occurred near AT&T Park where thousands of baseball fans were waiting in line to enter the stadium for the San Francisco Giants Fan Fest. 

According to published reports, a cyclist was traveling westbound on King Street when she was struck by a large cement truck that was also traveling westbound on King Street.  After the accident, the cyclist was transported to a local hospital where she was unable to recover from her severe injuries.

The victim has been identified by the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s office as 48-year-old Diane Sullivan.  At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our thoughts and prayers are with Ms. Sullivan and her family.  There are no words that can offer solace to a family that has suffered this type of devastating loss.

Regrettably, San Francisco remains one of the most dangerous cities in America for cyclists.  Every day on the streets of San Francisco the safety of cyclists is put at risk by negligent motorists.  Some common negligent driver behaviors that contribute to fatal and severe bicycle accidents include:  aggressive motorists, unsafe lane changes, slamming on the brakes, failing to look while parallel parking and left turns in front of an oncoming bicyclist.

The dedicated bicycle accident attorneys of Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP are all too familiar with the dangers facing cyclists on roadways across California. We are committed to helping victims of all types of bicycle accidents.  Our legal team has assisted clients who have experienced bicycle accidents that were caused by cars, trucks, buses, trolleys and defective bike parts. 

We fight for victims of bicycle accidents and their families by standing up to negligent drivers and their insurance companies.  We never hesitate to take the fight to court when insurance companies refuse to provide adequate compensation.  We believe that motorists who compromise the health and safety of cyclists deserve to be punished for their negligence and we pride ourselves in doing whatever is necessary to get our clients and their families the compensation they deserve.

If you or a loved one have experienced a bicycle accident call the legal team of Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP today for a free consultation with one of our compassionate bicycle accident attorneys. We can provide you with a free case evaluation and help explain your rights.