California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Uber & Lyft Ridesharing Cars Causing Increased Traffic in San Francisco

May 13, 2019 | by Robert Walch

Are ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft taking cars and vehicles off the road, thereby helping to reduce traffic congestion and traffic accidents, or are these ride sharing services adding vehicles and congestion and traffic collisions to our streets and highways?

Uber and Lyft, two of the most popular ride sharing services in San Francisco, are reportedly the cause of increased traffic in the San Francisco area. In a report published a few days ago in Science Advances and reported by the Los Angeles Times, Uber and Lyft have become so popular that they are the single biggest factor behind the growing traffic problems in SF.

Researchers supposedly reviewed millions of trips from the year 2010 to 2016 and concluded that of the 62% increase in weekday traffic delays in San Francisco, that Uber and Lyft were responsible for more than half of this traffic delay increase.

2 Killed, 3 Injured in Fatal Sun Valley Crash—Street Racing Likely to Blame

May 6, 2019 | by Robert Walch

A recent car accident in Sun Valley resulted in the deaths of two people and injured three others. According to ABC 7 News, the incident occurred just after 7:00 p.m. at the intersection of Lankershim Boulevard and San Fernando Road. The driver of a Toyota Corolla was making a left-hand turn when a speeding white Dodge Charger smashed into the car.

Emergency personnel immediately responded to the scene to help. Police identified

59-year-old Olivia Enriquez and her husband as the victims killed in the incident. Three people from the white Dodge Charger were taken to the hospital with injuries.

14-Year-Old Skateboarder Injured in Ventura Hit-and-Run

April 30, 2019 | by Robert Walch

Over the weekend, a 14-year-old boy was injured in a hit-and-run accident in Ventura. The boy was skateboarding westbound on Darling Road just after 10 p.m. A car traveling eastbound down the road hit the teenager. A witness to the accident called 911.

The teenage boy was treated at the scene of the accident by first responders, then taken to Ventura County Medical Center for further treatment for his injuries sustained in the collision. In the hours following the accident, he was luckily said to be in stable condition as he was not wearing a helmet at the time he was hit.

Police are still looking for the driver of the vehicle that hit the young boy. KTLA News reported that “the vehicle did not stop, and the driver did not try rendering aid to the victim.” As of right now, Police do not have a description of the car or driver. They are asking anyone with information about this accident to contact the police at 805-339-4451.

Ex UFC Fighter Killed by Rideshare Driver

April 22, 2019 | by Robert Walch

On Sunday, a former UFC fighter was killed when he was struck by a rideshare driver. The incident, which occurred in the city of Belém, in Brazil, allegedly occurred after the passenger, Rodrigo de Lima, exited the rideshare vehicle. According to ESPN, de Lima and the driver of the vehicle, Jefferson Roger Maciel, got into some type of argument. Maciel allegedly struck de Lima from behind while de Lima was walking away, causing the death of de Lima. It is not presently known what rideshare company the driver was working for at the time of the incident.

Information coming out of Brazil so far is pretty scarce, but it appears the rideshare driver struck de Lima from behind. Assaults like this can lead to the victim falling and striking his or her head on concrete or pavement, which can lead to a traumatic brain injury. When we have seen incidences like this lead to a death, it is usually due to a severe traumatic brain injury involving bleeding of the brain.

Head injuries are very serious and a concussion, which is a traumatic brain injury, can lead to very serious complications and even death in certain circumstances. It is very important that if you (or someone you know) suffer a concussion, that you (or the other person), get checked out by a doctor right away. Often a CT scan of the brain is needed to determine if there is any brain bleeding. Sometimes the doctor can determine from the examination that a CT scan will not be necessary. This is determined by the results of the testing the doctor uses to examine the severity of the brain injury.

One Killed in Anaheim Big Rig Crash that Closes 5 Freeway

April 12, 2019 | by Robert Walch

Recently an individual was killed as a result of a big rig truck crash on the 5 Freeway in Anaheim. KTLA News reports that just before 3 a.m. the semi-truck was involved in a crash with a Toyota Camry. The big rig semi-truck overturned on the freeway which resulted in the closure of all southbound lanes of the 5 for several hours.

Officers immediately responded to the scene. At this point, no specific details of the fatality have been released, and authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the accident. If the investigation reveals that the car driver was killed due to the fault of the big rig driver, the family of the victim will be able to bring an Anaheim wrongful death claim on behalf of the victim.

When a big rig semi-truck is involved in an accident that results in a death, the subsequent investigation is very important because it can determine which party or parties will be liable for wrongful death damages. It will be important to sort out the case facts to determine if the truck driver caused the accident by driving negligently—driving while drowsy, driving under the influence, driving while distracted—or if the accident was perhaps caused by a problem with the truck, such as a mechanical problem or a failure by the truck company to properly maintain the truck. In a big rig accident both the driver and the company that owns the truck are potential responsible parties and depending on the facts may be responsible for wrongful death damages if someone is killed as a result. Truck companies often carry large insurance policies to cover these types of incidents.

Increased Traffic and Crashes on Silver Lake Roads Due to Traffic App “Short-cuts”

April 6, 2019 | by Robert Walch

According to ABC 7 News, popular traffic map apps, such as Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps, are causing big problems on small Los Angeles residential streets. One residential road in Silver Lake has become a popular “short cut” for app users. However, with more commuters using this “short cut,” the small street has now experienced increased traffic leading to several crashes.

Recently, the Waze app directed a large tour bus down the small Silver Lake street. The bus ended up hitting several vehicles—one witness reported that after hitting his car, the bus “hit four other cars and removed the bumper off of another one.” Luckily, no one was hurt. While Waze did respond to the incident stating the app was not designed for charter buses or oversized trucks, there is nothing to prevent drivers of these vehicles from using the app. Residents say that these apps have taken over the lives of daily drivers and it is ultimately having a negative impact on the quality of life in the small neighborhoods affected.

Residents on the street in Silver Lake say that the increased traffic has also led to more road rage, with drivers getting out of their cars and yelling obscenities at each other when the “short cut” turns out to still take a long time. Residents are very concerned about the safety of their small streets that are now becoming highly trafficked areas.

Attack at Dodgers Game Leaves Fan with Serious Personal Injuries

April 3, 2019 | by Robert Walch

A recent Dodgers game ended in a tragic personal injury for one fan. Rafael Reyna, father of four, was attacked by another fan in the parking lot after an intense game with extra innings. ABC 7 News reported that because of the intense game, fans were heated and “people got a little excited, and some people got angry.”

Reyna was on the phone with his wife when he was attacked—she heard arguing and then a “smack, a crack, [that] sounded like a baseball bat.” Reyna was rushed to the LAC+USC Medical Center in serious condition. He suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain due to the incident. The attacker fled the scene in a white Toyota 4 Runner. Police are asking anyone with more information to come forward.

This is not the first time a fan was seriously injured at a Dodger’s game. Several years ago, a man was permanently disabled after he was beaten by two men. Since this incident, the Dodgers have allegedly increased security and tried to make the game environment safer for fans. However, Reyna still got seriously hurt—his family plans to bring a personal injury suit to receive compensation for his injuries.

Teen Arrested for Murder After Causing Deadly Woodland Hills Car Accident

March 31, 2019 | by Robert Walch

Recently a 17-year-old boy was arrested for murder after causing a deadly accident in Woodland Hills that involved four other cars. The accident occurred just after 10 p.m. at the intersection of Winnetka Avenue and Ventura Boulevard. ABC 7 News reported that the teenager was recklessly driving a Mercedes-Benz for several blocks before causing the multi-car collision. He then sped through a red light at the busy intersection, without pausing, and slammed into a Toyota Tacoma. The force of that collision sent him spinning into a Ford Expedition and Lexus.

Tragically, the driver on the Toyota Tacoma died at the scene. The teenage driver that caused the accident and his passenger were both hospitalized. Two others involved in the crash were in critical condition, and one other passenger suffered minor injuries. After a preliminary investigation, the police stated, “The totality of the circumstances indicates the driver of the Mercedes displayed a willful disregard for human life.” As a result, officers arrested the young driver for murder.

It is certainly heart wrenching to see the consequences of one person’s poor decision to drive recklessly. In this case, 3 other cars were impacted, several injured, and one person died, certainly leaving a family in mourning. In this situation, not only will the young driver that caused this accident face criminal charges, but he will also be civilly liable to all those harmed by his careless and reckless actions. This civil liability would come through personal injury claims by those injured in this accident and a wrongful death claim by the family of the Toyota Tacoma driver who was killed in this Woodland Hills car accident.

Two Hospitalized After Gas Tanker Explosion in South Los Angeles

March 25, 2019 | by Robert Walch

A large, 9,000 gallon gasoline tanker exploded in South Los Angeles. According to ABC 7 News, the tank was parked on the side of the street on Slauson Avenue. Several neighbors reported smelling gas and called the fire department before the explosion occurred.

The first fire fighters arrived on the scene just prior to the explosion. Apparently, the tank had been leaking and something ignited the leaked gas—the enormous explosion caused the tank to erupt in flames, catching two homes on fire and resulting in burn injuries to two people nearby. Those injured were immediately taken to the hospital with at least one in serious condition from her burns.

Some of the leaked gas got into the sewer system and the buildup caused a second explosion down the street, sending a manhole covering blasting into the air. The fire from the explosion filled the Los Angeles sky with a dark cloud. Ultimately, 80 firefighters responded to the scene to get the blaze contained and put out.

Lyft Driver Causes Deadly Costa Mesa Motorcycle Crash

March 21, 2019 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, a 22-year-old motorcyclist died after he was hit by a Lyft driver in Costa Mesa. The police responded to the scene of the crash, which occurred around 8:50 p.m., and found the motorcyclist unresponsive. The accident occurred as the motorcyclist was traveling north on Fairview Road. The Lyft driver was traveling west and made a left turn, causing the collision. “The Lyft driver had just completed a trip to the Mesa del Mar neighborhood and had no passengers at the time of the collision.”

Ride sharing apps like Lyft and Uber are now a part of life, especially in busy areas like Los Angeles. For some time, it was unclear if Lyft and Uber could be held responsible for injuries and deaths caused by their drivers. Now, they offer insurance coverage for their drivers, however, how much liability they have depends on if or how the driver was using the app at the time of the accident. For example, in this motorcycle/Lyft accident it makes a difference that the Lyft driver had completed a trip and did not have a passenger in the car.

According to the Uber and Lyft websites, their insurance coverage for drivers is categorized to how the driver is using their car: