San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Blog

Hit-and-Run Driver Plows Through Zombie Walk

The San Diego Comic-Con invites comic book enthusiasts from all over the world to mingle and compete in ornate costumes, honoring their favorite fictional characters. One of the most famous events is the “zombie walk,” where hundreds of participants slog down the street doing their best impression of the undead. This year, there was real blood in the streets after a hit-and-run driver plowed into a group of zombies at the intersection of Island and 2nd Avenue. One woman’s arm was crushed during the incident. According to eyewitness accounts, a black Honda was blowing its horn as it tried to force its way through the intersection, even though it was thronged with people. Several participants tried to get the driver to wait until the parade had passed, but witnesses say he “just looked upset” and continued blowing the horn. A few pedestrians sat on the hood to try to keep…
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Are California Dogs Permitted “One Free Bite”?

California had one of the highest rates for dog bite fatalities in 2012, and 75 percent of those deaths occurred in San Diego County. Between July 2011 and June 2012, more than 2,900 dog bites were reported to the county’s Department of Animal Services. Contrary to popular belief, California does not permit “one free bite” for any animal. In fact, most dog bites are from first time offenders. Owners are held responsible for any dog bite injury, even if the dog has no history of violence. In 2010, a 2-year-old toddler was killed by three pit bulls after he wandered into a garage where they were being kept. Prosecutors said the boy’s body was covered in more than 100 bites. The boy’s 56-year-old grandfather, who bred the dogs and was supervising the boy at the time, faced charges of involuntary manslaughter on July 8. The young boy’s mother pleaded for…
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Could Vulnerable User Laws Help Protect Pedestrians?

Pedestrian deaths in San Diego are at an all-time high. Between 2011 and 2012, pedestrian fatalities more than doubled from 11 deaths to 23. Drivers in California and many other states may not face any criminal charges for a fatal accident, outside of traffic violations like “failure to yield” and “reckless driving.” Some district attorneys can make a case for criminally negligent homicide, but only if drugs or alcohol were involved. Circulate San Diego, an activist group for pedestrians and cyclists, is petitioning the city to make it easier for communities to request crosswalks. The current procedure was developed in 1990, based on the idea that crosswalks should be few and far between to keep pedestrians from developing “a false sense of security.” Most studies show that pedestrians are safest when they use crosswalks and sidewalks, but some critics argue that they make little difference. More than 7,500 pedestrians were injured in…
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