Wrongful Death

Avid Motorcyclist Killed by Drunk Driver in Lancaster Motorcycle Accident

April 29, 2015 | by Robert Walch

A Lancaster motorcycle accident on Sunday, April 19, 2015, resulted in the death of Glenn Arnold Grimm. According to the Antelope Valley Times, Mr. Grimm, who was 69 years old, was struck by a drunk driver in a pick up truck. Mr. Grimm was stopped at the intersection of 90th Street East and Avenue K when he was rear ended by the truck.

Sadly, Mr. Grimm, who was involved in another motorcycle accident in 2005, where a vehicle ran a rad light and struck him, causing him to tear ligaments in his ankle, had spent much time searching for the yellow Harley Davidson that he was riding at the time of this accident. Mr. Grimm felt that the yellow color would help avoid a future motorcycle crash.

Mr. Grimm was a very experienced motorcyclist who often participated in motorcycle related charities for good causes. Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) will be honoring Mr. Grimm and accepting charitable donations for its cause.

The Los Angeles County District Attorneys’ Office said that the man who struck Mr. Grimm, Javier Guzman Pena, was found to be intoxicated at the time of the motorcycle accident. He apparently had a .08 blood alcohol content, has been charged with murder and is being held on one million dollars bail.

One Person Killed in Hawthorne Car Accident

April 2, 2015 | by Robert Walch

According to laist.com, one person was killed in a Hawthorne car accident today when a minivan struck a light pole. The minivan struck the light pole so hard that pictures show the van wrapped around the pole. The car accident fatality happened at the intersection of Hawthorne Boulevard and 135th Street, in Hawthorne, Los Angeles County, California.

It is not yet clear if any other cars were involved in this car accident in Hawthorne, or how many people were in the minivan at the time of the crash. The fire department reported that they found the deceased occupant of the minivan dead on arrival. The car may have also caught on fire after the accident, which may have contributed to the death.

From a personal injury legal standpoint, an accident like this can be evaluated in different ways. First, if this was a one vehicle accident and the driver of the vehicle caused the crash and he or she was the person who was deceased, with no other occupants, there probably would not be a personal injury wrongful death claim that could be made.

However, if another car negligently struck the minivan, causing the minivan to hit the pole, a Hawthorne wrongful death claim would be made against the driver of the vehicle that struck the minivan. If that vehicle fled the scene or does not have insurance, then an uninsured motorist wrongful death claim could be made, as long as there is uninsured motorist coverage for the minivan.

Motorcyclist Killed in Brentwood Hit and Run Accident

March 23, 2015 | by Robert Walch

A motorcyclist was killed last Wednesday when he was hit by a van in Brentwood, California. The driver of the van did not stop to render aid or identify him or herself after the collision and has not yet been identified. According to the Los Angeles Times, the victim of this hit and run accident was Ehsan Fazel, who lived in Woodland Hills, California.

Apparently, this Brentwood motorcycle accident occurred when Fazel was lane splitting, which is when motorcyclists ride between lanes of cars. Lane splitting is a common act done by motorcyclists and it is not illegal in California, as long as it can be done safely. The California Highway Patrol advises that lane splitting, also known as lane sharing, is neither specifically allowed, nor prohibited, under California law.

This Brentwood accident happened on Sunset Boulevard, near Kenter Avenue. The driver of the white van continued on Sunset Boulevard and was not identified. Anyone with any information on the accident, including a possible license plate for the van, should call the LAPD right away at 213-473-0234.

Man Killed Today in Simi Valley Pedestrian Accident

March 2, 2015 | by Robert Walch

A 23 year old man, named Jerome De La Cruz Castro, was killed today in a tragic car accident in Simi Valley on Highway 118. The crash occurred a little after five in the morning today when Castro, according to the Ventura County Star, lost control of his car, possibly due to rain, hit a guard rail on the 118 freeway and came to a stop in the far left lane.

Apparently, Mr. Castro got out of the car and was standing near it when another vehicle, driven by a woman who has not yet been identified, struck Castro’s car, causing his car to hit Castro and kill him. The California Highway Patrol said the crash occurred on the westbound 118 freeway, east of Keuhner Drive. This area of freeway has a curve and goes downhill.

It was not reported whether the woman sustained any injuries in this Simi Valley car accident. We wish our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Jerome De La Cruz Castro, who lived in North Hollywood, California. We also feel that Mr. Castro’s family should hire an experienced California wrongful death lawyer to examine the facts of this situation and determine if there is any liability for wrongful death damages. There may be a claim against the insurance of the woman who struck Castro’s vehicle, if it can be determined that she did something wrong, such as driving too fast for the conditions, or texting and not paying attention to the road.

Elderly Woman In Lexus Killed In Collision With Bruce Jenner on PCH in Malibu On February 7, 2015

February 8, 2015 | by Robert Walch

Additional information has been learned in follow-up to our blog post of February 6, 2015, titled “Celebrity Bruce Jenner Involved In Fatal Malibu Car Accident”, about the tragic four (4) car traffic accident on PCH in Malibu resulting in multiple injuries and one wrongful death. Los Angeles County Sheriff Sgt. Philip Brooks told the Los Angeles Times a Prius driving north on PCH in Malibu either slowed down or stopped and was rear ended by an elderly lady in a Lexus. Bruce Jenner, in a black Cadillac Escalade SUV, while pulling another vehicle, then allegedly rear-ended the Lexus. This caused the Lexus to propell into the southbound lanes of oncoming traffic, where it was struck by a Hummer.

As a result of this impact or series of impacts the lady driving the Lexus died at the scene of these collisions. Authorities declined to identify the lady driving the Lexus who was so tragically killed in this accident. The Lexus reportedly sustained major damage to both its rear and front ends.

It also was reported that Bruce Jenner was given a field sobriety test which he passed and also took a blood alcohol test with unknown results at the time of publication of the Times article.

In such multiple car collisions liability may be shared among various parties. For example, in this incident, the reason for the Toyota Prius either slowing or stopping will need to be reviewed to see if any vehicle code was violated or if it constituted any unsafe, dangerous or negligent conduct by the driver of the Toyota Prius or anyone else.

Next, the lady driving the Lexus reportedly rear ended the Prius, so there will be issues regarding driving at a safe distance, speed, inattention and other factors to consider.

Regarding Bruce Jenner, there will be the same issues to consider: driving at a safe distance, speed, inattention and other factors.

Also, the investigation will look into the actions of the driver of the Hummer, who was driving south on PCH, to determine whether he contributed to causing the collision, such as whether he was traveling too fast for conditions, inattention (such as using a mobile cell device while driving), and was unable to take reasonable evasive actions that might have been taken to prevent this incident or lessen its severity.

Celebrity Bruce Jenner Involved in Fatal Malibu Car Accident

February 7, 2015 | by Robert Walch

About 2 hours ago, TMZ is reporting that Bruce Jenner was involved in a fatal rear end car accident in Malibu. According to TMZ, Jenner apparently told police that the Malibu wrongful death car accident occurred when he was fleeing from paparazzi who were chasing him. Jenner’s vehicle apparently rear ended another vehicle. That white car apparently was pushed into oncoming traffic, where it was struck by a Hummer. The driver of the white vehicle tragically perished in this multi car accident in Malibu.

Bruce Jenner is a well known United States olympian who won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He later gained additional fame as the step father to the Kardashian sisters, in the well-known reality television show “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” Jenner is also the father of Brandon, Brody, Kendall and Kylie Jenner. Bruce Jenner has gained additional fame recently as reports have suggested that he has been undergoing the process of having a sex change. The Kardashian family has a home in Calabasas, California.

According to TMZ, Bruce Jenner was subjected to a field sobriety test at the scene of the Malibu accident, which he reportedly passed. A total of eight people were apparently involved in the crash and might have sustained injuries, including the one fatality.

NO SURPRISE: Bigger, Newer Cars Found Safer

February 2, 2015 | by Robert Walch

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent educational and scientific nonprofit organization dedicated to reduce losses due to deaths, injuries and property damage from car accidents on our highways and roads, reported that there was a huge improvement from its last study in 2008 from 48 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years to just 28 for 2011 model year vehicles (registered vehicle year means one car registered for one year).

Drivers in the United States are now less likely to be killed in car and other vehicle accidents due to better car safety systems coupled with the increasing use of restraining systems – that is seat belts and shoulder straps.

Further, mid-size and large autos had much fewer driver fatalities than small and mini-sized vehicles, according to the IIHS.

3 Girls Killed in Halloween Santa Ana Pedestrian Wrongful Death Accident

November 2, 2014 | by Robert Walch

Three girls were tragically killed on Friday night when they were struck by a speeding vehicle while trick or treating. According to cnn.com, the Santa Ana accident occurred when the three girls, all aged thirteen years old, were hit by a vehicle that was speeding. Two male occupants of the vehicle apparently fled the scene, but were followed by a witness. Eventually, the two men left the Honda CRV and fled the scene by foot.

The speed limit at the location of this Santa Ana wrongful death was 25 miles per hour, but apparently the vehicle might have been going approximately 50 miles per hour when it struck the girls. The Santa Ana Police Department is investigating this case and searching for the men responsible. We can only hope that the registration on the vehicle matches up with the driver, so that the driver can be brought to justice.

In many of these types of incidents, the driver of the vehicle is intoxicated, with alcohol and/or drugs, and decides that it would be better to flea the scene than to be found intoxicated at the scene. Hopefully the driver and other occupant of the vehicle will see the error in their ways and turn themselves in immediately.

Young Girl Tragically Killed in El Monte Milk Truck Accident

August 14, 2014 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, a milk tanker truck apparently caused a serious accident on the 60 freeway today in El Monte. The big rig truck accident, which involved eight cars and three big rig trucks, killed a five year old girl. In addition, at least 12 other people suffered injuries in the El Monte truck accident.

The milk truck crash occurred early this morning, before 6am, when the milk tanker truck collided with other vehicles and then landed on the center divider of the freeway. The resulting damage and milk leak caused authorities to have to shut down both sides of the 60 freeway. The closures caused massive traffic delays for commuters.

In addition to the crashed vehicles and massive spill, two cars caught on fire and had to be extinguished by firefighters. A hazardous materials team from Los Angeles County was also called in to help with the milk spill.

We offer our sincerest condolences to the family of the young girl who was tragically killed in this tanker truck accident and wish a speedy recovery to those who suffered injuries.

Actor Tracy Morgan Suffers Critical Injuries in Wal-Mart Truck Accident

June 7, 2014 | by Robert Walch

Tracy Morgan, a well known comedian and actor, who often performs in Los Angeles, suffered very serious injuries in a Walmart truck accident this morning. The accident happened in New Jersey, when a Wal-Mart truck driver apparently lost control of the truck and struck a limousine that was transporting Tracy Morgan, as well as others. Tragically, another comedian, James McNair, knows as Jimmy Mack, who was with Morgan in the limousine, was killed by the Wal-Mart truck.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the driver of the big rig truck, Kevin Roper, may have been dozing while driving, which allegedly caused this tragic big rig truck accident. Bill Simon, the President and CEO of Wal-Mart, expressed his condolences and said that if it is determined that the Wal-Mart truck driver caused the accident, WalMart would take full responsibility.

Morgan and the rest of the passengers were apparently riding in a chauffeured sports utility vehicle limousine that was hit by the WalMart big rig truck. The full extent of Morgan’s injuries is not yet known, but it is reported that his family is with him at the hospital.