Stockton Injury Lawyer Blog

The Los Angeles Times reports that the families of two 20-year-old patients who died last year from prescription drug overdoses have filed separate wrongful death lawsuits against a doctor accused of illegally prescribing painkillers. The medical malpractice lawsuits allege that Dr. Lisa Tseng prescribed powerful and addictive drugs to patients who later died from the medication. Tseng has been linked to ten drug deaths.

Ryan Winter of Aliso Viejo died five days after his last prescription in July 2010 and Riley Russo of Laguna Niguel died in December.

According to the lawsuits, Dr. Tseng prescribed Opana, a powerful narcotic, and Xanax to the patients with little examination or reason. She also failed to obtain a proper medical history or refer the patients to specialists. The lawsuits further allege that Tseng has earned a reputation for her willingness to prescribe narcotics knowing they will be used for recreational purposes.

Under California law - the Drug Dealer Liability Act - families may file a lawsuit against anyone in the chain of improperly obtained drugs. The lawsuit also alleges medical negligence and intentional and negligent misrepresentation.

In addition to the families' lawsuits, Tseng is also being accused of gross negligence by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. Undercover investigators have determined that Tseng routinely prescribed large amounts of powerful drugs such as Percocet, Opana and codeine without proper examination.

Continue reading "Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against California Doctor For Illegally Prescribing Drugs" »

One of the most dangerous types of car accidents for kids is the "back-over" car-accident. Far too frequently children are seriously injured or killed when an unsuspecting driver backs-up and hits a child playing nearby. Compounding the tragedy, it is often a parent, relative or visitor backing out of a driveway who runs into a loved one. In order to provide more protection to our most vulnerable, Congress recently passed the Kids Transportation Safety Act (KTSA).

The KTSA requires automakers install backup cameras and related video displays in all new vehicles manufactured in the U.S. by September 2014. Installing the new systems will prevent pedestrian injuries and deaths that occur when a vehicle is reversed. Young children are particularly vulnerable to back-up accidents because they are often too small to be seen.

As a Stockton car accident lawyer, I am hopeful that requiring cameras to be installed will reduce the number of backup accidents.

According to the Imperial Valley News, the best back-up technology will include certain specifications such as:

• Mirror integration
• Faster Technology
• Brighter displays
• Cost-effective

Requiring the new technology is a positive step forward to improve awareness and provide better safety for children regarding car back-up dangers.

Continue reading "Back-Over Car Accidents Put Children At-Risk" »

Nearly a year after the deadly off-road accident in California's Mojave Desert, questions concerning fault and just what went wrong that fatal evening remain. Brett Sloppy - a driver of a truck that ran into the crowd of spectators killing eight - believes that the incident was an accident.

According to KCBS, Sloppy notes that the steering wheel of his truck was "ripped out of his hands" after it jumped a stretch of the track known as the "rockpile." He attributes this to an accident. Eight people died and dozens of others were injured after the truck slammed into the crowd and landed on its roof.

Questions have been raised concerning numerous different factors such as were the spectators allowed to get too close to the race? Did spectators disregard warnings? Did the U.S. Bureau of Land Management take the necessary precautions? Did race promoters follow proper protocol?

Here, several avenues of fault may exist. First, an internal investigation has shown that the Bureau of Land Management did not adequately monitor the race and failed to follow all the necessary procedures. Further, only one ranger was on patrol. Spectators crowded the course.

As Sloppy notes, "That was... the worst sight in my life and I never want to see that again." Whenever any tragedy occurs, it is important to uncover the reasons behind an accident and do what is possible to prevent a similar incident from recurring.

Continue reading "Deadly Off-Road Race Raises Questions Of Liability " »

Salinas News reports that the holiday weekend has been a deadly one on the Central Coast. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) three separate crashes have resulted in the deaths of five people in Monterey County. Four other people suffered major injures as the result of the two car accidents and one motorcycle accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered a wrongful death as the result of any type of personal injury accident, it is important to contact an experienced central coast accident lawyer to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Both of the car accidents involved head-on collisions. In the first accident, the driver of a Yukon collided head-on with a driver in the southbound lane, killing the driver instantly. Drugs and alcohol were not suspected to be involved. In the second accident, two Toyota Pickups collided while the driver of one was trying to pass slower moving vehicles. Both drivers died at the scene, while a total of three passengers in the two trucks were taken to area hospital with serious injuries.

The motorcycle accident occurred after the motorcyclist attempted to pass cars by driving on the shoulder and lost control of his cycle, sliding into the ditch, killed himself and his passenger.

Continue reading "Central Coast News Reports That 5 People Have Been Killed In Monterey County This Holiday Weekend " »