Another California Police Pursuit Ends in Motorcycle Crash

Just a couple of weeks after the California police pursuit that killed a pedestrian, another police chase that occurred in Santa Rosa, California last Friday night severely injured a motorcyclist.

According to reports, a man trying to avoid a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer broke his back and sustained other minor injuries following a motorcycle accident.

CHP officials claimed that the man who was identified as Alexander Ketcham, 43, was spotted over speeding in his motor vehicle along River Road just west of Santa Rosa at around 9:46 in the evening last Friday.

Upon seeing the motorist accelerating to speeds in over 90 mph, the officer pursued the motorcycle south into Fulton Road and then west of Guerneville Road for about 4 miles and up until south in Frie Road before finally heading onto state Highway 116 wherein the motorcycle failed to overtake another car and then sideswiped the same.

Ketcham apparently lost control of his motorcycle and struck into a raised embankment and road sign. He was then ejected from his motorcycle and came to a stop on the north shoulder of the highway.

Ketcham broke his back and sustained cuts on his hands and arms. He was immediately transported to the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. However, it did not exclude him from being arrested on suspicion of reckless evasion and possession of false license plate on his motorcycle, according to CHP officials.

Admittedly, driving around in an open vehicle such as a motorcycle can be extremely fun and exciting. However, just like in any other extreme activities that pose a lot of safety risks, motorcycle accident can happen.

Perhaps, Ketcham became overwhelmed by his motorcycle’s ability to accelerate faster than one can ever imagine, that is why he was not able to help himself from pushing its speed to the limit, speculated by a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles.

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Civil Rights Violation Victim Rodney King’s Death Ruled Drowning Accident

Several weeks after his death, authorities have now ruled Rodney King’s death as drowning accident.

Rodney King was found motionless lying at the bottom of his swimming pool by his fiancé, Cynthia Kelley in his home in Rialto, near Los Angeles last June 17.

According to reports, Kelley immediately called for help upon seeing her 47-year old fiancé drowning at the pool since she could not swim.  She tried to reach King using a pitchfork and hoe until authorities arrived and pulled King out of the water. Rodney was subsequently transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Finally, the investigation is now completed and based on the autopsy and toxicology report, King was in a state of drug and alcohol-induced delirium at the time of the terminal event and either fell or jumped into the swimming pool that led to his death.

Rialto Police Captain Randy DeAnda further explained that the combination of ethanol or alcohol and multiple drug toxicity have triggered an irregular heartbeat and made King unable to save himself from drowning.

In her statement, Kelley was in bed sleeping when she was awakened by a grunting and growling sound and then he saw King at the patio door having frothy secretions coming form his mouth. Therefore, Kelley went on to get her cell phone but while she was making a call, she heard a splash and by the time she got into the pool, she saw King lying face down in the deep end.

He was 47.

He became well-known after he was pulled over by four Los Angeles police officers for speeding on a dark street on March 3, 1991. He was severely beaten by the apprehending cops while a bystander incidentally filmed the scene showing him being repeatedly hit with batons, kicked, and shot with stun guns. The video was then broadcasted by media outlets all over the world.

Consequently, the incident left King with brain injury. Unfortunately, the officers involved in the beating were acquitted a year after the incident. The said acquittals inflicted racial issues and eventually triggered the 1999 Los Angeles riots wherein 53 people were killed and more than 2,000 were injured.

The huge riot required the presence of soldiers from the United States Army National Guard together with the United States Marines from nearby Camp Pendleton, California since local authorities can no longer control the riots. The damages incurred by the said outrage amounted to $1 billion to the State of California, according to reports.

Although drowning accidents can’t be avoided, there are some instances like in King’s case that are unavoidable due to several circumstances. Nevertheless, a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles felt somehow relieved that King’s case has been finally resolved.

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Italian Ship Cruise Captain Held Liable for the Drowning Accident Happened Last Friday the 13th

The captain of the Italian cruise ship that capsized last Friday the 13th at Tuscany was arrested on Saturday, January 14.

Allegedly, the cruise ship captain, Francesco Schettino made an unauthorized deviation from its programmed course. According to the Italian ship owner, the accident was purely caused by human error which led to the vessels’ fatal grounding.

Comments from the Luigi Foschi, the Chairman and CEO of the Costa Crociere, the company that owns the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia said that the ship’s captain was already under investigation by the proper authorities. They are concerned as the captain is suspected for manslaughter and on allegedly abandoning the ship before all passengers were safe - a clear violation of the Italian Navigation Code. Under the said provision, a captain who abandons a ship in danger can face up to 12 years of imprisonment.

The arrest of the ship captain Schettino together with its first officer Ciro Ambrosio was conducted 24 – hours after the incident. They would be facing multiple charges of homicide and ship abandonment

The Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia that was loaded with over 4,000 people on board before it struck into a coral reef, which caused 70 to 100 meters deep cut into its hull not long after setting off from Civitavecchia, a sea port near Rome. As a result, the ship quickly leaned on one side.

The passengers all panicked and rushed to get into the lifeboats where they could be rescued from the sea. As of January 16, six people have been reported dead while sixteen people remain missing.

The Costa Crociere is owned by the largest cruise line in the world – Carnival Corp. that stood by the ship captain despite what happened. The said cruise line would still provide the captain with legal assistance but made it clear that the company had nothing to do with the captain’s behavior.

In a press conference, Foschi explained that every Costa ship has its own routes programmed. He further stated that the alarms went off when ship captain Schettino made an unauthorized deviation. Foschi added that the liner had passed all the safety and technical tests in the 2011 evaluation.

It was on November 22, 2008, that the same ship was featured on the news after trying to enter the port of Palermo, Sicily during a storm and was damaged when it struck the dock. There must be extensive trainings and seminars for all cruise ship crews to avoid fatal drowning accidents among themselves and their passengers.

It is still unclear whether the cruise line, captain alone or both would be accountable for the said drowning accidents. However, based upon the ongoing situation and statements, it seems that the captain alone would be held liable for the all damages that occurred from the incident.

In such drowning mishaps, determining the liable party can be the toughest step in pursuing a lawsuit whether it is a personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death claim. Either way, a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles would be excellent for winning such clients’ claims.

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Pregnant Mom Killed after 134 Freeway Crash

Is the medical condition of a pregnant woman enough for police officers to stop her from driving?

Perhaps yes. Consider the rising number of pregnant women who were recently involved in car crashes in California. To be more specific, their medical condition could have affected driving conditions at the time of crash.

Dizziness during the prenatal period may cause a pregnant driver to lose focus while on the road. Moreover, related pre-natal conditions may affect a driver’s ability to prevent a collision along freeways.

However, prohibiting pregnant women from driving on California streets may spark protests among critics. Advocates of women rights may reiterate non-discrimination regulation among motorists.

What is left to do for state officials is to help these pregnant women gain access to safety equipment. It can effectively reduce the number of fatal crashes and help save unborn children.

Let us take the case of a 30-year-old pregnant driver from Los Angeles who died after crashing her car on 134 Freeway on Sunday.

According to Los Angeles police reports, the woman was driving westbound on Victory Boulevard when her car veered off the lane and struck a tree. Paramedics rushed her to USC-Medical Center, but she and her unborn child did not survive.
Police officers described how the blunt force caused major damage to the driver's compartment.

It is not yet clear if the mother died due to the accident or if her medical condition triggered its occurrence. Regardless of the cause of the fatal incident, Cal authorities still have to implement ways to prevent a similar cause of accident.

Needless to say, pregnant women need more protection from driving hazards compared to other motorists. Seatbelt and lap belt are not enough to protect the mother and her unborn child while behind the wheels.

When all things fail, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers may try adding "driving while pregnant" to its list of prohibition.

For more information on traffic laws, you may consult with a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles. An attorney will help you file the car accident lawsuit and recover damages. Dial our toll free number at 1-866-772-2889 or email us at info@mesriani.com for a free case analysis.

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233 Households Lose Electricity after Car Crash

A single car crash caused power outage to three neighborhoods along a busy area in San Francisco Friday morning.

The motorist may be in a hurry to avoid the morning rush when the car swerved and hit a power pole. The accident caused at least 6,700 residents to lose electricity for the whole day.

According to reports, the driver was traveling at Leavenworth and Filbert streets when it struck the power pole. The accident has affected the Telegraph Hill, Nob Hill, and Russian Hill neighborhoods.

Reports said at least 6,700 Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers had no electricity until late afternoon. The company restored power to the affected houses after 5:00 p.m.

It took one crash to impair residential and business activities at the three communities.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers can suspend the car driver’s license in a day, if he is guilty of a traffic law violation. Supposing the driver has committed drunk driving or speeding, the court may require him to compensate PG&E for the cost of repair of the affected power lines.

In California, it is illegal to exceed the 0.08 percent Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit. Drivers must also observe the 25 mph speed limit on residential areas. Failure to observe such traffic regulations may lead to legal consequences.

For more information on car accident liability, you may consult with a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles. Your attorney will guide throughout the process of litigation. You may dial our toll free number at 1-866-772-2889, or email us at info@mesriani.com for a free case analysis.

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Pregnant Tori Spelling Unhurt after LA Car Accident

Accident runs in the family.

This may be true for Tori and Dean because they both now faced the danger of traveling along Los Angeles’ roads.

On Monday, actress Tori Spelling crashed her car onto a school's wall as she tried to run away from a paparazzo, according to reports.

Reports said the Beverly Hill's icon was driving her two children to school when a photographer chased her car. Her car hit the school's curb and crashed onto the wall. The paparazzo still attempted to take some photos after the crash, but some school moms rescued Tori.

The Hollywood celeb and her two kids, Liam and Stella, were unhurt in the accident. Nevertheless, she visited her doctor to check whether her unborn baby is safe.

In her Twitter account, she narrated how the paparazzo still insisted on taking photos despite her condition.

It seems like the paparazzo was eager to get a real glimpse of the pregnant celeb. Perhaps the family's snap shots on Oxygen's Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood are not enough to reveal the family affairs. But, knowing that pregnant Tori already
crashed her car, the photographer should have called it quits.

Maybe it’s about time that LA City enforces stringent policies for paparazzi. Hollywood celebrities oftentimes are compelled to exceed speed limit just to escape intrusive photographers. Such act exposes actresses to crashes and injuries.

Good thing Dean McDermott has now recovered quite from his motorbike crash in July 2010 and he can assist his pregnant wife in moving in and out of LA streets.

For more information on accident lawsuits, you may consult a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles. Your attorney will guide you throughout the process of litigation. You may
dial our toll free number at 1-866-772-2889, or email us at info@mesriani.com for free case analysis.

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