A Huntington Beach car accident caused by a speeding driver who police say was also under the influence, injured 29-year-old Alfredo Garcia the night of February 23, 2010. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, 52-year-old Melvin Brown was speeding west on Pacific Coast Highway near Warner Avenue, when he rear-ended Garcia's Infiniti G35. Police say Brown was going at about 150 mph just before the collision. Both cars went off the roadway and into the water at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Both drivers suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. Brown was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Read More

One person sustained fatal injuries in a Los Angeles car accident involving at least eight vehicles and a big rig. ABC News reports that the fatal traffic accident, which occurred the night of February 24, 2010 on the eastbound 101 Freeway near Sepulveda Boulevard, in Sherman Oaks, also critically injured another person. Three others also sustained injuries, but it is not known how serious they were. An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. Read More

A 36-year-old woman who sustained fatal injuries in a San Bernardino car accident has been identified as Yesenia Lopez. According to a news report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Lopez was traveling south on Foothill Boulevard near Laurel Avenue, in Fontana, when a 2009 Kia broadsided her 2002 Honda. Lopez was taken to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. Read More

California personal injury victims who decide to negotiate their own claim will need a number of skills to be successful. Victims who represent themselves will need to be composed, aggressive, patient, and smart. Having these skills will be critical in receiving a fair settlement from your personal injury claim. Preparing your personal injury claim will be a vital part of the settlement process. When it is time to start negotiating your claim it is important to keep these eight steps in mind.

Do not submit your demand until after the adjuster has made his first offer. Once the adjustor has made his first offer you can demand policy limits or total your damages and submit.

Don't be humble. Ask for more money than you expect to get. This will allow room for the adjustor to negotiate you down.

Ask questions and keep a record. When talking with your adjustor ask him questions about your case. Find out how much he is allotted for each item and do the math with him. Ask how much he is paying for pain and suffering as well as other non economic damages.

Don't try to negotiate the entire deal all at once. Keep in mind that negotiations take time. The best negotiators make all their concessions in small increments. This method could result in a much higher settlement value.

Stay calm and patient. Do not seem like you are in a hurry to settle. If an offer is made do not accept or counter that offer in the same meeting. If you seem like you are in a hurry the adjustor may sense it think that you are desperate for money.

Keep your composure. The demeanor of a person can affect the outcome of a situation.

Do not seem eager to settle. California will allow you two years to settle your car accident claim.

Do not make decisions on your own. Let the adjustor know that you need to consult with a higher authority before making the final decision.

Tell him or her that you will be consulting with a spouse or attorney friend.

Good negotiations are an important part of any personal injury claim. Catastrophic injury victims are well advised to consult with an experienced California personal injury lawyer before beginning their claim. The best lawyers will offer injured victims with a free consultation. Some will even offer victims a no fee guarantee. This means that if they don't win your case you don't have to pay.

If you or a loved one has suffered from a California catastrophic injury you may request a free copy of "The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your California Personal Injury Claim." This book is offered at no cost to accident victims and valued at $14.99. Inside The Seven Fatal Mistakes you will find information every California accident victim should have.

A driver sustained fatal injuries in a Los Angeles car accident after he was struck by a large truck on the 710 Freeway in Commerce. CBS News reports that the fatal truck accident occurred the night of February 22, 2010 near East Slauson Avenue. The truck apparently struck the vehicle, which was stopped on or at the shoulder of the freeway. The motorist whose vehicle was struck by the big rig was fatally injured, California Highway Patrol officials said. Read More

A woman was fatally injured in a Los Angeles train accident after she was struck by a Metro Blue Line train the afternoon of February 19, 2010, the Los Angeles Times reports. Los Angeles fire officials said the fatal pedestrian accident occurred in the 1700 block of East Century Boulevard when a woman became trapped under a train. She died at the scene. Officials say the woman was trying to cross the tracks. But it's not clear exactly how or why she was hit. Read More

A woman was killed in a San Diego car accident the morning of February 19, 2010 after she was struck by a car. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the accident occurred in the Chollas View area when the woman was exiting her car and was struck by a station wagon near the intersection of 47th and Market streets. The driver of the station wagon drove away without stopping. Police describe the suspect vehicle as an older model Japanese-make station wagon with damage to the front bumper. The driver is described as a white man in his 50s with gray hair. Read More

Fred Siller, 39, sustained critical injuries in an Anaheim car accident after his motorcycle crashed into another vehicle on the 91 Freeway near Brookhurst Street, The Orange County Register reports. The major injury motorcycle crash occurred the night of February 16, 2010 on the westbound side of the freeway. California Highway Patrol officials said Siller is still listed in critical condition. An investigation is ongoing. Read More

A Los Angeles car accident involving an MTA bus resulted in serious injuries to three people including a baby, ABC News report. The accident occurred February 15, 2010 on Spring Street near the 101 Freeway, when the bus collided with a convertible. The impact pushed the car into a stoplight post. Two people in the car were taken to an area hospital in critical condition. A baby in the car was taken to the hospital and was listed in "fair condition." Officials are looking into what caused this collision. Read More

Authorities in Garden Grove have identified a woman who sustained serious injuries in an Orange County truck accident as 37-year-old Olga Quiroz. Quiroz was struck by an out-of-control tractor truck, which officials say was driven by a drunk driver. The Orange County Register states that the accident occurred the morning of February 12, 2010 in the 11000 block of Woodbury Road when the truck driver crashed into the woman's backyard and hit her. Quiroz was pinned under the truck's tire and sustained injuries to her leg. The truck driver, 44-year-old William Michael Davis, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Read More