Archives : 2009 : May
Bankrupt Chrysler May Leave Product Liability Plaintiffs Out in the Cold
As automaker Chrysler goes through bankruptcy procedures, thousands of people who have filed product liability lawsuits against the company could find their claims being relegated to the bottom of the list of Chrysler creditors. According to the New York Times, these people have little chance, if any, of recovering their compensation from the carmaker.
That’s because when a company begins the process of bankruptcy, such lawsuits are thrown to the bottom of the list, along with the unsecured creditors. These unsecured creditors rank low on the scale when it comes to getting back their money. Secured creditors who have collateral are given first preference when it comes to payments. Unsecured creditors are left to divide among themselves whatever funds are left over after all other debts have been paid. Individuals who have filed product liability lawsuits fall in the unsecured creditors’ group.
According to legal experts, these people will share the group with corporations. What that means is that not only do they have second preference to secured creditors, but they also have to share leftover funds with powerful corporations. These people stand to recover very little money, if they manage to recover anything at all. It’s a peculiar problem that hasn’t been addressed properly by the Obama administration. According to Chrysler, the company is doing everything it can “within the constructs of bankruptcy laws” to maintain their goodwill. Experts believe that the company could have done more to ensure that customers, who have pending suits, receive justice. For instance, it could have made requests to the court to give these liability cases higher priority. If General Motors files for bankruptcy, there could be several more plaintiffs who could find themselves left out in the cold.
The lawsuits include those filed by people like Jeremy K Warriner who, in 2005, suffered serious injuries in a fire in a Jeep Wrangler. The injuries resulted in amputations of both legs. In 2007, Warriner filed a lawsuit against Chrysler in Marion County in Indiana. The lawsuit claimed that a design defect in the Wrangler trapped him inside the vehicle, preventing him from escaping a fire in the engine compartment. Chrysler denies those charges. People like Warriner may be left out without justice because of the bankruptcy procedures.
According to law professors, Chrysler has two options that could protect consumers like Warriner. It could either set aside money that could help cover these claims, or it could acquire an insurance policy to ensure that consumer needs or met. If the company doesn’t do either, then it is very likely that the company won’t have money left for people like Warriner, who have suffered heavily because of defective vehicle-related injuries, and who continue to face the prospect of more medical expenses in the future.
Last week, auto safety and consumer adequacy groups filed a motion asking the court to help people like Jeremy Warriner. The groups, including the Center for Auto Safety and Public Citizen asked the judge to return those cases to the original court and to order the automaker to keep aside funds to cover future product liability awards.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of product liability. 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.
The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.
Santa Margarita High School Mock DUI Crash Sends Anti Drunk Driving Message Home
According to the Orange County Register, students of Santa Margarita Catholic High School had the opportunity to see for themselves the effects of drunk driving, in the form of a mock drunk driving crash scene at the school’s Rancho Santa Margarita campus. The Orange County-based Friends against Drinking and Driving was responsible for putting up a DUI crash mock up at the school campus.
The presentation began in the morning at about 10 am. It began with speakers blaring out the sounds of teenagers celebrating on their way home after the prom. In front of the audience were two cars covered in blue tarpaulin. Suddenly, the teenage chatter turned to the sounds of screeching tires, broken glass and screams as one of the cars collided with the other. When the tarps were removed, the students could see the grisly crash scene. One of the cars was upside down, while the other had severe side impact. Two bodies were splayed on the asphalt, while the other has been thrown across the hood of the vehicle.
After the “crash” officers from the Orange County Fire Authority, the Orange County Sheriff and Coroner’s Department and the California Highway Patrol quickly arrived at the scene and went about their duties as they would in a real-life car accident. Officers got to work placing bodies in body bags. They then charged the teen driver with two counts of murder. According to Steve Concialdi, the Chairman of Friends against Drinking and Driving, the accident was based on a real life accident in San Juan Capistrano in 1989.
Orange County Fire Authority Captain Craig Campbell gave a speech encouraging teenagers to refrain from drinking and driving, Captain Campbell has a deep emotional connection with the subject of drunk driving accidents. In December 2008, his daughter Kaydee was killed in a drunk driving accident. Kaydee had stopped her car to help an accident victim on the 5 Freeway when she was struck by a drunk driver.
At Santa Margarita Catholic High School, the mock crash scene was painful to watch for more reasons than one. Just last year junior student Zach Raffety and alumnus Mark Motley were killed in a car accident. Alcohol was not a factor in that crash, but for many of the students who attended the mock DUI crash, the violent deaths of Motley and Raffety were still fresh in their minds. The presentation also attracted several residents in the neighborhood who came to observe the mock scene. According to student actors who played the role of accident victims in the mock up, the entire scene felt very real.
Mock DUI crash scene representations like these help drill the anti-drunk driving message to teenagers much better than lectures do. The lifelike and realistic portrayals of accident scenes and the scenes of chaos and trauma that victims and their families go through can help students understand that drinking and driving is just not good sense.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of drunk driving 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.
Bicycle Accidents on Golden Gate Bridge on the Rise
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting on a rise in the number of bicycle accidents on the Golden Gate Bridge. As the number of bicyclists riding across the famous bridge has increased, the numbers of crashes involving these riders have also gone up in number.
According to the Golden Gate Bridge District, 2008 saw 34 bicycle accidents on and around the bridge. At least 19 of these resulted in injuries that were serious enough to necessitate a visit to the hospital. Out of the 34 bicycle accidents last year, there were 16 accidents that involved bicyclists crashing into pedestrians on the narrow sidewalk of the bridge. The rest of the accidents occurred on nearby trails and roads.
The number of bicycle riders on the bridge has been rising steadily since 2000. There has also been a corresponding increase in the number of serious accidents involving these bicyclists. Last week, a bicycle rider struck a pedestrian near the South Tower, resulting in severe injuries to the bicyclist.
About two decades ago, the presence of bicyclists on the road was a rare one, and there were very few accidents too. Not surprisingly, this spike in bicycle accidents is reflected in the massive volumes of business that bicycle rental outfits near Fisherman’s Wharf are seeing. Some bicycle rental owners have seen their business increase by more than 100 percent each over the past couple of years. Other owners rent out more than 1,500 bicycles a day, and most of these end up on the bridge.
The bridge is particularly prone to bicyclist accidents on weekdays when both bicyclists and pedestrians use the eastern sidewalk. Not surprisingly, this has led to temper flare-ups among pedestrians and bicyclists.
It’s not just on the Golden Gate Bridge that bicycles have increased in number. Across the country, as gas prices spiked last summer, more numbers of Americans turned to bicycling to get around. Besides, there has always been a section of the population that rides regularly for leisure, exercise etc. This has resulted in a spike in the bicyclist population in several cities. As a consequence, there has been an increase in the number of accidents involving bicycles too.
A bicycle rider has minimal protection in the event of an accident. A helmet can prevent head and brain injuries to a considerable extent, but will do nothing to prevent blunt force trauma, spinal cord injuries etc. In most of these accidents, the impact of the crash is enough to throw the bicyclist many feet into the air. When the cyclist falls back on to ground, the scope for injuries is vast. There can be broken bones, head injuries that lead to brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and internal damage. The results of such injuries can sometimes be life altering. For instance, a person who suffers from brain damage after a bicycle accident may find that it is an uphill battle to regain control over his regular functions. There may be difficulty in eating, bathing, and performing other routine activities. All of these may have to be relearned through physical therapy. Bicycle accident victims may also suffer from depression, memory loss, inability to concentrate etc.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of bicycle 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.
The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.
FDA Warns Consumers Against Using Defective Face Paint
The Food and Drug Administration last week warned consumers nationwide to immediately stop using face paints after several reports of skin rashes and irritation were reported. A total of six face paint products are included in the recall, according to an FDA spokesperson. Tests conducted on the face paint have revealed microbial contamination that is above industrial guidelines. The agency has received reports of children suffering from skin rashes, burning sensation, irritation, itchiness and swelling in the exact area where face paints were applied.
The face paint products include
- Blue Face Paint Item Number 85/2077, UPC code 8 8760048110 7
- Purple Face Paint Item Number 85/2078, UPC code 8 8760048112 1
- Red Face Paint Item Number 85/2079, UPC code 8 8760048114 5
- Orange Face Paint Item Number 85/2080, UPC code 8 8760048116 9
- Black Face Paint Item Number 85/2081, UPC code 8 8760048118 3
- Green Face Paint Item Number 85/2082, UPC code 8 8760048120 6
The skin rashes related to face paint use were first reported from a Girl Scout group in Delaware County in Ohio. Apparently, the children had their faces painted at a Girl’s Scout event in February. A nurse at the local school district noticed that the girls who had attended the event seemed to be suffering from very distinct rashes on the face. The rashes were the same in several of the elementary schools that the nurse visited, and seemed to be in the form of stars, hearts, rainbows and circles. The nurse asked the girls about the rashes and discovered a common thread running through each – all the girls with the rashes had attended an event in February. Further, the rashes were confined to the area where the face paint had been applied. Children reported that the rashes which disappeared after a few days, returned when the skin was exposed to sunlight. Some of the girls reported rashes that lasted for up to two weeks after face paint application. In all, it is estimated that about 17 girls in Delaware County suffered adverse reactions after applying face.
The FDA has now acted to recall the face paints after its analyses revealed yeast and mold contamination in the paints. The recall includes a number of colors including Red, Purple, Orange, Black, Blue and Green Face paints, although most of the rashes have been linked to purple and red paints. The face paints are distributed by Fun Express Inc., which is a subsidiary of Oriental Training Company. The paints were manufactured by Shanghai Color Art Stationary Company Limited. According to the FDA, the rashes so far have been limited to Central Ohio. The agency is asking consumers to throw out any discarded face paints that they still have and to contact their retailer. Any adverse reactions must be reported to the agencies MedWatch adverse effect monitoring program.
If your children have the face paints at home, we would advise you to discard these immediately.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of recalled products. 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.
The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.
Pedestrian-Train Accident in San Mateo County Leaves One Dead
In the third pedestrian-train accident on rail tracks in less than two weeks, a Belmont man was killed by a Caltrain in San Mateo. 82-year-old Alfred Ajuria died when the southbound train struck him last week at the 25th Avenue crossing in San Mateo County. Officials still don’t know if his death was an accident or suicide.
According to Caltrain officials, the bells, lights, and crossing arms at the crossing had been functioning properly at the time of the pedestrian accident. The death comes as Caltrain is embarking on safety upgrades to at least 25 other crossings on the Peninsula. The 25th avenue where Ajuria was killed, was one of the crossings that were undergoing safety enhancements to prevent accidents.
Ajuria’s death last week was the third one on Caltrain’s tracks in just two weeks. On May 4th a woman was killed on the tracks in what many believe was a case of suicide. The very next day, a 17-year-old high school student was killed as he went around the crossing arms. There were 16 deaths on Caltrain tracks last year, and around 13 of them were suicides. According to Caltrain officials, there seem to be no pattern to the fatalities that take place on these tracks. There is no particular demographic that seems to be more at risk for an accident at the crossing than others, and there is no particular time of the day or week when pedestrian train collisions are likely to take place. This has made it harder for Caltrain officials to set safety enhancement programs in motion.
We have reported on pedestrian train collisions that seem to be on the rise across several parts of California. As trains get faster and quieter, they have made it harder for pedestrians who might be walking or standing near the tracks to tell that they’re in danger. Most train accident collisions are caused because the victim was not aware of the train until it was too late to get to safety. The “clickety clack” of the train on the tracks is a thing of the past, and noiseless trains have increased the risk that pedestrians face when they walk along the tracks. Walking on the tracks is not just illegal, but also dangerous.
Making the problem of pedestrian and train accidents worse is the fact that many young people are distracted when they walk on the tracks. Pedestrians might be at danger when they are walking in a group and fail to see or hear an approaching train. Besides, talking on the cellphone while walking on the tracks as well as listening to the iPod or other distractions can place pedestrians at great risk of an accident with a train.
In a collision with a train, it’s the pedestrian who loses overwhelmingly. Pedestrians must practice safety around tracks. Avoid walking on the tracks. When walking with others near the tracks, be keenly aware of your surroundings at all times.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of train 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.
The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.
Forbes Presents List of Dangerous Cars that Increase Risk of Accident Related Injuries
Forbes has a new report on the Most Dangerous Cars of the year, and it includes several SUVs, small size sedans and even a few light pickup trucks. The magazine used data from crash results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as well as ratings for rollovers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Featuring on the list were
Chevrolet Colorado with a poor rating for side impact
Trailblazer with three out of five stars for rollovers
Chrysler, PT cruiser with poor side and rear impact results
Dodge Nitro
Ford Ranger
GMC Canyon with poor side impact results
GMC Envoy with poor rear impact results, but five out of five stars for rollover safety
Hummer H3
Hyundai Accent with poor side impact results
Jeep Liberty
Jeep Wrangler
Chevrolet Aveo
Kia Rio
Mazda B Series
Nissan Frontier
Suzuki Equator
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awards ratings of “Good”, ”Acceptable”, “Marginal” and “Poor” for vehicles after test crashes. After each test crash, the dummies are checked for trauma depending on the kind of crashes. For front crashes, they are checked in 28 regions, while for side crashes, they are checked for 37 regions. A “poor” rating for a vehicle means that drivers or passengers suffered serious and even fatal trauma in a car accident. A “good” rating on the other hand, means little trouble or trauma.
Forbes took the NHTSA star ratings and IIHS ratings, and awarded points to these. The cars on their list with the lowest scores are the Chevrolet Trailblazer the Kio Rio and the Ford Ranger pickups. Thus, the list includes small cars, sports utility vehicles and even pickup trucks. Absent from the list are mid sized Sedans and crossovers.
A mention on the list however doesn’t mean that you should avoid these vehicles altogether. For instance, a small car may not be the safest vehicle on a highway, but could be safe and appropriate to drive at a lower speed inside the city.
Also there are other factors to take into consideration while buying a car. For instance, a small person may find even the safest truck or SUV difficult to navigate, making these vehicles unsafe for them. These vehicles are better suited for someone who is taller and can easily reach the pedals. Besides, a smaller person could have visibility issues with these larger vehicles. Similarly, a larger person would find it harder to navigate a smaller, lighter car.
Besides there are safety features to look for, including rear head restraints, side airbags and electronic stability control. These features especially ESC systems, can mean the difference between life and death or serious injuries. According to NHTSA data ESC systems can reduce single car accidents by up to 26 percent and passenger car rollovers by up to 64 percent. An ESC system in an SUV can prevent 85 percent of rollovers in single vehicle accidents.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of car 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.
The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.
General Motors Recalling 43,000 Vehicles for Auto Safety Problems
General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced recalls of several GM vehicles including Chevrolet and Cadillac models for auto defects.
A total of three separate recalls have been issued for the New Chevrolet Camaro, Traverse, Avalanche, Colorado, Tahoe, Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon and GMC Canyon. 27,188 of these 2009 model year vehicles are included in the recall – Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet, Avalanche, Colorado, Tahoe and Suburban, as well as the GMC Yukon and Canyon. The recall for these vehicles is linked to a defective seal in the fuel control system that can result in water leaking into the module. If water seeps in, then it can cause short-circuiting or the “Check engine” light can go on, or it may result in engine failure. Water seepage can also result in stalling of the engine when the vehicle is in operation. Customers who own these vehicles may visit their nearest dealer who will install a fuel system control module for free.
The second recall involves 15,393 Traverse sports utility vehicles. This product recall is linked with a compliance failure with federal standards for brake safety. If the shift lever in these vehicles is placed in any position except park, and the keys are in the ignition, a brake system defect can cause the cars to roll away when they are parked on an incline. Customers have been asked to visit the nearest dealer who will conduct a free replacement of the cable link for the parking brake.
The third product recall was initiated a few days back and involved the 2010 Camaro. Some models had been recalled earlier this month because of a battery cable problem that can cause an engine fire. A positive battery cable in the Camaro can scrape against the starter-motor housing, leading to wearing down of the cable. The insulation can wear down, and it can result in engine failure or engine stall. In extreme cases, there can even be an engine fire. Four Camaro owners have reported such problems, and no injuries have been reported. The new recall expands on the previous one and involves 1,243 of 2010 Chevrolet Camaros. The recall effect Camaros powered with a V8 engine. Owners may visit their dealer, who can rectify the problem by rerouting the cable.
Just yesterday, we discussed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new standards for roofs of passenger vehicles, including cars and light pickup trucks. Standards like these are established to protect motorists and passengers from serious injuries during a crash. However, auto makers are required to follow these standards stringently, and notify the agency when there are problems with their vehicles that could lead to accidents or injuries. General Motors here has done the right thing by recalling vehicles that have safety defects, including the new much-anticipated Chevrolet Camaro. Very often, auto manufacturers stubbornly fail to recall their vehicles until the number for accidents and injuries related to these are too many to ignore. By the time that happens, several accidents and injures could have occurred.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of recalled products. 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.
Two Patient Deaths Traced to Baxter’s Heparin
Last year, more than 80 patients died after they were administered heparin, a blood thinner from Baxter. That crisis had resulted in dozens of pharmaceutical liability lawsuits against the company. According to the Wall Street Journal, the deaths of two patients at a hospital in Delaware last week are raising concerns of another similar crisis.
The two patients who died were being treated at the BeeBe Medical Center in Lewes in Delaware. The victims were a 64-year-old woman and a 71-year-old man. A third patient at the same hospital had also reportedly suffered injuries after receiving the blood thinner. Hospital officials who were investigating the problem found only one common factor in all three cases- the use of the blood thinner Heparin.
The Food and Drug Administration has already sent investigators down to Delaware, and samples of the Heparin bags were taken to an FDA laboratory in New York. As of now, the agency believes that this is an “isolated incident.” The patients who died were apparently being given premixed intravenous bags of Heparin. Last year’s crisis, however, had involved medication vials and drug-coated medical devices.
According to Baxter, the Heparin traced to these two recent deaths came from bulk material supplied by Pfizer. Pfizer has said that the company sources its bulk material from both North America and China, but believes that the Heparin connected to the Delaware deaths made use of raw materials sourced from North America. Last year’s contaminated Heparin scandal was traced to tainted Heparin manufactured in China.
In last year’s case, active ingredient for the blood thinner was sourced from a manufacturing plant in China where Oversulphated Chondroitin Sulfate was added to the Heparin. The Delaware incidents don’t seem to involve the contaminant. So far, results of testing by both FDA and Baxter have not found any problems that indicate that this could be a nationwide disaster like last year.
There are other differences in this year’s case then last year’s. The Delaware patients did not suffer from sever hypotension like the Heparin injured patients last year. This year’s cases have involved intracranial bleeding.
After last year’s Heparin crises, Baxter has recalled the vials, but it still continues to market premixed IV Heparin bags. So far, both Baxter and FDA are downplaying any concerns of risk. But, we hope that the agency takes this matter seriously, and watches closely for any further incidents of adverse drug reactions like last year.
Very often, pharmaceutical companies delay acting on valid concerns and recall their products only after they have been linked to serious injuries. By the time a company takes action to pull dangerous pharmaceutical drugs off the market, it may be too late to prevent serious injuries and deaths. Last year, approximately 80 people died before steps were taken to prevent more deaths. California product liability attorneys hope that this time will be different.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of pharmaceutical liability. 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.
The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.
San Jose Family Settles Lawsuit With City of Alameda
The family of a San Jose doctor who died after her car went off a boat ramp and into the Oakland Alameda estuary has settled with the city of Alameda for $2.25 million. According to the settlement, the city will not admit any responsibility for the accident.
Dr. Zehra Attari was reported missing on November 7th 2005. She had been on her way to a medical conference in Alameda from her office in Oakland. Her family had initially been afraid that she has been kidnapped. On December 28th the body of 55-year-old Attari was found in the Oakland Alameda estuary, inside her submerged car. By that time, it had been 43 days since her family had reported her missing.
Alameda police had reconstructed the car accident, and concluded that the doctor’s death was simply an accident. However, Attari’s family filed a wrongful death claim against Alameda city. The claim filed by Attari’s husband and two daughters claimed that the city had been aware that Grant Street on which Atari had been driving before her car fell into the water “simply ends into the water” without any safety devices like barriers. The claim said that the location “was a dangerous condition of a public property” and presented a substantial risk of injury.
In 2002, two other people had died at the same location. This led the doctor’s family to raise questions about why the city had failed to install a barrier at the spot. A few weeks after Atari’s body was found, city authorities went to work enacting temporary barricades and orange detour signs at the spot. The family admitted that her drowning had been an accident, and not an intentional act by anybody, but said that they wanted to make sure that other motorists would be safe. For Attari, these safety measures at the spot where the car plunged into the estuary have come late, but hopefully other motorists will now be safe.
State, county, and city authorities have a responsibility to make sure that roads and highways are safe for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists to use. This includes providing adequate barriers and barricades to warn motorists of dangerous spots ahead. Authorities must also ensure that roads are well surfaced, and that there is no obstructions of view that can lead to an accident. Authorities must also provide for sufficient lighting and clearly visible and appropriate signage. Failure to ensure these can place the city and state at liability in an auto accident. The agencies that are responsible for maintaining the road can be named in a lawsuit resulting from these injuries.
It’s not always easy to prove that authorities failed in their duty causing injuries to the motorist. Officials may attempt to place the blame on the negligent driving of the motorist rather than their own failures. An experienced California personal injury attorney can establish negligence on the part of those concerned, and build a solid case for you.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of dangerous roads. 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.
The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.
California National Parks to Receive Federal Funds for Premises Safety Projects
California’s national parks including Death Valley National Park have for years now been dangerous places with mines, which are not properly secured. These mines have posed a hazard to visitors, several of whom have fallen into these mines.
For years, park authorities have pleaded for the kind of intensive funding necessary to secure the dozens of abandoned mines in these parks. Now it looks like they will have their wish. On the 22nd of April, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced that the National Park System would receive a grant of $750 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. California’s parks will receive $97 million from these funds, and these will help kick start dozens of projects across the state. Close to one hundred projects across California are expected to benefit from the park grant.
Death Valley National Park received $4.8 million for safety installations, including installing gates at several of its mines. The funds will be used to erect gates around some of the open mines that have proved to be a safety hazard to visitors who get too close to these mines. The gates will be especially designed to prevent people from getting too close to the mines. However the design will allow for bats and other species to access the mines when they need a safe haven. To officers at the Death Valley National Park, these funds have presented the chance to conduct the kind of safety repairs that they have needed over the past two years.
Besides, Death Valley will also receive an additional $4 million to construct proper employee housing facilities. Currently park employees are lodged in several trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funds now have been used to construct an apartment building for the 10 to 18 employees who live inside the park. The funds will also be used to conduct repairs on old buildings.
In 1994 one person died when he fell down a mineshaft in Death Valley. Besides Death Valley, the Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve will also receive federal funding that will be use for several stalled safety projects. The Muir Woods National Monument, Golden Gate National Recreation Area. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Point Reyes National Sea Shore will also receive funds under the grant. These will be used to fix hiking trails and conduct repairs. Besides, energy efficient investments in solar technologies will be made. Yosemite National Park expects to spend about $1.2 million of its $7.4 million share of the funds for hybrid electric shuttle buses. The Point Reyes Seashore will undertake construction of trials and exhibits and make Fort Point wheel chair accessible.
Overall, approximately $15 million of funds allotted to California will be used in cleaning up and securing abandoned mines in Death Valley, Mojave and Joshua Tree. The investments will not only make these national treasures safe, but will also enhance visitor experience.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of premises liability. 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.
The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.