Captain of wrecked Italian cruise ship facing manslaughter charges
Divers found the bodies of two elderly men inside a capsized cruiseliner on Sunday, raising to five the death toll after the luxury vessel foundered and dramatically keeled over off Italy’s coast.
Teams were painstakingly checking the interior spaces of the partly submerged Italian liner Costa Concordia for 15 people still unaccounted for after the huge ship, with 4,229 passengers and crew on board, was holed by a rock on Friday night.
The captain of the 114,500-tonne ship, Francesco Schettino, was arrested on charges of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship, Italian police said. Some 64 people were injured in the accident.
Investigators were working through evidence from the equivalent of the “black boxes” carried on aeroplanes, to try to establish the precise sequence of events behind the accident, which occurred in calm seas and shallow waters.
Searching the vast ship for survivors was like combing through a small town – but one tilted on its side, largely in darkness, partly underwater and full of floating debris.
In the early afternoon, scuba divers looking for survivors found the bodies of two men at an evacuation assembly point in the submerged part of the ship, coastguard officials said.
The bodies of two French tourists and a Peruvian crew member were found on Saturday.
The discovery of the bodies on Sunday dampened earlier euphoria when a helicopter lifted off injured chief purser Manrico Gianpetroni, hours after rescuers made voice contact with him deep inside the stricken, multi-storey vessel. Gianpetroni, who had a broken leg, was winched up from the ship on a stretcher and taken to hospital.
“I never lost hope of being saved. It was a 36-hour nightmare,” he told reporters.
Passengers compared the disaster to the sinking of the Titanic, and described people leaping into the sea and fighting over lifejackets in panic when the ship hit a rock and ran aground as they sat down for dinner on Friday night.
The vast hulk of the 290-metre-long ship loomed over the little port of Giglio, a picturesque island in a maritime nature reserve off the Tuscan coast. There was large gash in its side and divers were able to swim into the wreck through the hole.
The specialist diving teams faced a complex task as they worked their way through the warren of cabins on the ship – a floating resort that boasted a huge spa, seven restaurants, bars, cinemas and discotheques.
“Getting inside the ship is really difficult and dangerous,” said Majko Aldone, a one of the specialist team of divers who have been entering cabins through open portholes or by smashing through the glass.
“There are various obstacles, sheets, mattresses, nets which have broken free and are spread out all over the areas we’re searching,” he said.
Paolo Tronca, a local fire department official, said the search would go on “for 24 hours a day as long as we have to” and that rescue workers were using sniffer dogs in the section of the ship above water.
As the search continued, there were demands for explanations of why the vessel had come so close to the shore and bitter complaints about how long it took to evacuate the terrified passengers.
State prosecutor Francesco Verusio said investigations might go beyond the captain.
“We are investigating the possible responsibility of other people for such a dangerous manoeuvre,” he told SkyTG24 television. “Command systems did not function as they should.”
He said the ship had come within 150 metres (yards) of the coast, which he called “incredibly close.”
Agnese Stella, a 72-year-old housewife who has lived on Giglio for 50 years told Reuters: “It came much too close (to shore), it never comes this close normally.”
Magistrates said Schettino abandoned the vessel not long after midnight, well before all the passengers were taken off.
The vessel’s operator, Costa Crociere, a unit of Carnival Corp & Plc CCL.L, the world’s largest cruise company, said the Costa Concordia had been sailing on its regular course when it struck a submerged rock.
In a television interview, Schettino said the rock was not marked on any maritime charts of the area.
After an massive rescue operation throughout the weekend, involving helicopters, ships and lifeboats, many passengers had already left the area and returned home and attention began to turn to the cleanup.
Local officials expressed concern the ship’s fuel, at full load as it had just begun the cruise, could spill into pristine waters off Giglio. So far there was no sign of pollution. Dutch maritime services company SMIT said it had been hired to pump fuel off the ship once the rescue was over.
The coast guard says the removal of the 2,380 tonnes of fuel cannot begin until the rescue is complete because the operation could cause the vessel to move or sink further into the water.
Admiralty Maritime Law and Wrongful Death Liability
Although admiralty law covers ship accidents, it does not subsume other laws.
There are usually many other local, federal state and international laws relating specifically to injuries at sea from negligence.
Most sea vessels are actually registered in foreign countries. Many of these vessels unfurl foreign flags. This means the country the ship is registered
in may have laws covering the vessel as well. Many of these laws might be better for the injured passenger than U.S. laws. This is why you need an
experienced cruise ship accident attorney. As an example, a ship that has its port of departure in Los Angeles, California may be covered under the laws
of the state of California, and the laws of the United States. It may also be covered under the laws of the country of the foreign flag the ship flys, as well as international treaties between the U.S. and the other. The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler have the knowledge to litigate claims from foreign ports of call, and domestic ports of call.
You may need to bring claims against the U.S. under the Suits in Admiralty Act, or Public Vessels Act. The experienced cruise ship negligence attorneys at the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler will sue whatever country is responsible for your oceanic injuries.
The Offices of Gary A. Kessler are expert in admiralty and maritime law, and can provide you with the legal representation you need to recover damages
for the negligence of an ocean liner, or for boating injuries or other accidents
that occur in the ocean, lakes, or rivers.
The highly skilled boating accident attorney Gary A Kessler (and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler) has the experience and track record, handling dozens upon dozens of successful lawsuits against the owners and operators of private boats, personal watercraft, cruise ships and commercial ferries. If you or a loved one suffered an injury or death due to a boating accident or while engaged in water sporting activities, consult experienced personal injury lawyer Gary A Kessler who has handled these types of claims as soon as possible. The laws that apply to injuries that occur on or around the water are extremely complex and must be carefully analyzed to correctly determine the liability issues and the value of your boating fatality case.
Demand accountability from those responsible for the boating 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 neccessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial.
The laws regarding boating accident (drowning) cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced boating fatality 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 in a tragic boating fatality (drowning) accident. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death/drowning/boating fatality cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your boating fatality/drowning accident 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 the 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 atorney 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.
Two taken to hospital after crash in Anaheim
At about 1:20 p.m., Anaheim firefighters and police responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Brookhurst Street and Cerritos Avenue. Anaheim firefighters extricated two occupants of a Nissan Frontier that overturned in the crash.
The impact of the crash left the Nissan Frontier on its side.
Firefighters from the Anaheim Fire Department rescued the two passengers from the truck and took them to a local hospital to be treated for unknown injuries, said an officer at the scene.
Cause of the Anaheim Crash
Based on the limited information provided by news reports, it is not clear what happened and who is responsible for this accident. However, if police officials investigating this January 16th car collision determines that one of the drivers was either speeding, driving negligently and unsafe, or distracted by the using their cellphone, eating, or even changing the radio station, he or she can be held accountable for the accident and the injuries of the victims.
Injury Liability for the Anaheim Car Accident
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.
Santa Paula man killed after a vehicle hit an RV at Faria Beach Park
A Santa Paula man was killed and four people were injured this morning after a vehicle hit a motor home parked at the Faria Beach campground in Ventura, California Highway Patrol officials said.
Officers said 20-year old Abram Pineda of Santa Paula was driving southbound on Highway 101 in the 5000 block of west Pacific Coast Highway at about 5:40 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle and drove off the main road.
The vehicle’s right front end struck a motorhome that was parked on the right shoulder, which then struck a parked trailer.
The passenger in the vehicle, Victor Arenas, 20, died at the scene, CHP officials said.
Pineda tried to flee the scene on foot but was detained by witnesses, officials said.
Another passenger in the vehicle, 20-year old Anthony Daniel Saenz of Santa Paula sustained minor injuries. The passengers in the motorhome, 72-year old Peggy Booth and 66-year old James Booth of Oxnard also sustained minor injuries.
A passenger in the trailer, 56-year old Clara Glanville of Fillmore, also sustained minor injuries.
All five people were taken to Ventura County Medical Center where they were treated for injuries, county fire department officials said.
An autopsy to determine Arenas’ cause of death will be done Monday, said James Baroni, Ventura County chief deputy medical examiner.
Cause of the Ventura Crash
The collision is still under investigation, but CHP officials said alcohol is believed to be a factor in the accident. Pineda was arrested, but CHP officials have not determined his charges.
Car Accident Wrongful Death Liability
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.
In most states, if the death of a relative or spouse was caused by the wrongful act of another, surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent party or parties. In order to file a wrongful death claim, you must be able to prove that you will experience severe future emotional and financial hardship because of the loss of the death of a relative, family member or spouse
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is a prominent and highly respected law firm in California and the United States. Gary A Kessler has been serving the people as an experienced wrongful death attorney for over twenty years dedicated and committed to obtaining the best results for his clients in each and every case. Through experience and education, our firm is able to expertly evaluate complex medical injuries and pursue wrongful death claims.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has a sustaining record of outstanding results for their client’s wrongful death cases throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Oregon and Washington. Our firm specializes in difficult automobile vs. tractor-trailer rig(s), collision cases, uninsured motorists cases, rollover accident cases, bus and train collision litigation, defective product liabilty litigation, boating collision death cases, boating capsizing and drowning cases, backyard pool drownings, jacuzzi spa drownings, association and community pool drownings, accidental shootings, tractor-trailer and commercial vehicle fatality, fuel tank fire cases and wrongful death cases.
9-year-old seriously injured in dog attack
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KABC) — A 9-year-old boy is in the hospital in serious condition after he was attacked by a pit bull Sunday.
Authorities said it happened when the boy got into the backyard of a home in Sacramento. An elderly woman, who lives next door, was also bitten by the dog.
Sheriff’s deputies said the animal tore up the boy’s arm and even had its mouth clenched onto the boy’s head at one point.
Deputies shot the pit bull for fear it would jump the fence into another yard where children were playing.
Dog Attacks and serious injury liability
CALIFORNIA DOG BITE STATUTE SECTION 3342
Under California Law, it is no longer necessary for the Plaintiff to prove that the dog was known to be vicious or had a propensity to bite. One bite alone is sufficient for liability. Dog owners do not get a second chance in California. They are liable for any injury their animals cause regardless of whether the animal had bitten anyone previously. Under California Dog Bite Statute Section 3342 the Plaintiff must prove in a dog bite case the following:
- Defendant owned the dog;
- The dog bit the Plaintiff;
- The Plaintiff was lawfully on the premises (express or implied consent to be on the premises) where the bite occured; and
- Plaintiff sustained injuries from the dog bite.
What You Should Do If You Or A Loved One Has Been Bitten By A Dog:
- Take pictures of your injuries immediately;
- Consult law enforcement and request that a police report be made;
- Keep copies of all medical bills and records;
- Continue to take pictures of the bite(s) as the wounds heal;
- Be sure that your doctor is qualified and determine if you are a candidate for plastic surgery to get rid of the scarring;
- If an adult who is employed sustained injuries and lost wages, keep a record of economic loss.
WE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU!
Demand accountability from dog owners. Settling dog bite claims can be difficult and complex. 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 case. We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have 20 years of litigation experience and we know how to handle the insurance companies. We are prepared to front all of the costs required for the necessary investigations and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial. Are the other law firms you are considering willing to front all costs?
In a dog bite case, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive a percentage of the settlement or verdict 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, our fees are recovered as a percentage of any settlement or verdict awarded to our clients.
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 serious dog bite injuries contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler, an experienced law firm, immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence.
2011 statistics
- 31 U.S. fatal dog attacks occurred in 2011. Despite being regulated in Military Housing Areas and over 650 U.S. cities, pit bulls led these attacks accounting for 71% (22). Pit bulls make up less than 5% of the total U.S. dog population.2
- Notably in 2011, adult victims of fatal pit bull attacks more than doubled the number of child victims. Of the 22 total pit bull victims, 68% (15) fell between the ages of 32 to 76, and 32% (7) were ages 5 years and younger.
- The year 2011 also marks an increase in pet pit bulls killing their owners. Of the 8 total instances this year in which a family dog inflicted fatal injury to its primary caretaker, the dog’s owner, 88% (7) involved pet pit bulls.
- Together, pit bulls (22) and rottweilers (4), the number two lethal dog breed, accounted for 84% of all fatal attacks in 2011. In the 7-year period from 2005 to 2011, this same combination accounted for 73% (156) of the total recorded deaths (213).
- The breakdown between pit bulls and rottweilers is substantial over this 7-year period. From 2005 to 2011, pit bulls killed 127 Americans,3 about one citizen every 20 days, versus rottweilers, which killed 29; about one citizen every 88 days.
- Annual data from 2011 shows that 58% (18) of the attacks occurred to adults (21 years and older) and 42% (13) occurred to children (11 years and younger). Of the children, 62% (8) occurred to ages 1 and younger.
- 2011 data also shows that 39% (12) of the fatal incidents involved more than one dog; 26% (8) involved breeding on the dog owner’s property either actively or in the recent past, and 6% (2) involved tethered dogs, down from 9% in 2010 and 19% in 2009.
- Dog ownership information for 2011 shows that family dogs comprised 65% (20) of the attacks that resulted in death; 74% (23) of all incidents occurred on the dog owner’s property and 29% (9) resulted in criminal charges, up from 15% in 2010.
- The states of California and Texas led fatalities in 2011, each with 4 deaths; pit bulls and their mixes contributed to 88% (7) of the 8 deaths. North Carolina, New Mexico, South Carolina and Virginia each incurred 2 deaths.
- 2011 Fatal Dog attacks by breed
.
Deadly Crash Shuts Down Sunrise Way In Palm Springs
Saturday night at approximately 7:49 PM, the Palm Springs Police Department received a call of a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic collision on South Sunrise Way, between Camino Parocela and Sunny Dunes Road.
Police and Emergency Medical Personnel responded to the location but they were unable to resuscitate the elderly female pedestrian at the scene. The elderly female pedestrian was transported to a local hospital but died a short time later.
The preliminary investigation indicates a Kia Soul was traveling southbound on South Sunrise Way, south of Camino Parocela, and struck the pedestrian. The driver of the Kia Soul remained on scene and alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor at this time.
PSPD is unable to provide any additional information on the identity of the decedent. South Sunrise Way between Ramon and Sunny Dunes Road will be closed for the next few hours while the Palm Springs Police Department Traffic Investigation Team conducts their investigation.
Cause of the Palm Springs pedestrian accident
The cause of the collision has yet to be determined and it is unknown if the pedestrian was crossing the street in an unmarked crosswalk. The driver of the vehicle was not arrested and is cooperating with investigators. The name of the decedent will not be released until the Riverside County Sheriff Coroner makes it available to the public.
Pedestrian Accident Injury Liability
The laws regarding pedestrian 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 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 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 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 accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary 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 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 reponsible parties!
Thousands evacuated, at least three dead in Italian cruise ship disaster
At least three bodies were recovered from the sea and at least five additional persons were feared dead, and with some 50 people still trapped aboard the badly listing Costa Concordia, said Coast Guard Commander Francesco Paolillo.
Paolillo said it wasn’t immediately known if the dead were passengers or crew, nor were the nationalities of the victims immediately known. It wasn’t clear how they died. The Italian news agency ANSA reported that some people had jumped overboard in the scramble to evacuate the ship, which had just begun a Mediterranean cruise.
The evacuees were taking refuge in schools, hotels, and a church on the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, a popular vacation isle about 18 miles (25 kilometers) off Italy’s central west coast.
ANSA quoted two Italian journalists who happened to be among the passengers taking the Mediterranean cruise as saying the accident happened during dinner hour.
“We were dining when the lights went out, and suddenly we heard a bang and the dishes fell to the floor,” ANSA quoted one of the journalist-passengers, Luciano Castro, as saying.
“It was like a scene from the Titanic,” another passenger aboard, journalist Mara Parmegiani, told ANSA.
Paolillo said the exact dynamics of the accident were still unclear, but that the first alarm went off about 10:30pm (2130 GMT), about three hours after the Concordia had begun its voyage from the port of Civitavecchia, enroute to its first port of call, Savona, in northwestern Italy.
The coast guard official, speaking from the port captain’s office in the Tuscan port of Livorno, said the vessel “hit an obstacle” – it wasn’t clear if it might have hit a rocky reef in the waters off Giglio – “ripping a gash 50 meters (165 feet) across” on the left side of the ship, and started taking on water.
The cruise liner’s captain, Paolillo said, then tried to steer his ship toward shallow waters, near Giglio’s small port, to make evacuation by lifeboat easier.
But after the ship started listing badly onto its right side, lifeboat evacuation was no longer feasible, Paolillo said.
Five helicopters, from the coast guard, navy and air force, were taking turns airlifting survivors still aboard and ferrying them to safely. A Coast guard member was airlifted aboard the vessel to help people get aboard a small basket so they could be hoisted up to the helicopter, said Capt. Cosimo Nicastro, another Coast Guard official.
A statement from Costa Cruises, the company that runs the ship, confirmed that the evacuation of the 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew had begun, “but the position of the ship, which is worsening, is making more difficult the last part of the evacuation.”
Costa Cruises’ statement did not mention any casualties, and said it had not yet determined the cause of the problem.
Costa Cruises said the Costa Concordia was sailing on a cruise across the Mediterranean Sea, starting from Civitavecchia with scheduled calls to Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Cagliari and Palermo.
It said about 1,000 Italian passengers were onboard, as well as more than 500 Germans, about 160 French and about 1,000 crew members.
Admiralty Maritime Law and Wrongful Death Liability
Although admiralty law covers ship accidents, it does not subsume other laws.
There are usually many other local, federal state and international laws relating specifically to injuries at sea from negligence.
Most sea vessels are actually registered in foreign countries. Many of these vessels unfurl foreign flags. This means the country the ship is registered
in may have laws covering the vessel as well. Many of these laws might be better for the injured passenger than U.S. laws. This is why you need an
experienced cruise ship accident attorney. As an example, a ship that has its port of departure in Los Angeles, California may be covered under the laws
of the state of California, and the laws of the United States. It may also be covered under the laws of the country of the foreign flag the ship flys, as well as international treaties between the U.S. and the other. The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler have the knowledge to litigate claims from foreign ports of call, and domestic ports of call.
You may need to bring claims against the U.S. under the Suits in Admiralty Act, or Public Vessels Act. The experienced cruise ship negligence attorneys at the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler will sue whatever country is responsible for your oceanic injuries.
The Offices of Gary A. Kessler are expert in admiralty and maritime law, and can provide you with the legal representation you need to recover damages
for the negligence of an ocean liner, or for boating injuries or other accidents
that occur in the ocean, lakes, or rivers.
The highly skilled boating accident attorney Gary A Kessler (and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler) has the experience and track record, handling dozens upon dozens of successful lawsuits against the owners and operators of private boats, personal watercraft, cruise ships and commercial ferries. If you or a loved one suffered an injury or death due to a boating accident or while engaged in water sporting activities, consult experienced personal injury lawyer Gary A Kessler who has handled these types of claims as soon as possible. The laws that apply to injuries that occur on or around the water are extremely complex and must be carefully analyzed to correctly determine the liability issues and the value of your boating fatality case.
Demand accountability from those responsible for the boating 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 neccessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial.
The laws regarding boating accident (drowning) cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced boating fatality 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 in a tragic boating fatality (drowning) accident. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death/drowning/boating fatality cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your boating fatality/drowning accident 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 the 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 atorney 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.
Man decapitated when wood chipper sucks up rope
A man died Thursday in a wood chipper accident while performing tree-trimming services at a residential location, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department said.
The victim, 50-year-old Martin Lara, of Applegate, was working with other crew members while operating an industrial chipper.
Crew members working with the man in the 10000 block of Indian Shack Road heard him scream for help.
By the time they ran to assist, it was too late. Lara was pronounced dead at the scene just after 8:15 a.m., deputies said.
Cause of the Nevada City Fatal Accident
Although deputies initially said Lara got entangled in rope as he fed brush, and was then pulled into the machine, the Nevada County Coroner’s Office gave a different report.
It does not appear Lara went into the chipper, coroner’s office spokesman Sgt. Paul Schmidt said.
Lara was tangled in something that was caught in the wood chipper — which then got caught around his neck and decapitated him, Schmidt said.
The Accident remains under investigation
Liability for Fatal Machinery Accident in Nevada City
Based on the information provided by news reports, it is not immediately clear whether the cause of this accident was due to a malfunction in the equipment. However, if investigators come to a conclusion there was a machinery malfunction, the employer in which the victim is under the supervision could be held accountable for his death, as they are obligated and responsible for providing safe and functioning equipment.
Therefore, in a fatal accident like this one, it would be well-advised for the family of the victim to speak to an experienced attorney who is knowledgeable in machinery accidents can help family members understand their legal rights, ensure those rights are protected in a wrongful death claim, and decide the best course of action to recover the maximum compensation for their tragic loss.
Corcoran man killed in Hwy. 33 collision
A 19-year-old local resident was killed in a head-on collision this morning after trying to pass another vehicle on Highway 43, investigators said.
The victim, possibly a Corcoran resident, was pronounced dead at the scene around 5:30 a.m. According to the California Highway Patrol, he and the other driver were trapped in their cars and had to be cut free using the Jaws of Life.
The CHP believes the victim was heading north on 43, just passed Cairo Avenue, when he drove into oncoming traffic to get around a slow-moving vehicle.
His red Mazda Miata first slammed into the front end of a Nissan Altima, before continuing on and colliding with a Honda Civic also headed south.
The Altima’s driver, 34-year-old Susan Pulido of Merced, was taken by ambulance to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for emergency treatment. Investigators said she suffered major injuries.
The crash blocked traffic through Highway 43 for about an hour this morning, until emergency workers cleared the scene around 6:30.
The fatal victim’s name is being withheld until his family can be notified.
Cause of the Kings County Crash
The California Highway Patrol said the crash happened about 5:30 a.m. as the man drove north the highway north of Cairo Avenue. The CHP said the man moved his Mazda Miata into the southbound lane to pass a car and collided with a Honda driven by Susan Pulido, 34, of Merced.
Automobile Accidents and Catastrophic Injury Liabilty
The laws regarding catastrophic injury 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.
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 neccessary 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.
Boats collide off Oregon Coast, 3 injured
NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) – The Coast Guard says two small pleasure boats collided off the Oregon coast, injuring three of the six people aboard and leaving the vessels entangled.
The Thursday afternoon crash left the bow of one vessel pinned underneath the stern of the other off Newport, Ore.
The three boaters on one vessel were injured and the Coast Guard transferred them to medics on shore. The three aboard the other boat were unhurt. They were taken to shore.
Coast Guard crews later separated the boats and towed them to a marina.
Boating Accident Personal Injury Liability
The most common boating accidents are collisions with other boats, sinkings, capsizings and boat disappearances.
Boating accidents occur very quickly and in many different places. Lakes, canals, rivers, intercoastal waterways and oceans are where tragedies normally occur. Last year in California, there were 744 boating accidents involving 439 injuries and 44 fatalities.
According to the United States Coast Guard each year there are more than 8,000 boating accidents in the U.S. that result in 4,000 serious injuries and 800 deaths.
Many times a boater will have been speeding or may have had too much alcohol.
There are specific boating laws that must be followed or fatalities can occur. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is familiar with the different state’s boating laws. We know the boating liability issues and will inform you of your true state, local and Federal boating rights and legal options which will result in successful outcome in your case.
It is a general rule of law that the operator of a boat and its owner has a duty to exercise a reasonable degree of care in order to prevent injuries to others. The most common boating accidents are collisions with other boats, sinking and boat disappearance. Boating injuries usually occur because of a reckless or careless operator, alcohol, boat malfunctions or an inexperienced boating (captain) operator.
Operators of boats have a legal obligation to operate their watercraft in a safe and prudent manner. The overwhelming majority of boating accidents are caused by factors that can be controlled by the operator of the boat. The primary cause of boating accidents nationwide was operator inattention, followed by careless/reckless operation, operator inexperience, operating at an unsafe speed, and failure to have a proper lookout.
Common violations of the duty of ordinary care in a maritime setting include a failure to warn against foreseeable harm, violations of “rules of the water,” such as excessive speed, failure to have proper lights, failure to yield, intoxication and others. Owners may also be held liable under the theory of vicarious liability. For example, an owner may be held liable for an operator’s failure to warn passengers of intended maneuvers, overloading the boat or permitting the guest to sit in a dangerous position.
Accidents involving bystanders, such as swimmers or water skiers, are typically treated in the same manner as cases involving social guests. The law and courts where the accident occured will generally control any lawsuits brought by injured bystanders unless the defendant boat owner asserts admiralty jurisdiction.
The laws regarding boating accident (drowning) cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced boating fatality 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 in a tragic boating fatality (drowning) accident. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death/drowning/boating fatality cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your boating fatality/drowning accident 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 the 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 atorney 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.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has the successful track record and reputation for aggressively representing our clients for recovering tens of millions of dollars in boating fatality cases in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and Florida in both State and Federal Counts.
Bicyclist Hurt after Crash between Two SUVs in Fountain Valley
According to the Fountain Valley Police Department a bicyclist was seriously injured Wednesday afternoon after a collision between two SUVs caused one of the vehicles to veer and strike him.
Officers and paramedics responded to the traffic accident at the Bushard Street and Talbert Avenue intersection just before 2:30 p.m.
Investigators believe that two SUVs collided in the intersection, with one veering off the roadway and striking the bicyclist, who was waiting on a corner for the traffic lights to change, Fountain Valley police Lt. Rob Sweaza said.
The bicyclist, a 29-year-old Huntington Beach man, was taken to a hospital with severe injuries, but was expected to survive.
Cause of the Fountain Valley Crash
The cause of the initial crash between the SUVs is under investigation, but police say neither drugs nor alcohol are believed to have been a factor. No arrests were reported.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident 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.
The laws regarding pedestrian 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 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 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 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 accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your case.
When you suffer serious/traumatic injuries or a loved one’s death, you are entitled to compensation (medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages, future wages and pain and suffering). The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler will aggressively represent you and fight for your rights against the insurance companies for the monetary damages you deserve.
The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler can help recover compensation for the victim through his insurance, if he has one. Compensation in a civil claim can include medical care expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, or other related damages.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the traffic accident to call the Fountain Valley Police Department’s traffic bureau at 714-593-4481.
