California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

5 Car Los Angeles Freeway Accident Injures 3 on 101

February 3, 2011 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, a five car accident in Los Angeles, California on Sunday injured three people, including one person who suffered severe injuries. The cause of the Los Angeles car accident is currently unknown, but because it occurred as rain began to fall on Sunday morning, it is believed that the rain played a part in the crash.

The Los Angeles accident occurred on the 101 freeway, near Barham Boulevard in the Cahuenga Pass, according to the California Highway Patrol, who responded to the scene. The person who was seriously injured in the collision, who has not yet been identified, had to be extricated from the car by Los Angeles County firefighters who responded to the crash.

All three injured victims were taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where it can be assumed the two minor injury victims were treated and released.

Wind Causes Big Rig Truck Accidents in San Bernardino

February 2, 2011 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, The California Highway Patrol has reported that the strong winds being experienced in San Bernardino, California, today, have caused five big rig trucks to overturn this morning.

The San Bernardino big rig truck accidents have caused lane closures on the 15 freeway as well as the 10 freeway in Rancho Cucamonga. The winds, which were as high as 58 miles per hour, also caused big rig trucks to overturn on the 10 freeway near the Etiwanda exit in Rancho Cucamonga and on the 60 freeway where Rancho Cucamonga meets Riverside.

Due to the danger from a big rig truck accident in San Bernardino, as well as the freeway closures and expected traffic delays, it is advisable to stay away from those areas today.

As readers of our blog know, California big rig truck accidents occur very frequently and often have disastrous effects. Due to their size and lack of maneuverability, it is advisable to keep a safe distance from big rig trucks whenever possible. Cases have shown that even a very small impact from a big rig truck can cause a much smaller car to lose control. Sometimes, the driver of the big rig truck will not even feel the impact, or he/she will claim as much.

Los Angeles Big Rig Truck Crash on 101 Freeway

February 1, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A major Los Angeles truck accident occurred this morning on the 101 freeway, closing most of the freeway and causing a SigAlert until 10 a.m. It has now emerged that the Los Angeles truck crash injuries may have been caused by a drunk driver driving the big rig.

The big rig truck, which was hauling two trailers that were filled with sand, hit a divider north of the 170 freeway split. According to eyewitnesses, the truck then hit numerous vehicles on the westbound side of the freeway, before bouncing back onto the eastbound lanes where it landed on top of a sport utility vehicle.

Due to their injuries from this Los Angeles big rig crash, the drivers of both the big rig and the sport utility vehicle were transported to the hospital. The Times reports that the injuries suffered by the driver of the SUV are major, but not fatal. Judging by the Los Angeles Times picture from the scene, it can be assumed the injuries are very serious and we wish the driver a full recovery.

Investigation will show if the driver of the truck was intoxicated at the time of the Los Angeles truck collision. If he was in fact drunk, or under the influence of other substances, it can be expected that criminal charges will be filed against the driver.

Fog Advisory Warning for Los Angeles County Today

January 31, 2011 | by Robert Walch

To avoid Los Angeles car accident injuries, Los Angeles County drivers should be aware of a fog advisory issued today by the National Weather Service. The advisory warns of dense fog that will cause visibility to be reduced to a quarter mile in certain areas near the coast.

The advisory warns that drivers should take extra care when driving in certain roadways near the coast, including Pacific Coast Highway and the 405 and 710 freeways.

There was also a fog advisory for Orange County earlier in the morning, but it has since been lifted.

Please take extra care, drive slower and keep an extra space cushion if driving in areas affected by the fog.

Pedestrian Killed in Los Angeles Hit and Run Accident

January 30, 2011 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, an 18 year old pedestrian has been killed in Los Angeles when she was struck by a pickup truck. The driver of the pickup truck, who apparently slowed down after hitting the woman, but did not stop, has been identified as a Latino man who had a large beard.

The hit and run auto v. pedestrian accident in Los Angeles occurred in the Vermont Vista neighborhood, in South Los Angeles. The woman was crossing Figueroa Street where it meets 66th street, at about 10:30pm, when she was hit by the car.

The woman was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where she died of her injuries from this collision.

If the driver of the vehicle who hit the woman is not found, the family of the victim may still have a Los Angeles wrongful death claim, but it will need to be filed with uninsured motorist coverage (if any). If the victim, or, in some cases, a family member who she resides with, has uninsured motorist coverage, the uninsured motorist coverage may step in to take the place of the responsible driver. This only occurs if the driver is not found, if the driver is found but does not have insurance, or if he is found but does not have enough insurance and the value of the uninsured motorist coverage exceeds the liability coverage on the responsible party’s insurance.

Street Racer Sentenced to 7 Years for Glendale Crash

January 28, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Aren Aznavoleh, a Glendale resident, has been sentenced to seven years in prison as a result of a car crash he caused while allegedly racing his car through the streets of Glendale. The Glendale auto accident, which left one man paralyzed, occurred in 2009.

The victim, Rafick Daroosee, an Iranian, had only been living in the United States for 3 months before this car accident. Mr. Daroosee suffered severe brain damage and is paralyzed from this Glendale auto collision. His wife, who does not speak English or have a job, has been left to care for him.

A restitution hearing, in which Mr. Daroosee’s family will be able to appeal to the court to order Mr. Aznavoleh to pay them money for the damages they have caused, will be held on March 8, 2011. Unfortunately, all too often in these types of situations, the perpetrator of the crime does not have the money or assets to pay the amount ordered in the restitution hearing. Mr. Daroosee’s family will also be able to make a claim against Mr. Aznavoleh’s automobile insurance coverage, if he had coverage. In this case, it can be assumed that there will not be sufficient insurance coverage to cover the significant injuries and damages suffered by Mr. Darooosee.

Man Killed in San Bernardino Motorcycle Accident

January 27, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A high speed chase, involving a stolen pickup truck, has resulted in a motorcyclist getting killed in San Bernardino, California. The incident began when a man called police as he was following his car, which had been stolen.

Police followed the 2001 Ford F-150 pick up truck until it entered the wrong way onto the exit ramp of Interstate 215. Police chose to no longer follow the pickup truck due to the risks involved. However, the truck continued and hit a motorcycle, driven by a 57 year old man from Riverside, California, who was killed in this San Bernardino motorcycle accident.

The assailant, described as a 5’6″ Hispanic male, approximately 25 years old, with average build and a shaved head, fled the scene on foot, and was not caught by police.

It will have to be determined if there was more that police could have done to prevent this tragic San Bernardino wrongful death accident. In the past, we have discussed how high speed chases, of non-violent offenders, have resulted in very serious and catastrophic injuries to innocent bystanders. If at all possible, when police see a car acting erratically to evade them, a helicopter should be called in to watch overhead until the suspect stops, rather than exposing the public to this risk of harm.

Be Very Careful — Avoid Traffic Tickets in Los Anageles

January 26, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A client of ours just forwarded to us an email based on information from the Los Angeles Times about California using traffic ticket revenue from Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley and other areas to collect money to try to balance its budget. The email states:

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES HAS AN ARTICLE ON THE SUBJECT:

Please be extremely careful in your driving and car registration & insurance matters. State of California is broke and it is trying hard to squeeze all of us hard to collect money.

Effective immediately, if you do not stop at a red light, be ready to pay $436 in fines or if you pass a school bus with flashing red signals, you will be charged $616. The state of California is going for blood, so be extra careful in driving. It has been reported that the Calif. Highway Patrols are under pressure to issue a lot more tickets than last year with at least 30% increase in fines over 2009, so beware of radar guns, highway and traffic cameras and the tougher enforcement of parking rules.
Just for your info, the next time you park in the handicapped zone, even for a minute, you could be looking at almost $1000 in parking tickets, so don’t do it!

Traffic Ticket Fines (Effective 01/06/2011)

VC 12814.6 $214 Failure to obey license provisions.

VC 14600(A) $214 Failure to notify DMV of address change within 10 days [Note: The fine may be reduced with valid proof of correction].

Jury Awards $1.2 Million in Police Brutality Case of Bounty Hunter Shot by LAPD

January 25, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles jury has awarded $1.2 million in damages in a police brutality case brought by a bounty hunter who was shot and wounded by a Los Angeles Police Department. The bounty hunter, Elvin Andre Gilbert, was in South Los Angeles, seizing a bail jumper who was wanted on a felony, when he was shot by the police officer.

Apparently, the police officer found Gilbert, with Allen Badoya, another bail agent, holding the suspected bail jumper with his hands behind his back and a gun to his head. The officer, who mistook the situation for an armed robbery or kidnapping, then shot Mr. Gilbert.

Gilbert’s attorney argued that Gilbert’s gun was not raised when they were confronted by the officers. Gilbert said he was shot as soon as he stood up and he never heard the officers give a warning. They also argued that the LAPD had previously been notified that the bounty hunters would be operating in that area. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department said the officer did give a warning before shooting and only shot after Gilbert turned towards them. There have also been allegations that police tried to plant evidence to make it look like a reasonable shooting.

Gilbert was shot three times, including in his stomach and right arm. The jury in this Los Angeles civil lawsuit ruled that the LAPD did not have the probable cause needed to arrest Gilbert, and awarded him $1.165 million total, including $365,000 in economic damages, $200,000 for his physical pain, mental suffering and emotional distress, and a further $600,000 for his future damages.

Walch Selected Personal Injury Attorney of the Year 2010

January 24, 2011 | by Robert Walch

We are extremely proud to announce that a member of our firm, Gary Walch, was selected Personal Injury Attorney of the Year for 2010 by the Editorial Staff of the Consumer Business Review.

Gary has been an attorney since 1975, graduating from UCLA summa cum laude (with highest honors) and then the UCLA School of Law.

During his legal career of successfully handling thousands of serious injury claims in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and San Bernardino counties he has resolved claims for many millions of dollars for his clients.