California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

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.

Man Killed in Calabasas Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Death

June 17, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A 25 year old man from Calabasas, John Westerlund, was killed in a Calabasas motorcycle accident on Wednesday. According to The Acorn, the Calabasas accident occurred on Las Virgenes Road, when the driver of a pick up truck pulled out in front of the motorcycle, attempting to make a u-turn from a parked spot on the street.

Our Calabasas accident lawyers have seen this scenario over and over again. A car will be parked parallel to a street and then, without noticing a car coming in the same direction, will attempt a u-turn when the driver thinks it is safe to enter the opposite direction of travel. Many of these collisions result in a t-bone collision, where the car or motorcycle traveling straight broadsides the vehicle attempting the illegal u-turn.

Oftentimes, the auto insurance company for the vehicle making the illegal turn will try to deflect their liability (fault) by arguing that the vehicle traveling straight was trying to go around the turning vehicle. Insurance companies will often make up these bogus arguments in order to make it more difficult for the victim to get his or her vehicle repaired right away, which causes much frustration and inconvenience. These are among the many reasons to hire an experienced Calabasas car accident lawyer right away after an accident when you are not at fault.

3 People Killed in Tragic Pico Rivera Car Accident

June 14, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Pico Rivera car accident last night has resulted in the death of a man and two children, who were thrown from the car after the head on collision. According to the Los Angeles Times, the car accident in Pico Rivera apparently happened when the man, who was driving a Honda home from a party, went into the southbound lanes of San Gabriel Parkway, colliding head on with another vehicle.

The Honda was also carrying a woman and another child. Both of them were listed in critical condition from the serious injuries they suffered in this car accident. The other vehicle, a Nissan, had two female occupants. They were both taken to the hospital and their injuries were listed as serious.

The cause of this Pico Rivera accident has not yet been determined by police. Often, in night time accidents where a car goes into the other lane of traffic, alcohol or other intoxicating substances are involved and play a part in causing the crash. However, there are plenty of other scenarios that may have occurred. For example, there may have been a hazard in the roadway that caused the driver to swerve into oncoming traffic.

California Medical Malpractice – Unfair Limits on Pain and Suffering

May 23, 2013 | by Robert Walch

In 1975, the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (“MICRA”) was set into law in California. This law unfairly limits the amount of money that a victim of medical malpractice can receive for his or her pain and suffering to only $250,000. This amount has not gone up with inflation in 38 years and is the limit regardless of how severe the injury and malpractice. For example, if a doctor were to negligently remove the wrong leg of a patient, the pain and suffering of the crippled patient is limited to the same $250,000.

For the protection of California’s citizens, this law obviously needs to be changed. We urge our readers to vote in the poll on the website for the Los Angeles Business Journal, by clicking here. The poll is on the bottom right of the page, and we urge a “yes” vote, that the limit on California medical malpractice is unfair and far too low. As of the time of publishing this blog post, 92% of the votes in the poll favor raising the unfair limit on pain and suffering damages.

Newbury Park Wildfire Threatens Homes

May 3, 2013 | by Robert Walch

The “Springs Fire,” which has now burned over 10,000 acres, is threatening about 4,000 homes in Newbury Park California. The California brush fire has caused damage to at least 15 homes and other properties so far. As of now, the Newbury Park fire has not been contained and many residents have had to evacuate their homes.

Fortunately, no incidents of injury or death, to residents or firefighters, have been reported. As always, with a fire as massive as this one, the risk of fire and burn injuries is significant. Adding to the danger is the fact that the Santa Ana winds have been blowing particularly strong this week. Further, the lack of rain in the Los Angeles area this year heightens the risk of brush fires and makes it easier for the fire to spread.

According to CNN, the California fire started on Thursday morning in Camarillo, California, and traveled all the way to Pacific Coast Highway. Due to the fire, a 10 mile area of PCH was closed, just north of Malibu.

As of now, the cause of the Newbury Park brush fire remains unknown. Sometimes these fires are caused by arson, in which case the arsonist, if caught, can face serious criminal charges, including murder if any deaths result from the fire. If caught, the arsonist would also face civil liability for the fire damage caused to property.

Police Looking for Suspect in Beverly Hills Bicycle Crash

April 24, 2013 | by Robert Walch

The Beverly Hills Police Department is looking for the suspect in a hit and run Beverly Hills car versus bicycle collision. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Beverly Hills bicycle crash occurred after a confrontation between the bicycle rider and the driver of a white 3 Series BMW. The bicyclist apparently punched the driver in the face prior to the bicycle crash.

The driver of the BMW then allegedly threatened to kill the bicyclist and crashed into him in an alley behind a restaurant. The car crushed the bicyclist against a steel trash bin, causing bicycle collision injuries to the bicyclist. The bicyclist was taken to the hospital for his injuries, but they were not life threatening.

Surveillance footage of the Beverly Hills bicycle collision can be found by clicking here, courtesy of the L.A. Times. The video shows the BMW swerving to the left, apparently to intentionally collide with the bicyclist, before driving off. The Beverly Hills auto v. bicycle collision occurred on April 3rd, 2013, but police still have not located the driver of the BMW.

TWO BOMBS EXPLODE AT BOSTON MARATHON – 3 KILLED, OVER 170 INJURED!!!

April 16, 2013 | by Robert Walch

Yesterday afternoon, Monday, April 15, 2013, two bombs exploded during the Boston Marathon, reportedly killing three and injuring more than 170. Some of those injured are critical, many reportedly losing limbs and suffering shrapnel and other serious injuries.

With over half a million present and twenty thousand runners from over 100 nations, the casualties certainly could have been far greater, but that is no comfort to those tragically affected by this horrific act of terrorism. Those responsible have not been arrested or identified, and presently there is no information whether those responsible are foreign or domestic. Regardless, this act, the first apparent successful act of terrorism against a city in the United States since Sept 11th, is one committed by cowards against innocent, defenseless people participating in what was to be a wonderful day of excitement, exercise and celebration.

Initially a 15 block area was closed off to assist investigators with the crime scene and this morning the Police Commissioner announced it has already been reduced to 12 blocks, with further reductions planned. Although the crime scene area is closed off, city official have stated there is a heavy police presence at public areas, such as Logan Airport, where traffic had been suspended, and city subway stations, and urged the public to come into Boston.

Lakers’ Player’s Bentley Totaled in Los Angeles Car Accident

March 31, 2013 | by Robert Walch

Jordan Hill, a forward on the Los Angeles Lakers, had his Bentley totaled in the early hours of Saturday morning after a Los Angeles car accident. According to BleacherReport.com, the Bentley was driven by Hill’s friend, Michael Lacey, a former college basketball player, when it crashed into an apartment building.

It does not appear that anyone was hit by the car when it crashed into the building, but Lacey and/or his female passenger did appear to sustain injuries, as police are said to have followed a blood trail from the car to the apartment elevator, in the building where Hill has an apartment.

Lacey was arrested on charges of driving under the influence. Neither Lacey, nor his passenger, required hospitalization for their Los Angeles car accident injuries. Hill, who apparently was not involved in the crash, did not sustain any injuries, although he is still recovering from his hip surgery.

Two Seriously Injured in Los Angeles Gas Explosion

March 15, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles gas explosion at a Sports Chalet in La Cañada Filtridge resulted in serious burn injuries to two store employees. According to the Los Angeles Times, the employees were going to shut off a gas valve, after a person reported smelling gas, when the explosion occurred. The two employees suffered serious burn injuries in the gas explosion.

The employees reportedly suffered second and third degree burns in the La Cañada Filtridge gas explosion. Sport Chalet, the owners of the store, and employers of the injured employees, has apparently offered their support to the injury victims and is having a blood drive on March 26th, with the American Red Cross.

The store employees, who were injured on their job, should be able to make a Los Angeles workers’ compensation claim against their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance coverage. This is coverage that will cover the employees regardless of who caused the accident. From a Los Angeles personal injury standpoint, if any customers of the store had been injured, they would have to make a claim against whoever was responsible for causing the gas explosion in La Cañada Filtridge.