Wrongful Death

Lake Forest Construction Worker Killed When Worksite Trench Collapses

May 10, 2018 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, a worker died at a Lake Forest construction site while working for Empire Grading on a grading project for tract homes. The worker was killed when a 17-foot-deep trench collapsed.

The accident is still currently under investigation—it is not clear whether the worker fell into the trench or if he was working as a spotter in the trench at the time of the collapse. The fire department arrived at the scene and used an industrial vacuum and buckets to remove to collapsed dirt and find the body.

When a person is killed while working, their family may be able to make a worker’s compensation claim. Most workers are covered by workers compensation for on the job injuries, and if an injury causes death, like in this case, the family members of the person who died may be able to get certain applicable benefits. These benefits provide compensation for surviving dependents when the work injury causes death. Continue Reading

Driver Opening Car Door Causes Burbank Bike Accident Wrongful Death

April 25, 2018 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, around 5 p.m. on April 17, 2018, a 52-year old man was killed after he was knocked off his bike and thrown into oncoming traffic.

Lenny Trinh, the victim of this Burbank bicycle accident wrongful death, was riding his bike in the designated bike lane when a driver of a parked car opened the door just as Mr. Trinh rode past. The collision with the door caused Mr. Trinh to fall into the street. The Burbank Police Department reported that Trinh was then hit by a pick-up truck traveling on Alameda Avenue.

Car Accident on the Way to Coachella—One Dead, One Seriously Injured

April 19, 2018 | by Robert Walch

ABC 7 News reported that an 18-year-old girl is dead and a 16-year-old girl is in critical condition after the driver of the car they were riding in lost control while on their way to the Coachella music festival.

According to the report, the wrongful death car accident occurred early in the morning, just after 4 a.m. The three were travelling from San Diego to the concert in a 2009 BMW 328i and were on the freeway in Banning when the accident happened. It appears the young driver, a 21-year-old male, “drifted onto the dirt shoulder at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control as he tried to steer the sedan back into lanes, then went over the embankment and struck two trees.” Continue Reading

Hacienda Heights Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash

April 13, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A 51-year-old man from Hacienda Heights was killed when he collided with an SUV in Industry, California. The motorcyclist was driving east when a Nissan Rogue, heading west, made a left-hand turn. The car and motorcycle crashed, and the motorcyclist was thrown from his motorcycle.

According to the Whittier Daily News, the motorcyclist died at the scene from blunt force injuries. The driver of the car was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. As of now, the motorcyclist’s death has been ruled an accident. The cause of the crash—determining if it was the motorcyclist or the car driver that was at fault—is still under investigation. Continue Reading

Hawthorne Driver and Passenger Killed When Corvette Hits Building

April 7, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A Hawthorne driver, Jose Padilla, and his passenger, were killed in a Gardena car accident on Wednesday evening. CBS Los Angeles reported that Mr. Padilla was driving a Chevrolet Corvette when it jumped the curb, hit a power pole, and struck a Gardena building.

Immediately after the crash the Corvette caught fire leaving the car completely mangled. Mr. Padilla was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident after being ejected from the car. A witness of the accident stated that he and others attempted to save the two men, but the fire caused explosions forcing those trying to help away from the car. It appears both men died on impact, not from the fire. Continue Reading

15-year-old Tarzana Cyclist Killed When Stuck by Car on Easter Morning

April 4, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A 15-year-old Tarzana boy, and biking enthusiast, Sebastian Montero, was tragically killed when he was struck by a car while riding his bike in Woodland Hills, California. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the Woodland Hills bicycle accident occurred when Montero was riding his bike with a friend on Easter morning. He followed his friend through an intersection when a white 2018 Infiniti entered the intersection and hit Montero, sending him flying into the car’s windshield.

The young boy was rushed to the hospital reportedly suffering from blunt force trauma. He was pronounced dead just a short time later. The driver was a 31-year-old Tarzana man. The driver stopped after the accident and the police determined that he was not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Car Jumps the Curb in Orange County, Kills Pedestrian

April 2, 2018 | by Robert Walch

According to the Orange County Register, a male pedestrian was killed while walking on the sidewalk in Tustin, California when a BMW jumped the curb and hit him. The Tustin pedestrian accident occurred around 7:00 am near Newport Avenue and the I-5 freeway.

Police are still investigating to determine exactly what caused the driver of the BMW to leave the road and cause the wrongful death of the pedestrian. The Tustin police reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle, jumping the curb and striking a retaining wall, then hitting the pedestrian. At this time, police do not believe that drugs or alcohol were involved in this Tustin wrongful death accident.

3 Dead and 1 injured in Fiery Huntington Beach Car Crash

April 1, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A California wrongful death accident that occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, California resulted in the death of three people and the arrest of a San Clemente woman, Bani Duarte, on suspicion of driving while intoxicated at the time of the crash.

ABC 7 News reported that the crash occurred just after 1 a.m. when the driver of a white Hyundai drove into the back of a red Toyota that was stopped at a red light. According to the current investigation, the red Toyota was at a complete stop, and there is no evidence that the white Hyundai even attempted to stop. Continue Reading

Uber Quickly Pays Autopilot Wrongful Death Damages

March 29, 2018 | by Robert Walch

Uber has made what some may consider to be a very smart business decision, by settling the wrongful death claim for the family of the pedestrian who was struck by the Uber autonomous vehicle on March 18, 2018. According to CNN, the family hired an attorney and made a settlement with Uber, so that parties could avoid a possible wrongful death lawsuit.

Uber has not commented on the wrongful death claim against them and the family’s attorney basically only said that the matter has been resolved. Understandably, the family of the wrongful death victim deserves to have its privacy. Terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, but we can assume that the family agreed to keep everything confidential, so as not to set a precedent against Uber. Continue Reading

Passenger killed in Long Beach Car Accident

March 28, 2018 | by Robert Walch

Joseph Testone, Jr., who was the passenger in a Maserati involved in a Long Beach car accident on Friday, unfortunately died from his injuries from this accident. According to NBC News, Testone, who was a resident of Idaho, was pronounced dead at the scene of the impact.

The driver of the Maserati, who is a man from Long Beach, aged 54, suffered very serious injuries in the accident and has been listed in critical condition in the hospital. The accident apparently occurred when the driver, who was possibly going too fast, lost control of the Maserati and crashed into a tree, which cut the vehicle completely into two. The driver was ejected from the vehicle. Continue Reading