Burn Injuries

Two Seriously Injured in Los Angeles Gas Explosion

March 15, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles gas explosion at a Sports Chalet in La Cañada Filtridge resulted in serious burn injuries to two store employees. According to the Los Angeles Times, the employees were going to shut off a gas valve, after a person reported smelling gas, when the explosion occurred. The two employees suffered serious burn injuries in the gas explosion.

The employees reportedly suffered second and third degree burns in the La Cañada Filtridge gas explosion. Sport Chalet, the owners of the store, and employers of the injured employees, has apparently offered their support to the injury victims and is having a blood drive on March 26th, with the American Red Cross.

The store employees, who were injured on their job, should be able to make a Los Angeles workers’ compensation claim against their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance coverage. This is coverage that will cover the employees regardless of who caused the accident. From a Los Angeles personal injury standpoint, if any customers of the store had been injured, they would have to make a claim against whoever was responsible for causing the gas explosion in La Cañada Filtridge.

At Least 231 Killed in Brazil Nightclub Fire

January 28, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A nightclub fire in Brazil early Sunday morning has resulted in the deaths of at least 231 people. According to the New York Times, the fire, which occurred at the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, Brazil, apparently started when a flare from a stage performance ignited the ceiling. It is possible that the flare ignited exposed wiring, leading to the tragic nightclub fire.

Patrons at the nightclub died from fire injuries, including smoke inhalation, as well as from being trampled to death in the scramble to exit the club. In addition to the deaths, over 100 people were injured, including many in critical condition.

Some reports have indicated that security may have blocked some people from exiting the club. One of those reports said that security was making people pay their tabs before leaving. If true, the actions of the security may have led to many more lives being lost in the fire.

San Pedro Motel Fire Injures At Least 14

January 22, 2013 | by Robert Walch

At least 14 People were injured in a motel fire in San Pedro, California today. The motel fire occurred at approximately 3:30 this morning and 150 firefighters responded and had the fire extinguished by about 4:00 a.m. Of the those who were injured, 12 had to be hospitalized for their fire and burn injuries. The motel fire injuries included third degree burns and smoke inhalation. Of the 12 who had to be taken to the hospital, three victims were listed to be in critical condition.

The motel fire, which occurred at the Palos Verdes Inn, may have injured as many as 17 people, including a police officer who reportedly suffered a smoke inhalation injury.

According to the Los Angeles Times, some guests at the motel climbed to the roof to escape the fire, and apparently one guest jumped from the roof to escape. Due to the speed at which the fire moved through the motel and because of the heat it generated, the Los Angeles Fire Department is investigating the fire as a possible arson. The fire department also said that smoke detectors were quickly overcome by the heat of the fire.

TWO GOOD SAMARITANS ELECTROCUTED TO DEATH IN VALLEY VILLAGE CAR ACCIDENT

August 25, 2012 | by Robert Walch

Two women were fatally electrocuted after a Valley Village car accident on Thursday, August 23, 2012, when the first went to help the injured driver of a car accident and the second when she went to help the first woman. Several others reportedly suffered less serious electrical burn injuries and are expected to make a full recovery.

Apparently, the driver, a 19 year old from Glendale, driving a sports utility vehicle (SUV), lost control of his vehicle, possibly due to high speed, when traveling through the intersection of Magnolia Boulevard and Ben Avenue, striking a concrete light standard and fire hydrant with such force to knock them both over. This created a dangerous and deadly combination as water quickly pooled into the intersection, causing the wrongful death of two good Samaritans and severe injuries to others who were electrocuted and burned.

One passerby, Irma Zamora, reportedly called 911 then rushed from her vehicle and ran to assist the driver of the SUV. Unbeknownst to her, the water in the intersection was electrified and when she stepped into the water she was immediately electrocuted to death. The fire department estimated that her wrongful death was caused by approximately 48,000 volts of electricity. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mrs. Zamora, age 40, of Burbank, Los Angeles County, was known as one to help others. According to family members, her selfless action was typical.

Another woman, not yet identified, also died when, as she tried to help Mrs. Zamora and touched her, she also was electrocuted to death. Reportedly, at least six (6) others, including the driver of the SUV and a Los Angeles police officer, were electrocuted, severely injured and required hospitalization.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa visited the Valley Village traffic collision site, praising the two good Samaritans as heroes. He also reminded others to carefully assess such situations before rushing into them and to wait for professionals to arrive.
One former resident of Valley Village who is very knowledgeable about car accidents and electricity, R. Freeman, advised that after a car accident one should never go near pooled water when there is a damaged electrical device, such as a damaged power pole, that could possibly electrify the pooled water and, in fact, one should move far away as quickly as possible and wait for the fire department to handle the situation.

“Hot Coffee” Documentary Addresses Corporate Brainwash of Consumers

May 22, 2012 | by Robert Walch

Recently, I had a client tell me that she felt there were too many “frivolous” lawsuits filed in the United States. When I asked her to back up her statement, she referred to the lady who sued McDonalds after suffering injuries from spilled coffee. When I asked for other examples, my client could not think of any, but still had this belief, from this McDonalds coffee case, that people can cause harm to themselves and receive millions of dollars. My client told me that she thinks that lawsuits such as these drive up the costs for everyone else.

Unfortunately, this is a commonly held belief of many Americans, who hear about a sensational case on the news, and think there is an epidemic. This is no different than people watching the news, hearing about one crime, and immediately concluding that there is too much crime and feeling unsafe, even if overall crime is going down.

The media does not report about how much safer our lives are due to the fact companies are held financially responsible for their unsafe behavior. Without this regulation, companies would act with impunity, neglecting the safety of consumers, as can be seen by the unsafe business practices in many other countries. Instead, sensational stories get the headlines and attention.

Susan Saladoff’s documentary film, “Hot Coffee,” attacks the brainwashing that corporate America, especially very large billion dollar insurance companies, has inflicted on the American public. This film gives us the facts that many people do not know about the McDonalds coffee case. For instance, many people forget that this one incident occurred in 1992, over 20 years ago, but they still think that it represents an epidemic of lawsuits. Further, prior to this incident, McDonalds received hundreds of complaints that they were serving their coffee too hot, but did nothing to rectify it.

[For all the facts of the McDonalds coffee case, including answers to frequently asked questions, click here.]

Tragic Calabasas Car Accident Leaves 1 Dead and 1 Critically Injured

October 3, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A tragic Calabasas car accident on the 101 freeway, near the Las Virgenes exit, has left a 9 year old girl dead and her mother critically injured with burn injuries. Dramatic video from the scene of the Calabasas accident, wherein bystanders are trying to help the mother after rescuing her from the vehicle, can be seen here courtesy of CBS News.

The Calabasas freeway accident happened Saturday morning at about 8:30am on the southbound lanes of the 101 freeway. The car apparently lost control and hit the center divider and a tanker truck. As a result, the car rolled over and became engulfed in flames. While the mother was able to exit the car with severe burn injuries, she was not able to save her 9 year old daughter, who died in the accident in Calabasas.

Disaster Avoided After San Diego Bus Fire

September 19, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A bus fire accident on a bus traveling from Tijuana to Los Angeles fortunately did not result in any serious injuries to the occupants of the bus. The fire occurred on a tour bus while it was traveling through San Diego on the way to Los Angeles.

It is not exactly known what caused the San Diego bus fire, but it appears from the photo, from the Los Angeles Times, the rear of the bus caught fire first, spreading towards the center of the bus.

134 Freeway Accident Causes Burn Injuries

August 10, 2011 | by Robert Walch

An accident on the 134 freeway last night caused a man to suffer burn injuries. According to the Los Angeles Times, the man was in a small truck when the truck apparently caught fire on the 134 freeway, close to Forest Lawn Cemetery.

The L.A. Times reports that no other injuries were reported in the Ventura freeway burn injury accident and that there was nobody else inside the vehicle at the time of the incident.

Four People Suffer Serious Injuries in Sylmar Building Explosion

August 9, 2011 | by Robert Walch

An explosion in Sylmar today has caused serious injuries to four people inside the building. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Sylmar explosion occurred at 12349 Gladstone Avenue in Sylmar, California.

According to reports from Los Angeles firefighters, the Sylmar building explosion caused part of the building to collapse. The Los Angeles Fire Department has said that there may be additional people inside the building who may be trapped.

Pamona Car Accident Kills 2

August 2, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Two people died early Monday morning in a Pomona car accident, when a 2008 Infiniti hit a Nissan Maxima, as the Nissan was turning left. The two people who died in the car accident in Pomona were passengers in the Nissan. According to the Pomona Police Department, Lorraine Martinez, who was driving the Nissan, did not have a license and was arrested for a possible auto theft.

Martinez, who is 26 years old, sustained only minor injuries according to the police. According to the Los Angeles Times, Police also said that after the Nissan was impacted by the Infiniti, it was ripped apart and hit a light pole, then became engulfed in fire. There were no immediate reports on the well being of the driver and any passengers in the Infiniti and it is unknown if the passengers died from the Pomona burn injuries or from the impact.