Santa Rosa, CA Personal Injury Blog

While many may believe that children are more likely to heal from serious injury simply because of their youth, a new study has revealed that while children with mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may fully recover, those who suffer more severe head injuries may be less likely to do so. Instead, children with serious brain injuries are very likely to have long-term problems related to the TBI.

Rehab appears to be the key to a faster and fuller recovery for kids with catastrophic brain injuries. It's taken one 13-year-old boy almost 3 years to get back to where he was before a motocross accident left him in a coma for almost three days. He was able to go back to school within three months of the injury but still has some memory problems.

Earlier this month, an 89-year-old Santa Rosa man was attacked by a neighbor's pit bull. The man and his black lab were in his own driveway when the pit bull broke loose from it chain and ran towards them. The California dog bite victim had cuts down to the bone, according to his son, from the attack, while his dog was swollen and required a vetrinary exam.

The pit bull's owner was eventually able to get the dog under control. The owner confirmed that the dog had a history of aggression. Santa Rosa dog bite lawyers encourage everyone to be cautious around unknown dogs and even to avoid making sudden movements around dogs with whom you are familiar to prevent dangerous dog attacks and the serious injuries that can result.

Some may blame the dog breed -- a pitbull -- for the attack, others may blame the owner for the improper training of a pet. Breed-specific legislation has been enacted in several cities and counties throughout California in response to the growing perception that certain types of dogs are more likely to attack and cause injury than others. Sonoma County is one of them.

Visitors from all over the world come to Northern California to visit its renowned wineries and beaches. The area is also a top destination for weddings and business conferences. Most of the time, these tourists come, have a good time and make it home safely.

However, an unlucky few will find themselves injured while on vacation.

Last month, one tourist was killed and another hospitalized after a single-vehicle crash on Highway 20 in Upper Lake. The travelers -- business colleagues from Portland, Maine -- were riding in a rented Corvette when the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The driver was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. He died at the scene. The passenger was buckled in. She survived, but needed to be airlifted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Tourist accidents raise special legal concerns. Often times, jurisdictional issues will require an injured tourist to pursue a lawsuit in California courts, even though he or she may live in another state. It's important for tourists injured while on vacation to choose a lawyer who knows how to navigate these issues. Santa Rosa injured travelers' attorneys are skilled in pursuing California claims for clients who live in other parts of the country.

A northern California woman suffered injuries earlier this month when she was thrown from her bicycle after being struck by a truck.

The woman was riding northbound on Old Redwood Highway a little before 8:00 in the morning, when a truck made a left turn into her path. She flew off her bike and landed on the front of the truck.

The woman was hospitalized after the Santa Rosa bike injury, but her injuries were thankfully not life-threatening.

Starting January 1, 2012, parents will be required to put children under 8 years old or 4'9" tall in a booster car seat. The new law, sponsored by Sen. Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, and signed by the Governor this month, is intended to save lives and prevent injury among child passengers.

According to statistics from the California Department of Public Health, between 2000 and 2009, 113 children ages 6 and 7 were killed in a fatal car accident in California. An additional 414 children suffered serious head trauma in a motor vehicle accident.

Studies have shown that the use of booster seats, rather than seat belts, may reduce the risk of serious injury and even death for children when involved in a car accident by nearly 60 percent. Seat belts generally don't fit a child under 8 properly, with the lap belt hitting a child's stomach and the shoulder belt coming to near the child's face or neck.

Crossing the street shouldn't be so dangerous, but after two serious car-pedestrian accidents in Santa Rosa crosswalks left one woman with severe head trauma and a family mourning the loss of their six-year-old son, it seems as though looking both ways is not enough to be safe. Drivers must be aware and on the lookout for pedestrians in designated crosswalks, whether out in the open or disguised by another car or obstacle.

Near the intersection of Guerneville and Fulton Roads, a 22-year-old woman was hit by a turning truck while in the crosswalk. The woman suffered serious head injuries as a result of the impact. An investigation is underway, but police do not think that alcohol or cell phone use played a role in the crash.

A four-year-old boy did not walk away from another crosswalk accident on West Ninth Street. The boy, his sister and his mother were headed to the soccer fields on the other side of the street when he was hit by a Honda Accord. He was taken to Children's Hospital Oakland, but did not survive his injuries.

The driver of a 1997 Ford Escort was killed on Sunday when he crossed into the path of a semi-truck on Highway 12. The truck-car collision set off a chain-reaction crash that eventually involved two other vehicles. Eight people were sent to the hospital with injuries.

The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident. There was no initial indication that any of the drivers involved were speeding.

Chain-Reaction Crashes on California Highways

Santa Rosa and the surrounding area is a popular destination for tourists, especially during the summer months. As the number of people traveling to and from this scenic area of California increases, danger on the roadways can lead to injuries in an instant.

Whether on the 12 or the 101, motor vehicle accidents do happen and can result in serious injury. Santa Rosa car accident attorneys have worked with injured drivers and passengers who are from the area as well as those just visiting, receive needed compensation to recover from motor vehicle injuries.

Boating on Lake Sonoma, and consequently boating accidents, are on the rise as the summer moves into full swing and Californians take advantage of recreation opportunities in the Bay Area and throughout Northern California. Two recent incidents on Lake Sonoma highlight the dangers of being on the water and the importance of water safety.

A 7-year old boy from San Francisco was tubing on the lake when the towline attached to his tube became entangled in the propeller of another boat motor. The tube and the boy were pulled into the boat's propeller, which cut the boys legs and stomach causing severe bleeding. The boy was taken by helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment. Although his injuries were life-threatening, he is currently recovering.

In an unrelated incident, a 39-year old Santa Rosa man died while boating on Lake Sonoma. He had complained of dizziness and light-headedness during the ride and at one point, fell through the boat railings into the water, about 40 feet from shore. His mother jumped in and swam him to shore; 911 was called, but help did not arrive in time to save him. A medical emergency was cited as the cause of his death.

Boating accidents can have many causes, from operator error or inexperience, to misuse of alcohol while on the water. Injuries can include broken bones, head/neck injuries and death. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention report that drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for 1-14-year olds.