Wrongful Death

Motorcyclist Killed in California Accident

February 20, 2017 | by Robert Walch

A motorcycle accident in Wonder Valley, California on February 9, 2017, has been identified as Nikos Lukaris. According to Z1077fm, Lukaris, a 43 year old man from Twentynine Palms, California, was riding his dirtbike without a helmet or lights on Amboy Road when he was struck and killed by a Ford F-350 Super Duty pick-up truck. The driver of the pick-up truck was also a Twentynine Palms resident, Patrick Candelaria.

Apparently, the F-350 driver was attempting to pass another vehicle when he struck the motorcyclist head on. The California motorcycle accident wrongful death occurred shortly after 6:00pm. The California Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation into the causes of the motorcycle accident.

Father and Daughter Killed in Palmdale Accident

February 14, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Sunday evening, an apparent street race led to a violent crash and two people killed. The Palmdale car accident allegedly occurred when two vehicles were racing and one of the vehicles lost control and struck a traffic pole.

According to TheAVTimes, the two people killed were in a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro that was headed southbound on 25th Street East in Palmdale. The father was driving the vehicle and the daughter was in the passenger seat. The father, Manuel Paniagua, was 54 years old. His daughter, Vanessa Paniagua, was only 17 years old.

According to witnesses at the scene, the two vehicles were speeding and probably racing. The other vehicle possibly involved in the race drove away from the scene without stopping to render assistance to the occupants of the Chevy. The driver of that other vehicle faces possible criminal charges for being involved in a street race and for leaving the scene.

San Bernardino Wrongful Death Victim Identified

February 12, 2017 | by Robert Walch

On Saturday, February 11, 2017, Cesar Manuel Floriano Ortiz of Highland was killed in a single car crash that allegedly occurred at about 12:45 am, when he was riding as a passenger in the vehicle. Apparently, Brien Jesus Reyna of San Bernardino was driving the car when the driver lost control and struck a light pole on H Street in San Bernardino, California.

Cesar Manuel Floriano Ortiz of Highland was only 22 years of age.

Brien Jesus Reyna of San Bernardino was only 18 years of age.

Reportedly both the driver and passenger were killed in this tragic San Bernardino car accident.

Allegedly the men were driving eastbound on West Ninth Street at about 12:45 am early on Saturday morning on the 215 Freeway overpass when the driver lost control and struck the light pole located on H Street in San Bernardino.

6 Children Deceased In Bus Accident

November 23, 2016 | by Robert Walch

Sadly, a sixth child has passed away from the tragic bus accident in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The bus crash occurred on Monday when the students were being driven home from school. According to cnn.com, the driver of the bus, Johnthony Walker, went off the road and collided head on with a tree and turned over.

Surprisingly, blood tests on the driver did not find any drugs or alcohol in his system. In addition to the six children who were killed, another 12 suffered significant injuries, including serious head injuries and spinal injuries. Six of those 12 students are still hospitalized.

Apparently the bus was not on the regularly scheduled path and the driver was speeding. There are also reports that the bus driver asked the students if they were ready to die before the crash. This indicates that the bus driver may have intentionally caused this horrible crash.

Our sincerest condolences go out to the families of the young victims who were killed in this crash and we wish a fast recovery to those who suffered injuries.

Palm Desert Tour Bus Collision With 13 Deaths Update – USA Holiday Bus Driver and Owner, Elias Vides, Had Many Prior Safety Violations, Accidents and Citations

October 25, 2016 | by Robert Walch

Elias Vides, the well liked owner, operator and driver of the tour bus that crashed into the rear of a big rig truck on Sunday, October 23, 2016, killing 13 people, including himself, and injuring 31, not surprisingly to our team of lawyers had many prior safety violations, traffic tickets and lawsuits filed against him for prior bus versus car accidents alleging deaths and injuries.

According to data obtained from the federal government, the bus drove 68,780 miles in 2015 and the company had been in business for five years. Statistics show that the more miles and time one drives, clearly the more likelihood of accidents, collisions and traffic violations.

As previously reported in our blogs, the tour bus was traveling back from the Red Earth Casino in Thermal, near Salton Sea, on the I10 Freeway towards the intersection of Vermont Avenue and Olympic Boulevard located in the Koreatown community of Los Angeles, California, when it violently rear ended the big rig truck in front of it.

Thirteen people died and will have California wrongful death claims, including driver Vides (age 59) and 13 passengers. 31 people were injured, including the driver of the big rig truck, identified as Bruce Guilford, age 50, a resident of Covington, Georgia, that was rear ended by the tour bus.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Vides had been sued at least twice for negligence after collisions between his bus and other vehicles. One of these collisions allegedly resulted in the deaths of three (3) persons in another vehicle.

NTSB Launches Investigation into USA Holiday Desert Hot Springs Tour Bus Collision Which Killed 13

October 24, 2016 | by Robert Walch

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that it had launched an investigation into the horrific tour bus accident which killed 13 and injured at least 31 others this past Sunday morning, October 23, 1016, at approximately 5:17 a.m. in Desert Hot Springs, California.

The NTSB has sent a “Go To Team” to Desert Hot Springs to investigate the causes of this collision. For more information about the NTSB, simply click here.

The tour bus, allegedly owned and operated by USA Holiday, was returning from the Red Earth Casino in Thermal near the Salton Sea, traveling westbound on the I10 Freeway, with its destination in Los Angeles, in the Koreatown area, at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. Many of its passengers were asleep when the tour bus allegedly rammed into and crashed into the rear of a big rig truck. Apparently the tour bus was traveling so fast and the impact was so violent that one-third of the bus was crushed.

13 People Killed in Palm Springs Tour Bus Accident

October 23, 2016 | by Robert Walch

A tragic bus accident in Palm Springs this morning caused the deaths of 14 people and left over 30 people with injuries. The Palm Springs bus accident occurred at about five o’clock in the morning on Interstate 10, near Indian Canyon Road.

According to LAIST.COM, the tour bus slammed into the rear of a big rig truck, which crushed the front end of the bus. Of the 31 injured people, five are reported to be in critical condition.

Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the crash, but based on photos of the scene, it appears the bus was traveling at a high speed when it struck the big rig truck. Most likely the bus driver and bus company, USA Holiday, will be found responsible for the crash and will have to pay for the wrongful death and injury claims. If the big rig truck driver did anything negligent to cause the crash, the truck company may also have to pay extensive damages.

Our California personal injury lawyers handle bus accident injury and wrongful death claims throughout the state of California. Recently, attorney Robert Walch went to arbitration on a Northern California bus accident case and won over $350,000 for his injured client. That client sustained arm injuries and scarring from broken glass from the bus.

Man Killed in Culver City Crash

September 10, 2016 | by Robert Walch

A tragic Culver City car accident occurred earlier today when a woman who was fleeing police collided with another vehicle and killed the driver of that vehicle. The man who was killed also had his young son in the car who also suffered injuries.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the car accident in Culver City occurred when Culver City Police were in pursuit of a woman who was driving an allegedly stolen car. The woman then ran a red light and collided with the BMW in the intersection of Washington Boulevard and La Cienega.

The crash and wrongful death of the driver of the BMW are being investigated by the California Highway Patrol, most likely because it would not be appropriate for Culver City Police to investigate the accident involving its officers.

PROFESSIONAL BILLIARDS PLAYER KILLED IN FIERY TRUCK CRASH ON 101 FREEWAY

July 28, 2016 | by Robert Walch

CBS reported that two men were killed in a truck accident on the 101 Freeway, also commonly called the Hollywood freeway. Apparently, Brendan Crockett, a professional billiards player, who won the U.S. Junior National Billiards Championship and was contending for a spot on the U.S. National Billiards Team, and his brother, Jeff Crockett, were killed when their BMW crashed into a big rig truck. Brendan was only 21 years old, and his brother Jeff was 24.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that the two Crockett brothers were killed when their BMW, traveling southbound on the 101 Freeway crashed into a big rig truck just north of Lewis Road. Their BMW reportedly was found under the big rig’s trailer, on fire, while the truck driver did not report any injury.

The collision reportedly occurred at 12:16 am. The cause was not determined, but one wonders if the late hour and darkness contributed to this fatal crash?

Australians design a human body meant to survive car accident deaths

July 27, 2016 | by Robert Walch

A team of Australians, including an artist, a trauma surgeon and a crash investigator have designed a hypothetical human body that shows us what our bodies would have to evolve into in order to survive what would be fatal car accident injuries.

As explained by IFLScience.com, the evolved body would not have a neck, so that a broken neck could not result from a high impact collision. Further, the head would have a reinforced skull, to prevent the blunt force trauma injuries and brain injuries that result from crashes at high speeds. The body would also be designed with air pockets between the ribs, which would serve as a type of airbag to prevent fatal injuries to the internal organs. The knees would also be designed to bend in all directions, to prevent them from breaking in a car accident.