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Bakersfield Pedestrian Accident Kills Baby, Wounds Siblings, Father
June 09, 2008

In a tragic pedestrian accident, a 9-month-old baby boy was killed in the city of Bakersfield, California after a car slammed into his family, including his father, who was carrying him. Juan Villanueva was walking with his four children to the local McDonalds. As they walked on Wilson Road and Benton Street, the party of five, including Juan's 9-year-old twin sons Jose and Manuel and 11-year-old daughter Andreina, began to cross the street. Baby Christopher was being carried by his father.

As they came over to the other side, a car being driven by 62-year-old Elodia De Franco drifted to the right and slammed into Juan from behind. He was thrown through the windshield, Christopher with him. By the time help could come, Christopher was already dead. He seemed to survive for just a few seconds after the pedestrian accident, says a rescuer who rushed to the spot to offer help. But the impact of the crash was too great.

The other kids were also seriously injured. Andreina broke both her legs with her left leg smashed at three different places. The twin boys, Manuel and Jose, suffered less severe injuries. They were treated at a hospital and have been discharged. Juan also broke both his legs, and is still in the hospital. There might be worse news to come for Juan. Doctors say his legs might have to be amputated below the knee.

In just a split second, the life of a large family has been ripped apart. The baby of the family is dead, and the father, who works as a gardener, faces a bleak future without the use of his legs. Juan's wife, Antonia, works as a farm worker, and the family will now have to get used to living on just one income. Plus, there is the medical care for Andreina to think about.

For now, the investigations have not turned up any evidence of drug or alcohol abuse at the time of the pedestrian accident. Police say they have not yet decided whether they will file charges against De Franco. Although full details of the causes of the pedestrian accident will be available in coming days, you wonder how it's not possible that De Franco didn't notice a large party of five people crossing over to the side of the street. It seems like five people crossing the street in a group would be visible from far, and therefore, attempts could have been made to slow down and avoid them. It's not clear as to why her car drifted over to the side of the street. It seems to be too early to rule out the role of speed in the pedestrian accident.

There are many unanswered questions here, and we hope that investigations can throw up some answers quickly. A hardworking family that has just lost a precious child faces a grim future. Even in their mourning, there is the fear and uncertainty of a future without one half of the household income. We hope that the Villanueva family will consider the possibility of financial compensation for all their losses. It may not do anything to bring Christopher back, but the fear of destitution hanging over their heads will be cleared.

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.

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Garbage Firm to Pay Compensation in Pedestrian Accident Case
June 03, 2008

The family of a cafeteria employee, who was killed when a waste truck backed up over her, has been awarded a $650,000 wrongful death settlement.

Mary Danielson of Waukegan was employed at the cafeteria of the Daniel Webster Junior High School, where she walked every day to work. On that particular day, March 24, 2004, 59-year-old Danielson was crossing the road at Westmoreland. There was nothing to warn her about what was to come. A truck belonging to the Onyx Waste Services was backing up on the road and struck the woman. She died at the scene. The Lake County Coroner's Office report concluded that she died of multiple injuries in a traumatic pedestrian accident.

The truck was being driven by 45-year-old Alonzo Abron, who fled from the scene after the accident. He was found later, and was charged with leaving the scene of the pedestrian accident.

Investigations after the accident revealed that the truck had backed up at least 350 feet before hitting Danielson, who was walking by the curb. Apparently the driver couldn't really explain how it was possible that he could have backed up 350 feet, and not seen the woman walking behind the truck. His lawyers initially tried to blame the weather for his negligence in seeing the woman, but now a jury has awarded Mary's family a $650,000 compensation amount.

This is just one more example of the callous disregard that pedestrians seem to experience every day. There is nothing to suggest that Mary Danielson was doing anything wrong on the day of the pedestrian accident. She was going to school, where she had worked hard for many years, and on that day, was minding her own business, walking to school as she did every day. She wasn't jaywalking, or doing anything else illegal. She behaved, in other words, like a law-abiding citizen would. Unlike Abron, who behaved in manner that was just the opposite. He backed up over the woman, killed her, and then, with no regard for her injuries, fled from the scene. Sadly, in these pedestrian accidents the pedestrians who, in many cases are blameless, are still the ones who end up paying with their lives or suffering massive and severe injuries.

From what Mary's family says about her, she was the rock of the family, and her death has left a deep void. Compensation by Onyx Waste Services is only fair and just, considering the severity of their loss.

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.

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