Car Accidents

Tragic Carson Car Accident Takes Lives of Two Brothers

November 15, 2017 | by Robert Walch

A late night accident around Avalon and Del Amo boulevards, in Carson, California, has resulted in the deaths of three people. Around 2:20 a.m., after leaving basketball practice, two brothers were killed in the car crash in Carson, along with the driver of the other vehicle. The car that the brothers had been riding in was t-boned by the other vehicle. The other driver has not yet been identified, but the two young men have been identified.

LAPD Officer Kenneth Baxter was the proud father of the brothers, Christopher and Jonathan Baxter, that were tragically killed in the crash. Officer Baxter was returning home after his graveyard shift when he was informed of the death of his two boys. According to the City News Service, “Baxter and his sons all attended Verbum Dei High School in Watts, Christopher graduating in 2010 and Jonathan in 2012. The officer said his sons were so close that he didn’t think one would have wanted to go on without the other.”

Expenses After An Accident

Cars do not come out of nowhere

November 13, 2017 | by Robert Walch

People contact our office just about every day regarding a Los Angeles car accident that they were involved in. Frequently, we hear them say something like, “I was making a turn and the other car came out of nowhere and hit me.” Or they might say, “I was stopped at a stop sign, then when I was proceeding through the intersection, I was struck by a car that came out of nowhere.”

Cars do not come out of nowhere and every accident has at least one cause, other than a car coming out of nowhere. Typically, if a person says a car came out of nowhere, that person was not paying enough attention to his or her surroundings. If you are stopped at a stop sign, it is very important that you look in all directions before entering the intersection. You need to look for vehicles, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists who may be crossing in front of you. If you look in all directions before entering and nobody is coming, then it should be safe to enter the intersection. Continue Reading

Riverside Car Accident Kills Las Vegas Shooting Survivors

October 30, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Sadly, a married couple from Murietta died on October 16, 2017, when they were involved in a car accident in Riverside, California. According to the Los Angeles Times, Dennis Carver was driving a 2010 Mercedes when he went off the roadway and crashed, killing himself and his passenger, his wife Lorraine.

Dennis and Lorraine were at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas when a shooter fired at the festival from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. In that tragic incident, 58 people were killed. The deceased couple leaves behind a 16 year old daughter.

What Happens After An Accident?

October 23, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Your day has just gotten worse. You were involved in a car accident in California. What do you do now? Knowing the steps to take after an accident can not only help you in the moment but can also help your financial recovery down the line. An accident could make you feel shaky, nervous, and even sick to your stomach, even if you were not injured. These steps will help you:

● Get to safety. The first thing that you should consider is getting someplace safe. This means moving you and your car out of harm’s way if possible. If you cannot move your car, you will want to draw attention to your vehicle by putting on your hazards and even properly using road flares if you have them.

Night Driving: How to Keep Yourself Safe

September 14, 2017 | by Robert Walch

One of the most dangerous times to be on the California roadways is nighttime. There’s a number of reasons behind why the darkness makes it inherently more dangerous. Did you know that when it comes to fatal wrongful death accidents, almost half of them happen at night, even though there are fewer people on the roadways at this time? It’s unfortunately true.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help you to be more aware of potential problems, and make you feel more confident about night driving.

Seatbelt: Too many people still ignore the need for their seatbelt. Your seatbelt is one of the first lines of defense against injuries and fatalities that can happen from a car accident. No matter the time of day or night, taking the step to buckle up your seatbelt can save your life.

Riverside Grandmother Critically Injured By Alleged Street Racers in Crash

September 7, 2017 | by Robert Walch

A car coming off of the 215 freeway in San Bernardino was hit by two cars that witnesses described as racing each other. A 62 year-old grandmother was in the backseat of the car when it was struck. Her injuries from this San Bernardino car accident are very serious and it is unknown if she will ever walk or talk again due to the injuries she sustained. She is currently being treated for a broken neck, severe internal injuries and traumatic brain injury.

According to CBS Los Angeles, the accident took place as the first car clipped the back end of the car that the grandmother was riding in. This caused the car to spin before it was struck by the second car allegedly involved in the illegal street racing. This second hit caused the car to roll. The first car fled the scene while the second car remained with those inside being injured themselves in the crash. The driver and passenger both were treated and released from the hospital, but no further information has been available about whether or not they’ll be facing charges.

California Laws and Street Racing

What Reports Should I Make After an Orange County Car Accident?

June 25, 2017 | by Robert Walch

If you’ve been in an Orange County car accident, you’re aware of the shock and fright brought on by such an event. Car accidents can shake you up physically and mentally. Immediately after an accident, you’re likely thinking of how badly you’ve been injured, whether the people in the car with you are okay, and the damage to your car. Yet, in the days to come, there are several reports you should file. Here’s a handy list for you to keep track of the reports to make:

File a Police Report Within 24 Hours of the Crash: You will need to file a police report even if no one involved in your accident was injured. According to the California Vehicle Code, Section 20008, any driver of any vehicle who has been in a car accident must report the accident to either the California Highway Patrol, or the local police department where the crash took place. This report has to be filed within 24 hours of your accident. Generally, the police officer arriving at the scene will write this report. You should tell the officer your version of what happened and whether you are injured. Try to get a copy of the police report to take home with you, because your insurance company will likely require a copy.
File a Report with the California DMV: If any of the following events happened because of your accident, you are required to report the crash to the California DMV:

Riverside Accident Leaves One Dead and One Injured

May 27, 2017 | by Robert Walch

According to My Valley News, Early in the morning on May 19, 2017, around 12:45 am, several witnesses called 911 to report a crash at the intersection of Van Buren Boulevard and King Avenue in Riverside, California. Riverside Fire and Police Departments responded, and upon arriving at the scene, found parts of the vehicle spread across the road. First responders also found a white Toyota Avalon with significant damage to its front side.

The passenger of the wrecked Toyota was alive, albeit barely, and had suffered severe, traumatic injuries in the Riverside car accident. He was later identified as 21-year-old Prince Deavon Armony Franky Ketcha. The medics transported Mr. Ketcha to Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center, and within one hour, hospital staff pronounced him dead. The driver of the vehicle, who was seen walking after the accident, suffered only minor injuries.

California Highway Patrol Sergeant Eugene Norris said that the Toyota had been driving at a high rate of speed when it drifted to the right of the road and ran directly into a traffic signal pole. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and Sgt. Norris said that alcohol or drug intoxication have not yet been ruled out as contributing factors in the accident.

Mother’s Day Crash Kills Woman and Her Unborn Child

May 22, 2017 | by Robert Walch

According to NBC San Diego, a tragedy occurred on Mother’s Day when a Ramona woman was killed in a wrongful death car accident on San Vicente Road. The woman—Jessica Foderingham, aged 32—was eight months pregnant at the time of the crash. She had just gotten married last August.

Around 6:46 pm, Foderingham was driving a Dodge Dart when another car—a 2011 GMC Yukon—struck her from the back. The collision pushed Foderingham’s Dodge into a center divider area, where it then collided with a tree. She died at the scene as a result of injuries from the rear end crash.

The driver of the Yukon fled the scene. He was later identified by California Highway Patrol as 44-year-old Andrew Milonis. Milonis, after leaving the scene of the collision, parked his car and hired a Lyft. The Lyft driver, Kyle Gammon, noted that Milonis appeared distraught. The driver actually passed by the scene of the accident on his route. He asked Milonis if Milonis had crashed there, and Milonis denied it.

Milonis was dropped off by the Lyft driver at the Turkey Inn Bar, where officers then arrested him. He was booked into the local jail, where he was charged with driving under the influence causing death, felony hit and run, and vehicular manslaughter. NBC 7 later discovered that Milonis had been driving on a suspended/revoked license. His wife informed the news station that Milonis had suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2008, which may be a possible reason for his erratic actions.

Foderingham’s husband, a Marine, was overwrought with emotion, posting on Facebook: “My heart, my world, my best friend, was taken from me.”

Four Family Members Killed in Fiery Highland Crash

May 18, 2017 | by Robert Walch

On May 9, 2017, a Highland crash tragically killed four members of the same family, including a girl and two boys. An adult in a second car was critically injured. Around 2:24 pm, at the intersection of Palm Avenue and Cypress Street, two cars collided. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, a gold Ford Taurus collided with a silver Acura TL. The crash caused the Taurus to roll over onto its roof and catch fire. It eventually became completely swallowed up by the flames.

ABC7 reported that, according to a witness, the Acura driver was trying to turn left when it was hit by the Taurus. The Sheriff’s investigators said that three Ford passengers died at the scene of the accident, while a fourth person escaped the burning vehicle but later died at the hospital. The Acura driver was hospitalized in critical condition.

A relative said that the deceased included an 83-year-old grandfather, a teenager, and two children, ages 7 and 8. She said that the children had just been picked up from school and were on their way home. The San Bernardino wrongful death accident is currently being investigated by the Major Accident Investigation Team at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.