Wrongful Death

3 Killed in South Los Angeles Car Accident – Driving Without a License

February 7, 2012 | by Robert Walch

The Los Angeles Times reports that a South Los Angeles car accident has caused the death of three women. The single car accident occurred when the driver of the vehicle, Tenina Calhoun, a resident of Moreno Valley, crashed into a tree near the intersection of Normandie and West Florence Avenue in South Los Angeles.

Ms. Calhoun had five passengers in the vehicle, all of whom suffered serious injuries in the South Los Angeles car wreck. Five of the occupants of the vehicle were ejected from the car and three of the women died as a result of the accident. The driver of the vehicle was reportedly driving without a license and police said they found alcohol in the vehicle.

This wrongful death car accident highlights the debate over what to do when police stop unlicensed drivers. Some argue that it should be mandatory that the unlicensed driver’s vehicle be impounded for thirty days. They argue that statistics show that unlicensed drivers are involved in more car accidents than licensed drivers. Opponents of this rule argue that it is unfair to illegal immigrants, who cannot obtain a license to drive. The L.A. Times writes that a police commission will be hearing a debate on this issue on February 14, 2012.

Other recent accidents involving unlicensed drivers include a Panorama City pedestrian accident in December that caused the death of a 60 year old woman who was struck by a sports utility vehicle and a Jefferson park car accident last week where two LAPD officers were injured and had to be hospitalized.

Orange County and San Bernardino Accidents Caused by Elderly Drivers

February 2, 2012 | by Robert Walch

Two serious California car accidents this week were caused by elderly drivers whose ages seemed to have played a large part in causing the incidents. First, on Monday afternoon, in an Orange County accident, a ninety one year old lady apparently accelerated in reverse into the patio area of a doughnut shop, causing injuries to three people. Then, on Tuesday, an eighty five year old woman, driving in the wrong direction on Interstate 15, caused a San Bernardino car accident that killed her and another man.

According to the Los Angeles Times, in the Orange County car accident, three men sustained injuries and were treated at hospitals. All three injuries were considered minor. After hitting the patio area of the doughnut shop, the woman then shifted her vehicle into drive and drove forward and collided with a wall for a residential property. There do not appear to have been injuries to pedestrians in the second collision.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the I-15 accident, near Bear Valley Road in San Bernardino County, occurred when the elderly woman drove the wrong way on the freeway and struck a Cadillac Eldorado in a head on collision. The woman and the sixty seven year old male driver of the Cadillac both died from their injuries in this collision. The woman was from Victorville and the man was from Hesperia.

These Orange and San Bernardino car accidents, as well as many others in the past, must cause us to ask the question whether the California Department of Motor Vehicles is doing enough to insure that California drivers are qualified to be on the road. We often hear stories of people in their twenties and thirties, with no histories of problems on the road, having to pass vision and other tests to renew their licenses, while other elderly drivers are able to renew their licenses without any tests.

Santa Monica 405 Freeway Accident Kills One

February 1, 2012 | by Robert Walch

A Santa Monica 405 Freeway Accident on Tuesday resulted in the death of one person and possibly serious injuries to others involved. The three car collision occurred on the 405 Freeway near Santa Monica Boulevard, in Los Angeles, California.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the Santa Monica car accident and closed all of the southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway during its investigation. According to the Los Angeles Times, three cars were involved in the freeway accident and there was at least one death, implying there could be more people killed or seriously injured. As of the time of the report, the wrongful death victim had not yet been identified.

Once the CHP completes its investigation, the cause of the three car 405 freeway wreck will be clearer. If the person who died did not cause the collision, the legal heirs of the victim may be able to make a Los Angeles wrongful death claim against the party that caused the collision.

The family members of the victim should consult with a Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer to investigate the claim and determine the sources for recovery. Sometimes, the party who caused the collision will have little or no insurance coverage, in which case it is necessary to make an underinsured or uninsured motorist claim. For this reason, it is always advisable that all drivers have as much uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance coverage on their policies, to protect them in case they are injured by someone with inadequate insurance coverage.

Driver Dies in Cajon Pass Truck Accident

January 25, 2012 | by Robert Walch

A truck accident on the Cajon Pass today killed the driver of the big rig truck and may have injured occupants of another car. The California big rig truck accident allegedly occurred when the UPS truck, which was pulling two trailers, struck a car on Interstate 15, on the Cajon Pass. This impact caused the truck driver to lose control of the truck and careen off the side of the road.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the UPS truck accident occurred near Oak Hill Road and caused three lanes of the freeway to be closed by the California Highway Patrol, while they investigated the cause of the accident. It was originally believed that high winds caused this truck wreck, but it appears now that the initial impact with the car caused the truck to lose control.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of this collision, including whether it was the car or UPS truck that caused the initial collision. If the truck driver caused the collision, then the United Parcel Service may be responsible for any truck accident injuries suffered by the occupants of the car that was struck. If, however, the driver of the car is found to have caused the collision, the driver, and his/her insurance company, will be responsible for the wrongful death of the truck driver.

Man Killed in California Truck Accident

January 7, 2012 | by Robert Walch

Joseph Maier, a 48 year old man from La Mirada, California, was crushed to death by a delivery truck. The California truck accident occurred when the truck was apparently backing up to the loading dock when it struck Maier and pinned him against the dock.

According to the L.A. Times, Maier was working at the warehouse of Superior Grocers, in Santa Fe Springs, when he was hit by the truck and crushed to death. Paramedics transported Maier to the UC Irvine Medical Center where he later passed away.

Police did not arrest the driver of the truck, who may be accused of causing the big rig truck accident. Because Maier was working at the time of the accident, his heirs may make a workers compensation claim against the employer. Also, if the truck driver was negligent, Maier’s heirs may be able to make a truck accident wrongful death claim against the truck driver and trucking company.

This California wrongful death claim may be very complicated and it will be necessary to secure witness statements from anyone who may have seen the accident occur. Also, there may be video of the incident, which would help a California wrongful death lawyer determine if a wrongful death claim may be made.

Woman Killed in Long Beach Elevator Accident Wrongful Death

December 9, 2011 | by Robert Walch

An elevator accident in Long Beach, California on Wednesday, at the campus of California State University at Long Beach, resulted in the death of an employee of the school. Annette Lujan, a Huntington Beach resident, who worked for the university, died after being crushed by the malfunctioning elevator.

The elevator accident occurred after the elevator first became stuck in between the second and third floors. After an unrevealed period of time, Ms. Lujan apparently climbed out of the elevator. However, after she climbed out, the elevator began to move again and the 2,000 pound elevator car crushed her to death.

The cause of this elevator accident is still being investigated. It has been reported that the elevator was last inspected in April, 2011, and no problems were reported at that time. The Los Angeles Times also reports that officials have said that this accident shows the danger of trying to escape an elevator after it stops and becomes stuck.

Many people have fears that an elevator may break down while they are in it, and this causes anxiety in many people who ride elevators, particularly when they are crowded with people, it is a small elevator or it is in an older building.

Newport Beach Motorist Killed By Falling Tree

November 1, 2011 | by Robert Walch

New details have emerged in the case of the woman who was killed when her car was struck and crushed by a falling tree in Newport Beach. The Daily Pilot has tried to obtain the investigation results from the City of Newport Beach, as to the cause of the tree falling. The city has refused to share the results of its investigation into the cause of the Newport Beach accident.

The victim of the Newport Beach wrongful death accident was Haeyoon Miller, who was driving on Irvine Avenue when the blue gum Eucalyptus tree crushed her vehicle. According to the Los Angeles Times, the family of the Newport Beach wrongful death victim is waiting to decide if it will take legal action, which would likely include a Newport Beach wrongful death claim.

Pedestrian Killed in Northridge Amtrak Train Accident

October 21, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A twenty eight year old man was killed this morning when he was struck by an Amtrak train in a Northridge train accident. According to the Los Angeles Times, the man was walking on the railroad tracks when he was hit by the Amtrak passenger train near Lindley Ave. in Northridge, California. Los Angeles Fire Department rescuers declared the man dead at the scene.

According to the Los Angeles police department, nobody on the train was injured in the California train accident. The reason the man was on the tracks and hit by the train remains unknown to investigators.

Tragic Calabasas Car Accident Leaves 1 Dead and 1 Critically Injured

October 3, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A tragic Calabasas car accident on the 101 freeway, near the Las Virgenes exit, has left a 9 year old girl dead and her mother critically injured with burn injuries. Dramatic video from the scene of the Calabasas accident, wherein bystanders are trying to help the mother after rescuing her from the vehicle, can be seen here courtesy of CBS News.

The Calabasas freeway accident happened Saturday morning at about 8:30am on the southbound lanes of the 101 freeway. The car apparently lost control and hit the center divider and a tanker truck. As a result, the car rolled over and became engulfed in flames. While the mother was able to exit the car with severe burn injuries, she was not able to save her 9 year old daughter, who died in the accident in Calabasas.

Motorcyclist Killed in Downtown Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident

September 10, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A motorcyclist was killed early this morning in a Los Angeles motorcycle accident on the Harbor Freeway. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles motorcycle crash occurred at about 3:45 in the morning, south of downtown on the Harbor Freeway north, near Adams Blvd.

The California Highway Patrol is in charge of investigating the cause of the motorcycle accident in Los Angeles. One possible cause was apparently that a driver may have been attempting to avoid hitting a mattress which was on the freeway.