San Francisco news reports that a Visalia man was killed Saturday in a car accident just south of Devil Slide in San Mateo County. According to reports, all lanes of the highway were closed after the accident in order to allow police to begin an investigation. One man was pronounced dead at the scene and another three people were taken to San Francisco General Hospital. What lead to the deadly crash is still under investigation.

In fact, single vehicle accidents are one of the most misunderstood types of Stockton car accidents. While many people assume that if they are hurt in a one-car crash, they will be unable to recover compensation for their injuries. This is not the case. In fact, several factors may lead to a single car crash making it critical to consult with an experienced Stockton car accident attorney to ensure you recover the compensation you deserve.

While in some cases a driver may be to blame in a one-car accident such as in a drunk driving accident, other times less obvious factors are at play and may cause or contribute to a single car crash with injuries.

Some common factors that lead to single vehicle accidents include, but are not limited to:

1. Defective or faulty automobile parts. Common examples include defective tires, faulty brakes, or other auto defect.

2. Poor roadway design. Where the design of the roadway causes or contributes to a car accident, the municipality or other body responsible for the design may be subject to a lawsuit for roadway negligence and responsible to pay compensation for your injuries. Roadway negligence includes poor signage, inadequate lighting, too steep turns or inclines. The way a road is constructed – especially in mountainous regions or dangerous passes – affects the frequency and severity of single car accidents.

3. Inadequate roadway maintenance. In some cases, the condition of the roadway itself may lead to an accident, such as where shrubbery becomes overgrown, dangerous potholes are allowed to exist or other debris blocks safe passage.

   For more information about car accidents, please contact a top California car accident attorney at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

A California Court of Appeals has determined that a Newport Beach doctor must pay damages in a medical malpractice wrongful death lawsuit filed against him. The action involved his erroneous reading of a computerized tomography (CT) scan of an 85-year-old woman, Lois Shafer. A jury determined that Dr. Luke Cheung’s actions in misinterpreting the scan and failing to diagnose the woman’s intracranial bleeding, led to her unnecessary death.

If you believe a loved one has died as the result of the negligent conduct of another, it is important to consult with aStockton wrongful death attorney. Where you believe a nurse, doctor or other hospital staff made a mistake that harmed – or led to the death – of a loved one, you may be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Not all medical mistakes constitute a medical malpractice action that entitles a family to obtain compensation. Generally, you must be able to show that the doctor’s or other health care provider’s actions fell below the accepted standard of care and that these actions led to the harm.

Here, Shafer was taken to the Hoag Hospital emergency room. After Dr. Cheung’s failure to diagnose the bleeding, an emergency room doctor then discharged Shafer. At trial, a medical expert testified that if Cheung had diagnosed the bleeding, Shafer wouldn’t have been discharged, treatment would have begun quickly and the patient would have had a very successful outcome…complete recovery or close to a complete recovery.”

A California jury determined that based on the evidence, Cheung’s actions caused Shafer’s death. This past week, a Santa-Ana based appellate court determined that the evidence supported the jury’s decision and upheld the award

For more information or if you believe a loved one may have been harmed by a medical mistake, contact an experienced Stockton wrongful death lawyer at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for a free confidential consultation.

This past week both Toyota Motor Corp. and the Chrysler Group announced significant vehicle recalls due to safety issues. Cars affected by the recall include Tacoma Trucks, Camry sedans and Venza vehicles. Problems include airbag defects that prevent the airbag form deploying in the event of an accident. Additionally, Chrysler is recalling over 200,000 Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicles due to problems with its rear lower arms that may cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle. The number of injuries caused by these defects is unclear.

If you have been injured in a car accident or other motor vehicle accident as the result of a defect, several different avenues of recovery exist. Filing a product liability lawsuit may be possible to recover compensation for your injuries. Consulting with an experienced Stockton product liability attorney is important to determine your rights.

Product liability lawsuits fall into three main categories.

• Design Defects – these occur when foreseeable risks of harm could have been reduced or eliminated by using another design, and failure to do so makes the product unsafe.

• Manufacturing Defects – these occur when the product is being made. Usually an. error in the manufacturing process causes just a few products out of all those of the same type to be defective. Products are designed to be used for certain purposes and if someone uses them for another purpose, there may be danger of harm. Therefore, the manufacturer has to include clear, visible and concise warnings describing the danger and failure to do that can cause the product to be considered defective.

• Marketing Defects — the distributor and seller of the product may also be liable in a strict liability case, if there is found to have been misleading marketing.

Although every case is different, injuries that occur from recalled products typically result from design or manufacturing defects and by filing a negligence lawsuit, an experienced Stockton personal injury lawyer may be able to obtain the money necessary to pay for your harm.

For more information or if you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a defective product, contact a top Stockton accident lawyer at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate, confidential consultation.

Palo Alto news reports that a Menlo Park woman has been awarded a $22 million medical malpractice verdict. According to the negligence lawsuit, Robyn Frankel underwent an unnecessary medical procedure that caused her to have a stroke, and she subsequently lost use of her arms and legs.

If you have suffered injuries as the result of another’s reckless or negligent conduct it may be possible to bring a personal injury lawsuit. Where a doctor, nurse or other hospital staff fails to act with the requisite “standard of care, an injured party may be able to bring a medical malpractice claim. If you have been harmed as the result of another’s negligent or wrongful conduct, it is important to speak to an experienced Stockton personal injury attorney to determine your rights and obtain compensation.

Here, doctors with the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group ordered an angiogram to investigate an abnormal vein in Frankel’s brain in order to determine the cause of her migraine. During the procedure, Frankel suffered a vasospasm and went into a coma. Evidence presented at trial revealed that the angiogram was unnecessary and that the Medical Group’s negligence was a substantial factor in causing the harm to Frankel.

Frankel is now a quadriplegic, confined to a wheelchair and requiring around the clock care. The award will go to cover medical costs, past and future economic losses and pain and suffering. However, due to the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act [MICRA] caps, the $6 million awarded for non-economic damages will be reduced to $250,000.

For more information about medical malpractice or if you or a loved one has suffered any serious personal injury, contact the dedicated Stockton personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for a free, confidential consultation.

A recent bike safety article provided by the Bay Citizen for the New York Times reviewed the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Brandon Sorenson, a 13-year-old Alameda boy would was killed last month while riding his bike. While Brandon was in an intersection, he was struck by an S.U.V. and later died at a nearby intersection.

While the accident is still under investigation, the incident brings to light a startling statistic – Bay Area bicyclists aged 10 to 19 are at the highest risk for suffering injuries in a bike collision. Half of the accidents involved boys ages 12 to 16.

If you or a child has been injured in a bike accident, it is important to speak to an experienced bike accident lawyerimmediately to begin investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and preserve your right to seek compensation.

Based on California highway patrol data, 434 San Jose teenagers were involved in bike collisions with cars, the most of any Bay Area City. Oakland was second with 193 bike accidents. Although in some instances accidents may be the fault of the bicyclist, in many others the driver is to blame. Figuring out just what happened is crucial to determining fault.

Police officers urge early education about traffic laws and safety to lessen the number of accidents.

As a Stockton personal injury lawyer and bicycle advocate, I am hopeful that wit increased awareness drivers and bicyclists will learn to share the road, resulting in fewer injuries and collisions. For more information or if you or a loved one has been harmed in a bicycle accident, please contact the experienced personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette.

A recent story run in the Orange County Register reported an alarming statistic – close to 300 amusement park accidents involving injuries occurred at amusement parks in the last 2 years. While some of the injuries were minor, many serious injuries occurred such as back injuries, head injuries and spinal cord injuries.

If you have been injured at a California amusement park, it is important to speak to a Stockton personal injury lawyer to determine your next steps.

Amusement park injuries – or any type of injury that occurs on the premises of another – generally fall into the category of “premises liability.” Premises liability refers to the concept that owners or operators have a duty to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition and to provide warnings of dangerous conditions that the owner or operator knows about, or should have known about. Premises liability actions can arise in any situation where someone is harmed at the place of another, be it a home, shopping mall, sports arena or amusement park.

Where the owner or operator acts negligently or recklessly in maintaining their property in a reasonable manner, those injured may be able to recover medical costs, rehabilitation casts, pain and suffering, lost wages and lost earning capacity.

For more information, or if you believe you may have been harmed due to “premises liability,” please contact the dedicated Stockton personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette.

According to reports, a negligence lawsuit has been filed against Muni after a San Francisco Municipal Railway bus driver hit and killed a pedestrian, Emily Dunn, in the city’s Castro District. The Muni bus lawsuit alleges fault on the part of Muni officials for placing an inexperienced driver on a new route.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident, consulting with an experiencedStockton personal injury lawyer is important to begin an investigation into the various factors that may have caused or contributed to an incident.

Here a complete investigation into the pedestrian accident involves more than just looking at the actions of the driver of the bus – Wallace Loggins. Loggins was charged last month with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and pleaded not guilty. He was turning left when he hit Dunn, who was almost across the street when she was struck. Loggins didn’t realize he had hit someone until he heard screams from a bystander. According to the wrongful death lawsuit, while Loggins may be partly to blame for this accident, it was Muni’s negligence that “caused” the death. By placing a new driver with just eight months experience on a new route, Muni acted negligently and caused the harm. The suit claims that Loggins “did everything he could,” but he was on a new route, lost and Muni failed to provide directions.

Many times, several factors may go into causing an accident. It is important to meet with a skilled Stockton accident attorney to evaluate all of the issues that may have caused or contributed to an accident to ensure you receive all the compensation you deserve.

For more information or if you or a loved one has been in an injury accident contact a top Stockton personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for a free, confidential consultation.

As more bodies are pulled from the wreckage, the investigation into the Costa Concordia cruise ship accident continues with more company executives coming under investigation for possible negligent conduct. News reports that just last week an additional 8 more bodies were found and 7 remain unaccounted for.

The cruise ship accident occurred off the Italian Coast a little over a month ago. More that 4200 passengers had to be evacuated after a rock tore a hole in the shop and capsized the boat. At least 25 people have died. As the result of the accident, several civil negligence lawsuits have been filed including a Florida class action lawsuit alleging fraud and gross negligence.

Accidents happen when you least expect them. When accidents happen while on vacation or in a foreign country, those harmed are often confused about where to turn, what help exists and question their legal rights. Consulting with a knowledgeable Stockton personal injury lawyer is an important first step to provide personal injury answers and resources.

Several important issues are raised when boating accidents and cruise ship accident occur, including: Where can I file a boat accident lawsuit? What laws govern my cruise ship claim? Who is responsible for my cruise ship injuries? These are complex questions and require the assistance of a top boating injury attorney. The good news is that in many situations, those injured may be able to recover compensation for the harmed caused.

In the months to come, families and passengers will continue to seek information about just what happened on the Costa Concordia.

For more information about cruise ship accident or boating injuries, contact the knowledgeable Stockton accident lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for a free, immediate consultation.

A California nursing home has been fined $80,000 based on its failure to prevent the nursing home wrongful death of a patient at one of its facilities. The Los Angeles Times reports that the state regulators have concluded that the Motion Picture & Television Fund “failed to ensure an environment free of accident hazards with adequate supervision, leading to the death of a patient.”

Unfortunately, dangerous conditions and a lack of adequate supervision are prevalent concerns facing nursing homes throughout California and the United States. Although many nursing homes provide quality care, too often our elders are victims of nursing home neglect. If you believe a loved one has suffered an injury at a nursing home due to neglect or abuse, it is important to speak to a Stockton personal injury lawyer immediately to answer your nursing home neglect questions and determine your next steps.

Here, a 90-year-old California woman who was a resident at the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s nursing home suffer a fatal fall at the Fund’s Woodland Hills facility. A wrongful death lawsuit alleged that the nursing home staff “failed to properly monitor Delay, a wheelchair-bound patient suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.”

After an investigation into the accident, regulators assessed the fine against the home based on its findings.

If you believe a loved one has been the victim of nursing home neglect or elder abuse, contact an experienced nursing home negligence attorney at once. A skilled Stockton elder abuse lawyer can help ensure your loved one is protected. Where an injury or wrongful death occurs, a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you and your loved one deserves. For more information, contact a dedicated Stockton personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for a free, confidential consultation.

A recent article out of San Diego details the tragic circumstances surrounding the deadly off-road trucking accident that occurred a little over and year and a half ago. The Mojave Desert off-road racing accident killed 8 spectators and seriously injured many more. After the accident, several lawsuits have been filed alleging negligence on the part of the U.S. government, race organizers and the driver, Brett Sloppy.

Sloppy, a San Marcos man, hit a rock at the bottom of a jump, which then caused his truck’s steering to fail. The truck overturned and plowed into a crowd of spectators.

If you have been injured in a serious accident – or lost a loved one as the result of wrongful or negligent conduct – consulting with an experienced Stockton personal injury attorney is important to answer your personal injury questions and protect your rights.

Here, several avenues of fault may exist. First, an internal investigation has shown that the Bureau of Land Management did not adequately monitor the race and failed to follow all the necessary procedures. Further, only one ranger was on patrol. Spectators crowded the course.

Nearly all of the families of individuals killed have filed wrongful death suits, while many of those injured have filed personal injury lawsuits.

A representative stated that because the United States owned the land, it will bear the bulk of the responsibility. “It [the federal government] was supposed to be supervising the race, but it didn’t.” Many observers also note that responsibility for the accident will not likely be placed on Sloppy. Participants in a race like the California 200 are not responsible for the safety of spectators, he said. “It’s similar to the batter who hits a foul ball that hits somebody in the head and kills them … the batter is not responsible.

Hopefully with all the attention garnered from this event, safety measures will be put in place to avoid future accidents.

For more information about this truck accident or any other personal injury accident, contact a dedicated Stockton personal injury attorney for a free, confidential consultation.