21-year-old Cyclist Killed by Recology Garbage Truck in San Francisco's Mission District

On May 23, 2013, at about 6:45 a.m., a bicyclist was struck by a Recology garbage truck in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco.  The accident occurred as the bicyclist was heading eastbound on 16^th Street, while trying to make a right hand turn onto southbound Van Ness.  The collision left the 21-year-old bicyclist dead at the scene.  The bicyclist, Dylan Mitchell, had just moved to San Francisco two weeks ago and was working with an electrician as an apprentice.  He was previously a resident of Clayton and had attended Clayton Valley High School.

 

The driver of the garbage truck was unaware he had hit the bicyclist until he was waved down by pedestrians on the street who had witnessed the collision.  The bike was found crushed on the corner of 17^th Street and South Van Ness after being dragged one block down the street.

 

Bicycles and vehicles must share the road making it essential that drivers obey all traffic laws. Bicyclists do not have the same physical protections as other vehicles which makes them more vulnerable to serious injuries.  Drivers have a duty to pay attention while driving and refrain from any negligent behavior that puts the safety of cyclists at risk.  Bicycle accidents frequently happen when a cyclist is cut off in an intersection or when someone opens their car door into a bike lane.  When drivers fail to take the proper safety precautions, severe or fatal injuries can occur.

 

At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP we send our deepest condolences to Dylan Mitchell’s family.  The personal injury attorneys at Matiasic Roth and Johnson LLP are highly experienced with bicycle accident law and know the importance of pursuing our client’s legal rights with diligence.  Our lawyers have over thirty years of combined legal experience and have successfully handled many bicycle accident cases.

 

If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, your case will be personally handled by one of our skilled attorneys who are compassionate with their clients and aggressive in protecting their rights.  If you or a loved one have been injured in a bicycle accident you could be entitled to compensation.  Contact the attorneys at Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Tragic San Jose Pedestrian Accident Claims The Life of One Child and Leaves Two Others with Serious Injuries

The San Jose community is outraged following the death a young girl who was killed while crossing the street with her younger sister and aunt on Tuesday April 15, 2013.  Although it is too early to determine if the 20-year-old male driver was speeding, neighbors and community members have reported that the location of the accident is known for drivers exceeding the 25 MPH speed limit. Following the devastating accident, concerned community members are demanding that further safety precautions and preventative measures be taken to reduce speeding in the area.

The preschooler was struck by a Lexus SUV near Parkview Elementary School on Bluefield Drive in South San Jose, California.  The SUV was traveling west on Bluefield drive when it struck Maria Quiroz, Arlet Quiroz, and killed 5-year-old Aileen Quiroz.  According to police, Aileen died at the scene after sustaining fatal injuries at 3:24 p.m.

Several reports state that 30-year-old Maria Quiroz sustained serious injuries and remains in the ICU at Valley Medical Center. She reportedly suffered from several broken ribs and a punctured lung.  Two-year-old Arlet Quiroz was treated for contusions to her head.  At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our thoughts and prayers are with the Quiroz family, and we are hoping for a fast recovery for both Maria and Arlet.

Police are continuing to investigate exactly what happened across from Parkview Elementary School, and are working to interview all witnesses.  As of Wednesday, Maria Quiroz had not been interviewed regarding the incident because of the severity of her injuries. Her interview and account of events may be the key to piecing together exactly what happened on Tuesday afternoon.

If speed was a factor in causing the accident, criminal charges may be filed against the driver.  Similarly, if the driver was distracted by talking or texting on his cell phone, he could face serious criminal consequences.  If the driver is found to have been reckless or careless in his actions, the family will be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their daughter, as well as for the injuries sustained by Maria and Arlet.

The San Jose pedestrian accident attorneys of Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP have a history of obtaining significant verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.  We understand the tactics that insurance companies employ to minimize and delay payments to victims of pedestrian accident and their families.  We utilize our understanding of these tactics to get our clients the compensation they deserve.  This can include damages for property damage, past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, emotional distress, loss of consortium, pain and suffering. 

If you or a loved one has suffered because of a reckless driver, call the experienced accident attorneys of Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP today for your free consultation and case evaluation.

Campbell Teen Cyclist in Critical Condition After Being Hit by Car

Tragedy struck Friday night as a local teenager was hit by a 45-year-old San Jose resident while riding his bike in Campbell, California.  The accident took place at 8:55 p.m., at the intersection of Campbell Avenue and Milton Avenue.  The young victim sustained a serious head injury, and remains in critical condition at Valley Medical Center.

The victim has been identified as Campbell Middle School student Juan Avila. Although the accident took place in the evening, the cyclist reportedly had reflectors on his white bike, making him visible to drivers despite dark evening conditions. The cause of the accident is not known at this time, and investigators are continuing to piece together exactly what happened.

Several reports state that emergency personnel arrived on the scene to find the 14-year-old boy lying in the road, restrained by witnesses.  Avila is reported to have been placed in an induced coma due to his serious head injury. At this time the extent of his head injury and the trauma to his brain are unknown. At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our prayers are with Juan Avila and his family.

Although Avila took proper safety precautions by having reflectors on his bike, this situation is an example of how a moment of driver inattentiveness or distracted driving can result in a tragic accident.  If you or a loved one has been the victim of a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.  The bicycle accident attorneys of Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP have the experience and tools necessary to investigate your claim, and fight for your right to fair compensation. Call Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP today for your free consultation and case evaluation.

Drag-Racing Ends in Life Threatening Injuries for a San Jose Woman After a Car Crashes Through her Kitchen

A woman suffered life threatening injuries on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, after a car lost control and came crashing through her kitchen wall.  Several reports state the silver BMW that caused the injury was participating in a “drag-race”, and lost control when it collided with the car it was racing against. Both cars participating in the illegal street race crashed.

The incident occurred near Leigh High School, on Leigh Avenue and Anne Way around 4:00 p.m. The vehicles involved were operated by minors, both of whom are 17-years-old.  The boys driving are reportedly cousins, who attend local high schools.

A total of five people were injured in relation to the devastating crash.  A 40-year-old mother was rushed to the hospital after safety personnel freed her from under the vehicle that entered her home.  The woman remains in critical condition.  A 9-year-old girl who also lives in the home was pulled from the wreckage by neighbors.  The young girl amazingly escaped the crash with only minor scratches. Both drivers of the vehicles involved went to the hospital for injuries, as well as three passengers.

Following their release from the hospital, both drivers were arrested, and are now being held on felony charges for reckless driving.  Fire Fighters that reported to the scene said that they had never seen a car go that far into a house before, and they were unable to enter the home upon first arrival because it was not structurally safe.  Safety beams had to be put in place before investigators could enter the devastatingly damaged home. 

Several neighbors and community members are outraged by the reckless act.  Unfortunately, illegal street racing is very common in the Leigh High School Neighborhood, and families in the area constantly fear for their safety. Crashes caused by reckless drivers have serious consequences.  If a driver is found to be at fault for a crash resulting in injury, the injured party may be entitled to reimbursement of medical costs, income lost as a result of the injuries, and even future medical expenses or future loss of income.  Similarly, if other property is damaged in the accident, such as the home in this situation, the victim may be entitled to monetary compensation to repair the damaged property.

 

If you have suffered at the hands of a reckless or inattentive driver, let the dedicated and experienced pedestrian accident lawyers at Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP evaluate your claim, and fight for your right to fair compensation.   If a reckless driver has injured you or a loved one, call Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP for a free case evaluation and consultation.

Bakersfield Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck by Semi-Truck

Pedestrian accidents are a tragic form of traffic accidents, and have become frighteningly common. A pedestrian succumbed to fatal injuries on Friday, April 26, 2013, after being hit by a semi-truck while she was crossing the street in a crosswalk. To add to the tragedy, 60-year-old Neva Yribarren was a victim of one of three catastrophic pedestrian accidents that occurred in the Bakersfield area in the last three days.

 

Several reports state that the Tehachapi native was legally crossing the street, in the crosswalk at the intersection of Merle Haggard Drive and McCray Street in Oildale, California a little before 1:00 p.m. when she was struck by the truck.

Emergency crews arrived on the scene to find Ms. Yribarren in the street, and immediately began CPR and emergency medical treatment. She was transported to Kern Medical Center, where she later died as a result of the fatal injuries she sustained at 1:30 p.m.

At Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Neva Yribarren and the Bakersfield community in their time of grief.

Determining who to hold liable for you or a loved one’s injuries resulting from an accident between a semi-truck and a pedestrian can require expert investigation and a thorough knowledge of California commercial trucking laws.  In pedestrian-truck accidents, there may be multiple potential sources of liability.  For example, the truck driver, the trucking company, the owner of the tractor, the owner of the trailer and the facility that maintained the truck may all bear some responsibility for the accident. Our proven and skilled attorneys have extensive experience in finding the cause and advocating for the compensation of innocent victims of pedestrian-trucking accidents.

 

If you or a loved one have been injured in a pedestrian or trucking accident, call Matiasic Roth & Johnson LLP today for your free consultation and case evaluation.