Car Accidents

Riverside Accident Leaves One Dead and One in Critical Condition

May 15, 2017 | by Robert Walch

According to My Valley News, an early morning Riverside crash on Mother’s Day left one person dead and another critically injured. A California Highway Patrol (CHP) incident log showed that the driver of a silver sedan lost control of the car and rolled over multiple times. The car eventually landed at the bottom of a ramp. The incident happened on eastbound 91 Freeway near the on ramp for Fourteenth Street in Riverside, California.

Witnesses called 911 and told dispatchers that the sedan was smoking, someone had been thrown out of the car as it rolled, and a second person was still trapped inside the car. When officers arrived, they discovered a destroyed car, the ejected victim, and the second person trapped inside the wreckage. Medical personnel attempted to revive the ejected victim, but the injuries were too severe and unfortunately the person passed away at the scene.

Firefighters used the “Jacks of Life” to remove the person trapped in the sedan. That person was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The CHP is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash. Officers have not yet determined whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.

Woman and Her Baby Die After Oceanside Rollover Accident

May 6, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Around noon on Sunday, April 23, 2017, a single vehicle rolled over on Oceanside Boulevard in California. Witnesses called the Oceanside Police Department, who sent officers out to respond to the accident. When police officers arrived, they discovered the truck in the westbound lanes of Oceanside Blvd.

According to witness statements and the evidence present at the scene, the Toyota Tacoma truck was traveling eastbound on Oceanside Blvd. For a reason not yet determined, the driver lost control of the truck, over-corrected for the mistake, and hit the median in the center of the road. After striking the median, the truck rolled and landed in the middle of the westbound lanes of Oceanside Blvd.

According to news reports, the driver of the truck was identified as Adam Robey, 35-years-old. He escaped with minor injuries and was released after a brief hospital visit. The female passenger in the Tacoma, who was five months’ pregnant, was found partially ejected out of the passenger window. She was unconscious with a head injury. The passenger—35-year-old Carey Disanto of Oceanside—was flown to Scripps La Jolly. Her baby was delivered and immediately flown to Rady Children’s Hospital. Tragically, a few days later, Disanto succumbed to her injuries and passed away, and her baby girl passed away shortly after.

No charges have been filed against the driver, although Oceanside Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is continuing its investigation into this wrongful death accident. If the driver of the Tacoma was negligent and his negligence caused the fatal accident, it is possible that the family of Disanto could file a wrongful death lawsuit. Disanto’s family would need to speak with a California wrongful death attorney to discuss the specific facts of the case and determine whether it would be possible to seek compensation for their daughter’s and granddaughter’s deaths.

Woman Killed in Cypress Car Accident

April 25, 2017 | by Robert Walch

According to the Whittier Daily News, a La Mirada woman lost her life on Easter Sunday in a three-car crash in Cypress, California. The Cypress car accident took place at Katella Avenue and Valley View Street. According to the coroner, the woman, Alexis Barragan, aged 22, died around 12:40 am and was pronounced dead at the scene. She had been a passenger in a car that was driven by Nicholas Sanchez-McCormick, from Whittier, California.

Through their investigation, the Cypress police officials determined that Sanchez-McCormick had been driving westbound on Katella and ran a red light. His car then crashed into two other vehicles. Cypress law enforcement concluded that Sanchez-McCormick had been driving under the influence of alcohol, and arrested him for vehicular manslaughter and felony drunk driving. At the time of the accident, Sanchez-McCormick already had a DUI case pending against him.

The investigation is still underway, but it appears that the Cypress accident and death were caused by a driver who was operating a vehicle under the influence. Ms. Barragan’s family will have the right to make a wrongful death claim against the driver. The victim’s family should hire a California personal injury attorney experienced in wrongful death claims to handle their claim.

DUI Crash Kills Wasco Woman and Injures Two Others

April 2, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Kern County Sheriff’s deputies in Wasco took a 50-year-old man into custody under suspicion of driving while intoxicated and failing to yield the right of way after he caused a wrongful death car accident that killed one woman and injured two others. Just before 8 pm on March 30, three cars collided near Prospect Avenue and Highway 43 in Wasco, California.

According to police reports, a man driving a Ford Ranger pulled out in front of a female driver, who was driving a Honda Civic. Sadly, the crash killed the woman. 23ABC News reports that the Kern County Coroner’s office has identified the victim as Carolina Vasquez of Shafter. A 20-year-old man driving a Ford Expedition then crashed into the victim’s Honda. He was injured but he survived the crash. The man arrested was identified as 50-year-old Erwin De La Pena. Authorities are continuing to investigate.

Although the police investigation is ongoing, it appears that the accident was caused by a driver whose blood alcohol content exceeded the legal limit for drivers in California. If it turns out that the driver was intoxicated and caused the crash, the family of the victim would be able to make a wrongful death claim against the driver. The victim’s family would need to hire an experienced California personal injury attorney to determine what types of claims exist and to represent them in pursuing those claims.

What To Do Following A Car Accident

March 23, 2017 | by Robert Walch

You never want to get into one. You drive to avoid them and are constantly on the lookout, but in many instances a car accident is unavoidable throughout your lifetime of driving. This is especially true in Southern California where you drive everywhere! At Walch Law, we work with individuals every day to help with the aftermath of their car accident. If you or a loved one has recently been in a car accident, make sure to give us a call to discuss how we might help obtain compensation for your injuries and the damage done to your car- even if the accident was partially your fault. Give us a call anytime to discuss your case further at 866 INJURY 2 (Press 1 after hours).

Knowing what to do following a car accident can not only help calm your nerves but can also help with your physical and financial recovery down the line.

Here’s a look at some top tips for handling a car accident (of course every situation is different and these are only some tips):

Take a breath: If you can, take a moment to compose yourself amidst the madness following even the most minor accident. With airbags going off and people coming around, you are likely to experience an adrenaline rush. Give yourself a moment to calm down and take inventory of what hurts, to better explain things to the police and paramedics if and when they arrive.
Stay at the scene: Staying at the scene of an accident until help can arrive and you exchange information is usually the best thing to do. You want to stay at the scene of the car accident until these important items are taken care of. This will also give your nerves a chance to calm down!
Exchange information: If you can, you will want to exchange all relevant information with the other parties to the accident. This information is important for your legal case down the line.
Evidence: Evidence is always best fresh so make sure that you talk to relevant witnesses (write down their contact information) and take pictures of all vehicles as soon as reasonably possible. This includes getting contact information, photos of the scene and other important details such as license plate numbers, drivers licenses, insurance information, registration, etc. You also want to take a moment and write down your recollection of the events. All these items will be valuable to making sure you get the financial recovery you deserve.
Call the Walch Law Firm: Give the experienced attorneys at the Walch Law firm a call as soon as you can. Not only can we handle every aspect of your legal case but we can also help put you in touch with medical providers to make sure you are getting the medical attention you deserve to get you back to where you were before the accident happened.

Commerce Wrong-Way Driver Accident Kills Three

March 21, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Early on the morning of March 12, 2017, at approximately 5:20 am, a Mini Cooper entered the freeway in Commerce driving the wrong direction. According to the California Highway Patrol, it then ran head-on into a van. According to KTLA, just prior to the accident, individuals had made reports of a wrong-way driver. At the time of the crash, the Highway Patrol had been on their way to the scene.

Sadly, three victims were killed in this California wrongful death accident, including the wrong-way driver and a driver and passenger of the van. The van’s driver— and passenger, a woman and man, as well as the Mini Cooper driver, a man, were all pronounced dead at the scene. According to ABC News, the two males killed were 29-year-old John Perez from Downey and 53-year-old Quanlinh Phillips from Santa Ana. Law enforcement officials did not release the identification of the female van driver, nor did they provide clarification on which person had been the driver of the Mini Cooper. Investigations are still underway as to the cause behind the wrong-way driving.

Father and Daughter Killed in Palmdale Accident

February 14, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Sunday evening, an apparent street race led to a violent crash and two people killed. The Palmdale car accident allegedly occurred when two vehicles were racing and one of the vehicles lost control and struck a traffic pole.

According to TheAVTimes, the two people killed were in a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro that was headed southbound on 25th Street East in Palmdale. The father was driving the vehicle and the daughter was in the passenger seat. The father, Manuel Paniagua, was 54 years old. His daughter, Vanessa Paniagua, was only 17 years old.

According to witnesses at the scene, the two vehicles were speeding and probably racing. The other vehicle possibly involved in the race drove away from the scene without stopping to render assistance to the occupants of the Chevy. The driver of that other vehicle faces possible criminal charges for being involved in a street race and for leaving the scene.

San Bernardino Wrongful Death Victim Identified

February 12, 2017 | by Robert Walch

On Saturday, February 11, 2017, Cesar Manuel Floriano Ortiz of Highland was killed in a single car crash that allegedly occurred at about 12:45 am, when he was riding as a passenger in the vehicle. Apparently, Brien Jesus Reyna of San Bernardino was driving the car when the driver lost control and struck a light pole on H Street in San Bernardino, California.

Cesar Manuel Floriano Ortiz of Highland was only 22 years of age.

Brien Jesus Reyna of San Bernardino was only 18 years of age.

Reportedly both the driver and passenger were killed in this tragic San Bernardino car accident.

Allegedly the men were driving eastbound on West Ninth Street at about 12:45 am early on Saturday morning on the 215 Freeway overpass when the driver lost control and struck the light pole located on H Street in San Bernardino.

Man Killed in Culver City Crash

September 10, 2016 | by Robert Walch

A tragic Culver City car accident occurred earlier today when a woman who was fleeing police collided with another vehicle and killed the driver of that vehicle. The man who was killed also had his young son in the car who also suffered injuries.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the car accident in Culver City occurred when Culver City Police were in pursuit of a woman who was driving an allegedly stolen car. The woman then ran a red light and collided with the BMW in the intersection of Washington Boulevard and La Cienega.

The crash and wrongful death of the driver of the BMW are being investigated by the California Highway Patrol, most likely because it would not be appropriate for Culver City Police to investigate the accident involving its officers.

Kris Jenner Involved in Calabasas Car Accident

August 8, 2016 | by Robert Walch

The Calabasas Patch is reporting that last Wednesday Kris Jenner, of the well known Kardashian family, was involved in a car accident in Calabasas. The Calabasas car accident occurred in the early afternoon right near Calabasas Road and the Parkway Calabasas freeway off-ramp. The Calabasas accident actually happened very close to our personal injury law office, which is also located on Calabasas Road.

Fortunately, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which handles car accidents in Calabasas, neither the other person involved in the car accident or Kris Jenner had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance. Other details of their injuries from the accident were not presently available.

We all remember when Kaitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, was in a serious car accident on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, which caused the tragic wrongful death of a woman from Calabasas.