Running away from a car accident scene never led to anything good. That goes for both the victims and the liable party.

Just this weekend, police have arrested the SUV driver who tried to run not only from one but two traffic accidents.

One of those resulted to the death of an elderly woman.

According to LA County Sheriff’s Department, the SUV first struck a woman riding a motorcycle on Wilmington Avenue.

Instead of stopping, the driver of the SUV tried to make a U-turn and crashed into another car.

The car, which was carrying 71-year-old Teresa Andrade, rolled over after being hit.

Again the SUV driver fled the scene but did not notice that his plate number was left at the scene.

Sheriff’s deputies were able to track down the vehicle to a Compton residence and detained 3 males, 2 of whom are juveniles.

The driver of the SUV was brought by his family to Compton Station at about 8:30.

The driver now not only has to answer for civil liabilities from wrongful death and personal injury suits he sure will receive, he will also have to worry about being prosecuted by the state especially for the death of Andrade.

We are required by law to stop after being involved accident, exchange information and provide reasonable assistance to those who are injured or in need.

Not doing so is punishable by law.

Add to the driver’s offense the death of Andrada and you have a manslaughter case if not murder on your hands.

Nobody wins in hit-and-run car accidents, Andrada lost her life, and the SUV driver may lose some years of his life in jail.

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In Laguna Niguel, a woman was viciously attacked by a seven-year old Shiba Inu dog.

A neighbor called the police for help upon hearing the woman’s cries as she was getting mauled by the dog in a backyard.

A Sheriff’s deputy, who came immediately at the scene, shot and killed the dog. Mission Viejo animal control officers were also at the scene to assist the sheriff.

The woman whom the police did not identify, sustained dog bite injuries on her arms and legs and was rushed to Mission Hospital. Surgery will be required because of her extensive injuries.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are approximately 800,000 dog bite victims requiring medical attention in the United States.

Even the friendliest or cutest looking dog can become dangerous, especially if provoked. But there are really some canine breeds that are naturally aggressive – while a pitbull accounts for the majority of dog bite attacks, a shiba inu dog can be just as dangerous as they are bred for hunting and killing.

Annually, there are about an average of twelve people killed by dog attacks and the number continue to rises as more and more American households get a pet dog.

There are various reasons which can trigger a dog attack such as provoking it by depriving it of food or water or even by ignoring warning signs posted on premises as some dogs are trained to attack intruders.

But whatever the reason for canine aggression, here are important tips to remember in case you are in danger of a dog attack:

•    Avoid dogs that are sleeping, eating or caring for its puppies. Aggressive possessiveness is a common dog behavior.

•    If a dog approaches you, do not run. It will likely trigger the dog’s predatory instinct and chase you down. Remain still and let it sniff you until it determines you are not a threat.

•    If you are threatened by the dog (growling, snarling at you), avoid eye contact (direct staring is an act of aggression for dogs) and stay calm.

Try not to move or, if the dog doesn’t attack, back away slowly.

•    If it bites you or knocks you down, make sure to protect your face and neck. Curl into a ball with your hands over your head and neck.

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In Escondido, a woman was seriously injured when a vehicle hit her while crossing the street. She was not in a designated crosswalk and the vehicle was not able to stop on time.

The female victim sustained head and chest injuries while the driver and his passenger were unhurt. She was immediately brought to a hospital nearby to attend to her injuries. The police will still determine if the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

When someone had injuries from a car accident, do not move him especially if he sustained massive injuries. The medical response team should be contacted right away to attend to the injuries she got.

The police and the insurance company should be contacted immediately. The contact information (names, numbers and addresses) of the victims and witnesses should be gathered. Pictures of the accident scene should be taken to support the evidences of the accident.

The police will investigate what happened. He will write the gathered information on the police report which will be used in the investigation during a lawsuit trial. The victims may be asked to not talk to other people who are not involved about the case by their lawyers.

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Like most social events, Christmas parties often create a scenario where wine and beer is often overflowing. After all, holidays are the perfect time to get in the spirit of revelry.

But for some people, a joyful Christmas party turns into a ride from hell as the decision to drink and drive took its heavy and terrible toll.

In San Diego, a man was recently killed over what the authorities believed to be an alcohol-induced crash.

The victim, who was driving a Volkswagen Passat, was driving through an intersection when an Infinity G35 rammed into it from behind.

The impact of the crash blew the gas tank of the VW and caused both cars to go up in flames.

The driver and the passenger of the Infinity were rescued by an employee of UCSD who witnessed the car crash. The driver of the VW, a man from Australia believed to be around the age of 30-40 years old, did not make it out of his car.

According to the police, the driver of the Infiniti, Michael Landri of San Diego was supposedly the designated driver of the vehicle as the passenger was heavily intoxicated.

The police however, arrested the designated driver on suspicion of driving under the influence and is now facing charges of gross vehicular manslaughter among others.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, having a designated driver removes a lot of risks when it comes to impaired driving. People from parties and events can have a safe ride home even if they’re all boozed up as long as they have a designated driver.

But the effort to reduce the dangers of drunk driving through assigning a designated driver is futile if the designated driver is just as intoxicated as the passenger. The whole point of having a sober designated driver is moot and academic if the designated driver was someone who just less to drink than the rest.

If taking a cab ride home is not an option, it would be best to assign a designated driver early on, even before the party starts. That way, the person assigned will have the mindset and responsibility to keep sober throughout the festivities. Because nothing takes the joy out of the holidays more than a drunk driving death.

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Following the dismissal of assault, battery and false imprisonment charges filed against him by ruckus racking TV reality star Tila Tequila, Shawne Merriman has now filed a copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit against the starlet.

Merriman, aside from playing as the linebacker for San Diego Chargers, also runs a business called Lights Out Holdings. In his lawsuit, Merriman claims that his former girlfriend used his famous “Lights Out” logo on her website without his permission and that the use of his “Lights Out” trademark will likely confuse consumers into believing there is an affiliation between the two of them.

He also alleged that prior to Tila filing charges against him caused the agreement he was negotiating with Walmart stores for the distribution of his T-shirts to get delayed.

Aside from seeking an injunction from trademark and copyright infringement, Merriman is also claiming statutory damages of up to $2 million and other unspecified damages.

Trademark and copyright are two entirely different types of intellectual property protections. A copyright is used for any creative or artistic expression of an idea through a medium such as a poem or a book.

A trademark on the other hand, refers to distinctive signs or indicators used by an individual or company in order to identify their products and services to the public. A logo or a brand is an example of trademark.

Using a trademark or a copyrighted work without the permission of the owner or author in certain products which may be similar or dissimilar would constitute trademark infringement and copyright infringement.

The owner of a registered trademark or copyright may institute legal proceedings against the infringer for trademark infringement or copyright infringement.

Since the owner has exclusive rights to the trademark or copyrighted item, an injunction may also be filed to get the offender to stop the use of the trademark which is detrimental to the owner’s business as well as file a claim for damages.

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After taking a beating from Manny Pacquiao, boxing luminary Miguel Cotto has taken a legal blow after Martha Chacon Acevedo, a former employee, has sued him for sexual harassment.

In the suit filed in U.S. district court in San Juan last Aug. 24, the woman claimed that the former boxing champion made unwanted sexual and romantic advances towards her while she worked as an administrator in a residential property owned by Cotto in Puerto Rico.

She alleged that he offered her money and other benefits such as lingerie, lotions and body creams, champagne, and supposedly pornographic DVDs which turned out to be “Sex and the City” and “Nip/Tuck”.

According to her lawsuit, the woman consented to have sexual relations with Cotto for fear of losing her job. Acevedo further claimed that when she reported the sexual harassment to Cotto’s father, he condoned his son’s actions and told her to give in. But she allegedly got fired in October 2008, when she broke off the relationship.

She is now seeking worth more than $500,000 in damages. Cotto’s camp however, has derided the sexual harassment claim and said it was a total fabrication.

Sexual harassment, whether committed against a female or male employee is against the law. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in particular, defines sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. Offensive remarks about a person’s sex can also be considered sexual harassment.

Whether the sexual harassment is Quid Pro Quo (“something for something” or a job benefit in return for sexual favor) or it is a hostile environment sexual harassment, can file a case of sexual harassment against the employer if the employer still persists in making unwanted sexual advances or retaliates against the employee for refusing to grant sexual favors.

Employees who are a victims of sexual harassment, may also course their complaints through the EEOC within 180 days from the commission of the offense.

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In a tragic twist of fate, a Department of Motor Vehicles instructor was injured in a car crash while conducting a driving test in Petaluma.

The victim, Roberto Mascardo, 63 was with Maria Adela Morales-Monterosa, 57, of Richmond as she went through her driving test when the Toyota Camry they were in got broadsided by an SUV as she was turning left.

The 1992 Ford Explorer driven by Raymundo Alvarez Sanchez struck the passenger side of the Camry where the DMV employee was seated.

Mascardo was injured and taken to the hospital where his current condition remained undisclosed. Both Monterosa and Sanchez were left uninjured.

A lot of motor vehicle collisions happen when the other car is making a left turn. It happens when turn signals are not properly used, or when the other driver is inattentive, or when the another car is moving too fast to stop from hitting a car making a left turn.

But left turn car accidents can be avoided especially if it is done safely and properly. Here are some guidelines to observe when making a left turn:

•    Always use your turn signals so the drivers behind you will know your intent to make a left or right turn.
•    A left turn against a red light can only be made from a one-way street onto a one way street.
•    To make a left turn, drive close to the center divider line or into the left turn lane. Signal about 100 feet before the turn and reduce your speed.
•    When waiting to make a left turn, keep your wheels pointed straight ahead. If your wheels are pointed to the left and a vehicle hits you from behind, you could be pushed into oncoming traffic.
•    When turning left, do not turn too soon and “cut the corner” of the opposite lane of the vehicles coming towards you.

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