Car Accidents

One Killed in Los Angeles Car Accident

February 1, 2013 | by Robert Walch

One alleged robbery suspect was apparently killed this morning in a freeway accident in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles freeway accident occurred after police received a call about a robbery at a 7-11 convenient store. Officers saw a vehicle which they said was driving recklessly, and a high speed chase occurred.

During the chase, the suspects’ vehicle crashed into another vehicle on the northbound 5 freeway, at the interchange with the 110 freeway. After the crash, the suspects’ vehicle flipped over, trapping the three suspects inside. One of the suspects in the robbery died as a result of his injuries from the Los Angeles car accident. One other suspect had to be hospitalized for his car accident injuries, while the third was taken into police custody.

There were no immediate reports about injuries to the occupants of the vehicle that was struck by the suspects’ car. Based on the lack of information, it is assumed that there were no serious injuries in that vehicle.

Politician Injured in Los Angeles Truck Accident

December 3, 2012 | by Robert Walch

Mike Feuer, a democratic State Assemblyman who is currently running for city attorney was injured today in a Los Angeles truck accident. Feuer was driving his Toyota Prius when his vehicle was allegedly struck by a truck that ran a red light. Mr. Feuer was taken to the hospital, but his injuries were fortunately described as not life threatening.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Assemblyman Feuer’s campaign spokesperson said that the campaign will continue and that Feuer should hopefully make a quick recovery from his truck accident injuries. The L.A. Times also reported that Feuer was on his way to watch newly elected district attorney for Los Angeles County, Jackie Lacey, get sworn into office at the Galen Center in South Los Angeles, when he was in the Los Angeles car accident. The Galen Center is the arena where the USC Trojans basketball team plays its home games.

It was not disclosed if the rain in Southern California today contributed to causing this auto accident in Los Angeles. However, there were many rain accidents reported throughout Los Angeles today. For this reason, it is again advised that all drivers take extra precautions when driving in the rain, including keeping a larger distance between themselves and the vehicle in front of them, and driving slower than normal.

CHP Reports Increase in Los Angeles Car Accidents Due to Rain

November 29, 2012 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, the California Highway Patrol has reported that there were 188 car accidents in Los Angeles County today, for the areas covered by the CHP, just between the hours of 12am and 8:00am. The increase in Los Angeles car accident incidents today is mostly due to unsafe driving in the rain. By comparison, in the same time period last week, without the rain, there were only approximately 36 Los Angeles accidents.

The CHP blamed the Los Angeles rain accidents on drivers who drive too fast for conditions. Their main advice to drivers was to slow down, when driving in the rain. While many of the accidents were just one car accidents involving a vehicle that spun out in the rain, there were some serious Los Angeles crashes, including a Glendale big rig truck accident on the 5 Freeway and a fatality accident on the 134 freeway in Toluca Lake.

The Toluca Lake car accident occurred on the westbound 134 freeway and involved at least two vehicles. Two people apparently suffered minor injuries, while a third person died at the scene of the accident.

The Glendale truck accident occurred at around two o’clock this morning, left debris over the southbound 5 Freeway and blocked the northbound lanes. The southbound lanes were not open until about 6:30am and the northbound lanes opened at approximately eight o’clock in the morning. Depending on the cause of the truck accident in Glendale, the family of the victim may be able to make a Glendale wrongful death claim against any responsible parties.

Los Angeles to Las Vegas Train Should Ease Traffic and Reduce Car Accidents

November 27, 2012 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, a company called Las Vegas Railway Express, will be set to operate a train route from Southern California to Las Vegas. The “X Train” will be for adults only and will be on refurbished trains traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on Thursday and Friday afternoons, and back to Los Angeles on Sundays.

This new passenger train route, which will leave from Fullerton, California, will be expected to ease traffic for those commuters who still wish to drive to and from Las Vegas. It should also cause a reduction in the amount of Nevada and California car accidents that occur each year. The route is expected to begin operations for New Years Eve in 2013.

Many California residents are very familiar with the extreme traffic during peak travel hours on Interstate 15. This new passenger train route should hopefully reduce those traffic jams. Also, with less cars on the road, the amount of car accidents should also be reduced. On the other side of the argument, when there are fewer cars on the road, sometimes cars travel faster, leading to more serious car accident injuries.

The train ride is expected to cost $99 each way, and is meant to be an extension of the Las Vegas party atmosphere. Passengers will not have to worry about drinking and driving, or driving home in traffic with a rough Las Vegas hangover.

Rapper Diddy Injured in Los Angeles Car Accident

October 26, 2012 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles car accident on Tuesday caused injuries to the rapper and entertainer knows as Diddy. According to The Sun, the car accident in Los Angeles occurred near the Beverly Hills hotel, on Sunset Boulevard. Diddy suffered injuries to his neck, ribs and collarbone.

Celebrity news site “TMZ” has reported that the Beverly Hills car accident occurred when a Lexus made a left turn in front of Diddy’s Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade was apparently unable to stop in time and t-boned the Lexus. Reports indicate that Diddy was being driven by a chauffer at the time of the Los Angeles crash. The police who were called said Diddy’s driver, Diddy, and the driver of the Lexus all sustained injuries in the left turn accident.

Apparently, Diddy did not leave the scene of the accident by ambulance. However, he did seek medical care and treatment for his car accident injuries.

Sometimes, auto insurance companies will try to negate a person’s injuries by making the argument that the person did not leave the scene of the crash in an ambulance, so the injuries must not be that bad. However, this is a misguided and unfair argument. Frequently, the effects of an automobile collision are not fully felt right away. Often, this is because accident victims often get a rush of adrenaline after a crash. They may be happy to just be alive, or more worried about others, and not realize the true extent of their own pain and injuries. Because of this, many accident victims will often tell the police, paramedics or 911 operators that they were not injured in a crash.

TRAFFIC SAFETY – GOOGLE, INC. WORKING ON SELF DRIVING CARS

September 26, 2012 | by Robert Walch

In an attempt to try to reduce California car accidents in the future, self-driving cars are now allowed on California roads. Jerry Brown, the governor of California, just signed a bill that allows the testing of self-driving cars on California streets.

Yesterday, Gov. Brown, at a ceremony held at Google’s headquarters located in Mountain View California, signed into law, SB1298, which establishes guidelines for “autonomous vehicles” to be tested and operated on California roads. The bill was sponsored by State Senator Alex Padilla (Democrat from Pacoima). According to the Los Angeles Times, Senator Padilla said, “We are stepping on the accelerator when it comes to the Google Car.”

It is well known that the cause of most car and other motor vehicle accidents is human error. It is believed that “autonomous car technology” can reduce the number of accidents and, therefore, the number of injuries and deaths on California roads.

Google, Inc. co-founder Sergey Brin stated, “These vehicles have the potential to avoid accidents … We can save lives, create jobs and reduce congestion. I expect the self-driving cars will be far safer than human driven cars.”

This project is not exclusively Google’s. Caltech and others also have been working to develop cars that use radar, video cameras and lasers to safely navigate roads and safely operate in traffic conditions without any human assistance. Their contention is that these computer-controlled vehicles should eventually drive more safely than human operators.

30 Year Old Man Killed in Glendale Car Accident

September 14, 2012 | by Robert Walch

A 30 year old man was killed this morning in a multi-vehicle freeway car accident in Glendale, California. According to the La Cañada Flintridge Patch, the Glendale car accident occurred on the 134 Freeway, at around seven o’clock in the morning. The California Highway Patrol reported that the man died at the scene of the Glendale freeway accident.

This multi-vehicle car accident caused the closure of three lanes of traffic on the Ventura Freeway and resulted in serious traffic delays from Monrovia to Burbank. The CHP is still investigating the cause of this Glendale freeway crash. Various witness accounts of the accident and of the aftermath have claimed that the car was overturned after the crash. A person who said she was in another car and witnessed the accident has claimed to have seen the deceased driver swerving before the collision.

It is always important however to look very carefully at witness statements. Sometimes, witnesses can have a bias. Other times, witnesses think that they recall something, but actually remember it quite differently from how it happened.

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.

Warning – 4th of July Deadliest Day for Los Angeles Car Accidents

July 3, 2012 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, the 4th of July holiday is the deadliest day for Los Angeles car accidents. AAA reports that teens account for approximately 10% of the traffic fatalities on Independence Day. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) cites that a drunk driver is involved in 39% of the car accident deaths on the 4th of July. This compares to 31% of car accident fatalities on other days.

The rise in drunk driving accidents on the 4th of July is partly due to the fact that schools and most businesses are closed, so there are more people on the road. This, combined with the many 4th of July parties around Los Angeles, often involving large amounts of alcohol, contributes to many Los Angeles car accidents.

It is also important to note that many police agencies around California will be setting up DUI checkpoints, to try to catch drunk drivers before they cause a Los Angeles car accident.

Critical Injuries Reported in 19 Car Accident in Antelope Valley

June 26, 2012 | by Robert Walch

A 19 car accident in Antelope Valley, involving a big rig truck, has caused serious injuries to some of the occupants of the vehicles and major travel delays and closures on the 14 freeway near Acton, California. The Los Angeles Fire Department has reported that 17 people were injured in the Antelope Valley car accident, including two people who suffered serious critical injuries.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the LAFD reported that seven ambulances and 50 firefighters were sent to the scene of the Antelope Valley accident on the 14 freeway. According to the California Highway Patrol, as a result of the 19 vehicle pileup, all of the southbound lanes of the 14 freeway were closed, as well as two of the northbound lanes.

According to Fox 11 News, the Antelope Valley crash occurred at around 9:40am, north of Escondido Canyon Road, in Agua Dulce. The Agua Dulce accident involved a big rig truck that was hauling sand or dirt. It is unclear at this time if the big rig truck caused this collision. An extensive investigation is currently ongoing to determine what caused the Antelope Valley truck accident.