California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Metrolink Train Kills Pedestrian in Palmdale Wrongful Death Accident

June 14, 2011 | by Robert Walch

This morning, a Metrolink train accident in Palmdale caused the possible wrongful death of a pedestrian. The Palmdale train accident occurred shortly after 11:00 am. The Metrolink train was en route from Union Station to Lancaster, California and the train accident happened near East Avenue O-8.

The victim of the train accident in Palmdale has not been identified. Fortunately, according to the Los Angeles Times, there were no reported injuries to any of the 114 passengers on the train at the time of the California train accident.

Red Light Cameras Allegedly Cause Los Angeles Rear End Accidents

June 8, 2011 | by Robert Walch

The Los Angeles Police Commission has voted to end the controversial red light camera program, for many reasons, possibly including the claim that they contribute to Los Angeles rear end car accidents. Police officials had proposed to renew the program for an additional three or four years, but the police commission has doubts as to the usefulness of the program.

According to the Los Angeles Times, there are 32 red light cameras posted throughout Los Angeles. Critics argue that the cameras actually increase Los Angeles car accident injuries, are not cost effective and do not make the public any safer. One of the reasons the cameras are not cost effective is because the Los Angeles Courts are not actively seeking out payment on the tickets, with the LAPD instead sending the $400 tickets to a collection agency.

One of the many problems with this practice is that under normal circumstances, the accused can confront the police officer in court and the judge can decide who to believe. With this program, the only evidence is some pictures, which may be taken out of context. One particular type of instance is when a person stops, then makes a right turn on a red light, which can lead to a red light camera ticket.

18 Years in Prison for Long Beach Drag Race Wrongful Death Accident

June 4, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Denis Alberto Reyes has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for causing a Long Beach Wrongful Death Accident that killed four people. Reyes, who was driving a stolen car, was apparently involved in a drag race with a Mustang, when the two vehicles collided.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Long Beach accident caused the ejection from the vehicle of the driver of the Mustang and two passengers. All three died from the Long Beach car accident, as well as another passenger who died later at a hospital.

Reyes, who was 17 at the time, and fled the scene of the car accident in Long Beach, was later arrested. He pled no contest to four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, one count of car theft and hit and run causing death.

David Beckham Accused of Speeding in Los Angeles Rear End Car Accident

June 2, 2011 | by Robert Walch

International soccer star, David Beckham, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team, has been accused of driving recklessly and speeding when he rear ended a stopped car in Los Angeles, California. The rear end car accident occurred on the 405 freeway, also known as the San Diego freeway.

The driver of the vehicle rear ended in Los Angeles by Beckham’s Cadillac was taken to a local hospital, while Beckham, and his son Brooklyn, 12 years old, who was a passenger with Beckham, did not report any injuries. The extent of the injuries to the rear ended driver is not currently known.

According to British tabloid, The Sun, witnesses are said to have told police that Beckham was speeding, driving recklessly and speeding in and out of lanes in his Cadillac before causing the car accident in Los Angeles. While it does not appear that Beckham has been charged with any crime, the Traffic Collision Report (also known as the Police Report) should indicate if Beckham was cited for any violations of the law.

Irvine Car Accident Leaves Girl with Irreversible Brain Damage

June 1, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Ashton Sweet, a 14 year old girl, was left with brain damage after the vehicle she was in was struck by a drunk driver in an Irvine car accident. Doctors have declared that the brain damage is irreversible and Sweet is being kept alive while doctors determine if her organs are suitable for donation. Other girls in the vehicle suffered injuries, including Krista Merassa, 15 years old, who suffered serious or catastrophic injuries, and was listed in critical condition.

The girls were passengers in a car driven by one of the girl’s father, when they were struck by the alleged drunk driver, Austin Farley, a 26 year old Irvine man. Farley was arrested on suspicion of DUI and is awaiting his court appearance. Farley and the passenger in his vehicle were not injured in the car accident in Irvine.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Farley pled guilty to DUI in 2009 and also pled guilty to driving with a suspended or revoked license and refusal to take a chemical test for DUI in 2005.

In addition to the serious criminal charges that Farley will be facing, he will also likely be held liable for Irvine wrongful death damages, for the tragic eventual death of Ashton Sweet.

Man Killed and Wife Seriously Injured in Ventura Car Accident

May 31, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Eric Doran, a 36 year old restaurant owner from Newport Beach, was killed this weekend in a freeway accident in Ventura County, California. The Ventura car accident occurred on the 101 freeway in Thousand Oaks.

Doran was the owner of the Eat Chow restaurant, located in Costa Mesa, California. The Thousand Oaks car accident allegedly happened when Doran slowed his vehicle as they approached lanes that were coned-off for early morning construction.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Doran’s vehicle was rear ended by a 1998 Dodge Ram, which smashed their vehicle into the Honda Accord which was in front of them. Doran was pronounced dead at the scene while his wife was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The car accident in Thousand Oaks occurred shortly after 5:00am. It is unknown if poor visibility or if the fact that Doran was in a Model A roadster contributed to this collision or the injuries and death.

1 Officer Killed, Another Critically Injured in Torrance Motorcycle Accident

May 27, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A Hawthorne police officer was killed and an El Segundo police officer was critically injured in a motorcycle accident in Torrance, California. The officers were taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, where their situations were first described as being in “extremely critical condition.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Torrance motorcycle accident occurred during a funeral procession for deceased Manhattan Beach Police Officer, Mark Vasquez, who died of cancer. The funeral procession was traveling from Manhattan Beach to Rancho Palos Verdes, and motorcycle officers were apparently being used to go ahead of the procession to stop traffic.

According to reports, the two officers on motorcycle collided with each other, causing the Hawthorne officer to be thrown from his bike into traffic, where he was hit by a vehicle on Hawthorne Boulevard. The California motorcycle accident is being investigated by the Highway Patrol.

Burbank Metrolink Accidents Feared

May 26, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Officials have grown increasingly worried about the possibility of a Metrolink train accident in Burbank, due to unsafe crossings and the addition of the Metrolink express train service that runs from Burbank to Los Angeles Union Station.

According to the Burbank Leader, the downtown Burbank Metrolink station is one of the busiest Metrolink stations and commuters will rush across tracks when they think a train is idle, not considering the possibility the train will accelerate in reverse. This poses a serious risk of a Metrolink train pedestrian accident.

Apparently, people cross the tracks because buses serve both sides of the station. Currently, Metrolink appears to be relying on security guards at crossing stations giving warnings that people should not cross when the bell and lights are on. However, security guards have acknowledged that there is a common practice of people not listening to these warnings and crossing anyway, apparently because they think it is safe.

Los Angeles Bus Crash Injures 8 People, Including Inmates and Military Personnel

May 20, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A four bus crash in Los Angeles has resulted in eight injuries to both prison inmates and military personnel. According to the Los Angeles Times, the bus accident caused the shutting of the 5 freeway northbound in Commerce.

Three of the buses were carrying military personnel and the fourth bus was carrying Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department inmates. Six military personnel were injured as well as two inmates. One Los Angeles bus accident victim suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

The four buses were traveling in a line, following each other in the fast lane of the 5 freeway, south of Washington Boulevard when the Los Angeles bus crash occurred. Apparently a car slowed in front of the first bus, which was carrying the inmates. The bus driver slammed his brakes, which lead to the multi bus collision in Commerce.

In bus collisions, often the passengers are not wearing seat belts, which can lead to severe injuries in serious accidents. Because buses have a much longer braking time than a smaller car, bus drivers should always keep a larger space cushion between the bus and the cars or buses around them. In a scenario like this, with the buses traveling in the fast lane, probably at high speeds, an extra cushion could have prevented this bus accident.

San Bernardino Boy Dies in Victorville Off Road Vehicle Accident

May 17, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Chase Scarbough, a 10 year old boy, died today after sustaining injuries in an off road vehicle accident in Victorville, California, on Monday. The accident occurred when the boy lost control of the vehicle after riding over a series of bumps. The boy, who was wearing a helmet and other safety gear, did not appear to suffer major injury as a result of the Victorville accident.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the boy, from San Bernardino, vomited (a sign of possible concussion) today and was taken by ambulance to Saint Mary’s Medical Center. Tragically, according to the California Highway Patrol, Scarbough was pronounced dead due to internal injuries from the Victorville auto accident.

In this Victorville wrongful death accident, the family of the boy should hire a California personal injury attorney to examine the circumstances of the accident and see if there is any legal liability for the wrongful death. Various legal factors include whether children as young as 10 should be allowed to drive such vehicles and whether the off road course was safe enough for riders of such a young age. It will also have to be investigated whether the instructions before riding were adequate.

Depending on the severity of the collision, staff at the Johnson Valley Off Road Recreation area should probably have insisted that the boy see a doctor. The fact that a young boy was only complaining of minor pain does not mean that the injuries are not serious.

Very frequently, with many of our California personal injury auto accident cases, our clients do not quite realize how injured they are at the scene of the collision, and are often in shock. Police or paramedics will ask them if they need emergency transportation to a hospital and many of them will refuse, often happy to be just be alive, only to find themselves in serious pain and needing emergency medical care later that day or even a few days after the accident. For this reason, if you are involved in a serious auto accident, it is often a mistake to refuse emergency medical care and it is better to be safe and get checked out in an emergency room right after the accident.