Car Accidents

New Study Shows Link Between Cell Phone Use and Car Accidents

January 1, 2014 | by Robert Walch

A new study published recently shows how cell phone use greatly increases the risk of car accidents, especially with newer drivers. According to the Los Angeles Times, one interesting note from the study was that talking on the cell phone did not prove as dangerous as other studies have shown. However, talking on the phone usually requires dialing and/or reaching for a phone, which increases the risk of an automobile accident.

This study showed that with younger drivers, the chance of a car accident or nearly missing a car accident was seven times higher when the driver is reaching for a cell phone or dialing. Surprisingly, text messaging proved to be less risky, with the chances of an accident or almost getting into an accident four times higher than when normally driving.

In the case of adults with approximately 20 years of driving experience, dialing on a cell phone increased the risk of an accident, but the effect of text messaging was not clear from this particular study.

Riverside Car Accident Results in Wrongful Death

December 27, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A wrong way driver caused a tragic Riverside car accident early Thursday morning when her vehicle struck another vehicle in a head on collision. The car accident in Riverside occurred on the 60 Freeway close to Day Street in Riverside County, California.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the CHP initially received reports that there was a Chevrolet Impala traveling in the wrong direction on the freeway. Shortly thereafter, the CHP found out that a crash had in fact occurred.

The man who was traveling the correct direction was killed and passed away at the scene of the Riverside crash. The woman who was driving in the wrong direction, Patricia Starr-Blanco, suffered serious car accident injuries. Her prognosis is not yet known. Ms. Blanco also had a passenger in her car who suffered injuries that were not described as life threatening.

Off Duty Police Officer Helps Save Man After Los Angeles Car Accident

December 26, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles car accident on Christmas day resulted in a vehicle fire on the southbound 405 freeway, near the interchange with the 101 freeway. After a car apparently collided with the center divider, an off duty LAPD officer who witnessed the crash stopped to assist. According to the Los Angeles Times, officer Thompson cut the victim’s seat-belt and attempted to free him from the burning car, before Thompson himself was overcome by the fire and smoke.

Fortunately, two other people stopped and helped and pulled Thompson and the other victim from the burning car. The car ended up fully engulfed by flames from the 405 freeway accident. A captain in the Los Angeles Fire Department said that Thompson’s actions probably saved the victim’s life.

It is still unclear exactly what caused this car accident in Los Angeles. Vehicles collide with guardrails and center dividers for many reasons. Sometimes it is due to driver inattentiveness and other times the accidents are caused by other vehicles that change lanes into the car without seeing it, pushing it into the divider.

7 Car Tarzana Accident Causes Injuries and Wrongful Death

December 17, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A car accident in Tarzana on Monday, involving a total of seven automobiles, caused the death of one woman and numerous car accident injuries to other people involved in the crash. The crash occurred near the intersection of Ventura Blvd. and Corbin Ave., which is near where Tarzana and Reseda meet.

The woman who passed away as a result of the Tarzana car accident was not identified by the Los Angeles Times. According to investigators, it appears that speed may have been a factor in this multi-vehicle collision. The LAPD said that a Ford Taurus was probably the cause of the collision, as it collided with numerous vehicles. The Ford Taurus driver, who was also injured in the collision, was hospitalized as a result of the accident injuries.

In a case like this, the family of the Tarzana wrongful death victim should immediately contact a local wrongful death lawyer who can help recover wrongful death damages from all responsible parties. Typically, the first source for such a recovery would be the auto insurance liability coverage of the responsible party or parties. It will first be necessary to determine who was at fault, then the attorney will have to locate the applicable coverage and seek the maximum monetary recovery for the heirs of the deceased.

Police Officer Seriously Injured in Los Angeles Freeway Accident

December 14, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles freeway accident early this morning has caused serious injuries to a Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant. According to the LA Times, The police officer was helping a motorist who’s vehicle was non-operational on an off-ramp of the 110 freeway. Apparently, a Chevrolet Monte Carlo was speeding, hit a barrier and pinned the police officer into his vehicle.

The freeway crash in Los Angeles caused serious injuries to the officer, who has not yet been identified. The officer was taken to Los Angeles County USC Hospital. His injuries have been described as serious and authorities are investigating the exact cause of the Los Angeles accident.

Legally, in an incident such as this, the seriously injured officer may make a worker’s compensation claim as well as a Los Angeles personal injury claim. This is because he was injured on the job, but his injuries were caused by a third party. In such situations, any funds paid by worker’s compensation may be reimbursable from any funds recovered as part of any personal injury settlement or judgment.

Man Killed in Hollywood Car Accident

October 30, 2013 | by Robert Walch

A Hollywood car accident early Monday morning resulted in the death of a man. According to WEHOville, the car accident occurred on La Brea Avenue, near where Hollywood meets West Hollywood, at about 2:00am, Monday morning. Witnesses stated that the man was driving too fast, struck parked vehicles, then hit a taxi. There was no report on whether alcohol or drugs may have played a part in this fatal Hollywood accident.

The driver of the taxi, which was struck by the car, had to be taken to a local area hospital. Fortunately, his injuries were only described as minor. The taxi driver was treated and released. Since it appears that the driver who tragically passed away in the car accident was probably at fault for causing the crash, there will probably not be any car accident wrongful death case here. However, if there was another reason for the crash, such as a defective road design, a wrongful death claim may possibly be made. Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased.

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.

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.

One Killed in Los Angeles Car Accident

February 1, 2013 | by Robert Walch

One alleged robbery suspect was apparently killed this morning in a freeway accident in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles freeway accident occurred after police received a call about a robbery at a 7-11 convenient store. Officers saw a vehicle which they said was driving recklessly, and a high speed chase occurred.

During the chase, the suspects’ vehicle crashed into another vehicle on the northbound 5 freeway, at the interchange with the 110 freeway. After the crash, the suspects’ vehicle flipped over, trapping the three suspects inside. One of the suspects in the robbery died as a result of his injuries from the Los Angeles car accident. One other suspect had to be hospitalized for his car accident injuries, while the third was taken into police custody.

There were no immediate reports about injuries to the occupants of the vehicle that was struck by the suspects’ car. Based on the lack of information, it is assumed that there were no serious injuries in that vehicle.

Politician Injured in Los Angeles Truck Accident

December 3, 2012 | by Robert Walch

Mike Feuer, a democratic State Assemblyman who is currently running for city attorney was injured today in a Los Angeles truck accident. Feuer was driving his Toyota Prius when his vehicle was allegedly struck by a truck that ran a red light. Mr. Feuer was taken to the hospital, but his injuries were fortunately described as not life threatening.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Assemblyman Feuer’s campaign spokesperson said that the campaign will continue and that Feuer should hopefully make a quick recovery from his truck accident injuries. The L.A. Times also reported that Feuer was on his way to watch newly elected district attorney for Los Angeles County, Jackie Lacey, get sworn into office at the Galen Center in South Los Angeles, when he was in the Los Angeles car accident. The Galen Center is the arena where the USC Trojans basketball team plays its home games.

It was not disclosed if the rain in Southern California today contributed to causing this auto accident in Los Angeles. However, there were many rain accidents reported throughout Los Angeles today. For this reason, it is again advised that all drivers take extra precautions when driving in the rain, including keeping a larger distance between themselves and the vehicle in front of them, and driving slower than normal.