California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Off Duty Police Officer Helps Save Man After Los Angeles Car Accident

December 26, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles car accident on Christmas day resulted in a vehicle fire on the southbound 405 freeway, near the interchange with the 101 freeway. After a car apparently collided with the center divider, an off duty LAPD officer who witnessed the crash stopped to assist. According to the Los Angeles Times, officer Thompson cut the victim’s seat-belt and attempted to free him from the burning car, before Thompson himself was overcome by the fire and smoke.

Fortunately, two other people stopped and helped and pulled Thompson and the other victim from the burning car. The car ended up fully engulfed by flames from the 405 freeway accident. A captain in the Los Angeles Fire Department said that Thompson’s actions probably saved the victim’s life.

It is still unclear exactly what caused this car accident in Los Angeles. Vehicles collide with guardrails and center dividers for many reasons. Sometimes it is due to driver inattentiveness and other times the accidents are caused by other vehicles that change lanes into the car without seeing it, pushing it into the divider.

7 Car Tarzana Accident Causes Injuries and Wrongful Death

December 17, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A car accident in Tarzana on Monday, involving a total of seven automobiles, caused the death of one woman and numerous car accident injuries to other people involved in the crash. The crash occurred near the intersection of Ventura Blvd. and Corbin Ave., which is near where Tarzana and Reseda meet.

The woman who passed away as a result of the Tarzana car accident was not identified by the Los Angeles Times. According to investigators, it appears that speed may have been a factor in this multi-vehicle collision. The LAPD said that a Ford Taurus was probably the cause of the collision, as it collided with numerous vehicles. The Ford Taurus driver, who was also injured in the collision, was hospitalized as a result of the accident injuries.

In a case like this, the family of the Tarzana wrongful death victim should immediately contact a local wrongful death lawyer who can help recover wrongful death damages from all responsible parties. Typically, the first source for such a recovery would be the auto insurance liability coverage of the responsible party or parties. It will first be necessary to determine who was at fault, then the attorney will have to locate the applicable coverage and seek the maximum monetary recovery for the heirs of the deceased.

Police Officer Seriously Injured in Los Angeles Freeway Accident

December 14, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles freeway accident early this morning has caused serious injuries to a Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant. According to the LA Times, The police officer was helping a motorist who’s vehicle was non-operational on an off-ramp of the 110 freeway. Apparently, a Chevrolet Monte Carlo was speeding, hit a barrier and pinned the police officer into his vehicle.

The freeway crash in Los Angeles caused serious injuries to the officer, who has not yet been identified. The officer was taken to Los Angeles County USC Hospital. His injuries have been described as serious and authorities are investigating the exact cause of the Los Angeles accident.

Legally, in an incident such as this, the seriously injured officer may make a worker’s compensation claim as well as a Los Angeles personal injury claim. This is because he was injured on the job, but his injuries were caused by a third party. In such situations, any funds paid by worker’s compensation may be reimbursable from any funds recovered as part of any personal injury settlement or judgment.

Man Killed in Hollywood Car Accident

October 30, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Hollywood car accident early Monday morning resulted in the death of a man. According to WEHOville, the car accident occurred on La Brea Avenue, near where Hollywood meets West Hollywood, at about 2:00am, Monday morning. Witnesses stated that the man was driving too fast, struck parked vehicles, then hit a taxi. There was no report on whether alcohol or drugs may have played a part in this fatal Hollywood accident.

The driver of the taxi, which was struck by the car, had to be taken to a local area hospital. Fortunately, his injuries were only described as minor. The taxi driver was treated and released. Since it appears that the driver who tragically passed away in the car accident was probably at fault for causing the crash, there will probably not be any car accident wrongful death case here. However, if there was another reason for the crash, such as a defective road design, a wrongful death claim may possibly be made. Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased.

Teenager Arrested After Thousand Oaks Pedestrian Accident

October 22, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy was struck by a car driven by Daniel Long, a nineteen your old from Simi Valley. The pedestrian accident in Thousand Oaks happened last week on Raindance Street. According to The Acorn, the man who was struck by the car was an off duty sheriff’s deputy. After striking the pedestrian, the driver drove off, was later arrested.

Fortunately, this pedestrian hit and run crash could have had much worse results. The victim was taken to Los Robles Hospital where he was treated and released later that day. Thankfully, the pedestrian accident injuries were described only as “minor.”

Mr. Long, who could have faced felony charges, is only being charged with a misdemeanor hit and run violation. He faces the possibility of a short time in jail, but much less than he would face if charged and convicted of a felony.

UCLA MOURNS DEATH OF WIDE RECEIVER KILLED IN SAN CLEMENTE CAR V. PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT

September 10, 2013 | by Robert Walch

UCLA football player, Nick Pasquale, was killed Sunday, September 8, 2013, when, while he was walking, he apparently was struck by a car in San Clemente, California. The car reportedly stopped and the driver was not cited. The specific causes of this fatal pedestrian accident are reportedly still under investigation.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Nick was a highly regarded high school athlete at San Clemente High School. At UCLA he was an undersized receiver at 5’7″ and 172 pounds, but was quick, a vocal leader and played in UCLA’s first game this season, a 58-20 victory over Nevada on Saturday, August 31, 2013. That was Nick’s first game ever for UCLA, and so sadly his only game for his university.

Nick was a red shirt freshman, also contributing to UCLA’s success by playing on UCLA’s scout team against its starting defense.

IRWINDALE BUS ACCIDENT CHAOS ON THE 210 FREEWAY

August 25, 2013 | by Robert Walch

The Thursday morning California tour bus accident on the 210 Freeway, just past the 605 Freeway interchange, allegedly occurred when the bus driver braked hard then swerved across lanes, ending up on its side. The bus had picked up its passengers in Monterey Park and San Gabriel and was going to San Manual Indian Bingo and Casino in Highland when this California bus accident occurred.

Reportedly over 50 passengers were hurt, some with injuries described as moderate. Such injuries typically are not accurately described and often are much more serious and painful to the victims than the investigating police officers state.

A truck driver, Jeff Lewis, who apparently witnessed this bus accident, was reported by the Los Angeles Times to have stated that elderly people ended up stuck on top of each other. He estimated that the bus was going approximately 70 miles per hour before the crash.

As a result of this accident, with so many injured, multiple ambulances and other emergency personnel arrived. A triage was set-up, with a helicopter landing area. As a result, the 210 Freeway was closed with traffic clogged for many hours.

Although the injuries were stated to be minor to moderate, seven passengers hurt in this bus crash were airlifted to hospitals. That does not sound like minor injuries, especially with the high cost for such emergency helicopter air medical service.

30 People Injured in 210 Freeway Irwindale Bus Accident

August 22, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A charter bus accident in Irwindale this morning, occurring on the 210 Freeway, resulted in bus accident injuries to approximately 30 people. Fortunately, according to the Los Angeles Times, none of the bus crash injury victims appear to have sustained critical injuries. However, this was a serious incident this morning in which a bus apparently careened off of the highway and ended up on its side.

Although there was a big rig truck stopped close to the scene of the bus crash, it is not clear if the truck had anything to do with the accident, or if the driver possibly just stopped to help after the accident. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the bus accident and has not yet announced who or what caused this Irwindale, California charter bus accident.

The bus accident, which occurred near the interchange with the 605 Freeway, resulted in all lanes of the 210 freeway being closed. Some of the injured bus passengers had to be airlifted to hospitals for treatment for their injuries.

Parts of Beverly Hills Evacuated Due to Ruptured Gas Line

August 7, 2013 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, due to the apparent risk of gas explosion injuries, parts of Beverly Hills, California were evacuated today after a rupture occurred in an underground gas line at a construction site. The construction site is for a public works warehouse on 3rd Street in Beverly Hills.

Various entertainment companies had to evacuate their offices due to the risk of a Los Angeles gas explosion. Only minutes ago, it was announced that the gas line rupture had been successfully repaired and the evacuation order was lifted. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the Beverly Hills gas line rupture.

Southern California Gas Company as well as the Beverly Hills Fire Department worked on repairing the ruptured Beverly Hills gas line.

Just this week, unfortunately, residents of the city of Rosario, in Argentina, were not as lucky when a gas explosion killed at least 10 people and left many others unaccounted for. Apparently, according to Stuff.co.nz, work was being done on the gas system for an apartment building shortly before the gas explosion occurred. That explosion completely destroyed a 10 story apartment building and also caused many gas explosion injuries. Our hearts go out to the victims of this gas explosion, which has particular significance as it was in the home town of Barcelona soccer legend, Lionel Messi.

80 Killed in Spanish Train Accident

July 31, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A train accident on July 24th in northwestern Spain resulted in the death of 80 people and many train accident injuries. According to the Los Angeles Times, the driver of the train, Francisco Garzon, was going too fast for the conditions, as he had to go around a curve. Garzon, who was going approximately twice the speed limit, apparently did not see that there was a curve coming.
Garzon has been charged with reckless homicide for the train passenger deaths. In addition to the wrongful death train accident victims, many passengers were taken to the hospital with very serious train accident injuries. We wish a speedy recovery to these victims of this tragic train crash.

Unfortunately, we see many train accidents happening around the world. Many get reported, but most train accident injuries are less severe and do not make international news. Many people around the world, including in Los Angeles, have been injured by metro, subway and other trains. These train accident injuries range from relatively minor falls, sometimes caused by a rapid acceleration of the train, or more serious incidents involving loss of life.