Recent Blog Posts

Rain Contributes to Multiple Auto Accidents in Petaluma

David Silva — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:28:00 GMT

January 23, 2012 - The first major rain storm of 2012 resulted in three serious traffic collisions in and around Petaluma on Friday. At approximately 6:00 p.m., a pedestrian versus auto accident occurred when a blue Buick sedan struck a 30-year-old Petaluma man in the marked crosswalk at the intersection of McNeil Avenua and South McDowell Boulevard. The intersection is near the Washington Square Shopping Center. Immediately prior to the accident, the pedestrian was walking westbound in the crosswalk and the Buick was traveling northbound in the number one lane. The accident occurred when the driver of the Buick, a 17-year-old male from Petaluma, failed to stop for the pedestrian as he attempted to cross the street. According to police, the pedestrian struck the hood and windshield of the Buick, rolled over the top of the vehicle, and then came to rest in the roadway approximately 75 feet north of the point of impact. Police said the pedestrian sustained severe injuries and was transported via ambulance to a local hospital for emergency medical care. Reports indicate that the Buick driver had received his driver's license only two weeks prior to the accident. Police are still investigating the accident. They do not believe that alcohol was a factor. At about 2:05 p.m. on Friday, a series of crashes occurred on the 2100 block of Petaluma Boulevard North. A 61-year-old Petaluma man ran his Toyota 4Runner into a parked car which then struck a wooden fence. Police reported that the Petaluma man struck three other parked cars. The driver of the 4Runner was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of prescription medical marijuana. A short time later, at 3:25 p.m., a 20-year-old Petaluma man sustained moderate injuries when he tried to pass another vehicle on northbound North McDowell Boulevard. The driver lost control of his vehicle and collided with a tree in the center of the road. He sustained moderate injures and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. According to investigators, heavy rain and limited visibility was a factor in all three collisions. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, please call us for a free consultation to discuss your case. You will be connected directly to an attorney experienced in personal injury law.

CHP Targeting Speeders on Highway 101

David Silva — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:23:00 GMT

March 31, 2011 - A team of California Highway Patrol officers sought out speeders on Highway 101 in the construction zone between Rohnert Park and Cotati on Tuesday evening. It was a very productive endeavor in that they wrote 18 speeding tickets within 90 minutes. The speed limit in that area has been reduced to 55 miles per hour. According to the CHP, drivers who received citations were caught by radar going 68-77 miles per hour. At about 9:30 p.m., an officer pulled over a speeder clocked at 77 miles per hour. The driver presented a license that was expired. In addition, the license had a photo that did not appear to be the man who was driving the 2006 Ford Explorer. The driver was given a field sobriety test because he appeared to have been drinking. He failed the test and was reportedly acting evasive and aggressive toward the arresting officer. The man eventually identified himself as a 33-year-old Santa Rosa resident while he was being transported to jail. A CHP spokesman said the man had two prior DUI convictions. Further, he was driving on a suspended license and was wanted by law enforcement on a no bail arrest warrant for DUI and additional warrants for public intoxication and trespassing. The suspect remained in jail as of Wednesday afternoon without bail. He is facing charges of drunken driving, driving on a suspended license and giving false information to officers. An experienced Sonoma County Injury attorney can help you if you have sustained injuries in a car accident. Call us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We handle all kinds of cases involving motor vehicle accidents. You might have questions such as, " What is my case worth?" Don't rely on the insurance company to answer that question for you. Once you retain our law firm to represent you, we'll go to work right away to determine the value of your case and we'll help you maximize your recovery along the way.

DUI Suspects Keep CHP Busy

David Silva — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:46:00 GMT

March 30, 2011 - California Highway Patrol officers arrested 14 people over the weekend on suspicion of intoxication. The arrests included a bicyclist, a driver involved in a major injury crash and another driver with three prior convictions for driving while intoxicated. At about 6:20 p.m. on Friday, a CHP officer observed two bicyclists cutting through traffic near the intersection of Mendocino and College Avenues. The bike riders almost caused cars to crash. The officer stopped the two riders and evaluated one of them, a 50-year-old Santa Rosa woman, for possible intoxication. The woman appeared to be drunk and was arrested for riding under the influence of alcohol and prescription medications. According to the CHP, a bike rider who was intoxicated was killed at the same intersection in 2009. A few hours later, officers responded to the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Pocket Drive in Guerneville. In that accident, a 24-year-old Santa Rosa man drove his 1988 Toyota pick-up truck off the road and hit a tree. His 36-year-old passenger remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. The driver was also injured. He is being held at Sonoma County Jail pending a review of his immigration status. He was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and driving without a license. At about 11:15 on Friday night, a 32-year-old Santa Rosa man was found walking down the middle of Bennett Valley Road. The CHP reported that the man appeared to be very drunk. He had three prior drunken driving convictions and was on probation at the time of this incident. He was prohibited from drinking as a condition of his probation. The man was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication and violating probation. Then, on Sunday night a 52-year-old Cloverdale man crashed his vehicle off River Road in Cloverdale. Officers found the man inside his car. He was unable to explain how the accident occurred. Officers put him through a field sobriety test which he failed. His driving record revealed that he had two prior drunken driver convictions. He was arrested and taken to jail on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and having a third DWI within 10 years. I f you or a loved one have been injured in a drunken driving accident please call an experienced Sonoma County Personal Injury attorney for a free consultation.

Car Accident - Drunk Driver Hits Tree

David Silva — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:09:00 GMT

March 29, 2011 - The California Highway Patrol reported that a 24-year-old Santa Rosa man has been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after his involvement in a drunken driver accident. At approximately 9:40 p.m. on Friday, March 25, the suspect drove his vehicle off Highway 116 near Pocket Drive in Guerneville. He was driving a 1988 Toyota pickup truck at the time of the Friday night accident. The truck smashed into a tree after it went off the roadway causing serious injuries to his passenger. The passenger, a 36-year-old male, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. The injuries are considered to be life-threatening. The driver was also injured in the crash. He was treated and released and then arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. The suspect is being held at Sonoma County Jail. His immigration status is under review and he is also facing charges of driving without a license. Highway 116 was closed for about 30 minutes while the crash was being investigated. You should call a trusted and experienced Sonoma County Personal Injury attorney if you or a loved one have been injured in a drunken driver accident. In this case, there is a possibility that the unlicensed suspect did not have insurance at the time of the accident. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help you sort out insurance coverage issues and determine whether or not there are any other policies available that might provide coverage for your injuries and damages. You can call us or send us a message through our Web site about your case. You will be connected directly with an attorney, not a legal assistant or other support staff. So, call us for a free, confidential consultation. We've been helping car accident victims since 1991. We are a Sonoma County-based law firm.

Drunken Driver Accident - Probation Violation

David Silva — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:40:00 GMT

March 25, 2011 - A 20-year-old Soquel man was arrested on March 22 on suspicion of violating conditions of his release after a November 2010 DUI accident. The man was driving alone at the time of the accident and was allegedly intoxicated when he crashed his vehicle and sustained serious injuries. Just past midnight on November 18 he drove a Toyota pickup truck at least 55 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone and slammed his vehicle into a tree. Paramedics responding to the scene did not initially know if the man was dead or alive. In 2007, he was involved in another car accident that resulted in the death of his cousins, two brothers from Los Gatos. In that accident he was driving his Saab at least 80 miles per hour when he lost control on a curve. The car flipped and slammed into an embankment. He was hospitalized with severe head trauma and eventually prosecuted as a juvenile. The man's aunt, who was the mother of the two victims, has been on a mission to speak out against drunk driving since the accident. She said she loves her nephew but feels he must be held accountable for his actions and prevented from causing harm to others from driving drunk. The Soquel man has had a total of eight moving violations since 2006, including a citation for speeding in 2007. A few nights ago, the Soquel man was arrested near his family home just after midnight. Prosecuters would not comment on what led to the arrest. They said he is suspected of violating conditions of his probation. Jail records show that the man was released from custody after he posted bond on bail of $25,000. If you or a loved one have been injured in a drunken driver accident, please call an experienced Sonoma County Personal Injury attorney for a free consultation. We handle personal injury and wrongful death cases only, including all kinds of car accidents.

Public Transportation - Cab Driver Blacks Out

David Silva — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 01:10:00 GMT

March 24, 2011 - A 42-year-old woman whose leg was crushed when a taxi cab rolled into a crowd outside of San Diego's Stingaree nightclub is being released from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility 39 days after the February 12 car accident. She was the most severely injured of the 35 crash victims. She suffered multiple broken bones and severe tissue damage from being pinned against a wall by the cab. The married mother of two will start intensive physical therapy for one to three months to learn how to walk again. Her husband is hopeful that she will be able to do things like walk on the beach with her kids and go back to playing tennis. Her surgeon said she will probably not be able to participate in those activities up to the level she did before the accident. The woman has had eight surgeries so far. There is at least one more planned reconstructive surgery. She's missing a six-centimeter section of her lower leg. Surgeons inserted a rod down the middle of her tibia to provide stabilization. Police officials say they do not know if the 52-year-old cab driver fell asleep or blacked out just before his cab moved slowly into the crowd outside the busy Gaslamp Quarter nightclub. The driver says he does not remember blacking out. He is praying for the injured woman and begging for her forgiveness. Her husband would not comment on his feelings toward the cab driver. The cab driver has not been cited. If you or a loved one have been injured in a public transportation accident, please call us for a free consultation. You will speak directly with a knowledgeable attorney who can help answer questions you might have about your rights as a person who has suffered injuries in a car accident.

Amusement Park Accident - Kids Train Ride

David Silva — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:53:00 GMT

March 23, 2011 - A children's train ride derailed in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Saturday, March 19. A 6-year old boy was killed and 27 others were injured in the amusement park accident. Over thirty 911 calls were made describing a frantic and chaotic scene. One witness said the almost 60-year-old train fell off a bridge. The 42-year-old train operator told police he knew he was driving too fast just before the tragic accident occurred. Authorities have not yet reported on the cause of the crash. However, the statement made by the train driver seems to support eyewitness accounts that the train sped up on its third lap around the track. Many of the passengers on the train were members of a church where the deceased boy's father is a pastor. A church representative said that train riders told him the train "got faster and faster" and that it "felt like it was increasing in speed and something was wrong." The train ride was supposed to have been inspected last Wednesday. After the crash, a state inspector said he failed to check the speed of the train because the battery was dead. He admitted that he falsified his report. He was later fired. The train driver posted multiple assertions about the accident on a train blog. He said the train hadn't run in years; that it had a leaking transmission and broken brakes; that there had been no appreciable maintenance on the tracks since 2002; and, that the tracks were so bad they were causing derailments. County park officials disputed the claims. The train operator's mother said he was a train buff who relished driving the kids on the train. He was hired last year. She said he has been taking it really hard. A funeral is set for the 6-year-old victim this Thursday. Please call a trusted Sonoma County Injury attorney if you or a loved one have been injured in an accident. We offer free consultations with an experienced attorney.

Pedestrian Accident - Elderly Woman Dragged By Vehicle

David Silva — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:57:00 GMT

March 22, 2011 - A 74-year-old woman from Tustin, California died in a pedestrian accident after being struck by a car and dragged for blocks while pinned underneath the vehicle. Tustin Police Department officials said the woman was crossing Red Hill Avenue near Interstate 5 around noon on Monday when she was hit by a Mercury Sable driven by a 79-year-old woman from Aliso Viejo. The driver of the Sable was exiting the freeway when she hit the elderly woman. The Tustin woman was caught in the undercarriage of the Sable and dragged on the roadway for about a mile before her body became dislodged. Other motorists flagged the driver down about a half-mile from the where the pedestrian's body laid in the roadway. Reports are that the Aliso Viejo woman was "stunned" to learn she had hit someone. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The Sable driver was interviewed, however, no arrest was made. Investigators indicated that drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the mid-day accident. They checked the driver out at the scene. It was not clear if the driver was taken to a hospital for further evaluation. The accident occurred at a lighted, controlled crosswalk, but investigators do not yet know who had the right of way or if the pedestrian was in the crosswalk at the time she was hit. There was heavy rain at the time of the collision. Accident investigators are looking at that as a possible factor in the collision. The accident is still under investigation. If you or a loved one have suffered personal injury or wrongful death as a result of a pedestrian accident, please call a trusted Sonoma County Personal Injury attorney for a free consultation. We are based right here in Sonoma County. We handle all kinds of cases involving car accidents.

New Child Safety Seat Recommendations

David Silva — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:39:00 GMT

March 21, 2011 - New recommendations pertaining to child safety seats were issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today. Earlier recommendations said that children should ride in rear-facing safety seats until their first birthday. Now, the medical organization and the federal agency are recommending that children stay in rear-facing car seats until they are 2. In addition, both groups are saying that kids who outgrow front-facing safety seats should ride in booster seats at least until they can fit into a lap-shoulder harness. It is well-established that booster seats aid in positioning adult seat belts properly on the smaller body sizes of children. When a child reaches a height of 4 feet 9 inches he or she can usually move safely into a booster seat. Guidelines issued by both organizations say that children 12 and under should ride in the back seat of a vehicle. Studies have shown that poorly fitting seat belts on older children can cause spinal and abdominal injuries in car accidents. Pursuant to a 2007 analysis of crash data, researchers found that 1-year-olds are five times less likely to receive injuries in car accidents if they are in rear-facing seats instead of forward facing seats. Therefore, about 1000 children who sustained personal injuries in a car accident may not have been injured if they were in a rear-facing safety seat. Small children have relatively large heads and thin necks. The force of an impact can whip the child's head and cause spinal cord injuries. Car seats are required to have labels indicating recommended weights. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that if a 1-year-old exceeds the recommended weight of an infant seat, parents should move the child into another rear-facing seat that can accommodate the child's weight until he or she turns two. Most car seat manufacturers have increased the maximum weight seats can safely hold. A decade ago, rear-facing safety seats only held children weighing 22 pounds or less. Today, about 50% of all infant rear-facing car seats can hold up to 30 pounds. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, please call an experienced Sonoma County Personal Injury attorney for a free consultation. You will be connected directly to one of our helpful attorneys who can discuss your case with you.

Car Accident - DUI Rollover Follow-Up

David Silva — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:50:00 GMT

March 3, 2011 - This is a follow-up to the DUI rollover accident that occurred on March 1 on Laughlin Road just south of the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport: A California Highway Patrol spokesman is reporting that the 23-year-old woman who was driving at the time of the accident apparently had been drinking and arguing with her husband prior to the accident. According to the CHP representative, the allegedly intoxicated woman sped off in her Chevy Tahoe with her three children - girls ages 4 and 6 and a 2-year-old boy - inside the vehicle. The woman crashed into a guardrail and rolled the SUV. She and her two daughters were ejected from the vehicle. Her 2-year-old son was found inside the Tahoe still strapped in his child safety seat. CHP officials said none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening although the 4-year-old had to be transported via air ambulance for emergency medical treatment. The Santa Rosa mother will likely face charges for driving while intoxicated and child endangerment. In the reports surrounding this incident. there is no indication whether or not the two young girls were in child safety seats at the time of the accident. California law requires the following: Children must be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint (safety seat or booster seat) in the back seat of a vehicle until they are at least 6 years old or weigh at least 60 pounds. It is clear from the reports that the 2-year-old boy was found inside the vehicle still in his safety seat. The girls, however, were ejected from the vehicle. If you or a loved one have been injured in a drunken driver accident we would like to discuss your case with you. Please call us for a free consultation. You will talk directly with an experienced Sonoma County Personal Injury attorney, not a legal assistant or other support staff. Call us for the personal attention you deserve.

Car Accident - DUI Rollover

David Silva — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:49:00 GMT

March 2, 2011 - A California Highway Patrol officer reported that a 23-year-old Santa Rosa woman was arrested last night after being involved in a suspected drunken driver accident. The Tuesday night car accident occurred at about 6:00 p.m. The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. According to a CHP spokesman, she was arrested at the hospital on suspicion of DUI and felony child endangerment. The accident occurred on Laughlin Road south of the Sonoma County Airport. The woman was driving her Chevy Tahoe eastbound when she drove off the roadway. A CHP official said the woman was traveling at a high rate of speed and described the rollover accident as a "horrific impact." The Tahoe hit the guardrail and completely mangled it. It traveled approximately 350 feet before coming to rest. The woman and her two children, a 4-year-old and 6-year-old, were ejected from the SUV. The woman landed on the roadway. One of her daughters was found in a ditch. The other daughter was found near the grapevines in a grassy area. The woman's 2-year-old son was found inside the vehicle still strapped in his child safety seat. The 4-year-old was transported via air ambulance to an East Bay hospital. The two other children went to the same hospital as their mother. After the accident, the roadway was covered with broken glass and items from the vehicle such as children's books and CD's and a stroller. A Highway Patrol spokesman said that none of the injuries are considered to be life-threatening. If you or a loved one have sustained injuries in a car accident you might want to contact an experienced and trusted Sonoma County personal injury attorney for a free consultation about your case. Please call us or send us an e-mail through our Web site to discuss your case with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney.

Car Accident - Pescadero Fatality

David Silva — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:47:00 GMT

February 23, 2011 - According to the California Highway Patrol, a car accident near the town of Pescadero left one person dead and two others injured. The accident occurred on Tuesday, February 22 on Highway 1. The dead woman was identified as a 26-year-old San Mateo woman. At approximately 6:30 p.m., the woman turned her southbound 1989 Honda Civic into the path of northbound traffic on Highway 1 near Rossi Road. The Honda was hit by a 2001 Chevy Suburban driven by a 33-year-old woman. The Suburban was carrying a grandmother and four children as well. Extrication equipment was needed at the scene but officers did not report which passengers had to be removed from the wreckage. An 8-year-old boy was transported via ambulance to Stanford Hospital. He had moderate to major injuries. The grandmother was transported via air ambulance to the same hospital with moderate to major injuries as well. A 10-year-old girl and twin 6-year-old boys were not hurt, according to CHP reports. The driver of the Honda died at the scene of the accident. The coroner's office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Highway 1 was closed in both directions while the car accident was investigated and cleared. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident you should contact an experienced and trusted Sonoma County Personal Injury attorney to discuss your personal injury or wrongful death claim. At the Law Offices of David R. Silva, we will provide you with a free initial consultation with one of our dedicated attorneys. We handle personal injury cases only and we have been practicing exclusively in this area since 1991. Our office works on a contingency fee basis. That means you will never pay any legal fees unless we recover money for you on your case.

Drunken Driver Accident - Pedestrian On Roadway

David Silva — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 02:35:00 GMT

February 22, 2011 - A Pacifica Police Department spokesman reported that a 25-year-old man was killed after being struck by an alleged drunk driver. The pedestrain accident occurred at approximately 1:36 a.m. on Sunday night. The victim was walking along Skyline Boulevard by Sharp Park Road when he was struck. According to law enforcement officials, the victim's body was found in the southbound lanes of Skyline Boulevard. The driver of the vehicle that hit the man returned to the scene about 30 minutes after police arrived. He told the investigating officers that the victim was walking in the lanes of traffic when the accident occurred. Police arrested the 57-year-old San Bruno man on suspicion of drving while intoxicated causing a fatality, leaving the scene of a collision resulting in a fatality and vehicular manslaughter. The Pacifica Police Department is asking that anyone who may have witnessed the accident contact them. If you or a loved one have been injured in a drunken driver accident you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney to talk about your case. We are locally owned and operated. Since 1991, we have represented accident victims in personal injury cases. We understand what you are going through and we want to help you get your life back to the way it was before the accident to the extent that is possible. After an accident, you may be faced with medical expenses and other financial burdens on you and your family. You might incur lost wages if you are unable to work as a result of your injuries. This can have a devastating impact on your life. However, once you retain our law firm to represent you we immediately go to work for you to take away some of the pressures from you. All you have to do is focus on getting healthy again.

Car Accident - Rollover

David Silva — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:52:00 GMT

February 21, 2011 - Two individuals were hurt in a car accident on Thursday when their vehicle rolled over as it was being towed. A Windsor Fire Protection District spokesman said he believed the two injured persons were teenagers. Their Jeep Cherokee became stuck near the intersection of Starr Road and Mark West Station Road in the City of Windsor. The Jeep stalled when it tried to pass through the flooded roadway. A Ford pickup truck was towing the Jeep with a chain. The driver and a passenger stayed inside the Jeep as it was being towed. The accident occurred when the Jeep went off the roadway and rolled over on its side. At about 5:30 p.m., rescue crews were called to the scene of the accident. One of the occupants of the Jeep was able to exit the vehicle. The other victim was stuck inside. Firefighters had to remove the roof of the Jeep to get that person out. Both of the individuals inside the Jeep were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their personal injuries. Please call an experienced Sonoma County Personal Injury Attorney if you or a loved one have been injured in an accident. We handle all kinds of accident cases, including bicycle accidents, car accidents, drunken driver accidents, pedestrian accidents, public transportation accidents and watercraft accidents. Whether you have suffered a relatively minor personal injury, a brain injury or you have lost a loved one resulting in a wrongful death claim, our attorneys have the skill and knowledge to represent you in your claim for damages. We have offices all over Sonoma County with dedicated attorneys ready to meet you for a free consultation to discuss you case. There is no obligation on your part to meet with us to talk about your case. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you will never pay any legal fees unless we recover money for you on you case.

Drunken Driver Accident - Ferrari Split in Half

David Silva — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 02:00:00 GMT

February 5, 2011 - A 53-year-old Costa Mesa, California man was sent to prison for nine years after being convicted of felony vehicular manslaughter while driving intoxicated. The car accident resulted in the death of a mixed martial arts entrepreneur. According to Orange County prosecutors, the Costa Mesa man was speeding at the time of the March 11, 2009 drunken driver accident. The man lost control of his vehicle and smashed into the victim, who was diving a 2004 Ferrari. The Ferrari then struck a light pole and was torn in half. The drunk man left the scene but was arrested just minutes later. Prosecutors in the case said the man had a blood-alcohol level that was almost twice the legal limit nearly two hours after his arrest. In addition, he had a prior conviction for driving while intoxicated in 2002. Before sentencing the defendant, the Superior Court Judge listened to victim-impact statements from the victim's siblings, a business partner and a woman who was in the car with him when he was killed. The defendant was also given an opportunity to speak. According to newspaper reports, he said, "I never hurt anyone intentionally or accidentally in my life; I wish I could right the wrong I have caused. . . . I wish I could reverse the miseries I have caused. I never should have driven that night after drinking alcohol. I will never recover from this tragedy. . . . I am very sorry." If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident you should call an experienced Sonoma County Personal Injury attorney. We handle all kinds of motor vehicle accidents involving personal injury or wrongful death. Call us for a free consultation. You'll be connected directly to a knowledgeable attorney who will discuss the important factors involved in pursuing your claim for damages.