Category Archives: Press Releases

Daniel Rodriguez Represents Family of Police-Involved Auto Accident Victim Mario Lares

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Daniel Rodriguez is conducting a private investigation of the circumstances that caused this incident and is pursuing justice for Mario Lares.

Daniel Rodriguez, president and founder of Rodriguez & Associates, is representing the family of Mr. Mario Lares, who was killed after being struck by a Bakersfield Police Department patrol vehicle when he was driving home from work. The renowned Bakersfield personal injury attorney is conducting an independent investigation of the incident to determine liability and seek justice for Mario.

According to reports made by the Bakersfield Police Department, the crash occurred as officers were in pursuit of a stolen vehicle in the early hours of January 19, 2023. Lares was traveling West into the intersection of South Vineland and Muller roads in Bakersfield, while the patrol vehicle was traveling South. Most of the roadways in that area are poorly lit and only stop signs are used to control traffic flow. The California Highway Patrol noted a stop sign for vehicles traveling North and South.

In an interview with KGET Channel 17 local news Rodriguez asked the City of Bakersfield to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. He says the actions of the officers must be addressed. “Just because someone is wearing a badge does not excuse them from the same standards that apply to all of us,” Rodriguez stated.

Rodriguez plans to investigate if the officers failed to stop at the stop sign or failed to follow Code 3 policy – the appropriate use of lights and sirens to clear an intersection before proceeding. “If all of those things turn out to be correct or some of them turn out to be correct, that means that the officer violated laws and he is not above the law,” Rodriguez said.

“We trust the Police to properly use their power and authority to protect the public. When police misconduct causes death, the responsible parties and organizations must be held responsible.”
-Daniel Rodriguez, Founder and President, Rodriguez & Associates

About Rodriguez & Associates
Rodriguez & Associates has decades of experience representing victims of serious personal injury and wrongful death claims resulting from the negligence and careless actions of individuals, large companies, and organizations who disregard basic safety precautions. Rodriguez & Associates has obtained the top 3 highest personal injury verdicts in Kern County history and has more multi-million dollar verdicts than any other law firm in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. Learn more about Rodriguez & Associates here: https://www.rodriguezlaw.net/.

A Spanish version of this press release is available here.

Posted by Lorrie Ross at 2:26 pm

Daniel Rodriguez Representa a La Familia de Mario Lares, Víctima De Un Accidente Automovilístico Involucrado Con La Policía

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Daniel Rodriguez está realizando una investigación privada sobre las circunstancias que provocaron este incidente y está buscando justicia para Mario Lares.

Daniel Rodriguez, presidente y fundador de Rodriguez y Asociados esta representando a la familia del Sr. Mario Lares, quien murió después de ser chocado por una patrulla del Departamento de Policía de Bakersfield cuando conducía a casa desde el trabajo. El renombrado abogado de lesiones personales de Bakersfield está realizando una investigación independiente del incidente para determinar la responsabilidad y buscar justicia para Mario.

Segun los informes hechos por el Departamento de Policía de Bakersfield, el accidente ocurrió cuando los oficiales perseguían un vehículo robado la madrugada del 19 de enero del 2023. El Sr. Lares viajaba al oeste hacia la intersección de las calles South Vineland y Muller en Bakersfield, mientras que la patrulla viajaba hacia el sur. La mayoría de las carreteras en esa área están mal iluminadas y solo se utilizan señales de alto para controlar el flujo de tráfico. La Patrulla de Caminos de California notó una señal de alto para los vehículos que viajan del norte al sur.

En una entrevista con las noticias locales del canal 17 de KGET, Rodriguez pidió a la ciudad de Bakersfield que responsabilice a los responsables por sus acciones. Él dice que las acciones de los oficiales deben ser abordadas. “El hecho de que alguien lleve una insignia no los excusa de los mismos estándares que se aplican a todos nosotros,” afirmó Rodriguez.

Rodriguez planea investigar si los oficiales no se detuvieron en la señal de alto o si no siguieron la política del Código 3 – el uso apropiado de luces y sirenas para despejar una intersección antes de continuar. “Si todas esas cosas resultan ser correctas o algunas de ellas resultan ser correctas, eso significa que el oficial violó las leyes y no está por encima de la ley”, dijo Rodriguez.

“Confiamos en que la policía utilizará su poder y autoridad de manera apropiada para proteger al público. Cuando la mala conducta de la policía causa la muerte, las partes y organizaciones responsables deben rendir cuentas”.
-Daniel Rodriguez, Fundador y Presidente, Rodriguez y Asociados

Acerca de Rodriguez y Asociados

Rodriguez y Asociados tiene décadas de experiencia representando víctimas de lesiones personales graves y reclamos por muerte injusta como resultado de la negligencia y las acciones descuidadas de individuos, grandes empresas y organizaciones que ignoran las precauciones básicas de seguridad. Rodriguez y Asociados ha obtenido los 3 veredictos por lesiones personales más altos en la historia del condado de Kern y tiene más veredictos multimillonarios que cualquier otra firma de abogados en el sur del Valle de San Joaquín. Aprenda mas sobre Rodriguez y Asociados aquí: https://www.rodriguezlaw.net/.

Posted by Lorrie Ross at 12:53 am

Daniel Rodriguez Listed in Super Lawyers for 15 Years

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Daniel Rodriguez Super Lawyers 2023Daniel Rodriguez, founder and president of Rodriguez & Associates, has been listed in Super Lawyers for 15 years as a top personal injury lawyer.

Super Lawyers is a trusted legal publication known for its annual listings recognizing the nation’s most accomplished attorneys as voted by their peers. The magazine uses a multi-phase selection process of peer nominations, independent research, and peer review surveys to identify honorees.

In total, no more than 5% of practicing attorneys in each state are named to Super Lawyers.

Top California Personal Injury Lawyer Daniel Rodriguez

Daniel has been included in the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorney’s™ 10 Best Attorneys in California and listed as a Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Bakersfield for years. He is a member of The National Trial Lawyers – an invitation-only group composed of the premier trial lawyers from across the United States. His firm has obtained more multi-million-dollar verdicts than any other law firm in the Southern San Joaquin Valley and has earned the three highest personal injury verdicts in Kern County history.

“Being listed in Super Lawyers for the past 15 years for the litigation work I do is an honor. Helping individuals and families in Kern County get the justice they deserve for the pain they have experienced is why I do what I do.” – Daniel Rodriguez

To learn more about Daniel Rodriguez, click here.

Congratulations, Daniel!

Posted by Lorrie Ross at 4:49 pm

Danay Gonzalez Named Partner at Rodriguez & Associates

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Rodriguez & Associates is proud to announce Danay Gonzalez as our newest partner.

Local to the Bakersfield community, Danay clerked at Rodriguez & Associates while attending Chapman University, Dale E. Fowler School of Law, becoming an attorney with the firm after passing the Bar in 2017.

In her five years with Rodriguez & Associates, she has worked collaboratively with the trial team on a number of sensitive cases that require compassion and deep commitment to clients, expertly handling challenging cases ranging from wrongful death to school sex abuse matters that have gone to trial.

She says of her experiences with the team, “I have learned so much in the last five years. I really feel like I belong here and this is what I was meant to do. I am excited to keep learning. I am truly thankful for Daniel – he has helped mold me into the attorney I have become. His mentorship has given me a lot of confidence and tools to become successful. I look forward to continuing to grow and to be of service to others.”

The firm’s Litigation Director, Patrick Benitez, says of Danay, “Not only have I seen her grow as a fantastic trial lawyer and influencer, but more importantly she has grown into an amazing human being. Our legacy of success will only grow stronger with such an amazing team of new lawyers.”

Through her ambition and hard work, Danay has made a tremendous impact on the firm and in her representation of clients from within the Bakersfield community. We are extremely proud to have her as a member of the Rodriguez & Associates family.

Congratulations, Danay!

Posted by Lorrie Ross at 2:22 pm

Rodriguez & Associates Secures $11 Million Wrongful Death Verdict

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Rodriguez & Associates secured an $11 million verdict for a family in a wrongful death case.

On December 1, 2022, a Kern County jury ruled in favor of three young children who lost their father in a tragic incident on his job site, awarding them a total of $11 million in damages in the wrongful death case.

Daniel Rodriguez and his experienced team of trial lawyers at Rodriguez & Associates represented the family, in hopes of helping the children receive justice for losing their father, who was a pillar in their lives.

Andrew Bough, 29, was an experienced truck driver for Cal Lowbed. The general contractor for the project was Orange County based J-Squared General Contractors, Inc. J-Squared General Contractors was hired to move metal material in the form of large Z purlins from Lake Isabella to Bishop, California, on April 15, 2020. The heavy metal beams, which are used to construct the roof and wall joists of a building structure, were to be loaded by forklift into trucks for transportation to the building site. The defendant, Doug Murphy, was operating a forklift loading the beams into truck beds when Bough was knocked from his truck and crushed by a 1,500-pound bundle of steel. Bough was taken to a nearby hospital where he passed away 94 agonizing minutes later.

The basis of the wrongful death claim brought by Mr. Rodriguez and his team of trial attorneys including senior partners Joel Andreesen and Chantal Trujillo, and attorney Danay Gonzalez, was directed at J-Squared’s lack of proper training of their employee, forklift operator, Doug Murphy, which led to Murphy’s improper use of the forklift and unsafe loading of the truck while Bough was still on the trailer bed. Attorneys argued that it was due to the actions of Murphy that Bough was killed and had Murphy been properly trained and had action steps taken to remove him from the forklift when it was clear he was operating it unsafely, this disaster would have been avoided.

Through the thorough investigation conducted by the firm, it was found that shortly before this fatal incident occurred, Murphy had punctured the tire of another truck with the forklift, yet he was allowed to continue working.

In addition to the jury verdict of $11 million, Rodriguez & Associates was also able to secure a significant amount in prejudgment interest and costs of litigation for the family. As a result, the total amount of the award will be approximately $12.6 million.

Rodriguez & Associates has decades of experience representing victims of serious personal injury and wrongful death claims resulting from the negligence and careless actions of individuals, large companies, and organizations who disregard basic safety precautions.

Contact our Bakersfield personal injury law office today to learn how our team can help you seek justice.

Posted by Lorrie Ross at 8:01 pm

Daniel Rodriguez Makes the 2020 California Super Lawyers List

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Bakersfield, Ca (February 2020) – Attorney Daniel Rodriguez, Founder and President at Rodriguez & Associates, has been selected to the 2020 California Super Lawyers list. No more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by Super Lawyers. Daniel has been part of this list every year since 2009.

Super Lawyers®, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

Daniel is a member of The National Trial Lawyers – an invitation-only group composed of the premier trial lawyers from across the United States. His firm has obtained more multi-million-dollar verdicts than any other law firm in the Southern San Joaquin Valley and has earned the highest personal injury verdict in Kern County history.

Congratulations, Daniel!

To learn more about Daniel Rodriguez, click here.

About Rodriguez & Associates
Rodriguez & Associates is Kern’s County premier personal injury law firm. The lawyers have with more than 100 years of combined experience. As an award-winning law firm, it is known to deliver big firm results with small firm service.

Posted by Lorrie Ross at 5:05 am

Rodriguez & Associates Names Joseph Whittington as Partner

Monday, January 20, 2020

Bakersfield, Ca (January 2020) – Joseph Whittington has been named Partner at Rodriguez & Associates. As an attorney at Rodriguez & Associates since 2015, Joseph has handled various personal injury cases involving car crashes, pedestrian vs. auto cases, and trucking accidents.

“We are happy to have Joseph become a Partner with the firm. Joseph has shown himself to be an exceptional attorney that easily connects with people,” said Daniel Rodriguez, the firm’s Founder.

Joseph received his law degree from Western State University College of Law and his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. Before joining Rodriguez & Associates, he worked at a business and transactional law firm.

To learn more about Joseph Whittington, click here.

About Rodriguez & Associates

Rodriguez & Associates is Kern’s County premier personal injury law firm. The lawyers have with more than 100 years of combined experience. As an award-winning law firm, it is known to deliver big firm results with small firm service.

Posted by Lorrie Ross at 8:26 pm