California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Rapper Diddy Injured in Los Angeles Car Accident

October 26, 2012 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles car accident on Tuesday caused injuries to the rapper and entertainer knows as Diddy. According to The Sun, the car accident in Los Angeles occurred near the Beverly Hills hotel, on Sunset Boulevard. Diddy suffered injuries to his neck, ribs and collarbone.

Celebrity news site “TMZ” has reported that the Beverly Hills car accident occurred when a Lexus made a left turn in front of Diddy’s Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade was apparently unable to stop in time and t-boned the Lexus. Reports indicate that Diddy was being driven by a chauffer at the time of the Los Angeles crash. The police who were called said Diddy’s driver, Diddy, and the driver of the Lexus all sustained injuries in the left turn accident.

Apparently, Diddy did not leave the scene of the accident by ambulance. However, he did seek medical care and treatment for his car accident injuries.

Sometimes, auto insurance companies will try to negate a person’s injuries by making the argument that the person did not leave the scene of the crash in an ambulance, so the injuries must not be that bad. However, this is a misguided and unfair argument. Frequently, the effects of an automobile collision are not fully felt right away. Often, this is because accident victims often get a rush of adrenaline after a crash. They may be happy to just be alive, or more worried about others, and not realize the true extent of their own pain and injuries. Because of this, many accident victims will often tell the police, paramedics or 911 operators that they were not injured in a crash.

TRAFFIC SAFETY – GOOGLE, INC. WORKING ON SELF DRIVING CARS

September 26, 2012 | by Robert Walch

In an attempt to try to reduce California car accidents in the future, self-driving cars are now allowed on California roads. Jerry Brown, the governor of California, just signed a bill that allows the testing of self-driving cars on California streets.

Yesterday, Gov. Brown, at a ceremony held at Google’s headquarters located in Mountain View California, signed into law, SB1298, which establishes guidelines for “autonomous vehicles” to be tested and operated on California roads. The bill was sponsored by State Senator Alex Padilla (Democrat from Pacoima). According to the Los Angeles Times, Senator Padilla said, “We are stepping on the accelerator when it comes to the Google Car.”

It is well known that the cause of most car and other motor vehicle accidents is human error. It is believed that “autonomous car technology” can reduce the number of accidents and, therefore, the number of injuries and deaths on California roads.

Google, Inc. co-founder Sergey Brin stated, “These vehicles have the potential to avoid accidents … We can save lives, create jobs and reduce congestion. I expect the self-driving cars will be far safer than human driven cars.”

This project is not exclusively Google’s. Caltech and others also have been working to develop cars that use radar, video cameras and lasers to safely navigate roads and safely operate in traffic conditions without any human assistance. Their contention is that these computer-controlled vehicles should eventually drive more safely than human operators.

Food Poisoning from Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter?

September 24, 2012 | by Robert Walch

Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter has been linked to 29 cases of salmonella illnesses over 18 states. As a result, and in an effort to protect the public and avoid further Trader Joe’s food poisoning, the Trader Joe’s grocery store chain is recalling this peanut butter and the public is warned not to consume the Trader Joe’s peanut butter.

The Los Angeles Times reported today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter, which is sold nationwide, is the likely source of this problem. It is also reported that these two (2) government agencies are investigating as to whether any other items sold at this chain could be contaminated.

Salmonella or salmonellosis is also referred to as “food poisoning”. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called Salmonella. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.” This infection is more dangerous to children, the elderly and those with a weak immune system.

Not surprisingly, as the infection is linked to eating peanut butter, more than three-fourths of those who became infected are under 18 years of age.

30 Year Old Man Killed in Glendale Car Accident

September 14, 2012 | by Robert Walch

A 30 year old man was killed this morning in a multi-vehicle freeway car accident in Glendale, California. According to the La Cañada Flintridge Patch, the Glendale car accident occurred on the 134 Freeway, at around seven o’clock in the morning. The California Highway Patrol reported that the man died at the scene of the Glendale freeway accident.

This multi-vehicle car accident caused the closure of three lanes of traffic on the Ventura Freeway and resulted in serious traffic delays from Monrovia to Burbank. The CHP is still investigating the cause of this Glendale freeway crash. Various witness accounts of the accident and of the aftermath have claimed that the car was overturned after the crash. A person who said she was in another car and witnessed the accident has claimed to have seen the deceased driver swerving before the collision.

It is always important however to look very carefully at witness statements. Sometimes, witnesses can have a bias. Other times, witnesses think that they recall something, but actually remember it quite differently from how it happened.

Almost 50 Injured in Metro Blue Line Train Crash with Los Angeles Bus

August 27, 2012 | by Robert Walch

A Metro Blue Line train collided with a Los Angeles city bus this morning at about 7:00 a.m., resulting in injuries to 48 passengers of the train and bus. The Los Angeles train crash occurred near downtown Los Angeles, at the intersection of San Pedro Street and Washington Boulevard.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the train was traveling south on San Pedro while the bus was going westbound on Washington. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that the train did not derail after it collided with the bus. The bus sustained major damage in the Los Angeles train accident and also knocked over a traffic signal.

The bus involved in the crash was an MTA bus, line #51, which, according to a transportation official, was traveling from Wilshire and Figueroa to its destination at the Artesia Transit Center. It was reported that 40 bus passengers were being treated for their bus accident injuries, while eight train passengers were also being treated. The injuries were reported as minor for the bus and train riders.

TWO GOOD SAMARITANS ELECTROCUTED TO DEATH IN VALLEY VILLAGE CAR ACCIDENT

August 25, 2012 | by Robert Walch

Two women were fatally electrocuted after a Valley Village car accident on Thursday, August 23, 2012, when the first went to help the injured driver of a car accident and the second when she went to help the first woman. Several others reportedly suffered less serious electrical burn injuries and are expected to make a full recovery.

Apparently, the driver, a 19 year old from Glendale, driving a sports utility vehicle (SUV), lost control of his vehicle, possibly due to high speed, when traveling through the intersection of Magnolia Boulevard and Ben Avenue, striking a concrete light standard and fire hydrant with such force to knock them both over. This created a dangerous and deadly combination as water quickly pooled into the intersection, causing the wrongful death of two good Samaritans and severe injuries to others who were electrocuted and burned.

One passerby, Irma Zamora, reportedly called 911 then rushed from her vehicle and ran to assist the driver of the SUV. Unbeknownst to her, the water in the intersection was electrified and when she stepped into the water she was immediately electrocuted to death. The fire department estimated that her wrongful death was caused by approximately 48,000 volts of electricity. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mrs. Zamora, age 40, of Burbank, Los Angeles County, was known as one to help others. According to family members, her selfless action was typical.

Another woman, not yet identified, also died when, as she tried to help Mrs. Zamora and touched her, she also was electrocuted to death. Reportedly, at least six (6) others, including the driver of the SUV and a Los Angeles police officer, were electrocuted, severely injured and required hospitalization.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa visited the Valley Village traffic collision site, praising the two good Samaritans as heroes. He also reminded others to carefully assess such situations before rushing into them and to wait for professionals to arrive.
One former resident of Valley Village who is very knowledgeable about car accidents and electricity, R. Freeman, advised that after a car accident one should never go near pooled water when there is a damaged electrical device, such as a damaged power pole, that could possibly electrify the pooled water and, in fact, one should move far away as quickly as possible and wait for the fire department to handle the situation.

2 Killed in El Monte Freeway Accident Wrongful Death

August 23, 2012 | by Robert Walch

An El Monte car accident today has resulted in the death of at least two people. According to the Los Angeles Times, an unknown number of other people were trapped in their cars after the El Monte accident on the 60 freeway. The freeway accident occurred on the 60 freeway, eastbound, where it interchanges with the 605 freeway.

According to the California Highway Patrol, three or more lanes of the 60 freeway eastbound were blocked off due to the El Monte car accident. This resulted in a large traffic backup for commuters. The interchange from the 605 south to the 60 east also became blocked due to this multi-vehicle freeway accident.

Official details on the cause of this car accident in El Monte are still pending. The California Highway Patrol would only release the fact that two people had been confirmed dead.

When more details as to the cause of this crash are revealed, the families of the deceased may be able to pursue an El Monte wrongful death claim against any responsible parties. As of now, it is unknown if other parties caused the deaths of these wrongful death victims. If another car is determined to be at fault, that driver’s insurance company may be responsible for wrongful death damages, to the heirs of the deceased.

LACMTA Metro Blue Line Reports Increase In Train Accidents & Fatalities

August 7, 2012 | by Robert Walch

The Metro Blue Line, that runs 22 miles from downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach, has reported 22 train accidents and six (6) fatalities so far during 2012. Many are caused by collisions with cars, trucks and other motor vehicles.

The Blue Line is reported by the Los Angeles Times to be one of the busiest light rail lines in the United States and, unfortunately, is on pace to have more fatalities than any other year in its 22 year history. This statistic is even more significant given the fact that the Blue Line has a history of numerous accidents with cars, causing injuries and fatalities.
The Blue Line opened as Los Angeles County’s first light rail line in 1990. It currently has 26 million riders per year. It earned the undesired reputation in 1999 as California’s deadliest rail transit line when ten (10) people were reported killed and 40 others reported injured in 50 MTA Blue Line accidents that occurred during 1999. Most of these accidents involved collisions at street crossings with cars and other motor vehicles.

Although the Los Angeles County Metro Blue Line averaged almost 51 accidents annually during its first 12 years, since then its number of accidents has dropped to about 28 per year. During this time, the Metro took many steps to improve safety, including installing photo enforcement cameras at street crossings to deter drivers from attempting to race across intersections to beat passing trains. Metro officials claim such safety measures directly contributed to decreasing the number of MTA accidents each year.

Man Killed in Calabasas Bicycle Accident

July 14, 2012 | by Robert Walch

A bicycle accident in Calabasas resulted in the death of a male bicyclist, who is believed to be about 50 years old. The Calabasas bicycle accident occurred this morning, at about 9:20am, in the Santa Monica Mountains. According to the Los Angeles Times, the bicyclist apparently veered off of the road and ended up falling down a ravine.

The cause of this Calabasas bicycle accident wrongful death is still under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. At this point, it is too early to determine why this bicycle accident death occurred. Authorities will investigate whether the bike accident was caused by the negligence of the bicyclist, or if the negligence of a vehicle possibly caused the bicyclist to veer off the road and down the ravine.

In order to determine the cause of this California bicycle accident, it will be necessary to look for any witnesses who may have seen the bicyclist prior to the incident, or if they saw any speeding or recklessly driven vehicles at around the time of the bike crash. Investigators will also look for skid marks or any other indication of a vehicle contributing to the cause of this wrongful death accident.

Warning – 4th of July Deadliest Day for Los Angeles Car Accidents

July 3, 2012 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, the 4th of July holiday is the deadliest day for Los Angeles car accidents. AAA reports that teens account for approximately 10% of the traffic fatalities on Independence Day. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) cites that a drunk driver is involved in 39% of the car accident deaths on the 4th of July. This compares to 31% of car accident fatalities on other days.

The rise in drunk driving accidents on the 4th of July is partly due to the fact that schools and most businesses are closed, so there are more people on the road. This, combined with the many 4th of July parties around Los Angeles, often involving large amounts of alcohol, contributes to many Los Angeles car accidents.

It is also important to note that many police agencies around California will be setting up DUI checkpoints, to try to catch drunk drivers before they cause a Los Angeles car accident.