A woman responsible for advocating traffic safety in her neighborhood sustained life-threatening injuries Friday in a Roseville pedestrian accident when she was struck by a car while walking on Old Auburn Road near Allegretto Way.

50-year old Mary Louise Herdegen was strycj by a Honda Accord driven by Ashol Kumar, 51, of Granite Bay. Ms. Herdegen was taken to Sutter Roseville Medical Center where she was reportedly in critical condition. Ironically, Ms. Herdegen had spearheaded an effort to get the County of Placer to reduce traffic on a main thoroughfare in her neighborhood after a speeding car crashed into a house. She was also behind an effort to require street parking permits in her neighborhood due to safety concerns.

Old Auburn Road was closed for 5 1/1 hours while investigators examined the accident scene. Roseville Police are still investigating the cause of the Roseville injury accident and are asking any witnesses to call the traffic unit at (916)774-5088.

California Highway Patrol records indicate that here were 14,047 injury accidents involving pedestrians in California in 2008. California Vehicle Code section 21950 provides that “[t]he driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection,” and drivers “shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.”

The driver of a vehicle must drive safely around pedestrians no matter where they are walking, and a driver can be held legally liable for injuries to a pedestrian even if they were not in a cross walk at the time they were hit. Determining who is at fault in a pedestrian versus auto collision usually requires a very fact specific investigation that includes consideration of the speed of the vehicle, the visibility of the pedestrian, road conditions, and whether avoidance measures were taken.

Pedestrians injured by a motor vehicle should seek the counsel of an experienced Roseville Injury Attorney or Granite Bay Injury Attorney who will analyze all of the factors involved in an incident and will hold the negligent parties accountable. If roadway conditions were a factor, a public or governmental entity may have liability. It is important to consult with a California Personal Injury lawyer quickly since any claim against a public or governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced personal injury attorney will advise injury victims of their rights, including whether they are entitled to recover medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering as a result of the incident.

The Demas & Rosenthal personal injury law firm is not currently representing anyone mentioned in this article at the time it was posted. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your legal rights and options, call us or another well recognized and respected personal injury law firm. Please do not rely or act solely upon the information provided in this article. Please consider getting a consultation immediately. The best personal injury law firms will provide a free consultation. Demas & Rosenthal will provide a free, confidential consultation to the persons who were not at fault named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

Four young adults were injured in a serious t-bone auto collision that occurred on Athens Avenue west of Rocklin on Wednesday. The California Highway Patrol reports that 19 year old Amanda Dias of Roseville was driving her Honda Civic north on Foothill Boulevard when she attempted a left turn onto Athens Avenue. Unfortunately, Ms. Dias turned left directly in front of a Dodge Intrepid being driven by 25 year old Iva Adrian of Cottonwood. Ms. Adrian was not able to avoid hitting the Civic and both cars sustained major damage as a result of the crash.

Ms. Dias was transported to the Sutter Roseville Medical Center by Cal Star helicopter ambulance. Two passengers in the Civic were also taken by the ambulance to Sutter Roseville Medical Center. All three occupants of the Honda suffered major personal injuries according to the Highway Patrol. Mr. Adriano was taken to Mercy Sun Juan Medical Center with minor injuries.

California Highway Patrol records indicate that 73 people were injured in car accidents in Rocklin during 2008.

Based on the available information, it appears that an unsafe turning movement in violation of Vehicle Code §22107 caused this auto accident. If that is the case, the driver of the Honda Civic could be held legally responsible to both to the passengers of the Civic and to Ms. Adrian for all medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering damages incurred as a result of the accident. In most cases, the insurance covering the responsible drivers vehicle would pay for these losses.

Persons injured in these type of California injury accidents have a number of complex legal and insurance issues to deal with. Auto insurance companies often make it difficult for injury victims to get fair compensation. It is always a good idea for injury victims to consult with an experienced Rocklin Personal Injury lawyer before settling out of court.

The Demas & Rosenthal personal injury law firm is not currently representing anyone mentioned in this article at the time it was posted. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your legal rights and options, call us or another well recognized and respected personal injury law firm. Please do not rely or act solely upon the information provided in this article. Please consider getting a consultation immediately. The best personal injury law firms will provide a free consultation. Demas & Rosenthal will provide a free, confidential consultation to the persons who were not at fault named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as

A California auto accident seriously injured a diver and a passenger on early Saturday morning. The accident happened in Stockton, close to Airport Avenue and Ralph Avenue shortly after 3:00 a.m. The car was traveling north on Airport Avenue when it struck a bridge and overturned into the southbound lanes. The driver was transported to San Joaquin General Hospital with serious injuries. The passenger was also hospitalized although initial reports indicate her injuries were less severe than the drivers. The cause of the accident is still under investigation but it appears as if excessive speed may have been a factor.

We are keeping the injured victims in thoughts and prayers. We wish them a fast and complete recovery.

Fatal Car Crashes California

Based on the California Highway Patrol 2008 Annual Report of Fatal and Injury Motor Vehicle Traffic Collisions, there were 1,461 injured drivers and 804 passengers in Stockton’s collisions.

Hiring A Stockton Personal Injury Attorney

Unique issues arise in California car accident claims if you are a passenger in a vehicle. Many times, passengers know the driver of the vehicle who may have caused the collision and are reluctant to bring a claim. However, it is important to note that the responsible driver’s insurance company is the one who has to pay the injured passengers medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc., and not the driver him/herself. . All injured victims in accidents like this are strongly urged to consult with an experienced Stockton Personal Injury Attorney to protect their rights. In many cases, especially if there is some dispute as to how the collision occurred, it is advisable to get a more complete statement from a witness. Officers investigating a collision are subject to many distractions, such as clearing the scene for traffic, and may be limited in the amount of time they have to spend with witnesses at the scene. We have found that when interviewed, witnesses often add critical facts that were not noted in the officers’ statements, or clarify statements in a way that is helpful to a case.

The Demas & Rosenthal personal injury law firm is not currently representing anyone mentioned in this article at the time it was posted. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your legal rights and options, call us or another well recognized and respected personal injury law firm. Please do not rely or act solely upon the information provided in this article. Please consider getting a consultation immediately. The best personal injury law firms will provide a free consultation. Demas & Rosenthal will provide a free, confidential consultation to the persons who were not at fault named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

Few weather developments present more risk to motorists than snow storms. When they arise, roads instantly become slippery, visibility drops significantly and the margin of error allowed for drivers almost disappears. Even the smallest mistake can lead to serious and disastrous consequences, and that’s likely what occurred with a crash on Friday north of Redding.

According to the Modesto Bee:

“A 20-car pile-up during a heavy snowstorm has forced the closure of northbound Interstate 5 from 10 miles north of Redding to Mount Shasta, California Highway Patrol officials said.

The snow has caused numerous accidents in southern Siskiyou County, which is about 220 miles north of Sacramento, including on Highway 89, the road to Mount Shasta Ski Park.”

Obviously, if you are driving and find yourself encountering snow or other winter weather, you need to take immediate steps to make sure that you’re exercising extreme caution. Slow down as much as necessary, increase the distance between you and other vehicles and crawl around curves before slowly accelerating after the turn is completed.

If you or someone you love has been harmed in an accident, whether it involved snow, other bad weather or not, you need the help of Sacramento auto accidents lawyers who understand how to sort through complicated scenarios such as the one above and to hold those responsible for harm accountable. Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Many of us have run out of gas while driving, and depending on where this occurs, it can create a dangerous situation. If someone is forced to move their vehicle from a busy street, the odds of something terrible happening tend to rise. Tragically, that appears to be the case with a woman who was struck and killed while pushing her vehicle that was out of gas last week.

According to the Sacramento Bee:

“A woman pushing a car that had run out of gas was struck and killed by a sport-utility vehicle Monday night in Roseville.

Dawn Rachael Nelson, 34, of Roseville was transported by ambulance to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Roseville police and fire personnel responded about 7 p.m. to the accident in the northbound lanes of Foothills Boulevard overpass between Roseville Road and the Denio Loop.

Nelson was a passenger in a 1990 Nissan Maxima that ran out of gas on the overpass. Nelson and two other passengers were pushing the car when she was struck from behind by a northbound 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 17-year-old boy from Antelope.”

Authorities have not completed their investigation as to what could have led to this collision. If you find yourself in this situation, you need to proceed with extreme caution. If you or someone you love has been harmed in a collision, you need the help of Sacramento auto accidents lawyers who have years of experience in successfully obtaining justice for those who have been wronged. Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Automobile accidents happen every day in California, and thousands of people are injured every year as a result of them. In addition, many fatalities occur, and in certain cases, an accident can lead to both fatalities and serious injuries. Tragically, such was the case with a crash that occurred over the weekend that left one woman dead and four others injured.

According to KCRA:

“A woman died and four others were injured in a two-car collision early Sunday in Sacramento.

Officers went to Power Inn Road and Elder Creek Road at about 1:40 a.m. and found a Nissan Altima and a Cadillac had crashed. A passenger in the Cadillac was declared dead at the scene. Her name was not immediately released.

Two other occupants of the Cadillac had moderate injuries. Two occupants of the Nissan had moderate to major injuries.

Investigators said they believe the cars collided when the Nissan was headed south on Power Inn Road and the Cadillac was turning from northbound Power Inn to westbound Elder Creek Road.”

Authorities have yet to determine which party was at fault for the accident, and no indication was given as to whether alcohol or other intoxicants were involved. Whatever the result, there will likely be exposure to civil liability to the driver at fault.

If you or someone you love has been harmed in a traffic collision, you need the help of Sacramento auto accidents lawyers who have years of experience in successfully holding those responsible for death and harm accountable. Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Hit-and-run drivers are not easily profiled into certain types or demographics. However, there are times when follow-up reports tend to lend credence as to why someone would think that fleeing the scene of a serious accident is the right decision. We posted recently regarding a fatal hit-and-run accident that led to the arrest of a local man. Now comes word that the suspect had only recently regained his privilege to drive.

According to CBS 13:

“A driver who has been charged with felony hit-and-run after a deadly crash that left three men dead over the weekend just got his license reinstated by the DMV just two days before the accident.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles says 25-year-old Omar Carrasco has had his license suspended five times for driving under the influence and various legal violations over the past three years, most recently on February 28 for canceling his auto insurance.

The DMV reinstated his license on Thursday, March 4, less than 48 hours before Carrasco was involved in a crash near Cosumnes River Boulevard and Center Parkway early Saturday morning.”

Two people were killed in the accident and the driver was arrested shortly afterward. While he faces significant criminal problems, the driver could also face civil liability. Evidence of his driving record would likely be relevant to such a legal claim.

If you or someone you love has been harmed in a hit-and-run crash, you need to take action by contacting Sacramento personal injury lawyers who understand how to properly use all of the evidence at their disposal to protect your legal rights. Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Hit-and-run crashes are always terrible situations for anyone who’s been injured, as the failure to identify the person at fault for the accident only adds to the stress for those who have been harmed. Tragically, three men were killed in a hit-and-run crash Saturday. The only news that’s even mildly positive so far in this situation is that the driver in the accident has been arrested.

According to ABC News 10:

“A Sacramento man faces arraignment on Tuesday after being arrested in a hit and run that killed three young men and injured another on Saturday, according to police.

The fatal crash happened just after 3:30 a.m. at the intersection of Center Parkway and Cosumnes River Boulevard, said Sacramento police spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong.

An Acura and a Lincoln crashed in the middle of the road, the impact throwing both cars into a nearby field, causing the Acura to catch fire. Leong said two men died inside the burning car. Another was found in the grass nearby. Officials said he died at the scene as well.

Investigators have not officially determined that speed, alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash.

A fourth man, also ejected during the crash, was rushed to Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento hospital but expected to survive, Leong said.

Leong said the driver of the Lincoln fled the scene. Investigators were determining if anyone else was in that car.”

Police are still asking for help from anyone who can provide additional information. If you or someone you love has been harmed in a hit-and-run crash, you need the help of Sacramento auto accidents lawyers who have a track record of holding those responsible for causing harm accountable. Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

When we drive our vehicles on public roads, we take on risks. One of those risks is trusting that the other drivers on the road will obey traffic laws and avoid mistakes that lead to accidents. Unfortunately for one Lodi woman, that trust was broken when another vehicle ran through a red light and collided with her vehicle, sending her to the hospital.

According to the Lodi News-Sentinel:

“A Lodi woman was trapped in her car for nearly 20 minutes Monday after a truck allegedly ran a red light at Lodi Avenue and Sacramento Street.

The woman was driving north in her silver Ford Contour when a westbound white Ford F-250 truck crossed her path at 12:46 p.m., according to Lodi police.

The collision smashed in the front of the sedan, which spun to a stop in the intersection. The truck just missed a traffic signal pole and came to rest against a utility box, which was not damaged.

It took six firefighters and two paramedics about 20 minutes to get the sedan’s driver out of the car, which still had a handicapped parking placard hanging from the rearview mirror. She suffered a badly broken leg.”

Authorities indicated that more investigation is necessary to definitively arrive at a cause for the accident. If you or someone you love has been harmed in a collision, you need the help of Sacramento auto accidents lawyers who have a long track record of holding those responsible for traffic injuries accountable. Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Hit-and-run accidents are always difficult to handle for everyone involved, particularly the families of those who are wrongfully harmed. Recently, we posted about a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian in the area, and tragically, another fatal hit-and-run crash has occurred. This one took the life of a bicyclist who was hit twice and did not survive the impacts.

According to a report by KCRA:

“The California Highway Patrol is looking for a driver accused of fleeing the scene of a south Sacramento County hit-and-run crash that left a bicyclist dead.

The wreck, which was reported at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, occurred on Stockton Boulevard near Walter Avenue.

The CHP said the cyclist was struck by a red vehicle as he attempted to cross the street. The rider was thrown from his bike and dragged under the vehicle for a short time.

The red vehicle was last seen fleeing northbound on Stockton Boulevard.

The cyclist was hit a second time by a white Hyundai driven by a Sacramento resident. The Hyundai came to rest on top of the victim. Rescue workers had to lift the car off the victim’s body, the CHP said.”

Authorities are asking anyone who may have information regarding the incident to contact them and to provide those details. If you or someone you love has been harmed in such a crash, you should not wait to seek help. Contact the Sacramento personal injury lawyers at Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation. The firm has years of experience in holding those responsible for these types of losses accountable.