Burn Injuries

Fire Injuries and Wrongful Death in Pacoima House Fire

July 13, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A house fire in Pacoima, California, caused a man to suffer smoke inhalation injuries and lacerations and caused the death of a woman who was in the house. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the fire occurred at about 4:00 p.m. in Pacoima, and the woman was found dead in the home by firefighters.

The man who survived the Pacoima house fire suffered fire injuries, including smoke inhalation, lacerations and possibly burn injuries, from trying to put out the fire.

The cause of the house fire in Pacoima has not yet been revealed, but oftentimes these fires are caused by electrical systems, arson, candles, cooking equipment, or smoking.

New Details Emerge in Nevada Amtrak Train Crash

June 29, 2011 | by Robert Walch

It has emerged that the truck driver who allegedly caused the Nevada Amtrak train crash has been cited multiple times in various states. These citations were for violations including a 2007 truck accident wherein he rear ended a Toyota on the freeway, causing injuries to a family, and tickets for speeding and driving with a cell phone in his hand.

There was also an Amtrak train crash lawsuit filed this week by an Amtrak train attendant, against Lawrence Valli, the truck driver, and John Davis Trucking, the presumed owner of the vehicle and the company that employed Valli.

The personal injury attorney for the train attendant claims that Valli was negligent and careless in failing to follow the road signs, causing this truck-train crash and the resultant injuries and damages to his client. The attorney also claims that after reviewing Valli’s record and the record of the trucking company, that Valli should not have been driving this truck at the time of the Amtrak train accident.

Costa Mesa Apartment Fire Kills One and Injures 3

March 1, 2011 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times and Daily Pilot, an apartment fire in Costa Mesa, California has killed a 17 year old boy, who apparently died at the hospital from his smoke inhalation and burn injuries. Two other people and a firefighter also sustained injuries from the fire, which may have included burn injuries and/or smoke inhalation, but they were able to be treated and released from the hospital.

The cause of the Costa Mesa apartment fire is unknown, and may have started in a garage that was converted into a living space. Investigators are also trying to determine the legality of the living space. Depending on what investigators find as to liability, the family of the deceased boy may be able to make a wrongful death claim against the responsible party.

We have previously commented on the many dangers of apartment fires in Los Angeles and throughout California, including the serious risks of burn injuries. Burn injury victims should obtain proper medical care right away as these injuries can be very serious and potentially life threatening. The proper medical care can make a huge difference in the recovery time and the extent of scarring. Depending on where the burn is, scar damage from burn injuries can be traumatizing and life altering.

Gardena Apartment Fire Injures 5

February 17, 2011 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, five people were taken to the hospital with burn injuries after a Gardena apartment fire Wednesday morning. The fire occurred at about 1:00 a.m. near Wilkie Avenue and Redondo Beach Boulevard, in Gardena, California.

The most serious burn injury appears to be to a man in his 40s, who was listed in critical condition. The condition of the other Gardena fire injury victims is not currently known.

Apartment fires can be particularly dangerous for various reasons, including because they can spread from unit to unit very quickly, parking problems may block fire hydrants, lack of exits, burning stairwells blocking exits and inadequate alarms.

For these reasons, it is advised to prevent apartment fires by checking smoke alarms, knowing the locations of extinguishers and all exits, not overloading extension cords or sockets, and fully extinguishing cigarettes.

Unfortunately, many apartments, especially older buildings, are not fully updated with fire prevention safety in mind. For this reason, it is important, when seeking out an apartment, to make sure it is in a safe building.

Los Angeles Apartment Fire Kills 1 and Injures Another

February 7, 2011 | by Robert Walch

An apartment fire in the Lynwood area of Los Angeles, California, has killed 1 person and injured another. The injured man, who is in his twenties, suffered burn injuries in the Los Angeles fire.

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the apartment fire occurred at 3:30 a.m. on Long Beach Boulevard. The fire was apparently extinguished by around 4:00 a.m.

Sometimes residents of an apartment suffer injuries or death due to a fire caused by another resident or by a problem with the building itself, such as an electric fire or gas explosion. In these situations, the injured victims will usually have a personal injury claim against the owner and operator of the apartment building.

Walch Selected Personal Injury Attorney of the Year 2010

January 24, 2011 | by Robert Walch

We are extremely proud to announce that a member of our firm, Gary Walch, was selected Personal Injury Attorney of the Year for 2010 by the Editorial Staff of the Consumer Business Review.

Gary has been an attorney since 1975, graduating from UCLA summa cum laude (with highest honors) and then the UCLA School of Law.

During his legal career of successfully handling thousands of serious injury claims in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and San Bernardino counties he has resolved claims for many millions of dollars for his clients.

Los Angeles Gas Explosion Injures Two

January 12, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Two men inside a garage in Whittier, a city in Los Angeles County, were severely injured when a high pressure gas tank exploded. The gas explosion in Los Angeles, which occurred at 2:40 a.m., caused one of the men to have the lower part of his leg severed and caused burn injuries to the other man. The two injured men, who have not yet been identified, were taken to University of California Irving Medical Center.

Lieutenant Carlos Solorza, of the Whittier Police Department, stated that the cause of the Los Angeles gas explosion was unknown. He also did not know the type of gas that was being used in the tank.

Los Angeles explosion injury cases can be very difficult and complicated. First, it will be necessary to determine the cause of the explosion. It is currently unknown if it was human error, a defect in a product, or both, that caused these gas explosion injuries.

Inspections Ordered To Prevent Future California Gas Explosion Injuries

December 17, 2010 | by Robert Walch

After the fatal explosion and fire in San Bruno, California, regulators have ordered that natural gas lines receive intensified inspections. The September 9, 2010 explosion and fire killed eight people and destroyed numerous homes. It remains to be seen if these California fire deaths and injuries may have been preventable and the goal is to prevent future disasters.

Federal investigators have found that seam wields in the Pacific Gas & Electric line may have been the cause of the Northern California explosion and fire injuries, property damage and deaths, although the official cause has yet to be determined. According to the Los Angeles Times, “The directive calls for internal, X-ray or liquid pressure tests on lines not previously examined that are similar in size and age to the pipeline that blew. That line was 30-inches in diameter and more than half a century old.” According to PG & E, gas service to customers should not be affected by the order.