Car Accidents

Five People Hurt in Four Car Accident on Los Angeles Freeway

January 16, 2018 | by Robert Walch

The Los Angeles Daily News reported that a “multiple-vehicle crash shut down the northbound 405 Freeway in Westwood, and five people were injured.” The crash occurred very early in the morning at about 12:40 am, on January 15, 2018. Quick to respond, by 12:50 am, police shut down all northbound lanes and diverted traffic off the freeway.

According to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Amy Bastman, four vehicles were involved in the Los Angeles car accident and five people ended up being taken to hospitals. Two of the car accident injury victims, a 40-year-old woman and a 39-year-old woman, were in critical condition. Three of the men involved in the crash — ages 18, 20 and 40 — were listed in serious condition. Currently, there are no details as to what caused the multi-car accident in Los Angeles.

Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Fatal Thousand Oaks Crash

January 15, 2018 | by Robert Walch

After a man was killed in a Thousand Oaks car accident, the driver of the car that struck the house has been sentenced to four years in prison. According to the Thousand Oaks Acorn, Igor Lirtsman was killed when a car driven by Justin Stalberg, a 20 year old man from Thousand Oaks, who had marijuana and alcohol in his system, struck the house where Lirtsman was sleeping.

The Thousand Oaks wrongful death accident occurred after Stalberg, who was home on winter vacation from the University of Arizona, was out partying with friends from Thousand Oaks High School. The friends reportedly tried to convince Stalberg not to drive, but he drove despite their pleas.

California Ranks 18th in “Worst Driver” Statistics

January 12, 2018 | by Robert Walch

According to the Agoura Patch, California’s drivers ranked 18th in the United States in the category of worst drivers. Only 17 states had worse drivers than California, according to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Further, the United States ranked 19th among similar economic countries in the category of destructive driving.

The items that were taken into account for these rankings included drunk driving, careless driving, auto accident fatalities, seatbelt use, driving without a license, speeding and failure to obey traffic laws. According to the statistics, the worst characteristics of California drivers was their drunk driving and speeding. Continue Reading

Man Found Dead After Van Nuys Accident

January 10, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A man was found dead after he was struck by a car in Van Nuys, California, on Monday night. The incident occurred before 11pm, when a female driver struck the man and reported the incident to the police. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, prior to colliding with the man, the woman said she thought it was only a pile of clothes on the street.

At this point, it is unclear if the man was already deceased on the streets of Van Nuys, on 6800 Haskell Avenue, when he was hit by the car, or if the impact from the car killed the man. This Van Nuys car accident will have to be investigated fully to determine the cause and time of death. If the time of death proves to be earlier than the impact, then it would appear that the body was probably moved to the scene by someone else, or the man may have been struck and killed by another car that fled the scene after the impact.

Torrance Five Car Accident Investigated as Hit-and-Run Collision

November 20, 2017 | by Robert Walch

The Intersection of Del Amo and Hawthorne boulevards in Torrance, California was the scene of a significant car accident. According to Eyewitness News, five cars were involved in a hit-and-run crash in the area of this intersection. It occurred in the mid-morning hours on Tuesday the 14th of November. One individual died at the scene of the automobile accident while another person was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries resulting from the crash. The accident was major enough to cause the intersection of these two roads to be shut down while police investigate.

While the actual cause of the wreck is still being determined by an investigation by the police, sources have confirmed that the investigation is looking at this accident as a collision caused by a hit-and-run driver. There are currently two people in custody following this crash, and more information should be released as investigators continue to connect the dots. The hit and run driver potentially faces criminal charges as well as a Torrance wrongful death claim.

Fault and Hit-and-Run 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.