Opinion Rejects Common Caltrans Defense Strategy
Chris Chandler was killed as he crossed busy El Camino Real in a marked crosswalk. We argued at trial that Caltrans should have known that the crosswalk was dangerous because of an accident that occurred in a similar crosswalk 20 miles away. The jury agreed, and awarded the
Is it legal to ride your bike in a crosswalk? Most of the time, the answer is yes, it is.
After a jury verdict in their favor, the Chandler family seeks to make El Camino crosswalks safe for others.
Chris Chandler, age 62, was hit by a car and killed crossing El Camino in Atherton. The driver said he never saw Chris. The police blamed Chris for riding his bike into traffic without looking.
We proved that Chris was killed because the crosswalk was essentially invisible to oncoming
motorists and that Caltrans should never
Last month Governor Brown signed into law Assembly Bill No. 1371. The new law requires motorists to leave a three foot buffer when passing a cyclist traveling in the same direction. The motorist may not cross a double yellow line; if there isn’t enough room, the motorist cannot pass. Brown had vetoed previous versions
Ride share companies do not want to be held to the same standards as taxis. While many customers enjoy the ease, availability and reliability of rideshare services, some lawmakers have concerns about companies such as Uber, Sidecar and Lyft. Most services that transport passengers for hire are classified as common carriers. Taxis, buses and trains
That’s a trick question. While many of us have been taught that pedestrians have the right-of-way, that’s not always true. A pedestrian must also exercise reasonable care. Such care includes obeying traffic signals, using crosswalks, and not darting into the street. Also, a pedestrian may waive her right -of-way. For example, if she motions to a driver
Two years ago Chris Chandler was killed by a southbound motorist as he tried to cross El Camino at Isabella in Atherton. After investigating the design of the crosswalk, we filed suit against Caltrans on behalf of Chris’ family. We’ve been arguing in court that the crosswalk is dangerous and that Caltrans should either fix
The Fisker Karma, a $100,000 hybrid, has been recalled twice for a possible fire hazard posed by its lithium-ion battery. When Fisker recalled the car the second time, back in June, it played down the risk. Fisker reported to the press:
To date, Fisker has not received any verified complaints, warranty claims or any
Freight carriers have an obligation to the public to not create unnecessary dangers on the roads. They can’t dodge those responsibiities by hiring an independant driver who has no assets or insurance and then, when there is an accident, claim it was the driver’s fault and not theirs.
Under the law, the freight carrier’s safety
