News reports that the family of a 16-year-old killed in Hawaii while riding a jet-ski has filed a negligence lawsuit against both the Australian tourist who ran into her and the Jet Ski Rental company, Aloha Jet Ski, for its role in contributing to her death.

Kristen Fonseca had rented a jet-ski in Hawaii from Aloha Jet and was touring Hawaii's Keehi Small Boat Harbor when she was hit by the Australian man from behind. Fonseca subsequently died from her injuries. The cause of her death has been listed as "intracranial hemorrhage."

According to the wrongful death lawsuit, employees of the jet-ski company did nothing to prevent the accident from occurring. The accident allegedly occurred as the result of the man failing to pay attention to where he was going while he was riding the jet-ski. He was apparently standing on his jet-ski and became distracted by his girlfriend who was taking video and photos and did not pay attention to other boat traffic in the bay. 

Dagley is expected to be arraigned on the misdemeanor charge Tuesday.

Wrongful death lawsuits can arise in any type of personal injury accident where an individual dies as the result of another's reckless or negligent conduct. Negligence refers to the breach of a legal duty to act reasonably or to protect another from foreseeable dangers. Many factors go into determining whether a specific action may be considered negligent and whether that action led to a person's harm. In these instances, it may be possible to recover for your damages. In a wrongful death lawsuit, the surviving family members may bring a lawsuit on behalf of the deceased. Speaking to a skilled Sacramento personal injury lawyer right away is an important first step to determine your rights in the event of any injury accident.

Here, if Fonseca is found to be reckless or careless (i.e. negligent) in his actions, then he may be held responsible for the "wrongful death" of Fonseca in a civil court and be required to pay damages such as medical costs, lost wages and emotional distress. The family is also suing the Jet-Ski company for their negligence. While all of the details of the lawsuit are unknown, whether the company took the necessary safety precautions to avoid accidents or whether the actions it took where an accident occurred were sufficient will be under review. Although the company did not specifically harm Fonseca, if their actions were such that led to foreseeable harm, they may be found responsible and be required to pay damages as well.

Whenever a tragic accident occurs, it's of upmost importance to speak to an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer right away. Even though filing a lawsuit may be the furthest thing from your mind, it is critical to determine all factors that may have led to an accident and ensure you protect your right to future compensation. For more information, please contact the top Sacramento wrongful death attorneys at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

San Francisco news reports that a 19-year-old man has died following a drunk driving accident. The man died just a few blocks from his Bayview district home in the arms of his brother. According to reports, he was partially ejected from a car driven by a friend who was allegedly drunk. Daniel Lara has now been charged with a number of felonies in connection with the accident. Witnesses indicate that Lara had been driving "doughnuts" when the car flipped near Griffith Street and Thomas Avenue.

If you have been involved in a drunk driving accident or any other type of motorvehicle accident it's important to seek the advice of a skilled Sacramento personal injury attorney right away. Many times, it may be possible to recover compensation for your injuries.

Here, witnesses state that Eduardo Perez was in the front passenger seat when the accident occurred and ejected him half way. His older brother was riding in the backseat with another passenger. When the accident occurred, the brother ran to pull Perez out of the car and Lara drove away. Lara later returned to the scene with his father. He has now been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident. Each of these charges is a felony.

This accident is a tragic reminder of the dangers of drunk driving.

In the United States the leading cause of auto accidents is driver intoxication. According to figures released by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 17,013 people were killed in 2005 due to alcohol related crashes in the United States - an average of one every 30 minutes. This figure represents forty percent (40%) of the 42,643 total traffic deaths

In addition to drunk driving deaths, individuals may also suffer serious injuries including head and neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. Victims injured by negligent drunk drivers face medical bills, loss of wages, physical pain, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. If injuries are severe or permanent, families suffer economic loss, mental anguish and the loss of companionship in caring for an injured family member. In the event of death, families are torn apart without any warning.

Unfortunately despite great awareness of the risks involved with drunk driving, many California drivers continue to get behind the wheel after having one too many. If you have been injured in a California drunk driving accident or any other type of motorvehicle crash, it is important to speak with a top Sacramento personal injury attorney right away.

For more information contact the dedicated Sacramento car accident lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

San Francisco news reports that a 54-year-old man died in a motorcycle crash after the rider collided with a car while driving through San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The accident occurred as the motorcyclist was negotiating a curve in the road and hit the car next to him. The man was thrown from his motorcycle and was killed. While the accident remains under investigation, the driver of the car is not expected to be charged in connection with the crash.

According the US Department of Transportation, in 2006 more than 100,000 motorcycle accidents occurred in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that over two-thirds of motorcycle fatalities involve a motorcycle and another vehicle. Often another car on the road doesn't see the motorcycle at all, or is unable to avoid a crash once they do see the motorcyclist. Further, crashes often occur as the result of car and motorcycle drivers responding to the same road conditions in different ways, making it difficult for each to anticipate the other driver's actions.

This weekend's tragic accident serves as a reminder about motorcycle safety and the need to take precautions to avoid serious accidents. Motorcycle accidents may occur for a myriad of reasons including, but not limited to, driver error, roadway negligence and defective motorcycle design. If you have been in a motorcycle accident, it's important to seek the advice of an experienced Sacramento motorcycle lawyer right away. In many instances, it may be possible to recover damages for your injuries. In the event of a wrongful death, a family may be able to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.

Driver error may include actions such as a reckless or drunk driving on the part of the motorist, or the motorcycle driver. It's important to remember that even if a motorcyclist is partly at fault for his or her injuries, if another party is also responsible, the injured party may still be able to recover damages.

Roadway negligence refers to defective or faulty roadway design. This may be the lack of appropriate signage, too tight of curves in the road, too steep inclines, or the failure to have sufficient shoulder room. Negligent roadway design refers to any situation where how a road is designed or maintained contributes to an accident.

Another potential sources of motorcycle accidents is the existence of a faulty or defective motorcycle part. In these instances you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the motorcycle dealer or manufacturer. For example, if the brakes or other motorcycle part doesn't function correctly, and this leads to a serious accident, you may be able to recover damages from the responsible party.

For more information about motorcycle accidents or to learn about motorcycle safety tips to prevent motorcycle accidents, please contact the top California motorcycle accident lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

The family of an Oakland man killed in a bicycling accident while speeding down a hill in Berkeley's Tilden Park has filed a negligence lawsuit against a well-known bicycling website, Strava. According to reports, William "Kim" Flint died after trying to keep his time record for racing down the hill. Flint was biking down the hill at about 40 miles per hour. He was fatally injured after he suddenly braked to avoid a car and flipped over.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, its important to seek the advice of an experienced Sacramento bicycle attorney right away. If you have suffered serious personal injuries, it may be possible to recover damages for your harm. Typical bicycle injuries may include:

• head and neck injuries

• spinal cord injuries

• brain injuries

• broken bones

• road rash

In the event of a fatal accident, a surviving family member may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Negligence and wrongful death suits are based on the legal concept that the careless or reckless conduct of anther person or entity lead to another person's harm, or in this instance, death.

Here, the family has filed a negligence claim against the Strava website based on its actions in encouraging bicyclists to bike too fast. The Strava company hosts virtual races and rewards winners who use a GPS system that track their own time and that of competitors. Flint died after he learned someone on the site had beat his time, and he went out to try to reclaim the title. However, Strava failed to inspect the courses or otherwise ensure that they are safe. A representative noted, "They assume no responsibility. They don't put cones out. They don't have anybody monitor and see whether a course, or a specific segment, is dangerous."

If Strava knows or should have known that the course was dangerous but failed to remove it from the site, they may be held liable.

Even if Flint is held partly responsible for his death, his family still may be able to recover damages for his injuries. California is a comparative law state, which means that an injured party (or in this instance the surviving family members) can recover damages for harm caused - even if they are partly to blame. The amount recovered would be reduced by percentage of the injured party's fault.

This bicycle accident is not the only high profile bicycle accident case linked to Strava. Strava has also been implicated in the recent Castro pedestrian death. According to sources, the cyclist who hit the pedestrian was tracking his time on Strava.

For more information about negligence or wrongful death lawsuits, or if you or a loved one has been injured in a Sacramento bicycle accident, contact the top Sacramento bike accident lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

Half Moon Bay news reports that an apparent drunk driving crash has lead to significant injuries. Sources indicate that the car was speeding near the Half Moon Bay Airport when it spun out of control early Saturday morning and collided with a boat and van. The accident then lead to a "two-alarm" structure fire in a warehouse.

A Pacifica resident, Matthew J. Burnham was driving the car and crashed into the warehouse shortly before 2 a.m. suffering serious personal injuries. Burnham's two passengers were also injured. All three were taken to nearby Stanford Hospital.

If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident and any other motor vehicle accident, it is important to consult with an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer right away. A top California car accident lawyer can answer your personal injury questions and help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Here, Burnham was arrested on a suspicion of driving under the influence and alcohol is considered to be a major factor contributing to the accident.

Alcohol remains one of the top contributing factors to California motor vehicle accidents. In fact, nationwide the leading cause of auto accidents is driver intoxication. 40% of all traffic deaths are linked to alcohol use.

Other factors leading to auto accidents include distracted driving - such as texting while driving, eating while driving or even playing loud music or adjusting the radio. Accidents may also be caused by other forms of reckless driving, i.e. speeding, failing to follow the rules of the road and not looking out for others on the road. Additional factors leading to car crashes include negligent roadway design (where a municipality or other entity creates a "dangerous design" by making curves too tight, inclines too steep, or failing to adequately place lights or warning signs) and improper roadway maintenance.

In fact, numerous factors may cause or contribute to an accident. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as the result of a car crash, a top Sacramento car accident lawyer can begin an investigation into all of the factors that may have lead to your injuries. When one of more parties is negligent, you may be able to recover damages from each party. Even if you may be partly at fault, you still may be able to recover damages where another party is to blame.

Victims of any car accident face medical bills, loss of wages, physical pain, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. If injuries are severe or permanent, families suffer economic loss, mental anguish and the loss of companionship in caring for an injured family member. In the event of death, families are torn apart without any warning.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a California car accident, contact the top Sacramento car accident lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

A recent surge in California bike accidents has led law enforcement in Red Bluff to crack down on bicycle lawbreakers. According to Red Bluff news, five police officers rushed to the Sacramento River Bridge to help an alleged stabbing victim. When they arrived it turned out that the man had suffered a bicycle accident after stealing a bottle of vodka, and losing control of his bicycle. Alcohol was a factor in the rash.

Two other bike accidents occurred, one involved a car turning in front of a bike and causing a crash, while the other was the result of a bicyclist riding on the wrong side of the road.

These accidents, along with several recent highly publicized San Francisco bike accidents underscore the need for motorists and bicyclists to pay greater mind to the rules of the road in an effort to improve safety.

Some tips include:

• Always wear a bike helmet. Wearing a helmet can prevent serious injuries and even death to riders in collisions. Wearing a helmet is required for individuals under the age of 18.

• Obey the rules of the road, including all traffic signals

• Look out for cars at driveways, cross streets and parking places

• Yield to pedestrians

• Never riding "double," i.e. carrying another person on your handle bars or seat

• Use appropriate hand signals

• Maintain your bicycle in good condition

For more information regarding the operation and use of bicycles and equipment requirements, please see California Vehicle Code (CVC) 231 and 21200-21205, 21208, 21210-21212, 21650.1, 21960, 22111, 23330, 27400, 39002, 23111 and 23112.

If you have questions about California bike accidents, or have been involved in a collision, please contact an experienced Sacramento bike accident lawyer at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

News from Martinez, California reports that a woman has received a $2.5 million jury award in a negligence lawsuit filed after the women choked on a chicken bone. The woman was eating at a Round Table pizza restaurant and choked on a 1.2 inch bone left in her barbecue chicken pizza. As a result of the incident, she required more than 11 surgeries and spent several months on feeding tubes and liquid diets.

If you have suffered any injury that you believe may be the result of another's negligence, it is important to speak to a Sacramento personal injury lawyer to determine your next steps.

Lawsuit based on negligence arise out of the general premise that people, companies or even governmental body should exercise reasonable care in their actions. If they fail to exercise reasonable care and their actions cause foreseeable harm, then the may be held responsible for any damages caused and be required to pay compensation.

A Contra Costa County jury determined that the franchisee for the South San Francisco Round Table, Foster Poultry Farms and Pizza Bytes, was negligent in allowing bones in the chicken. Reports indicate that between 2005 and 2010, more than 200 customer complaints were issued about bones in the chicken strips.

$2 million of the award is for pain and suffering and $500,000 is for past and future medical expenses. 

For more information about negligence lawsuits or if you believe you have been injured due to another person's negligence, please contact a top Sacramento personal injury lawyer at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

After the sailing tragedy that claimed the lives of five people off the coast of San Francisco, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Sailing, the survivor and many others are calling for the consideration of greater California boating safety measures. A series of powerful waves thrashed the vessel earlier this month as it rounded a rugged island chain during the Full Crew Farallones Race off San Francisco, sweeping crew members overboard into the frigid Pacific and tossing the boat onto a rocky shoal.

The U.S. Coast Guard has ordered yacht racers and other boaters to "stand down" as a result of this fatal accident, as well as a previous accident two weeks ago that resulted in significant personal injuries. The Coast Guard has stopped issuing permits for ocean racing pending results of the boat accident report, stating, "This temporary safety stand-down from offshore racing will allow the Coast Guard and the offshore racing community to further our common safety goals." "I don't think it's necessarily a bad think for everybody to take a breath and see what can be done. We want to be sure our races are as safe as possible."

One of the survivors, Bryon Chong of Tiburon, agrees, stating that the five crew mates who died might have been saved had they worn safety harnesses. In a letter posted to the website Sailing Anarchy, Chong writes that he and the seven other sailors aboard the 38-foot (11.6-meter) Low Speed Chase should have been tethered to the boat.

"Hopefully, this incident will spur a wider discussion on sailboat safety," Chong concludes.

Boat accidents can arise in a variety of manners - from recreational boating, to slips and falls on cruise ships, to serious accidents involving boat races. Different boating laws and safety measure apply to each type of circumstance. It's important to consult with an experienced California boating lawyer who has in-depth knowledge of the particular involved in your circumstance.

For more information about boating safety or if you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, contact the Sacramento boating lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

The Marin Independent Journal reports that a 71-year-old San Bruno man was killed in a fatal pedestrian bicycle collision last week at the intersection of Castro and Market Streets in San Francisco. The bicyclist who ran into the pedestrian was returning from a Marin Headlands group ride. Online messages suggest that the man may have been speeding down the hill just before the bike accident occurred.

If you have been injured as the result of a bike accident or pedestrian accident, or you have lost a loved one in a fatal collision, it is important to consult with an experienced Sacramento bike accident lawyer to protect your rights and determine your next steps. Although in some instances accident simply happen and no one is at fault, where another person's careless and reckless actions cause you harm, it may be possible to recover compensation.

Here, the investigation into the accident continues. Reports indicate that the San Bruno man was in the crosswalk when the accident occurred, and both him and the cyclist were taken to the hospital with injuries. The cyclist was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released. Newspaper accounts provide that police are looking into whether the bicyclist ran a red light and will be meeting with the District Attorney's office to determine the next steps. Further, the pedestrian's official cause of death has not yet been determined.

While bicyclists are often the victims of tragic accidents, especially when cars and trucks fail to share the road, it is important to remember that bicyclists can also cause serious accidents if they fail to pay attention to the rules of the road or ride recklessly or carelessly.

For more information about bicycle accidents or pedestrian accidents, or if you have been suffered serious injuries in any type of transportation accident, contact the top Sacramento personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for an immediate consultation.

California news reports that a jury has awarded a Fresno teacher has been awarded an $11.5 million personal injury verdict as the result of injuries she sustained in a freak car accident. Susan Reyes, a Fresno schoolteacher, was hit in the head by a "hunk of iron" that flew off of a truck on Highway 99. Reyes incurred significant brain injuries as the result of the truck accident including short-term memory loss and severe headaches. She also suffers from chronic seizures. According to the personal injury lawsuit, Reyes has lost her drivers' license and was unable to continue working as a special assignment teacher with Fresno United school district.

If you have been harmed in any type of personal injury accident, it is important to consult with an experienced California personal injury lawyer right away to answer your personal injury questions and determine your right to compensation. In many situations, more than one cause may contribute to an accident. A knowledgeable Sacramento accident lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation into all possible factors in order to ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

Here, evidence at the trial revealed that Reyes was driving through Bakersfield and was following a big rig owned by Lion Raisins. The truck trailers had cables that held empty wooden bins in place. An accident investigations determined that after the truck's load shifted, a corner iron flew off the truck, likely hitting the pavement then catapulting through Reyes' windshield and into her "right skull and brain." As the result of the accident, Reyes lost control of the car and ended up in the median. She required emergency surgery to stay alive.

Reyes suffered a traumatic brain injury that has led to personality changes and "serious behavioral impairments."

The verdict represented compensation for past and future earnings, past and future medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

If you have been injured in any personal injury accident, including a car accident, bus accident or truck accident it is important to obtain the compensation you deserve. For more information, contact the dedicated Sacramento accident attorneys at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette for a free, confidential consultation.