January 13, 2012--Bakersfield, CA--A very lucky man survived a freak Bakersfield car accident on January 11.

41-year-old Marcus Kaspryzk was driving on Highway 99 near Bakersfield when a piece of metal pipe flew off a car and impaled his windshield.  Fortunately, the pipe hit the steering wheel instead of traveling through the car and hitting the driver, who was alone in the car at the time of the crash.

California Highway Patrol officers confirmed that Kaspryzk could have been seriously injured or even killed if the steering wheel had not stopped the pipe.  It has not been determined exactly how the pipe fell off a traveling vehicle or where it came from, but police continue to investigate.

My congratulations to Mr. Kaspryzk on his good fortune in surviving what could have been a terrible accident!

Accident Statistics

Most "flying object" fatalities are related to workplace accidents, but many of these also occur on the road.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in 2009, 741 workers were killed by “contact” with objects or equipment, and 313 of these, or about half, were accidents involving falling or flying objects.

While this was not a work-related accident, the statistics make it clear that these types of accidents are a danger to workers and others on our highways.  Other types of "flying object" accidents include weather-related accidents in which sheets of ice, which are not removed from cars, become loose and fly into another car as the driver picks up speed.

What Caused This Accident

While it is obvious that this flying piece of metal caused the accident, what is not so clear is exactly where it came from and how it detached itself from a moving vehicle.  Perhaps it was not tied down securely, or something happened to the straps connecting it to the vehicle.  The fact that witnesses claimed the metal came from a "car" rather than a work truck may be significant; it is possible that someone unfamiliar with how to safely tie objects to a car was attempting to move this pipe, and unfortunately made an error in securing the metal.

Liability Issues

This case in interesting from a liability standpoint as the at-fault driver, who failed to secure the metal pipe to his or her car, may not even be aware that an accident occurred.  It is not unheard of for an object to fly off a car or out of an open trunk without the driver being aware of it.

However, this does not relieve the driver of responsibility for the accident.  If he or she is found, a professional personal injury attorney can investigate the circumstances and determine liability for the property damage sustained by the victim.  Fortunately, this accident had no bodily injury involved; however, if anyone had been injured, a good personal injury lawyer would be needed to pursue claims for medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and pain and suffering.

January 12, 2012--San Diego, CA--Five people, including two small children, were injured when their car was struck by a driver who was apparently under the influence of alcohol on January 8.

Kaleb Clark, 29, was driving a Mazda sedan on a bridge over the San Diego River with another adult and a three-year-old child in his car as passengers.  He struck another car carrying an adult woman and two children.  The woman's car then struck a second vehicle.

The three-year-old child in Clark's car suffered a broken leg and dental injuries, and the adult passenger incurred head injuries.  Both were transported to a local hospital.  Clark traveled to the hospital with the victims, but fled before he could be interviewed by police.  Authorities suspect that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

My heartfelt thoughts go out to all the victims, especially the small child and family.  The victims all have my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.

Accident Statistics

DUI accidents continues to be a terrible problem for our nation, resulting in many serious and even fatal accidents.  In 2009, 10,839 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes.  Of the 1,314 fatalities of children 14 and younger in motor vehicle crashes, 181, or 14 percent, were killed in alcohol-related car accidents.

Furthermore, drivers with a blood alcohol content, or BAC, of .08 or higher who were involved in fatal accidents were eight times more likely than others to have a prior conviction for driving while under the influence. Read More

A car accident in Riverside proved fatal for an elderly woman who was identified by officials as 81-year-old Florence Wyatt. The Desert Sun reports that the deadly collision happened at the intersection of Sunrise Way and Sunny Dunes in the city of Palm Springs the night of January 14, 2012.Wyatt was walking across the intersection when she was struck by a Kia Soul. She died from her injuries. Officials are investigating the cause of the collision.

My heartfelt sympathies go out to everyone who knew and loved Florence Wyatt for their devastating loss. They will be in my prayers.

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January 1, 2012--Murrieta, CA--Five people were injured yesterday at 3 p.m. in a roll-over crash on Interstate 15 near Murrieta, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash involved a single vehicle which went over the concrete divider and rolled into the media.

Two children and one adult were treated for moderate injuries at a local hospital.  Two other children, who were injured critically, were rushed to another hospital for emergency treatment.

No names have been released by authorities at this time, pending notification of relatives and others of interest.

My thoughts are with the families of these young victims, and my sincere hope is that they will all recover from their injuries.

Car Accident Statistics

Car accidents are the number-one cause of injuries to children.  The National Center for Statistics and Analysis, NCSA, reports that nearly a quarter-million children are injured each year in car accidents, or an average of 700 children per day.  Approximately 2,000 of these children will die of their injuries each year.  Approximately half of those children are killed when they are being driven by an intoxicated adult.  The leading cause of acquired disabilities in children is also automobile accidents, with brain damage and paralysis being common results of these crashes.

These horrifying statistics are even more frightening when coupled with the information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which shows that approximately 72% of all child restraints are used incorrectly.  Properly-installed child restraint systems can result in an almost 75% reduction in child death and injuries during car accidents. Read More

A car accident in Baldwin Park involving a suspected drunk driver resulted in injuries for three people including a mother and her two children. The San Gabriel alley Tribune reports that the injury crash happened near the intersection of Garvey and Vineland avenues the afternoon of January 13, 2012. Officials say 25-year-old Arturo Meza, who was driving a Toyota Camry, crossed over the center median and collided head-on with a Kia Spectra carrying the 32-year-old woman and her children, ages 12 and 2. The woman and her children were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Meza is expected to be charged with felony DUI.

My heart goes out to the injured victims of this car crash. I pray for their swift and full recovery.

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Defective products in cars and other auto defects have been around since cars have been around. Nobody and no car are perfect, but sometimes the defects are more serious than a simple broken cup holder. The more serious types of auto defects include: seatbelt failure, seatback failure, airbag failure and defective tires to name a few.

There are many more types of auto defects, but we come across these more often than others. If you’ve suffered serious injury due to these types of defects, you have a great legal claim against the auto manufacturer. Nobody should be able to get away with making a lesser quality product just to save a few dollars on manufacturing costs.

The biggest problem with these types of cases is that people have no idea that their case is much larger than a simple insurance settlement. Auto defects are an incredibly serious item that have resulted in billions of dollars across the United States and hundreds of millions of dollars with our law firm -- Bisnar & Chase -- alone. Read More

A car accident in Los Angeles the morning of January 13, 2012 killed three people and resulted in major injuries for three others, NBC Los Angeles reports. Police say the fatal crash happened on Downey Avenue at Somerset Ranch Road in Paramount. A speeding Chevy Tahoe SUV went out of control, crashed into several objects, overturned and burst into flames. Five people were ejected from the vehicle. Three suffered fatal injuries and three others were transported to an area hospital with major injuries. An investigation is ongoing, although officials suspect that excessive speed was a factor.

My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident. My thoughts and prayers are also with the injured victims of this rollover accident. I pray for their swift and full recovery.

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A car accident in San Diego resulted in serious injuries for a mother and child in the city's Hillcrest area. NBC San Diego reports that the injury crash happened at University and 4th Street. A couple and their 3-year-old daughter were walking in a marked crosswalk at the intersection when they were struck by a vehicle. One of the victims suffered critical injuries. Both were hospitalized. An investigation is ongoing.

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A car accident in Los Angeles resulted in injuries for five people including a Los Angeles Police Department officer. The Los Angeles Times reports that the injury crash involving five vehicles including an LAPD patrol vehicle occurred near the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles. Police say three out of five of the injured victims were hospitalized with injuries. Two victims, including the LAPD officer, were treated at the scene and released. No one suffered life-threatening injuries. It is not clear how this collision occurred.

My heart goes out to all the injured victims of this collision. I pray for their swift and full recovery.

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A bicyclist, who was injured in a car accident in Los Angeles involving a hit-and-run driver, has been identified as Paul Tetu. The Monrovia Patch reports that the injury hit-and-run collision occurred the evening of January 9, 2012 near Violet Avenue and Foothill Boulevard in Monrovia. Tetu was apparently struck from behind by a vehicle. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The driver fled the scene of the crash, but turned himself in to authorities an hour later. The driver, identified as 34-year-old Jason Travers, has been booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run.

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