Author Archives: maryalexander
3 teen girls killed in California Halloween hit-and-run accident
Two 13-year-old sisters and their 13-year-old friend were killed when a hit-and-run driver struck them at a crosswalk in California on Oct. 31. The girls were trick-or-treating in Santa Ana and were crossing Fairhaven Avenue at Old Grand Street when a black Honda SUV entered the crosswalk, striking the girls and throwing them more… Read More »
Hit-and-run driver critically injures pedestrian
The California Highway Patrol South Los Angeles division and Long Beach police have launched an investigation into a hit-and-run accident that happened on Oct. 25. At 11:20 p.m., a pedestrian attempting to cross a street near the Linden Avenue and Ocean Boulevard intersection in Long Beach was reportedly struck by a Scion. The pedestrian… Read More »
California bike accident draws attention to 3-feet law
California residents may be aware of the requirement to allow 3 feet of clearance when passing a bicycle, but in a recent Coachella Valley incident, an investigator drew attention to the need for further education on the matter. According to a member of a cycling group, the investigator in the case did not cite… Read More »
Understanding spinal cord injuries
California residents may benefit from reviewing some of the information available on the Spinal Cord Injury Fact Sheet produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Spinal cord injuries may be caused by suffering damage to the neck, upper and middle back, or lower back. Because the spinal cord is responsible for transmitting… Read More »
Determining the likelihood of a pedestrian being hurt by a car
In California, pedestrians made up 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2012. Overall, 4,743 pedestrians died, which was slightly higher than in 2011. However, the percentage of pedestrian fatalities remained the same due to a slight increase in overall traffic fatalities from 2011 to 2012. Of pedestrians who were killed, 73 percent were… Read More »
San Francisco man hit by taxi driver while in crosswalk
Shortly after 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, a San Francisco man in his 20s suffered injuries after getting struck by a taxi. The man was in a crosswalk in the Marina District when the accident occurred. The driver of the taxi left the scene of the accident after hitting the pedestrian but later… Read More »
Traumatic brain injury associated with auto accidents
California motorists may be interested to learn that roadway accidents are the leading cause of death from traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. TBI causes immediate or delayed physical, psychological and cognitive injury and significant financial issues related to treatment and loss of income. The force of the crash determines the effect it will… Read More »
California passes law mandating bike buffer zone
Bicyclists in California may have safer rides as a result of a bill that went into effect on Sept. 16. The state law, called the Three-Feet-for-Safety Act, states that drivers must allow a buffer zone of at least three feet in between their vehicles and bicycles. A representative for a bicyclists’ advocacy organization said… Read More »
Driver sentenced for accident that killed man on sidewalk
On Oct. 27, 2013, a 20-year-old male pedestrian was struck and killed by a sport-utility vehicle in Spring Valley, California. The driver left the scene and later bought beer. On Sept. 10, that driver, a 34-year-old man, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in El Cajon Superior Court. The period of incarceration was… Read More »
Suit filed against FIFA in California court
A new class action suit was filed against the Federation Internationale de Football Association and several soccer associations in the United States. Rather than seeking monetary damages, the suit hopes to establish a medical monitoring program for soccer-related concussions and change the rules to better cope with these injuries. The lawsuit was originally filed… Read More »