The city of Hercules in Contra Costa County is taking steps to crack down on pit bull bite attacks after two recent attacks injured a woman and killed her dog.

On the 20^th of August, two pit bulls attacked a woman and her Yorkshire Terrier. The dog was killed while the woman suffered bites and scratches on her arms. The two pit bulls were deemed dangerous, and were euthanized.

That wasn’t the last dog attack in Hercules.  On the 6^th of this month, three pit bulls attacked a dog, injuring it severely. These dogs too were euthanized the next week. The Hercules city council is taking the problem very seriously indeed. The attacks have increased focus on especially aggressive breeds of dogs, including bit pulls. The City Council’s Public Safety Subcommittee has convened a meeting for the 23^rd of September. Members will discuss dog bite attacks, and measure to prevent these.  There may also be new laws formulated regarding the rearing of aggressive breeds, like pit bulls.

The Hercules municipal code requires that a dog be properly restrained at all times. If an unrestrained dog is in a position to cause harm to another person or animal, then its owner can be held in violation of the county’s animal ordinance. Police are asking residents who see loose dogs to call animal services.  The recent attacks have concerned local residents who are calling for better enforcement of dog restraint rules.

Dog bite attacks may not occur frequently, but these cause serious injuries every year. They also end in severe emotional and mental trauma from the attack which often tends to be vicious. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year dog bites leave more than 4.7 million people injured. Out of this, an estimated 800,000 victims will be injured severely enough to require medical care. Not very surprisingly, children are the most frequent victims of dog bites.

Pet owners may deny it, but some breeds of dogs, like pit bulls or Rottweilers, are more aggressive than other breeds. Dog bite statistics seem to corroborate this fact – most attacks involve pit bulls and other aggressive breeds.

Under California laws, a dog owner can be found strictly liable for dog bite injuries caused by his pet. Injuries in dog bite attacks can be extremely severe, and may include facial and scalp lacerations, lacerations on the body, cuts, abrasions and other injuries. Persons may be left with facial injuries that require cosmetic surgeries.

Sometimes, California dog bite lawyers come across cases in which the attack has been so vicious that the person’s ears and scalp have been ripped off. These injuries often require specialized medical care, and cosmetic surgery to restore the person’s appearance. Besides the physical injuries, victims may be left with a lifetime of emotional trauma and mental anguish. The dog owner can be held liable for medical expenses, as well as other losses suffered by the victim.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of dog bites. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

One person has been killed in an accident involving a tractor trailer in San Diego. The victim was driving a car alongside the large truck when the 18 wheeler overturned, crushing the car.

The victim, 33-year-old Gustavo Gracia, was driving a Lexus on a north San Diego County freeway yesterday. The truck seemed to have tipped over, and fallen on the sedan, crushing it instantly.  The truck driver sustained minor injuries in the accident. The sedan was completely wrecked, and it took five hours for clean up crews to remove the wreckage. According to the California Highway Patrol, drugs or alcohol do not appear to have played a part in the accident. Investigations into the crash are ongoing.

Investigations will likely look into the speed of the semi truck at the time it turned over. These accidents are often the result of driver error. Very often, California trucking accident lawyers see that truck rollovers are caused because of speeding trucks. A trucker doesn’t merely have to be going over the posted speed limits to be in grave danger of losing control over the truck. A driver, who is driving at speeds that are too high for the prevailing traffic and weather conditions, can also be at serious risk of an accident. Speed limits for trucks generally tend to be lower than speed limits for passenger vehicles. However, some states have begun to experiment with uniform speed limits for both commercial trucks and passenger vehicles. A trucker driving at excessive speeds will find it much harder to control a truck, when trying to to brake suddenly or swerve to avoid traffic.

A big rig overturning on a busy highway is not something we like to think about, but it actually happens much more often than we know.  Much of controlling a tractor trailer depends on maintaining the right balance, and when this balance shifts because of speeding and other behaviors, the consequences can be deadly not just for the trucker, but also for other motorists nearby.

A shift in loads can also cause an 18-wheeler to tip over. Loads must be properly secured to prevent a shift and a tip in balance. A trucker must make sure that loads are properly secured, and that the load doesn’t exceed the capacity of the truck.  A truck driver who drives negligently (making excessively sharp turns) may also be at risk of a rollover.

Whatever the reasons for a tip over, the consequences of a big rig overturning can be deadly, as we can see in this tragedy. Motorists in the vicinity have a high risk of being killed if they are unfortunate enough to be close enough to the truck. Besides, motorists who are behind or around the truck can also panic when the big rig overturns. Such panicked driving can quickly cause a multi-vehicle pileup. An overturned tractor trailer can also lead to the spilling of dozens of gallons of fuel on the highway, increasing the risk of an explosion or fire.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of truck accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

A spike in fatalities on train tracks has Caltrain extremely concerned. The agency has launched an intensive safety campaign called Rail Safety Month to raise public awareness about the dangers of walking on the tracks, as well as anti-suicide awareness.

2009 has been a bad year for Caltrain. Although the first four months of the year saw no fatalities involving Caltrain, there have been a total of 10 deaths on the tracks since May 4^th. That makes it one death every 12 or 13 days. Many of these deaths are suicides, but Caltrain is very concerned about the deaths that have occurred as pedestrians were struck by trains as they walked along the tracks.  At least three teenagers from Palo Alto have committed suicide on the tracks since the first fatality occurred May in this year.  The agency is therefore, accelerating its track safety and suicide prevention campaign.

There are indications that Caltrain is taking these measures very seriously indeed. The Discovery Channel show “Dirty Jobs” could be at the receiving end of the agency’s ire. The show, in its episode on building locomotives, features a scene in which the host Mike Rowe is seen walking on the Caltrain tracks. This may seem innocuous enough, but Caltrain believes that images like this that show well known media personalities walking on the tracks, sends the wrong message to teenagers and other pedestrians that it is OK  to walk on the tracks. Caltrain is looking to send a strong message to the public that it is never OK to be loitering or strolling on or near the tracks.

The agency and California train accident attorneys are especially concerned about residents who live close to the 78-mile stretch of track. According to John Cockle, who is the agency’s rail operations manager, the tracks are not a public place that residents who live nearby can use for jogging and strolling.  In fact, trespassers who enter the tracks or the space on either side, will be cited. According to the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office Transit Police Bureau, they have already cited 500 trespassers this year alone. Transit police have also saved at least 13 other people in 2009, pulling them off the tracks in time.

Caltrain executive officer for public affairs, Mark Simon, has called for police and engineers in each city to identify suicide hot spots along the Caltrain tracks. Most of the ten deaths that have occurred this year have been suicides. Simon is also cooperating with a task force of school officials and mental health experts, whose job is to look into teen suicide prevention.

This awareness campaign is not the first that Caltrain has undertaken. Since 2006, the agency has reached out to thousands of residents doing safety presentations to prevent accidents. Every year during fall, Caltrain officials are available for presentations to local schools. However, Caltrain officials say that response from the local school districts has not been as strong as it should have been, considering that three teenagers in Palo Alto committed suicide on the tracks.

Caltrain officials stress the following points to avoid becoming a train accident casualty:

• Avoid walking on the tracks.
• Make sure that you are standing behind the yellow line.
• Never cut across rail lines.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of train accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

The husband and wife who hit a USC student killing her and severely injuring her friend in a fatal hit and run accident earlier this year, will have their day in court.

This week, 33-year-old Josue Luna and 30-year-old Claudia Cabrera were ordered to stand trial in the death of 18-year-old USC student Adrianna Bachan, and injuries caused to her 19-year-old friend Marcus Garfinkle.  Cabrera faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident, and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Luna is charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

On March 29^th, Bachan and Garfinkle were walking home, when Cabrera who was driving a 2000 Infinity struck the two students. Bachan sustained fatal injuries, and Garfinkle’s wounded body was on the windshield of the Infinity where he clung on for life. Cabrera stopped the vehicle, and her husband got out and threw Garfinkle’s body off the windshield, after which the couple proceeded to drive on as if nothing had happened. Throughout the events that unfolded on that faithful evening, the couple’s 7-month-old child was in the backseat of the car.

Bachan’s death led to a public outcry against the hit and run motorist responsible.  Her mother launched a highly emotional campaign, asking for public help in apprehending the guilty. On April 2^nd, Cabrera was arrested after police launched a massive search effort. Luna was arrested on the 18^th of April in San Ysidro while he was trying to re-enter the country from Mexico.  According to Cabrera’s statement after her arrest, she had wanted to stop the car, but the light at the intersection turned green. Her husband, she alleged, had also wanted her to drive off from the scene of the accident.  Just before the fatal accident, Cabrera and Luna had been partying in San Fernando Valley.

Authorities say that Luna pushed Garfinkle, who was seriously injured, from the windshield of the car and dumped him on the sidewalk before the two drove off.  He further injured an already seriously wounded Garfinkle when he threw him of the windshield. Luna’s attorney denies that he aggravated the young student’s injuries. He insists that Garfinkle’s injuries were sustained in the crash. However Los Angeles Superior Judge has taken note of Garfinkle’s testimony of lacerations caused to his arms and stomach from the broken windshield of the glass.  According to the Deputy District Attorney, Cabrera was afraid of getting arrested after the accident because she didn’t have insurance.

The incident had a strong impact on the local community and received attention across California. It’s an extreme example of the kind of motorist recklessness that Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyers come across every day.

It’s typically hard to nab a hit and run driver in a pedestrian accident. Local police here deserve kudos for being able to arrest the husband and wife as quickly as they did.  We hope the justice system will also play its part in making sure that Luna and Cabrera receive the justice they richly deserve.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of pedestrian accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

Two people have died, and another has been seriously injured in an accident involving a Chevrolet van and a pickup truck outside Hollister over the weekend.

According to news reports, the van crashed head-on into the pickup truck on Saturday evening. The impact caused the van to burst into flames. One of the occupants of the van was knocked unconscious, and died from injuries from the fire.  Other occupants of the van, including 5 passengers and the van driver, were pulled out of the van while it was in flames, and rushed to the hospital with major injuries.  The driver of the pickup truck died at the scene of the crash.

There is no information yet on the causes of the accident. The San Benito County Coroner’s office has not yet released the identities of the two people who died in the car accident.

Injuries sustained in a head-on collision usually tend to be some of the most devastating, because these accidents typically involve at least one vehicle driving at high speeds. The impact of such accidents is extremely severe, and fatalities often result. Every year, more than 4,000 people are killed in traffic accidents in California. However, the California Highway Patrol has been able to bring about a reduction in the number of traffic accident fatalities over the past few years. Numbers this year were at their lowest in years.

Auto Accidents Can Have a Long Term Impact

Being injured in an automobile accident can turn a person’s life upside down. The person may require emergency medical attention, and may have to spend days, weeks and even months in a hospital, depending on the extent of the injuries. He may have the need for physical therapy and rehabilitation to regain muscle strength. In case of catastrophic injuries, the injured victim may have to relearn basic functions like eating, bathing and dressing themselves. The initial physical pain of an accident can quickly lead to anxiety about their health and future, as hospital bills begin to mount. Depression can begin to set in. The person may need physical counseling and support during this difficult time. In case of severe accidents, there may also be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to deal with. This condition occurs when a person survives a life-threatening situation, like a serious motor vehicle accident. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, nightmares, frequent flashbacks and social withdrawal. Once they return home, there may be more financial worries because of their lost income.  A severely injured victim may never be able to return to their former job, causing them severe financial hardship. All this can add to thier stress and worry, and personal relationships can begin to feel the strain of the accident.

Fortunately, California laws allow victims who have been seriously injured in an accident to possibly claim compensation from the responsible party. These damages can help to pay for lost wages, medical bills, lost future earnings, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages in case of severe negligence on the part of the motorist responsible.  A California car accident lawyer can help injured victims of accidents recover the full compensation they are eligible for.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of car accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

A one-year-old girl has been killed and her toddler brother has been critically injured in a hit and run car accident in Long Beach on Friday.

According to news reports, the children were in a wagon that was being pulled across the street by their parents, when the wagon was struck by an SUV driven by Neely Dinkins. The SUV dragged the wagon for hundreds of yards before coming to a stop. The children remained trapped in the wagon that had been wedged under SUV. When the SUV stopped, the 2-year-old boy fell away from the SUV, and then Dinkins drove away. The one-year-old girl remained trapped and was dragged almost a mile further before the SUV stopped again.

The girl was declared dead at the scene of the accident while the boy sustained critical injuries.  He was taken to the hospital. Witnesses at the scene of the accident called police, and Dinkins was arrested. He has been charged with vehicle manslaughter, gross negligence, hit and run, driving with a suspended license, and driving under the influence.

Witnesses at the scene of the accident described a gruesome scene that left many of them traumatized. Many of them screamed at Dinkins to stop as the children, struck in their wagon, were dragged along with his SUV. According to some of them, the driver’s side window had been lowered by Dinkins who continued to drive. If the driver’s side window was really lowered as witnesses insist, and they were screaming at him to stop, it’s highly likely that Dinkins was aware that he was driving with a child wedged under his car. Also, a neighbor said that Dinkins later pulled into his driveway, told him that he thought he’d hit a child, and ran through the front door. The neighbor then walked over to the SUV, and saw the infant girl inside the remnants of the wagon.

There is no information yet on the condition of the boy who was seriously injured. Witnesses at the scene said that he had suffered head injuries in the accident. There is also no information yet on whether the parents of the children were injured.

New Bill May Prevent Drunk Driving Accidents Caused by Repeat Offenders

Just last week, we discussed a new bill that will require drivers convicted of driving under the influence to have an ignition interlock device installed in all their vehicles. The device will detect alcohol on the driver’s breath and if it does detect the presence of alcohol, will shut down the ignition, and prevent the car from starting. If the bill is signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, the pilot program will roll out in Alameda, Sacramento, Tulare and Los Angeles Counties until 2016, after which it could become a law throughout California.

California car accident lawyers believe that laws like this can help reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents caused by repeat offenders. Last year, 1029 people were killed in alcohol-related car accidents in California. That had been a substantial decline from 1,132 in 2007 and 1,272 deaths in 2006. In fact, the number of drunk driving accident fatalities in California has been steadily declining, and this has been because of the efforts of lawmakers and law enforcement agencies.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of pedestrian accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

On Wednesday, the California State Assembly approved a bill that personal injury lawyers have long been calling for. The bill will require ignition interlock systems in all vehicles of motorists who are convicted of DUI.

The bill was passed unanimously 56-0, and has been sent to governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for approval. According to a spokesman, Governor Schwarzenegger had not yet decided whether to sign the bill or not. The pilot program under the new law would be implemented in Los Angeles, Alameda, Sacramento, and Tulare County. It would start in July, and continue through 2016, at which time it could become law across California.

The bill requires persons convicted of driving under the influence to have the ignition interlock device installed in all their vehicles. Before starting the car, the motorists have to blow into the device.  The equipment sensors work by detecting alcohol on the driver’s breath, and if alcohol is detected, the device will prevent the car from starting. The sensors are strong enough to detect even a single drink.

Assemblyman Mike Feuer D-Los Angeles, who is the sponsor of Bill AB91, has expressed his optimism that the bill could save hundreds and possibly, thousands of lives. If the sensors detect that the motorist’s blood alcohol level is above .08 percent, the car won’t start. The system will be paid for by convicted drunk drivers.

In California, 203,866 people were arrested for drunk driving in 2007. Drivers in the four counties – Los Angeles, Alameda, Sacramento, and Tulare Counties – where the pilot program is going to be implemented, accounted for 40 percent of the total DUI arrests in 2007.  Every year, 4,000 people are killed in traffic accidents in California. Of these approximately, 25 percent are involved in drunk driving accidents. Out of the total number of DUI arrests every year, an estimated 60,000 are believed to have a previous conviction for driving under the influence. Further, 23,000 people every year are injured in drunk driving accidents.

Currently, more than two dozen states mandate Ignition interlock devices for repeat DUI offenders. In 11 states, these devices are required for any motorist convicted of DUI. In several states, where ignition interlock devices have been adopted to prevent a convicted DUI offender from driving intoxicated, there  have been dramatic reductions in the number of such repeat drunk driving offenders. In West Virginia, the number of people arrested for driving under the influence, after a prior DUI conviction, decreased by 70 percent and in New Mexico by 60 percent. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the average drunk driver in fatal accidents in California has a blood alcohol level of .18 percent.  That’s more than twice the legal limit.

California drunk driving accident lawyers, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and auto safety experts have voiced their strong support for the bill. Not surprisingly, the American Beverage Institute which represents drinking establishments, is not in favor of the bill.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of drunk driving accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

Yet another recall has been announced because of worries over salmonella-contaminated food products. Two California companies have recalled thousands of cases of green onions, over fears that the produce could be contaminated with salmonella.

The first company Salinas-based Steinbeck Country Produce, is recalling green onions that were grown and imported from Mexicali in Mexico. The cases of green onions were shipped between August 4^th and August 22^nd 2009, and came with lot code numbers 96CPGO07 or 9CPO937. The recall includes 3,360 cartons of two pound, 24 bunch and 12 bunch bags of iceless green onions under the label “Nature’s Reward.” The onions were distributed in California, Texas, Massachusetts, Indiana, New York, Arizona, Michigan, Missouri and Kansas. The salmonella contamination was traced during inspections conducted by the US Department of Agriculture. USDA inspectors conducted a routine test in New York last month, and found traces of salmonella contamination in cases of onions.

The other company, Ocean Mist Farms, is recalling 1,746 cases of iceless green onions after inspections showed traces of salmonella contamination. There is no information yet on where Ocean Mist Farms distributed its onions.

The recalls come at a time when there is increased focus on food safety. This week, the Food and Drug Administration launched the Reportable Food Registry (RFR), an electronic portal for companies to report when there is a “reasonable probability” that a food item or product can cause serious health effects. According to the FDA, any registered food facility that is engaged in manufacturing, processing, packing or holding foods for human or animal consumption, is required to report whenever there is such a risk of adverse health consequences from contaminated food. Under the laws, the food processing, packaging, storing and manufacturing industry must report to the FDA within 24 hours of identifying a significant health risk from food products. Approximately, 85 percent of food supplies in the country are covered under these laws.

Lawmakers have been engaged in hectic efforts to pass stronger food safety laws after a string of food poisoning scandals left several people dead, and hundreds injured, many of them hospitalized for their injuries. Most of these poisoning epidemics were related to salmonella contamination. Hundreds of people fell sick at the beginning of this year when contaminated peanuts from a processing plant in Georgia found their way into peanut butter products that were supplied to establishments. Soon after, a salmonellosis epidemic was traced to contaminated pistachio nuts processed by a California company. Last year, salmonella contamination was traced to produce also manufactured by a California company. A few months ago, dozens of people became sick with E.coli poisoning, after eating prepackaged and refrigerated raw cookie dough from Nestle.

Every year, 76 million Americans fall sick from tainted foods. Most of these cases will not require hospitalization, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 325,000 of these people will be sick enough to have to be hospitalized.  An estimated 5,000 deaths are reported every year from food poisoning illnesses.  That’s too high a number to digest, and California food poisoning lawyers will be hoping that the FDA’s new food contamination reporting system will reduce those numbers.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of food poisoning. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

A drunk driver, who allegedly caused the accident that killed a local Huntington Beach entrepreneur, will stand trial in the death of the man.

According to the Orange County Register, a Superior Court judge has decided Costa Mesa resident Jeffrey Kirby will stand trial on four felonies in the fatal accident.  Kirby is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter in the accident that killed Charles Lewis Jr. Lewis was the co-founder of a martial arts clothing company.

According to prosecutors, Kirby was intoxicated during the accident that involved his Porsche and Lewis’ Ferrari. Lewis was driving his Ferrari on Jamboree Road in Newport Beach at the time. The impact of the accident caused the Ferrari to break into two, after it crashed into a light pole. Lewis died at the scene of the crash. The passenger in his car was ejected from the car and suffered injuries. Kirby has apparently admitted to police that he was speeding. He drove his car close to the Ferrari to allow his passenger to have a look at Lewis’ Ferrari. He then lost control of the Porsche, and the car spun 360 degrees. Kirby fled the scene of the accident.

Blood alcohol tests were conducted two hours after the crash, and he was found to have a BAC level of .13. Kirby had two previous convictions for drunk driving. Repeat offenders tend to have the highest likelihood of being involved in a drunk driving accident.  According to investigators, they found evidence in Kirby’s wallet to indicate he had been driving drunk just before the crash. He had been drinking at bars in Irvine and Sang Juan Capistrano before the accident.  Kirby has been denied the chance to plead guilty to vehicular manslaughter. His attorneys claim that Lewis was to blame for the accident.

California has been able to bring down the rate of drunk driving accident deaths over the past several years. However, there is still a lot that needs to be done if we’re to see those rates drop further. Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, law enforcement teams launched an intensive effort to crackdown on drunk driving offenders. The California Highway Patrol arrested 73 intoxicated motorists in Orange County alone over the holiday weekend. Last year, the number of arrests was 67. Thirty-five drunk drivers were arrested at sobriety checkpoints in Mission Viejo, and Dana Point. There were also three people arrested in Irvine, and 10 arrested in Newport Beach. However, there were no fatal traffic accidents in Orange County over the Labor Day weekend.

Across California, 10 people were killed over the Labor Day weekend although it’s not known how many of these involved drunk driving accidents. Last year, there were 23 deaths in accidents during the same period. However, the CHP has been able to confirm that at least 50 percent of those who were killed this year were not buckled up at the time of the accident. There is still no confirmation about the number of drunk driving arrests across California.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of drunk driving accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

September 12th marks the one year anniversary of the Metrolink train accident in Chatsworth near Los Angeles. The agency, as the Los Angeles Times reports, continues to struggle with various challenges on the road to safety reform.

On that day, a commuter train crashed head-on with a Union Pacific freight train. Both trains ended up on the same track hurtling towards each other after the Metrolink engineer ran a red light a few minutes earlier. Cell phone records after the train accident found that the engineer Robert Sanchez had been text messaging on his cell phone in the minutes leading up to the crash. 25 people died when his train rammed into the freight train. 130 people were injured. Several of the injured continue to struggle with the impact from their injuries one year later. The Metrolink train accident was the deadliest in the modern history of California, and its repercussions were felt as far as Congress.

Soon after the crash, Metrolink’s inefficiencies became increasingly obvious. There were pledges to reform the system, which suffers from several challenges that drag down inefficiency and compromise the safety of passengers.  However, the agency is realizing that these safety reforms are not just expensive, but also complex and time consuming.

The cell phone use of the operator has been at the core of investigations into the train accident. Agency officials had outlined plans to install several surveillance video cameras to crack down on errant train crews. Not surprisingly, labor unions oppose any such plans.

That’s the least of the agency’s reform worries, however. It faces severe technical challenges in installing an anti-collision system across its networks. The anti-collision system will detect when a train is on a collision path, and work by applying brakes to bring the train to a complete stop to prevent an accident like the one near Chatsworth. The cost of installing such a network for all commuter, freight and intercity trains is expected to reach $200 million.

Also at the core of focus after the crash was Metrolink’s practice of outsourcing activities related to hiring, training and supervising of train employees.  Sanchez was employed by a contractor to whom the agency had farmed out these responsibilities. Metrolink announced a few months after the accident that it would take on this important responsibility itself, and suspend the practice of farming out these responsibilities. However, the prospect of volatile labor issues has ensured that these plans have been suspended. The board of directors has decided to outsource these functions to Amtrak, which will now assume responsibility for hiring and training crews.

It appears to California train accident lawyers that things are back to normal at Metrolink, or at least, well on the way to getting there. The accident and its devastating impact, in the midst of all that chaos, provided an opportunity for the agency to step out and undertake the complete rehaul that was necessary. It’s unfortunate to see that the reform seems to be floundering even before it had begun.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of train accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.