California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Pedestrian Killed in Riverside Metrolink Train Accident

February 9, 2011 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, a Metrolink train accident has killed a girl in Riverside, California. The Metrolink Train hit the pedestrian on Tuesday. The girl who was hit by the train in Riverside, who was a minor, passed away as a result of the impact.

According to the Riverside Police Department, who interviewed witnesses, the girl allegedly waited for a freight train to pass. After the train passed, the girl, who probably believed it was safe, walked around barricades and was hit by a Metrolink train. According to witnesses, the girl also ignored warning lights and bells of the Metrolink train. Unfortunately, this could have been due to the noise from the freight train.

If it is proved that Metrolink was negligent, the girl’s family may have a Riverside wrongful death claim. Investigators will have to determine if the warnings were sufficient and whether a different type of warning, possibly one that indicates that two trains would be passing, should have been used to prevent this tragic death.

We have seen in the past how people wait for a train to pass and immediately cross tracks after the train, not realizing that a second train could be approaching from a different direction, blocked off from site by the first train. For this reason, it is always important to follow all railroad track warnings and never to cross the tracks until it is completely safe to do so. As can be seen, attempting to save a few seconds by crossing a railroad barricade before it goes up can lead to tragic train accident injuries and/or death.

Porsche Totaled in Huntington Beach Car Accident With City Truck

February 8, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A Huntington Beach car accident has resulted in a government claim for payment made on behalf of a man who had his Porsche totaled by a city truck. The claim is being made by the man’s insurance company, Mercury Insurance Group, against the city for the value of the vehicle.

The likely reason why the insurance company is making the claim would be that the insurance probably already reimbursed the man for his damages, and now is seeking subrogation from the responsible party, the city of Huntington Beach.

In the car accident in Huntington Beach, the city truck allegedly ran a red light, which was confirmed by a witness, and collided with the Porsche, rendering it a total loss. Even though the police report placed the city vehicle at fault, the driver of the city vehicle said that he had a green light.

Our office is currently handling a case against the city of Los Angeles for a client who was also hit by a city truck, in a disputed red light case. Even though there is a witness saying that the driver of the city truck, and not our client, ran the red light, the city driver is claiming, like in this case, that he had a green light at the time he entered the intersection.

Los Angeles Apartment Fire Kills 1 and Injures Another

February 7, 2011 | by Robert Walch

An apartment fire in the Lynwood area of Los Angeles, California, has killed 1 person and injured another. The injured man, who is in his twenties, suffered burn injuries in the Los Angeles fire.

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the apartment fire occurred at 3:30 a.m. on Long Beach Boulevard. The fire was apparently extinguished by around 4:00 a.m.

Sometimes residents of an apartment suffer injuries or death due to a fire caused by another resident or by a problem with the building itself, such as an electric fire or gas explosion. In these situations, the injured victims will usually have a personal injury claim against the owner and operator of the apartment building.

Super Bowl Sunday, Enjoy Responsibly

February 5, 2011 | by Robert Walch

This Sunday, at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time, the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. Many people will be watching the game throughout California in home parties or at sports bars.

Due to the serious and potentially disastrous effects of drunk driving, including the possibility of a dui arrest, a car accident, injuries or death, we wish to remind everyone to enjoy the game responsibly. If you are going to be drinking while watching the game, make sure you have a designated driver or a taxi lined up to take you home.

The Super Bowl should be enjoyed, but not at the expense of someone’s life, including your own. Please do not drink and drive and have safe and fun Super Bowl watching experience.

Hit and Run Driver Kills Pedestrian in Pasadena Accident

February 4, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A 52 year old woman was killed last week, while on her motorized wheelchair, when she was hit by a car in Pasadena, California. The wrongful death pedestrian accident allegedly occurred when DeShaun Chapman, a 28 year old man, was driving at a high speed at about 6:30 p.m. when he swerved to avoid a car pulling out from a driveway. Chapman went into oncoming traffic, overcorrected and lost control of his vehicle, hitting the woman and a wall, resulting in the woman being pinned underneath.

Chapman, who fled the scene after the Pasadena pedestrian accident, later returned to the scene and was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter.

The driver of the sedan, who also fled the scene, has not been found. If found, the driver of this car may also face similar criminal charges.

The family of the victim will likely make a Pasadena wrongful death claim against Chapman, and may also be able to pursue an uninsured motorist claim, where the uninsured motorist coverage, if any, would take the place of the driver who fled the scene and was not located.

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.