Two dead in crash on I-5 at Tejon Pass
GORMAN — A sport utility vehicle that may have been carrying a family back from the Labor Day holiday weekend crashed Tuesday on the Grapevine section of Interstate 5 north of Los Angeles, causing a chain-reaction pileup that killed a woman and a young girl and injured nine others, officials said.
The critical mountain pass between Southern and Central California was jammed for a mile or more after the accident that shut down southbound lanes at around 5 a.m., California Highway Patrol officials said.
A multi-car pileup in the Grapevine stretch of southbound Interstate 5 in Gorman killed two people, injured nine others and created a mile-long traffic jam early Tuesday morning.
A 41-year-old woman driving the SUV southbound hit the center divider in the Gorman area, hurling her and an 11-year-old girl out of the car. They were pronounced dead at the scene, CHP Lt. Craig Whitty said. It wasn’t known whether they were wearing seatbelts.
The pre-dawn accident spawned others as cars hit wreckage and each other or spun out trying to avoid crashing.
“From that point on, there are at least four more passenger cars and at least one big-rig involved in continuous collisions,” Whitty said.
Four people were critically injured and five received minor injuries, Los Angeles County fire officials said.
Their identities were not released but the injured included a grandmother in the SUV and three girls, ages 2, 12 and 16, authorities said.
Officer Adriaan Garcia, of the CHP’s Fort Tejon office, said the cities of residence of the victims were not yet available. He said officers believe all of the children were traveling in the SUV.
“This will take a while to decipher,” Garcia said of the crash.
Three people taken by ground ambulance to hospitals were a 29-year-old woman, 50-year-old woman and 48-year-old man, Garcia said.
Southbound lanes were shut for more than two hours so helicopters could land and take away the injured. A shoulder finally was opened so that thousands of cars could begin creeping through the pass. All lanes later reopened.
Morning commuter traffic may have been swelled by people returning from Labor Day vacations.
“I did see a lot of people towing trailers,” Whitty said.
The holiday also may have played a role in the crash, although the cause remained under investigation.
“It was a family loaded in the car. We think they were probably coming back from a long holiday weekend,” Whitty said. “At this point we’re thinking the driver may have been fatigued.”
Interstate 5, one of the state’s major north-south corridors, carries a heavy mix of truck and car traffic over a mountain pass rising to an elevation topping 4,100 feet about 50 miles north of Los Angeles.
Cause of the I-5 Crash
While this devastating Los Angeles County accident remains under investigation, the family members of those accident victims who were seriously injured would be well-advised to speak with an understanding and knowledgeable Los Angeles County personal injury lawyer. An attorney such as Gary A. Kessler who has successfully handled serious injury accidents can advise the victim’s family of their legal rights to hold the driver accountable and best course of action should they wish to pursue a personal injury claim.
Liability for Wrongful Death and Serious Injuries in Car Accidents
Seeking immediate counsel from an experienced Los Angeles automobile accident attorney is well-advised following a car crash. In severe accidents such as this one the victims would benefit from speaking to an experienced personal injury lawyer regarding the protection of their legal rights and the compensation they are entitled to. And while it is uncertain who is liable for this incident, an attorney can also hire a highly skilled independent investigator to reconstruct the scene of the accident and determine who is responsible.
Attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme serious injuries associated with a catastrophic injury. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its catastrophic injury cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your catastrophic injury case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all catastrophic injury and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so that we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible parties who caused you or your family member catastrophic injuries!
If you or a family member sustained catastrophic injuries you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler, an experienced law firm, immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. The laws and time limitations can be complex so protect your legal rights by contacting the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today.
Student dies after drinking at Fresno frat house
FRESNO — A freshman at Fresno State University died Sunday after a night of drinking at an off-campus fraternity house, prompting university officials to suspend recognition of the fraternity.
Philip Dhanens, 18, of Bakersfield began pledging to join the Theta Chi fraternity last week, university spokeswoman Shirley Armbruster said.
Fresno State officials say Dhanens, who is from Bakersfield, had just accepted an invitation to join the fraternity last week.
Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the university can either put the Theta Chi fraternity on probation, suspend the group, or revoke their recognition as a Fresno State student organization altogether.
Individual students could also be punished.
This isn’t the first fraternity-related drinking death at Fresno State in recent years.
In 2006, 19-year-old Danny Daniels died at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house, after several days of heavy drinking.
His blood alcohol level was more than four times the legal limit.
The fraternity was banned from the university for five years.
Fraternity Lawsuits Becoming More Common
This particular incident is in a growing number of lawsuits concerning underage students-often a fraternity pledge or member- who engage in “binge drinking” as part of a fraternity ritual or other social gathering. These lawsuits often focus on the fact that members of the fraternity have not taken sufficient action to protect the injured party.
This type of wrongful death claim involves seeing someone in a position of peril, without assistance, they will not extricate themselves. Often, the other people involved [take action] to prevent discovery of the [drunken] individual. This is not your garden variety negligence lawsuit.
In addition to the most basic question-whether the fraternity and the national fraternity entity can be sued- there several other key factors to be considered, including:
- Liability laws in the relevant state
- University code of conduct and other policies
- Details about the individual’s condition
- The volume of alcohol consumed
- Evidence of whether the person was pressured into consuming the alcohol.
- The student’s appearance according to other people who were present in comparison to what a very intoxicated person would be expected to look like .
- Medical evidence about the individual’s status when he received medical attention.
The term “wrongful death” is defined as the death of an individual as a result of the negligence, carelessness, intentional act of another individual, corporation, company or entity. Filing a proper wrongful death claim is extremely difficult and complex for families because they are not only dealing with their grief over the death of a beloved family member, but also complex issues of compensation as well. Wrongful death claims are usually sought after by relatives, siblings, or members of the decedent’s estate who have lost a considerable amount of money as well as loss of support and grief due to the wrongful death of the decedent.
The laws regarding wrongful death cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced wrongful death lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California wrongful death attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your wrongful death case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all wrongful death and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm.
Free AAA Tipsy Tow Home: Labor Day 2012
The American Automobile Association (AAA) is again running their holiday Free Tipsy Tow Home service for Labor Day (September 3 – 4, 2012) for anyone in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah. If you’re drinking and don’t think you should drive, give them a call.
Write the number down and keep it in your car’s glove box:
800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP)
Just tell the AAA operator, “I need a Tipsy Tow,” and a truck will be on its way.
You don’t have to be a AAA member to call (and neither does your tipsy friend), because the Tipsy Tow program is open to everyone. They offer a free five-mile tow home for drinking drivers and their vehicles, including potential passengers, party hosts, bartenders, and restaurant managers.
DEAL: AAA Tipsy Tow Program free tows home on 2012 holidays.
WHERE: Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (including the San Francisco Bay Area).
WHEN: AAA provides its Tipsy Tow service for the following holidays in 2012 …
- Super Bowl: 6:00 p.m. Sunday, February 5th – 6:00 a.m. Monday, February 6th
- St. Patrick’s Day: 6:00 p.m. Saturday, March 17th – 6:00 a.m. Sunday, March 18th
- Cinco de Mayo: 6:00 p.m. Saturday, May 5th – 6:00 a.m. Sunday, May 6th
- Memorial Day: 6:00 p.m. Monday, May 28th – 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 29th
- Independence Day: 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 4th – 6:00 a.m. Thursday, July 5th
- Labor Day: 6:00 p.m. Monday, September 3rd – 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 4th
- Halloween: 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 31st – 6:00 a.m. Thursday, November 1st
- Thanksgiving: 6:00 p.m. Thursday, November 22nd – 6:00 a.m. Friday, November 23rd
- Christmas Eve: 6:00 p.m. Monday, December 24th – 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 25th
- New Year’s Eve: 6:00 p.m. Monday, December 31st – 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 1st
Fireworks accident victim dies
A 20-year-old San Diego man severely burned in a fireworks accident in Lake Elsinore on Friday evening, Aug. 1, has died, the Riverside County coroner confirmed.
William Calabrese died at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton at 8:10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 2., said a deputy coroner who would not give her name. The cause of death was official under investigation, but Calabrese had suffered burns over 90 percent of his body in the accident, which burned two other people, including a Cal/Fire Riverside County fire inspector.
Cal Fire spokeswoman Jody Hagemann confirmed that fireworks were involved in the incident. She said Saturday, Sept. 1, by phone that the agency had no new information about the cause of the accident.
The three were preparing a fireworks show for the Lake Elsinore Storm minor league baseball game. There was an explosion that burned a truck that may have been carrying the fireworks and injured the three.
Just before 5 p.m. Friday, the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department received a report of a vehicle on fire in the 500 block of South Diamond Drive near or at the home stadium of the Lake Elsinore Storm baseball team, said Melody Hendrickson, a spokeswoman for the Fire Department, in a news release.
One person was flown by helicopter to the hospital, Hendrickson said. The other two, including the fire inspector, suffered minor burns and were taken by ambulance.
An employee of the Lake Elsinore Storm baseball team who did not give his name referred all calls to the fire department.
Fire and Explosions Wrongful Death Liability
Fires and explosions are sudden and devastating, destroying homes and buildings, and causing physical injuries and death. Burn injuries are painful and disfiguring, and require long recovery periods. Smoke inhalation, and inhalation of toxic fumes and gases from flammable fabrics and furniture stuffed with polyurethane foam, cause added injury and increase the likelihood of death.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler regularly represent plaintiffs in cases of catastrophic injury and wrongful death in fires and explosions caused or exacerbated by unsafe premises, unsafe construction sites, and unsafe products.
Determining the cause of a fire or explosion requires extensive experience and thorough investigation involving engineering, electrical, and gas line experts as well as fire scene experts. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has the experience and the resources to effectively prepare and litigate cases on behalf of plaintiffs and family members injured or killed in fires and explosions.
With over 20 years of experience, Gary A Kessler has earned the respect of our colleagues and the courts in California and nationwide for our personal injury work. We have achieved a winning record on behalf of our clients, and we are proud of our successful cases that lead to safety improvements through strengthened laws and product recall.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury or lost a loved one in a fire, we encourage you to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today for a free consultation.
The laws regarding dangerous fire and explosion cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced dangerous fire and explosion lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California dangerous fire and explosion attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one in a tragic fire and explosion accident. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death/fire and explosion liability cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your dangerous fire and explosion liability/accidental death case as well as maximize your recovery.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all wrongful death and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no atoorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm.
Bakersfield woman killed in head-on crash
(KBAK/KBFX) — A head-on crash killed a 55-year-old woman and closed Highway 119 for about an hour Friday morning.
The California Highway Patrol said 28-year-old Mathew Lindsey, of Bakersfield, allowed his pickup to drift into the oncoming lane of State Route 119 near Tupman Road around 6:45 a.m. The pickup slammed into a westbound car.
The crash trapped both drivers and the car’s passenger, 29-year-old Lindsay Bush, of Bakersfield. The car’s driver, whose name was withheld, succumbed to her injuries at Kern Medical Center.
Cause of the Kern County Crash
If news accounts of this incident are accurate, the 28 year old driver is likely responsible for the incident. While this devastating Kern County accident on August 31 remains under investigation, the family members of those accident victims who were seriously injured would be well-advised to speak with an understanding and knowledgeable Kern County wrongful death lawyer. An attorney such as Gary A. Kessler who has successfully handled serious injury accidents can advise the victim’s family of their legal rights to hold the driver accountable and best course of action should they wish to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Liability for Wrongful Death and Serious Injuries in Car Accidents
Seeking immediate counsel from an experienced Kern County automobile accident attorney is well-advised following a car crash. In severe accidents such as this one the victims would benefit from speaking to an experienced personal injury lawyer regarding the protection of their legal rights and the compensation they are entitled to. And while it is uncertain who is liable for this incident, an attorney can also hire a highly skilled independent investigator to reconstruct the scene of the accident and determine who is responsible.
Attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme serious injuries associated with a catastrophic injury. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its catastrophic injury cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your catastrophic injury case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all catastrophic injury and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so that we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible parties who caused you or your family member catastrophic injuries!
If you or a family member sustained catastrophic injuries you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler, an experienced law firm, immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. The laws and time limitations can be complex so protect your legal rights by contacting the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today.
Third person in Thursday head-on collision dies
A third person has died from an early-morning head-on collision Thursday on South Watt Avenue in Sacramento County.
A Sacramento man, Raman Deep Gill, 26, who was on probation for a previous “wet reckless” conviction, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
A man and a woman were killed when Gill’s car struck theirs in the 1 a.m. crash near Tokay Lane, according to reports. Another passenger in that car died later, CHP officials said. The identities of the victims have not been released pending notification of family members.
Gill suffered minor injuries.
Cause of the Sacramento County Crash
If news accounts of this incident are accurate, the 26 year old driver is likely responsible for the incident. While this devastating Sacramento County accident on August 30 remains under investigation, the family members of those accident victims who were seriously injured would be well-advised to speak with an understanding and knowledgeable Sacramento County wrongful death lawyer. An attorney such as Gary A. Kessler who has successfully handled serious injury accidents can advise the victim’s family of their legal rights to hold the driver accountable and best course of action should they wish to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Alcohol impaired driving accidents and wrongful death liability
The California wrongful death attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your wrongful death case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all wrongful death and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm
Hit-run driver kills Norco cyclist
A hit-and-run driver killed a 25-year-old Norco man who was bicycling in Rancho Cucamonga, say San Bernardino County coroner’s officials.
Michael Ray Vega, a 25 year old resident of Norco,, was riding his bicycle westbound on Foothill Blvd, just east of Ramona Ave., in Rancho Cucamonga when he was struck by a white crew cab or utility truck driven by a White male. The driver of the truck failed to stop and fled northbound on Ramona Ave. American Medical Response transported Vega to San Antonio Community Hospital where he died from his injuries at 7:20 PM. The Rancho Cucamonga Police Department is investigating this traffic fatality.
Cause of the Rancho Cucamonga Crash
While this devastating San Bernardino County accident on August 28 remains under investigation, the family members of those accident victims who were seriously injured would be well-advised to speak with an understanding and knowledgeable San Bernardino County wrongful death lawyer. An attorney such as Gary A. Kessler who has successfully handled serious injury accidents can advise the victim’s family of their legal rights to hold the driver accountable and best course of action should they wish to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Bicycle Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability
Unfortunately, the reality of most pedestrian and bicycle accident victims usually sustain serious/catastrophic injuries which many times results in death. Over the past twenty years attorney Gary A Kessler has a proven successful track record demanding accountability from the responsible parties and obtaining outstanding results for his clients.
Demand accountability from those responsible for the pedestrian/bicycle accidents. Many times the insurance companies will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex case. We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage. We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial.
The laws regarding pedestrian and bicycle accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced pedestrian and bicycle accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California pedestrian and bicycle accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme serious injuries associated with a pedestrian/bicycle accident. Such accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and pedestrian/bicycle accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all pedestrian and bicycle accidents and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so that we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible parties!
RAMONA: Four dead, five injured in head-on crash on Highway 78
At least four people died —- including two young girls —- and five others were injured in a head-on crash Tuesday afternoon on Highway 78 east of Ramona, authorities said. The injured include a 6-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries.
The two girls, ages 8 and 9, were passengers in an eastbound 2004 Honda Odyssey minivan that crashed head-on with a westbound 2010 Pontiac Vibe about 3:15 p.m. on the two-lane road, said California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Pennings.
The driver of each car also died, including a 33-year-old San Diego woman at the wheel of the minivan, Pennings said. He said he had no information about the age and city of residence of the Pontiac driver, the lone occupant of the car, which landed on its roof.
Six children and two adults were in the minivan. A 3-year-old boy, a 6-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl were taken to Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego with minor to moderate injuries, Pennings said.
A 6-year-old girl was rushed to Children’s Hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries, he said. A 67-year-old woman in the front passenger seat was taken to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido with major injuries, Pennings said.
Pennings said the 3-year-old boy was properly restrained in a child’s car seat, but the 6-year-old girl had not been in a car seat. California law requires children to be in a car seat or a booster seat until they are 8 years old or until they reach 4 feet, 9 inches tall.
CHP shut down both sides of the two-lane highway and issued a SigAlert.
Pennings said the cause of the crash was under investigation, but said authorities have not come across any evidence that drugs or alcohol played a role.
Cause of the 78 Crash
While this devastating San Diego County accident remains under investigation, the family members of those accident victims who were seriously injured would be well-advised to speak with an understanding and knowledgeable San Diego County personal injury lawyer. An attorney such as Gary A. Kessler who has successfully handled serious injury accidents can advise the victim’s family of their legal rights to hold the driver accountable and best course of action should they wish to pursue a personal injury claim.
Liability for Wrongful Death and Serious Injuries in Car Accidents
Seeking immediate counsel from an experienced San Diego automobile accident attorney is well-advised following a car crash. In severe accidents such as this one the victims would benefit from speaking to an experienced personal injury lawyer regarding the protection of their legal rights and the compensation they are entitled to. And while it is uncertain who is liable for this incident, an attorney can also hire a highly skilled independent investigator to reconstruct the scene of the accident and determine who is responsible.
Attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme serious injuries associated with a catastrophic injury. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its catastrophic injury cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your catastrophic injury case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all catastrophic injury and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so that we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible parties who caused you or your family member catastrophic injuries!
If you or a family member sustained catastrophic injuries you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler, an experienced law firm, immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. The laws and time limitations can be complex so protect your legal rights by contacting the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today.
5 Fresnans killed in Tahoe plane crash
Five Fresno people killed in a weekend plane crash near Lake Tahoe were remembered by friends Monday for their good nature.
Authorities weren’t releasing much more information Monday about the Saturday night crash just after takeoff from the South Lake Tahoe municipal airport.
A spokesman for the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that coroners took five bodies from the wreckage, but said identification wouldn’t be finished until at least today.
But people in Fresno were certain that members of two families were on board the plane. They said one family was Francisco “Frank” Delamora, 43, his wife, Lorena, 39, and their 7-year-old daughter; the others were Harold Cardwell, 60, and his wife, Kin, 40.
Both Harold Cardwell and Francisco Delamora were certified pilots, according to Federal Aviation Administration records. Bruce McJunkin, a friend of the Cardwells, said he believed Delamora was flying because the trip was taken in Delamora’s plane.
The single-engine plane that the families were in burst into flames upon impact about 9:45 p.m. Saturday in a wooded area near South Lake Tahoe, said El Dorado County sheriff’s Lt. Pete Van Arnum.
Witnesses say the plane had apparent engine problems and dipped downward while attempting a turn just north of Lake Tahoe Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading an investigation into the cause of the crash.
The same plane was involved in a 2005 non-injury crash in Destin, Fla., according to the NTSB. It had a different owner at the time.
Aviation Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability
A plane crash is one of the most devastating accidents that can occur. Usually in an airplane crash (small planes, helicopters, commercial airliners, hot air balloons etc.) all passengers and crew members are killed.
At the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler, we are experienced in aviation law with a reputation of success in aircraft accident cases. We have the knowledge and experience to identify those responsible in the airplane crash (i.e. pilot error, mechanical failure of the sircraft and/or its component parts).
If you are considering filing a claim against an airline or helicopter tour company, small aircraft company, commercial airline or a “hot air balloon company” to recover damages suffered by you or your family, seek advice from a lawyer such as Gary A Kessler who has experience in “aviation law.”
With an array of engines, aviation professionals and pilot witnesses we consult with nationally recognized experts in order to isolate the causes that led to the aviation death(s). Our office has 20 years of litigation experience providing a level of expertise unparalleled in the preparation and presentation of our client’s case. By using multi-media technology, Gary A. Kessler presents video and PowerPoint presentations that clarify the complex issues of liability so that jurors, judges and mediators can understand.
In cases involving commercial airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be involved. Our office knows how to professionally interact with these federal agencies and get the answers to our client’s case.
In most states, if the death of a relative or spouse was caused by an air crash, surviving family members can file a wrongful death/aviation lawsuit against the responsible parties. In order to file a wrongful death/aviation law claim, you must be able to prove that you will experience future emotional and financial hardship because of the loss of a relative, family member or spouse.
Demand accountability from those responsible for the aviation (airplane, helicopter, hot air balloon rides, etc.) accidents. Many times the insurance companies will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex case, We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage. We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial.
Aviation law cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced aviation accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California aviation accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its aviation accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your aviation accident case.
It is essential to isolate the causes of an aircraft accident. The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler has the expert witness resources and investigation team necessary to uncover the causes of an aircraft accident. We are prepared to front the intial costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses. In an aviation accident case, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney’s fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorney’s fees or costs are owed to our firm, thus in all personal injury cases handled by the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler, our fees are recovered as a percentage of any settlement or verdict awarded to our clients.
Visalia big-rig driver involved in fatal Wasco crash
The Visalia driver of a big rig was involved in a fatal collision with a pickup Thursday morning near Wasco, the California Highway Patrol said.
The crash happened on McCombs Road at Palm Avenue just after 10:30 a.m.
Freddy Butch Garcia, 37, of Visalia was westbound in a Peterbilt tractor-trailer on McCombs Road, approaching Palm Avenue at a speed of about 55 mph. The CHP said Garcia failed to yield at a stop sign and drove in front of a Toyota driven by a 22-year-old Wasco man.
The pickup driver was dead at the scene. Garcia was not injured.
Cause of the Kern County Crash
If news accounts of this incident are accurate, the Semi driver is likely responsible for the incident. While this devastating accident on August 24 remains under investigation, the family members of those accident victims who were seriously injured would be well-advised to speak with an understanding and knowledgeable wrongful death lawyer. An attorney such as Gary A. Kessler who has successfully handled serious injury accidents can advise the victim’s family of their legal rights to hold the driver accountable and best course of action should they wish to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Fault and Wrongful Death Liability
Accidents involving big-rigs have unique and complex legal issues. If it is determined that the driver of the big-rig was at fault for this collision, the family of the victim would be well-advised to speak to a truck accident attorney. An experienced and knowledgeable attorney will be able to review the cause of the accident, and if warranted, arrange for an independent investigator to reconstruct the collision to determine exactly what happened and who was responsible. A skilled lawyer can also provide an explanation to the victim’s family on their legal rights in a wrongful death claim against the driver or any other parties at fault. Damages awarded in a wrongful death claim may include funeral and burial expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Demand accountability from the trucking company. We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have handled complex trucking accident cases for twenty years. We have the litigation experience to handle complex trucking liability cases. We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial. Remember, the trucking industry are a formidable foe and must be fought against aggressively.
The laws regarding wrongful death/”trucking accident” cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced wrongful death/”trucking accident” lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your legal rights and those of your loved ones.
Trucking accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its “trucking accident” cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your “trucking accident” case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all wrongful death and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm.
If you have been seriously injured or a family member sustained fatal injuries involving a tractor-trailer rig you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler or another experienced law firm immediately to protect your rights and preserve the evidence. The laws and time limitations can be complex so protect your legal rights by contacting the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today.
