Car Accidents

Red Light Cameras Allegedly Cause Los Angeles Rear End Accidents

June 8, 2011 | by Robert Walch

The Los Angeles Police Commission has voted to end the controversial red light camera program, for many reasons, possibly including the claim that they contribute to Los Angeles rear end car accidents. Police officials had proposed to renew the program for an additional three or four years, but the police commission has doubts as to the usefulness of the program.

According to the Los Angeles Times, there are 32 red light cameras posted throughout Los Angeles. Critics argue that the cameras actually increase Los Angeles car accident injuries, are not cost effective and do not make the public any safer. One of the reasons the cameras are not cost effective is because the Los Angeles Courts are not actively seeking out payment on the tickets, with the LAPD instead sending the $400 tickets to a collection agency.

One of the many problems with this practice is that under normal circumstances, the accused can confront the police officer in court and the judge can decide who to believe. With this program, the only evidence is some pictures, which may be taken out of context. One particular type of instance is when a person stops, then makes a right turn on a red light, which can lead to a red light camera ticket.

18 Years in Prison for Long Beach Drag Race Wrongful Death Accident

June 4, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Denis Alberto Reyes has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for causing a Long Beach Wrongful Death Accident that killed four people. Reyes, who was driving a stolen car, was apparently involved in a drag race with a Mustang, when the two vehicles collided.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Long Beach accident caused the ejection from the vehicle of the driver of the Mustang and two passengers. All three died from the Long Beach car accident, as well as another passenger who died later at a hospital.

Reyes, who was 17 at the time, and fled the scene of the car accident in Long Beach, was later arrested. He pled no contest to four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, one count of car theft and hit and run causing death.

David Beckham Accused of Speeding in Los Angeles Rear End Car Accident

June 2, 2011 | by Robert Walch

International soccer star, David Beckham, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team, has been accused of driving recklessly and speeding when he rear ended a stopped car in Los Angeles, California. The rear end car accident occurred on the 405 freeway, also known as the San Diego freeway.

The driver of the vehicle rear ended in Los Angeles by Beckham’s Cadillac was taken to a local hospital, while Beckham, and his son Brooklyn, 12 years old, who was a passenger with Beckham, did not report any injuries. The extent of the injuries to the rear ended driver is not currently known.

According to British tabloid, The Sun, witnesses are said to have told police that Beckham was speeding, driving recklessly and speeding in and out of lanes in his Cadillac before causing the car accident in Los Angeles. While it does not appear that Beckham has been charged with any crime, the Traffic Collision Report (also known as the Police Report) should indicate if Beckham was cited for any violations of the law.

Irvine Car Accident Leaves Girl with Irreversible Brain Damage

June 1, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Ashton Sweet, a 14 year old girl, was left with brain damage after the vehicle she was in was struck by a drunk driver in an Irvine car accident. Doctors have declared that the brain damage is irreversible and Sweet is being kept alive while doctors determine if her organs are suitable for donation. Other girls in the vehicle suffered injuries, including Krista Merassa, 15 years old, who suffered serious or catastrophic injuries, and was listed in critical condition.

The girls were passengers in a car driven by one of the girl’s father, when they were struck by the alleged drunk driver, Austin Farley, a 26 year old Irvine man. Farley was arrested on suspicion of DUI and is awaiting his court appearance. Farley and the passenger in his vehicle were not injured in the car accident in Irvine.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Farley pled guilty to DUI in 2009 and also pled guilty to driving with a suspended or revoked license and refusal to take a chemical test for DUI in 2005.

In addition to the serious criminal charges that Farley will be facing, he will also likely be held liable for Irvine wrongful death damages, for the tragic eventual death of Ashton Sweet.

Man Killed and Wife Seriously Injured in Ventura Car Accident

May 31, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Eric Doran, a 36 year old restaurant owner from Newport Beach, was killed this weekend in a freeway accident in Ventura County, California. The Ventura car accident occurred on the 101 freeway in Thousand Oaks.

Doran was the owner of the Eat Chow restaurant, located in Costa Mesa, California. The Thousand Oaks car accident allegedly happened when Doran slowed his vehicle as they approached lanes that were coned-off for early morning construction.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Doran’s vehicle was rear ended by a 1998 Dodge Ram, which smashed their vehicle into the Honda Accord which was in front of them. Doran was pronounced dead at the scene while his wife was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The car accident in Thousand Oaks occurred shortly after 5:00am. It is unknown if poor visibility or if the fact that Doran was in a Model A roadster contributed to this collision or the injuries and death.

San Bernardino Boy Dies in Victorville Off Road Vehicle Accident

May 17, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Chase Scarbough, a 10 year old boy, died today after sustaining injuries in an off road vehicle accident in Victorville, California, on Monday. The accident occurred when the boy lost control of the vehicle after riding over a series of bumps. The boy, who was wearing a helmet and other safety gear, did not appear to suffer major injury as a result of the Victorville accident.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the boy, from San Bernardino, vomited (a sign of possible concussion) today and was taken by ambulance to Saint Mary’s Medical Center. Tragically, according to the California Highway Patrol, Scarbough was pronounced dead due to internal injuries from the Victorville auto accident.

In this Victorville wrongful death accident, the family of the boy should hire a California personal injury attorney to examine the circumstances of the accident and see if there is any legal liability for the wrongful death. Various legal factors include whether children as young as 10 should be allowed to drive such vehicles and whether the off road course was safe enough for riders of such a young age. It will also have to be investigated whether the instructions before riding were adequate.

Depending on the severity of the collision, staff at the Johnson Valley Off Road Recreation area should probably have insisted that the boy see a doctor. The fact that a young boy was only complaining of minor pain does not mean that the injuries are not serious.

Very frequently, with many of our California personal injury auto accident cases, our clients do not quite realize how injured they are at the scene of the collision, and are often in shock. Police or paramedics will ask them if they need emergency transportation to a hospital and many of them will refuse, often happy to be just be alive, only to find themselves in serious pain and needing emergency medical care later that day or even a few days after the accident. For this reason, if you are involved in a serious auto accident, it is often a mistake to refuse emergency medical care and it is better to be safe and get checked out in an emergency room right after the accident.

Woman Killed in Parking Structure Car Accident in Los Angeles

April 27, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A woman was killed in a Los Angeles car accident on Tuesday, when her vehicle apparently pushed past the concrete barrier of a parking structure and fell approximately four stories to the ground. The car accident in Los Angeles happened on Nebraska Avenue, in the Sawtelle area of Los Angeles.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the car pushed past a concrete barrier before plunging from the parking structure and landing upside down. The driver of the vehicle, a woman, was killed. No other injuries were reported.

The family of the woman killed should hire a Los Angeles personal injury attorney to investigate whether there was any negligence involved in the potentially wrongful death of the woman. The building site should be examined to see if it was built up to code for parking structures. It will also be necessary to try to figure out why the vehicle collided with the exterior of the structure in the first place.

The Los Angeles injury attorney can research to what extent the walls of a parking structure are supposed to be able to stop a moving vehicle. Accident reconstruction experts can determine how fast the vehicle was moving and why it was able to push through the wall. If the structure was designed negligently, the owners of the structure and/or the building constructors might be held responsible for the Los Angeles wrongful death of the woman.

Giants Pitcher Barry Zito Injured in West Hollywood Car Accident

March 31, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A car accident in West Hollywood today, involving San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito, has caused Zito to suffer injuries, which have been described as “minor.” According to the Los Angeles Times, Zito was taken to Cedars Sinai Hospital after the Los Angeles car accident, but the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has said the hospitalization was precautionary.

It is unknown at this time which vehicle caused the two car collision in West Hollywood. Also, the injuries to the occupants of the other vehicle are currently unknown.

The San Francisco Giants are currently in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers for the start of the Major League Baseball Season. Zito is scheduled to start for the Giants on Sunday, unless his car accident injuries prevent him from doing so.

If the car accident was caused by the other driver and if the West Hollywood car accident results in Zito missing his start, or requiring significant time on the bench, Zito may have a very significant loss of earnings claim against the driver of the other vehicle. However, because it has been described as minor, it is unlikely that Zito will miss much, if any, time from baseball as a result of the car accident.

If Zito caused the car accident in Los Angeles, the occupants of the other vehicle will be entitled to recoup their personal injury and property damages against Zito’s auto insurance coverage.

2 Injured When Ambulance Hit by Hit and Run Driver in Los Angeles Car Accident

March 30, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A car accident in Los Angeles, involving an ambulance and a hit and run driver, resulted in two paramedics needing hospital care. The ambulance was transporting a patient in the Watts area of Los Angeles when it was hit by the car.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the patient who was being transported in the ambulance did not appear to suffer effects from the car accident and was transported to hospital by another ambulance.

One of the ambulance drivers was rendered unconscious in the Los Angeles car accident and the other injured his shoulder. The paramedics were taken to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, where they received treatment before being released.

The driver of the other vehicle involved in the Los Angeles vehicle collision apparently left the scene by foot. In these circumstances, the paramedics should be able to make a Los Angeles workers’ compensation claim. The paramedics and passenger in the ambulance may have a Los Angeles personal injury accident claim against the driver and owner of the other vehicle involved. It is unknown at this time if this was a stolen vehicle. A department of motor vehicles search should turn up the owner of the other vehicle and investigation may lead to the whereabouts of the driver and whether there is any liability insurance.

It is unknown at this time if the ambulance was traveling with its lights and siren on, or why the Los Angeles accident occurred.

The ambulance company may also have an uninsured motorist policy to protect injured persons involved in a scenario like this, if the driver is not identified and no insurance or insufficient insurance turns up for the owner of the other vehicle.

Los Angeles Car Accident on 101 Freeway, Ambulance Reporting

March 26, 2011 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times Traffic section, the number 1 and number 2 lanes of the 101 freeway Northbound, at West Sunset Boulevard, are closed due to a two car collision.

The Los Angeles car accident, involving a Toyota with major front end damage, has apparently resulted in injuries and apparently an ambulance will be responding to the scene. The nature of the injuries is unknown at this time.

Commuters are advised to stay clear of this area due to the traffic backlog from this car accident in Los Angeles. The traffic between Benton Way and Highland, northbound, is moving very slow, under 20 miles per hour, and that area should be avoided until the accident scene is cleared.