Wrongful Death

Helicopter Crash – 3 People Killed in Los Angeles Work Accident

February 22, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles work accident has resulted in the deaths of the pilot and two passengers of a helicopter, in Polsa Rosa Ranch, California. According to the Los Angeles Times, the helicopter accident occurred during a production of a reality television show for the Discovery Channel. The pilot of the helicopter, David Gibbs, from Valencia, had apparently been involved in other incidents in which he was reprimanded by the FAA.

Many safety issues have come up regarding this particular helicopter crash. First, it has been questioned whether Mr. Gibbs, given his safety record, should have been hired to work on this project. Also, it must be answered why the helicopter was flying at night, in a hilly area with poor visibility. The Los Angeles helicopter accident resulted in the deaths of a crew member and a cast member of the reality based television show that has not yet been named.

According to the L.A. Times, there is currently debate in Hollywood as to the safety of filming certain reality tv shows. It is alleged that deaths and work injuries have occurred due to an attempt to show dramatic footage and cut costs involved in the production of the shows.

Ventura Bicycle Accident Kills Bicyclist

February 18, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A 41 year old bicyclist was killed in a Ventura County bicycle accident on Sunday. The bike accident occurred in Piru, California, which is located in Ventura County. The victim of the bike accident was Jose Jimenez Cervantes, who is from Fillmore, California. According to the Ventura County Star, the victim was struck by a pick up truck driven by Alberto Velgara, who is from Piru.

The Ventura bike accident apparently occurred around 6:30pm on California Highway 126. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the bike crash. The CHP has said that the victim was not wearing protective lighting equipment or a helmet. The pickup struck Mr. Cervantes from behind, while he was riding on Highway 126. The highway had to be closed for about 90 minutes after the Piru bike accident, for the CHP to conduct its investigation. The findings of the investigation have not yet been released.

Pickup Truck Driver Killed in San Bernardino Bus Crash

February 6, 2013 | by Robert Walch

The San Bernardino bus accident in Yucaipa, California, over the weekend, has resulted in an eighth fatality, the death of the driver of the pickup truck that was struck by the bus. According to the Los Angeles Times, Fred Bailey Richardson passed away this morning from his truck accident injuries. Richardson had been receiving care at the Intensive Care Unit at Loma Linda University Hospital since the crash.

According to reports, Richardson was driving his pickup truck up California 38, to his home, which was only about four miles away, in Mentone, California, when his truck was struck by the out of control bus. The bus apparently rolled over the pickup truck. The exact cause of the San Bernardino truck accident has not been officially released. However, it has been reported that this particular bus company, Scapadas Magicas, from National City, California, and possibly the specific bus involved in the crash, had a history of safety issues and violations. According to the L.A. Times, this particular bus company was placed on a federal watch list, meant to lead to increased roadside inspections.

The other wrongful death victims of this tragic San Bernardino bus crash included three bus passengers from San Diego, California, and four bus passengers from Tijuana, Mexico.

8 Killed in San Bernardino Bus Accident

February 4, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A tour bus accident in San Bernardino yesterday has resulted in eight deaths and at least 30 injuries. The San Bernardino bus accident apparently occurred when a tour bus, being operated by Scapadas Magicas of National City, lost control near Yucaipa, California. The tour bus then collided with a truck and a passenger car.

The San Bernardino accident occurred on route 38, which is a mountain road leading from Big Bear Mountain, California. According to the Los Angeles Times, the tour bus appeared to have been from Tijuana and was going back to Tijuana at the time of the Yucapia bus crash.

The California Highway Patrol reported that the truck, with one occupant, was crushed when the bus rolled over it, while the passenger sedan had three occupants. Seven California wrongful death victims were from the tour bus. Among the 27 people who had to be taken to hospitals, about six were listed in critical condition.

One Killed in Los Angeles Car Accident

February 1, 2013 | by Robert Walch

One alleged robbery suspect was apparently killed this morning in a freeway accident in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles freeway accident occurred after police received a call about a robbery at a 7-11 convenient store. Officers saw a vehicle which they said was driving recklessly, and a high speed chase occurred.

During the chase, the suspects’ vehicle crashed into another vehicle on the northbound 5 freeway, at the interchange with the 110 freeway. After the crash, the suspects’ vehicle flipped over, trapping the three suspects inside. One of the suspects in the robbery died as a result of his injuries from the Los Angeles car accident. One other suspect had to be hospitalized for his car accident injuries, while the third was taken into police custody.

There were no immediate reports about injuries to the occupants of the vehicle that was struck by the suspects’ car. Based on the lack of information, it is assumed that there were no serious injuries in that vehicle.

CHP Reports Increase in Los Angeles Car Accidents Due to Rain

November 29, 2012 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, the California Highway Patrol has reported that there were 188 car accidents in Los Angeles County today, for the areas covered by the CHP, just between the hours of 12am and 8:00am. The increase in Los Angeles car accident incidents today is mostly due to unsafe driving in the rain. By comparison, in the same time period last week, without the rain, there were only approximately 36 Los Angeles accidents.

The CHP blamed the Los Angeles rain accidents on drivers who drive too fast for conditions. Their main advice to drivers was to slow down, when driving in the rain. While many of the accidents were just one car accidents involving a vehicle that spun out in the rain, there were some serious Los Angeles crashes, including a Glendale big rig truck accident on the 5 Freeway and a fatality accident on the 134 freeway in Toluca Lake.

The Toluca Lake car accident occurred on the westbound 134 freeway and involved at least two vehicles. Two people apparently suffered minor injuries, while a third person died at the scene of the accident.

The Glendale truck accident occurred at around two o’clock this morning, left debris over the southbound 5 Freeway and blocked the northbound lanes. The southbound lanes were not open until about 6:30am and the northbound lanes opened at approximately eight o’clock in the morning. Depending on the cause of the truck accident in Glendale, the family of the victim may be able to make a Glendale wrongful death claim against any responsible parties.

30 Year Old Man Killed in Glendale Car Accident

September 14, 2012 | by Robert Walch

A 30 year old man was killed this morning in a multi-vehicle freeway car accident in Glendale, California. According to the La Cañada Flintridge Patch, the Glendale car accident occurred on the 134 Freeway, at around seven o’clock in the morning. The California Highway Patrol reported that the man died at the scene of the Glendale freeway accident.

This multi-vehicle car accident caused the closure of three lanes of traffic on the Ventura Freeway and resulted in serious traffic delays from Monrovia to Burbank. The CHP is still investigating the cause of this Glendale freeway crash. Various witness accounts of the accident and of the aftermath have claimed that the car was overturned after the crash. A person who said she was in another car and witnessed the accident has claimed to have seen the deceased driver swerving before the collision.

It is always important however to look very carefully at witness statements. Sometimes, witnesses can have a bias. Other times, witnesses think that they recall something, but actually remember it quite differently from how it happened.

TWO GOOD SAMARITANS ELECTROCUTED TO DEATH IN VALLEY VILLAGE CAR ACCIDENT

August 25, 2012 | by Robert Walch

Two women were fatally electrocuted after a Valley Village car accident on Thursday, August 23, 2012, when the first went to help the injured driver of a car accident and the second when she went to help the first woman. Several others reportedly suffered less serious electrical burn injuries and are expected to make a full recovery.

Apparently, the driver, a 19 year old from Glendale, driving a sports utility vehicle (SUV), lost control of his vehicle, possibly due to high speed, when traveling through the intersection of Magnolia Boulevard and Ben Avenue, striking a concrete light standard and fire hydrant with such force to knock them both over. This created a dangerous and deadly combination as water quickly pooled into the intersection, causing the wrongful death of two good Samaritans and severe injuries to others who were electrocuted and burned.

One passerby, Irma Zamora, reportedly called 911 then rushed from her vehicle and ran to assist the driver of the SUV. Unbeknownst to her, the water in the intersection was electrified and when she stepped into the water she was immediately electrocuted to death. The fire department estimated that her wrongful death was caused by approximately 48,000 volts of electricity. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mrs. Zamora, age 40, of Burbank, Los Angeles County, was known as one to help others. According to family members, her selfless action was typical.

Another woman, not yet identified, also died when, as she tried to help Mrs. Zamora and touched her, she also was electrocuted to death. Reportedly, at least six (6) others, including the driver of the SUV and a Los Angeles police officer, were electrocuted, severely injured and required hospitalization.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa visited the Valley Village traffic collision site, praising the two good Samaritans as heroes. He also reminded others to carefully assess such situations before rushing into them and to wait for professionals to arrive.
One former resident of Valley Village who is very knowledgeable about car accidents and electricity, R. Freeman, advised that after a car accident one should never go near pooled water when there is a damaged electrical device, such as a damaged power pole, that could possibly electrify the pooled water and, in fact, one should move far away as quickly as possible and wait for the fire department to handle the situation.

2 Killed in El Monte Freeway Accident Wrongful Death

August 23, 2012 | by Robert Walch

An El Monte car accident today has resulted in the death of at least two people. According to the Los Angeles Times, an unknown number of other people were trapped in their cars after the El Monte accident on the 60 freeway. The freeway accident occurred on the 60 freeway, eastbound, where it interchanges with the 605 freeway.

According to the California Highway Patrol, three or more lanes of the 60 freeway eastbound were blocked off due to the El Monte car accident. This resulted in a large traffic backup for commuters. The interchange from the 605 south to the 60 east also became blocked due to this multi-vehicle freeway accident.

Official details on the cause of this car accident in El Monte are still pending. The California Highway Patrol would only release the fact that two people had been confirmed dead.

When more details as to the cause of this crash are revealed, the families of the deceased may be able to pursue an El Monte wrongful death claim against any responsible parties. As of now, it is unknown if other parties caused the deaths of these wrongful death victims. If another car is determined to be at fault, that driver’s insurance company may be responsible for wrongful death damages, to the heirs of the deceased.

LACMTA Metro Blue Line Reports Increase In Train Accidents & Fatalities

August 7, 2012 | by Robert Walch

The Metro Blue Line, that runs 22 miles from downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach, has reported 22 train accidents and six (6) fatalities so far during 2012. Many are caused by collisions with cars, trucks and other motor vehicles.

The Blue Line is reported by the Los Angeles Times to be one of the busiest light rail lines in the United States and, unfortunately, is on pace to have more fatalities than any other year in its 22 year history. This statistic is even more significant given the fact that the Blue Line has a history of numerous accidents with cars, causing injuries and fatalities.
The Blue Line opened as Los Angeles County’s first light rail line in 1990. It currently has 26 million riders per year. It earned the undesired reputation in 1999 as California’s deadliest rail transit line when ten (10) people were reported killed and 40 others reported injured in 50 MTA Blue Line accidents that occurred during 1999. Most of these accidents involved collisions at street crossings with cars and other motor vehicles.

Although the Los Angeles County Metro Blue Line averaged almost 51 accidents annually during its first 12 years, since then its number of accidents has dropped to about 28 per year. During this time, the Metro took many steps to improve safety, including installing photo enforcement cameras at street crossings to deter drivers from attempting to race across intersections to beat passing trains. Metro officials claim such safety measures directly contributed to decreasing the number of MTA accidents each year.