San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Blog

Man and Daughter Injured in Drunken Driving Accident

A man and his 9-year-old daughter were both severely injured in a car accident near Ramona on September 30, according to NBC News in San Diego. The accident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. on Ramona Oaks Road and San Vicente Road, according to reports from the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The man and his daughter were returning from the girl’s soccer practice when they were struck head-on by a white pickup that crossed the center line. The young girl was taken to Rady Children’s Hospital by helicopter, and her father was taken to another hospital also by helicopter. The driver of the truck, John Mantz, 21,was taken to a hospital by ambulance with “moderate injuries.” CHP officers reported smelling alcohol when they arrived on the scene, and Mantz was arrested on felony DUI charges. “Completely avoidable, completely preventable, this didn’t have to happen tonight, I mean it was just a…
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Marine Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter

The woman responsible for a fatal car accident in February of 2012 pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter, according to SanDiego6.com. Ashley Louise Maya, a marine, was intoxicated after leaving a nightclub prior to the accident. Maya left the club with three passengers, got onto the interstate and proceeded to drive at speeds in excess of 90 mph. Front-seat passenger Bryan Salcido asked Maya to slow down twice. Maya lost control of the car around a turn and flipped over, ejected Salcido and backseat passenger Vasty Castillo. Castillo suffered a broken back and a fourth passenger, a fellow marine, Cpl. Pedro Conceicao, was killed. “All the parties knew one another, they were all friends, and they knew the history of their drinking on that particular night and they chose to get in the car and make an effort to get home,” prosecutor Jim Waters said. “When police arrived at the…
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Safety First for Trick-or-Treaters this Halloween

As October begins, you can bet that young children and families across the country are anticipating Halloween, and the fun activities and trick-or-treating that come with it. Trick-or-treating is fun for many families and even for those without children, as it gives them a chance to mingle and interact with neighboring families. But dozens of youngsters approaching your door in the dark can present some unanticipated problems. Here are some tips for Halloween—if you plan to pass out candy—to ensure everyone has a fun and safe night: Make sure your property is well lit. This way trick-or-treaters and parents can easily see walkways and any potential hazards. Clean up your yard. Remove any rakes from the lawn, skateboards in the driveway, make sure pets are secure, etc. Check out the candy before you pass it out. Make sure the goodies are intact in the original packaging and nothing appears out…
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