Archive for November, 2009

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Metrolink Pays $30 Million in Settlements for 2005 Train Crash

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

Nearly five years after the Glendale train accident that killed 11 people and injured 180 more, Metrolink has paid out $30 million to settle the majority of the lawsuits in connection with the train accident. Two of these settlements stand out from the rest—one for $5 million and the other for $3.8 million—and two wrongful death cases in which the heirs will receive $3.5 million for each claim.

Metrolink released a statement recently saying Metrolink was “working diligently to reach a fair and reasonable resolution of each of the few remaining cases in the Glendale derailments.”

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California Town Considers Crackdown on Dog Attacks

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

An article that was recently published in the Contra Costa Times reports that the town of Hercules, CA is considering new ordinances stemming from two recent pit bull attacks. Public outcry over the attacks is calling for more compliance with existing dog restraint rules, enhanced public vigilance of loose dogs in the area and the possibility of new city laws that would address pit bulls and other dog breeds perceived to be aggressive.

On August 20, 2009, a woman was attacked and her Yorkshire terrier killed by two loose pit bulls as she was walking in the 400 block of Turquoise Drive. The Hercules police chief said that the woman suffered minor bites and scratches to her arms in the dog bite attack, and the Contra Costa County Department of Animal Services euthanized the two pit bulls after they were deemed dangerous.

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Slippery Roads Cause Almost 200 Los Angeles Auto Accidents

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Recent heavy rains in and around the Los Angeles area made traveling on area roads a very dangerous endeavor. Various law enforcement agencies responded to nearly 200 auto accidents on a very rainy Wednesday recently, including at least two accidents that involved large semi trucks. Between midnight and 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, the California Highway Patrol responded to 186 auto accidents on freeways in Los Angeles County alone.

CHP officers responding to and investigating all the auto accidents said that excessive speeds on wet roads led to the vast majority of the accidents.

“The most important thing to do is slow down,” said CHP Officer Miguel Luevano. “Increase that following distance—in case something does happen in front of you, you have enough space to stop and you’re going at a speed that allows you to stop safely without being in an accident yourself.”

CHP officials stressed the importance of the following driving tips whether roads were wet or not:

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Toyota Orders Dealers to Inspect All Vehicle Floor Mats

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

An Associated Press article published recently said Toyota ordered all its dealers to inspect their vehicles for mismatched floor mats in relation to a fiery car accident that killed four members of a family. The deadly auto accident was believed to be caused by floor mats that snagged the gas pedal on a Lexus that caused it to accelerate into the family’s SUV. Toyota Motor Sales, USA Inc. issued the order to around 1400 Lexus and Toyota dealers around the country to ensure that each vehicle in their inventory had the proper floor mats and that those mats were properly secured. Toyota also encouraged Toyota owners to inspect their floor mats for safety.

One Toyota official said, “If there’s any doubt in their mind about the security and shape of their mat, go ahead and visit the dealer.”

A 45-year-old California Highway Patrol Officer and three others were killed August 28, 2009, on State Route 125 in Santee—a town near San Diego—when the runaway Lexus traveling faster than 120 mph hit their SUV. After hitting the SUV, the Lexus launched off an embankment, rolled several times and burst into flames.

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Driver Accused of Texting While Driving Faces Charges in Pedestrian Accident

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

A Costa Mesa driver has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly striking and killing a pedestrian with his car a few minutes after he was texting with his cell phone in his car. An Orange County judge rejected his attorney’s request to reduce the charges, saying that there was no evidence that his client was texting when the accident occurred. However, prosecutors in the case claimed that his use of the cell phone and other undisclosed factors suggested that he was driving negligently and failed to see the pedestrian.

If the driver is convicted on vehicular manslaughter charges, he could be sentenced to nine years in prison. This article said that the defendant in the pedestrian accident has been charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence even though prosecutors in the case acknowledged that they have no phone company records to prove in court that he was texting at the time of the pedestrian accident.

The accident occurred on August 29, 2008, about 8:30 a.m. on Westcliff Drive near Dover Drive in Newport Beach. Shortly before the accident occurred, one witness said that they were behind the accused driver at an intersection and had to honk to get him to notice that the light was green.

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