NTSB on scene of deadly Nevada air crash
Federal investigators were on the scene of a deadly air show in Nevada on Saturday in efforts to find out why a World War II-era fighter plane suddenly pitched upward, rolled and did a nose-dive toward the crowded grandstand.
National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Terry Williams told The Associated Press Saturday that it was too early to say what caused the crash.
Meanwhile, the death toll increased to 5 on Saturday, after two people died overnight from injuries sustained in Friday’s disaster, according to officials with Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.
More than 50 were injured and it was feared the death toll could rise even higher. A status check from the Reno hospital showed six people were listed in critical condition and two others were listed as serious, The Reno Gazette Journal reported.
Organizers of the National Championship Air Races earlier said it appeared a mechanical failure with the P-51 Mustang was to blame.
The plane, flown by a 74-year-old veteran Hollywood stunt pilot, slammed into the concrete in a section of VIP box seats and blew to pieces in front the pilot’s family and a tight-knit group of friends who attend the annual event in Reno.
“It absolutely disintegrated,” said Tim O’Brien of Grass Valley Calif., who attends the races every year. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
The crash, which happened just before 4:30 p.m. during the National Championship Air Races at the Reno-Stead Airport, left a horrific scene strewn with smoking debris.
Bloodied bodies were spread across the area as people tended to the victims and ambulances rushed to the scene. Video of the aftermath showed a man with his leg severed at the knee.
Mike Draper, a spokesman for the Reno National Championship Air Races, described the scene as “a mass-casualty situation.”
Authorities said it appeared that a mechanical failure with the P-51 Mustang — a class of fighter plane that can fly in excess of 500 mph — was to blame. The pilot, Jimmy Leeward, was among those killed.
Two others have been confirmed dead, but their identities have not been made public.
‘Big explosion’
O’Brien, who is chairman of an air show in his hometown in California, was photographing Friday’s races when the crash occurred.
He said the Mustang was racing six other planes, and was in the process of moving from third place into second, when it pitched violently upward, rolled and then headed straight down.
From the photos he took, O’Brien said it looked like a piece of the plane’s tail called a “trim tab” had fallen off. He believes that’s what caused the plane’s sudden climb.
When the aircraft hit the ground, there was a “big explosion but no fire,” O’Brien said.
“The propeller (was) spinning very fast, and there was a lot of mass coming down all at once,” he said. It was a “very violent impact.”
Liz Margerum/The Reno Gazette-Jo
Afterward, a number of people were standing around, and “all we could do was hug each other,” he said.
Some onlookers said Leeward had done what he could to avoid people on the ground.
“If he wouldn’t have pulled up, he would have taken out the entire bleacher section,” said Tim Linville, 48, of Reno, who watched the race with his two daughters.
“The way I see it, if he did do something about this, he saved hundreds if not thousands of lives because he was able to veer that plane back toward the tarmac,” said Johnny Norman, who was at the show.
Leeward’s family expressed their sorrowin a message posted on Facebook.
“Dear friends, we are deeply saddened by the tragedy at the air race today. Please join us in praying at this time for all the families affected,” they said.
‘Unbelievable gore’
Witness Maureen Higgins of Alabama said the pilot was on his third lap when he lost control of the plane. She told the Gazette-Journal she was sitting about 30 yards away from the crash and the man in front of her was struck in the head by a piece of debris.
“I saw body parts and gore like you wouldn’t believe it. I’m talking an arm, a leg,” Higgins told the newspaper. “The alive people were missing body parts. I am not kidding you. It was gore. Unbelievable gore.”
Video apparently taken from the stands and posted on YouTube showed a plane crashing nose-own at the show after several other planes raced by in the air.
Spectators could be heard gasping: “Oh my God.” A photograph captured the doomed plane, nose down just before impact.
Local TV stations aired videotape of the scene that showed numerous people being treated at the scene or being carried on stretchers to ambulances.
Debris from the crash was strewn through a seating area in front of the grandstands.
“It’s just like a massacre. It’s like a bomb went off,” said Dr. Gerald Lent of Reno, who witnessed the crash, told the Gazette-Journal. “There are people lying all over the runway.”
He added: “One guy was cut in half. There’s blood everywhere. There’s arms and legs.”
Stephanie Kruse, a spokeswoman for the Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority, told The Associated Press that emergency crews took a total of 56 injury victims to three hospitals.
She said they also observed a number of people being transported by private vehicle, which they are not including in their count.
15 critically hurt
Kruse said of the total 56, at the time of transport, 15 were considered in critical condition, 13 were in serious condition with potentially life-threatening injuries and 28 had non-serious or non-life threatening injuries.
“This is a very large incident, probably one of the largest this community has seen in decades,” Kruse told The AP. “The community is pulling together to try to deal with the cope of it. The hospitals have certainly geared up and staffed up to deal with it.”
The National Championship Air Races have been deadly before. Two pilots died at the event in 1994. And organizers softened two of the curves pilots negotiate after two more pilots crashed into nearby neighborhoods in 1998 and 1999.
In 2007 and 2008, four pilots were killed at the races, prompting local school officials to consider barring student field trips to the event.
Planes at the yearly event fly wingtip-to-wingtip as low as 50 feet off the sagebrush at speeds sometimes surpassing 500 mph. Pilots follow an oval path around pylons, with distances and speeds depending on the class of aircraft.
Mike Houghton, president and CEO of Reno Air Races, said at a news conference hours after the crash that there appeared to be a “problem with the aircraft that caused it to go out of control.” He did not elaborate.
He said the rest of the races have been canceled as the National Transportation Safety Board investigates.
The NTSB issued a statement on You Tube, expressing its condolences to the victims and their relatives and saying it would send a team of investigators Saturday morning from Washington D.C. to Reno.
Gov. Brian Sandoval noted at a news conference that area hospitals were in need of blood in the wake of the crash, and he encouraged people to donate.
“Northern Nevadans grieve again this evening with the news of casualties and injuries at the Reno Championship Air Races,” he said, according to NBC News. “My family and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families, and I know every member of the Nevada family is thinking tonight of those we have lost and those we cherish.”
Leeward, of Ocala, Fla., was a veteran airman and movie stunt pilot who named his P-51 Mustang fighter plane the “Galloping Ghost,” according to Houghton. Officials earlier said Leeward was 80.
Marilyn Newton / AP file
Leeward, the owner of the Leeward Air Ranch Racing Team, was a well-known racing pilot. According to the Internet Movie Database, Leeward appeared in a number of movies as a stunt pilot, including “Amelia” in 2009, “The Tuskegee Airmen” in 1995 and “Smokey and the Bandit Part 3” in 1983.
‘Speed, speed and more speed’
In an interview with the Ocala Star-Banner, of Florida, last year, he described how he has flown 250 types of planes and has a particular fondness for the P-51, which came into the war relatively late and was used as a long-range bomber escort over Europe. Among the famous pilots of the hot new fighter was WWII double ace Chuck Yeager.
“They’re more fun. More speed, more challenge. Speed, speed and more speed,” Leeward said.
Leeward talked about racing strategy in an interview Thursday with LiveAirShow TV while standing in front of his plane.
“Right now I think we’ve calculated out, we’re as fast as anybody in the field, or maybe even a little faster,” he said.
“But uh, to start with, we didn’t really want to show our hand until about Saturday or Sunday. We’ve been playing poker since last Monday. And uh so, it’s ready, we’re ready to show a couple more cards, so we’ll see on Friday what happens, and on Saturday we’ll probably go ahead and play our third ace, and on Sunday we’ll do our fourth ace,” he added.
A 2010 newspaper article said that Leeward had made major modifications to his plane for racing, including shaving five feet off of each wing and reducing the canopy’s size.
His website said the plane’s engine produced 3,800 horsepower and the aircraft was rated to 550 mph. The article said that for races, Leeward was required to wear a helmet, fire protection suit, oxygen mask and parachute.
Good friend
Houghton described Leeward as a good friend.
“Everybody knows him. It’s a tight-knit family. He’s been here for a long, long time,” Houghton said.
He also said Leeward was a “very qualified, very experienced pilot” who was in good medical condition. He suggested Leeward would have made every effort to avoid casualties on the ground if he knew he was going to crash.
“If it was in Jimmy’s power, he would have done everything he possibly could,” Houghton said.
The National Championship Air Races draws thousands of people to Reno every September to watch various military and civilian planes race.
The FAA and air race organizers spend months preparing for air races as they develop a plan involving pilot qualification, training and testing along with a layout for the course. The FAA inspects pilots’ practice runs and brief pilots on the route maneuvers and emergency procedures.
Sen. Harry Reid, Rep. Mark Amodei and other officials issued statements Friday saying they were shocked and saddened by the crash.
“My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives and with those who were wounded in this horrific tragedy,” Reid said. “I am so grateful to our first responders for their swift action and will continue to monitor this situation as it develops.”
Aviation Accidents
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.”
Woman dies when tree lands on car
COSTA MESA – One person was killed when a tree slammed into a car Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
Police received initial reports of a vehicle crashing into a tree, but when officers arrived at the scene, it wasn’t immediately clear how the driver was injured, Costa Mesa police Lt. Mark Manley said.
“It may have been a tree just fell onto the car,” Manley said.
Rescuers responded to the intersection of Irvine Avenue and 17th Street about 2 p.m.
A 50-foot eucalyptus tree landed on top of the vehicle, which was occupied by one person.
A helicopter was initially called to transport a woman to a hospital, authorities said, but was called off when she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not identified the woman nor released her age.
Newport resident Pier Warmuth said she was driving a convertible with its windows down westbound on 17th when the tree fell. Warmuth said she didn’t hear or see any collisions and indicated that there wasn’t any wind in the area at the time.
“All of a sudden, there was a weird creaking noise, then everyone was looking around and suddenly there was the tree,” Warmuth said.
A man got out of another vehicle to try to help the woman, Warmuth said, but was unable to reach her.
“There was nothing you could do. The tree was enormous, and it was lying right on the driver’s side,” Warmuth said. “It just happened so quickly. It could have been any of us.”
Both directions of Irvine Boulevard were closed from 17th Street to Mariners Drive, Costa Mesa police Lt. Bryan Glass said, as investigators go over the scene and workers remove the tree and the car.
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 neccessary 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
1 killed, 2 hurt in head-on collision on Highway 126
SANTA PAULA, Calif. (KABC) — Highway 126 was shut down east of Santa Paula in Ventura County on Sunday following a fatal head-on collision.
A 15-year-old Bakersfield girl very tragically died Sunday night in a head-on collision on Highway 126 between Santa Paula and Fillmore, the Ventura County Star reported today. The victim, identified by the Ventura County Medical Examiner as Maria Puentes, 15, was a passenger in a vehicle driven eastbound on Highway 126, near Toland Road. For reasons still under investigation, the vehicle Puentes was riding in drifted into westbound traffic, directly into the path of an oncoming truck.
The impact of the head-on collision caused the vehicle to spin out of control into westbound traffic and the truck to spin into eastbound lanes. The 17-year-old boy driving the vehicle and the driver of the truck, a 53-year-old Bakersfield man, were taken to Ventura County Medical Center. Puentes died at the scene of the head-on collision, which occurred at about 7:05 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2011.
Cause of the Fatal Crash
As a passenger, Puentes likely could have done nothing to prevent this fatal head-on collision that ultimately took her life. Based on the limited facts provided by the Ventura County Star, it is impossible to know exactly what happened here and why this fatal crash happened. The CHP will surely look at the speed of both vehicles, witness reports, and other factors to determine what occurred and who was responsible. Head-on collisions such as this one can have countless causes, including unsafe passing maneuvers, swerving to avoid an object in the road, falling asleep at the wheel, driving under the influence, or driver distraction.
Car Accident Wrongful Death Liability
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.
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.
Man killed in Irvine accident is identified
IRVINE – Authorities have identified a 77-year-old man who died after he was pinned between two cars Monday morning. 
Sung Lee of Irvine had been involved in a minor crash with a parked truck, officials said, and was then hit by a second vehicle when he stepped out of his car to assess the damage.
The second crash pinned the man between two vehicles, said Capt. Marc Stone of the Orange County Fire Authority, causing severe injuries.
Paramedics performed CPR on Lee before transporting him to a nearby hospital, Stone said.
Lee was pronounced dead just after 9:15 a.m. at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, according to the Orange County Coroner’s Office.
Lee crashed his Lexus SUV into the back of a parked gardening truck when he exited his car to assess the damage and exchange information, officials said.
Lee had been traveling east on Summit Park when he hit the parked truck, Irvine police Lt. Julia Engen said. He stepped out of his car and had time to make a phone call before the second crash occurred.
Lee was standing on the driver’s side of his vehicle when a Volkswagen Jetta driven by a 16-year-old male crashed into the stopped two vehicles, Engen said, pinning Lee between two cars.
Authorities are investigating the crash, but say the “alignment of the morning sunlight with the roadway” may have been a factor.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call Irvine police Sgt. Dennis Maisano at 949-724-7023.
Cause of the Irvine Pedestrian Accident
The cause of the September 12 crash remains under investigation by the Irvine Police Department. However, based on the limited information provided by the OC Register News, the driver of the Volkswagen Jetta is likely responsible for this horrific collision.
Pedestrian Accidents
The laws regarding pedestrian 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 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/bicycle 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!
Man killed, another injured in accident near Wilder, Idaho
WILDER — A two-vehicle accident northwest of Wilder killed one man and critically injured another early Friday morning.
At about 2:10 a.m., 42-year-old Leonso Ruiz-Maron’s pickup ran out of gas. While he was under the vehicle repairing a fuel line, another man stopped to help him refuel. That man was stopped on the other side of the street with his flashers on.
Idaho State Police say Fredy Rodriguez was hauling hops when he hit Ruiz-Maron’s truck from the back, causing it to run him over. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rodriguez was taken by air ambulance to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt.
Cause of the Wilder, Idaho Pedestrian Accident
The cause of the September 12 crash remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police. However, based on the limited information provided by NWCN, the driver of the truck is likely responsible for this horrific collision.
Pedestrian Accidents
The laws regarding pedestrian 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 accident trial 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 Western States pedestrian accident trial 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/bicycle 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!
Body of San Diego man found in Colorado River
NEEDLES, Calif. – The body of a 26-year-old San Diego man who fell out of a boat on the Colorado River near Needles over Labor Day weekend was recovered Wednesday, authorities said.
Terrell Antone Blake fell out of a 28-foot boat just after 7 p.m. Saturday when the vessel hit a wake on the river. He was not wearing a floatation device, according to a statement on the incident provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Shortly after Blake fell, the Sheriff’s Department searched the river by boat, helicopter and brought in a dive team.
On Wednesday morning, authorities received a report of a body near the Interstate 40 bridge over the Colorado River. A county coroner’s official identified the body as that of Blake.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine cause of death.
What Are the Rights of a Person Injured on or by Watercraft
The potential claims of a person injured by a watercraft are determined by the category: seamen, social guest, business visitor, or bystander/swimmer/water skier. The category also determines the legal rules that will be applied to your claim.
Social Guests, Business Visitors and Bystanders
Most people injured on and around boats are categorized as a “social guest.” These claims will be determined by general maritime law and state law principles of negligence.
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 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. For example, does state negligence law or federal maritime law or both apply? Who are the responsible parties? Is the cause of action against the owner of the boat for negligent operator or the boat operators or both? Did the boat malfuntion creating a product liability claim against the boat manufacturer?
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.
Youth Pastor Arrested on Suspicion of Committing Lewd Acts With Girl
BENICIA (KRON)–Police say they have arrested a Solano County youth pastor suspected of committing lewd acts with one of his underage female Bible study students.Legal considerations: Sexual abuse (molestation) is an intentional act of abuse. Molesters are very often a person the victim knows and is familiar with. Some examples include, physicians, coaches, clergy, teachers and nursing home providers. Victims of sexual abuse may bring a civil claim for physical and emotional damages. Through a civil claim, the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler can hold a molester or their employer financially responsible for damages or sexual abuse. A claim can be brought directly against the abuser, or the abuser’s employer, if that entity was negligent in screening, hiring or supervising the abusive employee.
Justice for Victims of Abuse: The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler have represented victims of sexual abuse throughout California. We know that, although no amount of money can undo the emotional and psychological pain of an an unthinkable sexual act, compensation can allow victims and their families the resources necessary to obtain counseling and psychological care. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler for a free confidential consultation.
States Cracking Down on Drunk Drivers
September 2nd is the Second Most Deadly Day of the Year on Roadways
Drunk driving is not an accident- it is a blatant disregard for human life. In 2009, nearly 11,000 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal alcohol limit. This is why the Governors Highway Safety Association’s (GHSA’s) member State Highway Safety Offices are joining forces with federal and local officials to conduct the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Labor Day drunk driving crackdown.
The crackdown was marked this morning at an event at the Department of Transportation (DOT) led by secretary Ray Lahood and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) administrator David Strickland. GHSA Chairman Vernon F. Betkey, Jr. spoke along with partners from MADD and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Speakers highlighted the fact that, from August 19 through September 5, police in every state will be out in full force conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols to catch drunk drivers. This high visibility law enforcement is supported by $13 million in national and state advertisements.
Chairman Betkey noted that Labor Day Weekend is a dangerous time on our nations roadways. In fact, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, September 2 is the second most deadly day of the year. According to Betkey, “To keep our friends and neighbors safe, our partners in law enforcement will be out in force looking for drunk and drugged drivers.”
States across the nation are actively participating in the crackdown. Among State Highlights:
The California Highway Patrol is mounting a holiday weekend Maximum Enforcement campaign, with 80 percent of available officers on the roads.
In Texas, numerous communities are conducting “No Refusal” weekends, an enforcement strategy that allows jurisdictions to obtain search warrants for blood samples from suspected impaired drivers who refuse breath tests.
Free AAA Tipsy Tow: Labor Day 2011
The American Automobile Association (AAA) is again running their holiday Free Tipsy Tow Home service for Labor Day (September 5 – 6, 2011) for anyone in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah. If you’re drinking and don’t think you should drive, give them a call. You don’t have to be a AAA member to get a free tow.
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 he 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.
Bicyclist injured in crash with Mercedes-Benz
IRVINE – A woman riding a bicycle and a driver of a Mercedes-Benz collided Friday morning on Alton Parkway, authorities said.
The crash was reported to the California Highway Patrol at 7:55 a.m. on the northbound I-5 Alton Parkway off-ramp.
A CHP officer on scene said it appears the two collided when the bicyclist crossed the off-ramp on a green light while the driver was making a right-hand turn when exiting the freeway.
The bicyclist, who appears to be in her 20s, was taken away in an ambulance. Her injuries did not appear to be major.
Cause of the Irvine Bicycle Accident
The cause of the August 19 crash remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. However, based on the limited information provided by the OC Register News, the driver of the Mercedes Benz is likely responsible for this horrific collision.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
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 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 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 reponsible parties!
Motorcyclist injured after crashing with Camry
FULLERTON – One person was injured after a motorcycle crash Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
The crash, between a Toyota Camry and a Suzuki motorcycle, was reported at 2:04 p.m. on Brookhurst Street and Orangethorpe Avenue, according to MetroNet, a fire dispatch service.
The motorcycle came to rest in the center lane of Brookhurst Street in front of a McDonald’s restaurant.
Southbound lanes of Brookhurst Street were blocked until the motorcyclist was taken away in an ambulance.
Cause of the Fullerton Motorcycle Accident
The cause of the August 18, 2011 motorcycle accident remains under investigation by the Fullerton Police Department.
Motorcycle Accidents
Many times car drivers simply do not see motorcyclists on the highway and they cross into the motorcyclist’s lane, seriously injuring or killing the biker. Often times, the car’s driver(s) fail to yield the right of way to the motorcyclist. There are many cases where the automobile driver is speeding or under the influence (DUI).
If you have been involved in a California motorcycle accident you may be entitled to compensation by the negligent party’s insurance company and/or your own if the negligent driver was uninsured or underinsured. Never proceed with a negligence claim without first obtaining legal advice from an experienced California lawyer who knows how to deal with the insurance companies and will make sure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries and damages.
California motorcycle accident lawyer Gary A. Kessler will promptly investigate the crash, determine fault, and seek to recover all legal damages.
Regardless of who was at fault in the accident, victims should immediately seek the counsel of an experienced motorcycle attorney to protect your legal rights. Within the first week, important physical evidence can be lost or destroyed and witnesses may become hard to find.
The laws regarding motorcycle accidents are complex and include many facets of the law.It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced motorcycle 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 motorcycle 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 motorcycle accident. Such accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A. Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and motorcycle 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 the trial of your case. As in all motorcycle accident 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 we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible parties.
If you have been seriously injured or a family member has sustained fatal injuries from a motorcycle accident you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler or another 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.
