Catastrophic Injuries

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

Knott’s Berry Farm Injury Lawsuit One of Several

August 31, 2017 | by Robert Walch

A California personal injury lawsuit was recently filed against Knott’s Berry Farm for several individuals that have been injured while riding the log ride at the theme park. The suit claims that improper maintenance of the ride was the cause of the injuries. One of the individuals involved in this lawsuit is a six-year-old child that had fractured his eye socket on the ride when it came to an abrupt halt after the final drop. The lawsuit notes that this injury is not an isolated occurrence, but that this ride has caused similar injuries in at least 10 other theme park guests.

The Los Angeles Times reports that California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health investigated this particular log ride for nine injuries reported on the ride between 2010 and 2012. These reports include injuries to the passengers including cuts around the eye and teeth that have been chipped from the force. As a result of these reports, an investigation was performed in 2015 by the California Department of Industrial Relations that found that there was a device in the ride that was not working correctly. Typically this device would monitor the level of water in the ride. Due to this maintenance problem, the park had to make the necessary repairs and had to pay inspection fees.

LOS ANGELES CITY SETTLES BRAIN INJURY CASE BY BICYCLIST INJURED ON VICTORY BLOULEVARD IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FOR $3 MILLION

September 29, 2016 | by Robert Walch

A bicyclist, who alleged permanent traumatic brain injury (often referred to as TBI) and memory loss will be paid three million ($3,000,000.00) dollars by the city of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday, September 29, 2016.

The bicycle versus car collision occurred on Victory Boulevard, just east of the San Diego (405) freeway, in the San Fernando Valley, when Shelaim Furst, a rabbi, allegedly was hit from behind while driving his bicycle in a posted bicycle lane by a car driven by Antoine Shehata, who was attempting to change lanes to enter the freeway.

As a result of the impact, Rabbi Furst struck the car’s front windshield and was thrown approximately 27 feet onto the street. Rabbi Furst reportedly suffered multiple injuries, including permanent brain injury and memory loss, from this collision.

A basis of his lawsuit was reported to be that L.A. City allowed Victory Blvd. to become “dilapidated” which created a false sense of security since the city posted bike route signs. For more information on bicycle injury accidents, please see our Bicycle Accident injury page.

MTA Gold Line Extended in San Gabriel Valley from Arcadia to Azusa

March 9, 2016 | by Robert Walch

The Metro’s new Gold Line opened Saturday, March 5, 2016, with thousands riding it the first day through the San Gabriel Valley from Pasadena, Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa. The Gold Line extension is 11.5 miles long, it cost one billion dollars, funded by Measure R. Measure R, with its half-cent sales tax rate, was approved in 2008 for transportation projects. It was reported in the L.A. Times that a one-way ride from Azusa to Union Station will cost $1.75 and take approximately 49 minutes.

With its 11.5 mile extension, the Gold Line is now 31 miles long and Los Angele County’s longest rail line. It was reported that about 3500 people each hour rode the new Gold Line this past Saturday. The only complaint heard was it should have been built years sooner.

It is anticipated that this gold Line extension will save commuters much time, money in transportation expenses and help free up the crowded 210 Freeway.

6 People Killed in California Apartment Balcony Collapse

June 16, 2015 | by Robert Walch

6 people died today and others suffered serious injuries when an apartment balcony they were on collapsed. The apartment balcony collapse accident happened in Berkeley, California, and the victims appear to be Irish citizens in California on short term work visas (J-1).

According to cnn.com, this tragic incident happened at the Library Gardens Apartment. In addition to the six people who were reportedly killed in this accident, at least another seven people have serious injuries for which they have been hospitalized.

It is not yet clear exactly what caused this balcony to collapse, but reports suggested the entire balcony tore away from the building, from the 4th floor. Berkeley police reported that the incident occurred between 12 and 1am this morning.

There are many legal ramifications for a tragic incident such as this one. First, the heirs of the wrongful death victims should file California wrongful death claims against the apartment complex. In addition, the severely injured guests or residents of the apartment may make personal injury claims against the apartment complex.

Pedestrians Suffer Critical Injuries when hit by car in Winnetka

April 24, 2015 | by Robert Walch

A Winnetka pedestrian accident on Tuesday resulted in critical injuries to two pedestrians and car accident injuries to two other people. The accident occurred Tuesday afternoon in Winnetka, California. According to the Calabasas Patch, the accident happened in a multi vehicle collision on Winnetka Avenue near Roscoe Boulevard.

The pedestrians who suffered critical injuries when they were hit by a car were a 40 year old woman and a young girl only six years old. A man and woman also suffered injuries, apparently when at least two other cars collided. The man and woman were taken to a hospital and their condition was described as “fair.”

As of now, we do not have information as to who was at fault for this car crash and pedestrian accident in Winnetka. It is possible that a car may have struck the pedestrians and then the car was struck by another vehicle. It is also possible that one car stopped for the pedestrians and another car behind that car did not stop in time, rear ending the first car into the pedestrians. These are all types of accidents that we have seen and handled over the years in our personal injury law office.

Concussions – Traumatic Brain Injuries – NFL

January 29, 2014 | by Robert Walch

According to ESPN, former National Football League running back, Jahvid Best, who played for the Detroit Lions, has filed a personal injury lawsuit against the NFL, Riddell and Easton-Bell Sports, for the concussions that he sustained while playing football, which ended his professional football playing career.

It will be particularly interesting to see what information is gained through litigation against Riddell and Easton, who make the helmets that the NFL players wear. Have these companies been withholding relevant concussion information from consumers? Can football helmets be made in a way that, when used properly, including helmet to helmet hits (which are part of football), the players wearing the helmets do not suffer concussions? Is there a better helmet that could have been designed and used that is not being used so that teams can save money? Hopefully the litigation process will divulge this information.

It is understandable if some people see this lawsuit and do not believe the suit has merits. Some may argue that Mr. Best knew full well the risks of playing football before he agreed to be paid a lot of money to play. However, more and more information keeps emerging about the damages of a concussion. It is very important for people to remember that a concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is a serious injury that cannot be taken lightly. If certain companies intentionally withheld safety information, including the damaging effects of concussions, from users of the products the companies manufactured, or if the league did not disclose the risks and dangers of concussions to its players, we can understand why there would be personal injury liability on those parties.

Young Girl Killed in Tragic Uber Accident

January 2, 2014 | by Robert Walch

A pedestrian accident in San Francisco, involving an Uber driver, has resulted in the death of a young girl and caused serious injuries to her brother and mother. According to TechCrunch, an Uber SUV driver collided with the family as they were walking in a crosswalk. Apparently, the driver was not in the process of transporting an Uber rider, so Uber’s liability insurance may not apply to cover the California wrongful death damages.

This Uber car accident brings up many important legal issues that may not be addressed under current California law. Normally, with a common carrier, such as a taxi, there is a commercial insurance policy in place covering the taxi. The policy will cover the taxi if it causes an accident while transporting people or not. However, with Uber, the company may claim that its drivers are not working for Uber unless they actually are transporting the Uber customer(s) at the time of the crash. Uber’s argument would be strengthened by the fact that Uber does not own the vehicle and the driver is free to do his/her own thing when not transporting an Uber rider.

Victim’s rights advocates, like California personal injury lawyers, may make the argument that if the driver is available to Uber or in the process of picking someone up for Uber, that he/she is working for Uber and Uber’s insurance should apply to cover the damages caused by the accident.

80 Killed in Spanish Train Accident

July 31, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A train accident on July 24th in northwestern Spain resulted in the death of 80 people and many train accident injuries. According to the Los Angeles Times, the driver of the train, Francisco Garzon, was going too fast for the conditions, as he had to go around a curve. Garzon, who was going approximately twice the speed limit, apparently did not see that there was a curve coming.
Garzon has been charged with reckless homicide for the train passenger deaths. In addition to the wrongful death train accident victims, many passengers were taken to the hospital with very serious train accident injuries. We wish a speedy recovery to these victims of this tragic train crash.

Unfortunately, we see many train accidents happening around the world. Many get reported, but most train accident injuries are less severe and do not make international news. Many people around the world, including in Los Angeles, have been injured by metro, subway and other trains. These train accident injuries range from relatively minor falls, sometimes caused by a rapid acceleration of the train, or more serious incidents involving loss of life.

3 People Killed in Tragic Pico Rivera Car Accident

June 14, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Pico Rivera car accident last night has resulted in the death of a man and two children, who were thrown from the car after the head on collision. According to the Los Angeles Times, the car accident in Pico Rivera apparently happened when the man, who was driving a Honda home from a party, went into the southbound lanes of San Gabriel Parkway, colliding head on with another vehicle.

The Honda was also carrying a woman and another child. Both of them were listed in critical condition from the serious injuries they suffered in this car accident. The other vehicle, a Nissan, had two female occupants. They were both taken to the hospital and their injuries were listed as serious.

The cause of this Pico Rivera accident has not yet been determined by police. Often, in night time accidents where a car goes into the other lane of traffic, alcohol or other intoxicating substances are involved and play a part in causing the crash. However, there are plenty of other scenarios that may have occurred. For example, there may have been a hazard in the roadway that caused the driver to swerve into oncoming traffic.