Car Accidents

California Ranks 18th in “Worst Driver” Statistics

January 12, 2018 | by Robert Walch

According to the Agoura Patch, California’s drivers ranked 18th in the United States in the category of worst drivers. Only 17 states had worse drivers than California, according to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Further, the United States ranked 19th among similar economic countries in the category of destructive driving.

The items that were taken into account for these rankings included drunk driving, careless driving, auto accident fatalities, seatbelt use, driving without a license, speeding and failure to obey traffic laws. According to the statistics, the worst characteristics of California drivers was their drunk driving and speeding. Continue Reading

Man Found Dead After Van Nuys Accident

January 10, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A man was found dead after he was struck by a car in Van Nuys, California, on Monday night. The incident occurred before 11pm, when a female driver struck the man and reported the incident to the police. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, prior to colliding with the man, the woman said she thought it was only a pile of clothes on the street.

At this point, it is unclear if the man was already deceased on the streets of Van Nuys, on 6800 Haskell Avenue, when he was hit by the car, or if the impact from the car killed the man. This Van Nuys car accident will have to be investigated fully to determine the cause and time of death. If the time of death proves to be earlier than the impact, then it would appear that the body was probably moved to the scene by someone else, or the man may have been struck and killed by another car that fled the scene after the impact.

Torrance Five Car Accident Investigated as Hit-and-Run Collision

November 20, 2017 | by Robert Walch

The Intersection of Del Amo and Hawthorne boulevards in Torrance, California was the scene of a significant car accident. According to Eyewitness News, five cars were involved in a hit-and-run crash in the area of this intersection. It occurred in the mid-morning hours on Tuesday the 14th of November. One individual died at the scene of the automobile accident while another person was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries resulting from the crash. The accident was major enough to cause the intersection of these two roads to be shut down while police investigate.

While the actual cause of the wreck is still being determined by an investigation by the police, sources have confirmed that the investigation is looking at this accident as a collision caused by a hit-and-run driver. There are currently two people in custody following this crash, and more information should be released as investigators continue to connect the dots. The hit and run driver potentially faces criminal charges as well as a Torrance wrongful death claim.

Fault and Hit-and-Run Accidents

Tragic Carson Car Accident Takes Lives of Two Brothers

November 15, 2017 | by Robert Walch

A late night accident around Avalon and Del Amo boulevards, in Carson, California, has resulted in the deaths of three people. Around 2:20 a.m., after leaving basketball practice, two brothers were killed in the car crash in Carson, along with the driver of the other vehicle. The car that the brothers had been riding in was t-boned by the other vehicle. The other driver has not yet been identified, but the two young men have been identified.

LAPD Officer Kenneth Baxter was the proud father of the brothers, Christopher and Jonathan Baxter, that were tragically killed in the crash. Officer Baxter was returning home after his graveyard shift when he was informed of the death of his two boys. According to the City News Service, “Baxter and his sons all attended Verbum Dei High School in Watts, Christopher graduating in 2010 and Jonathan in 2012. The officer said his sons were so close that he didn’t think one would have wanted to go on without the other.”

Expenses After An Accident

Cars do not come out of nowhere

November 13, 2017 | by Robert Walch

People contact our office just about every day regarding a Los Angeles car accident that they were involved in. Frequently, we hear them say something like, “I was making a turn and the other car came out of nowhere and hit me.” Or they might say, “I was stopped at a stop sign, then when I was proceeding through the intersection, I was struck by a car that came out of nowhere.”

Cars do not come out of nowhere and every accident has at least one cause, other than a car coming out of nowhere. Typically, if a person says a car came out of nowhere, that person was not paying enough attention to his or her surroundings. If you are stopped at a stop sign, it is very important that you look in all directions before entering the intersection. You need to look for vehicles, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists who may be crossing in front of you. If you look in all directions before entering and nobody is coming, then it should be safe to enter the intersection. Continue Reading

Riverside Car Accident Kills Las Vegas Shooting Survivors

October 30, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Sadly, a married couple from Murietta died on October 16, 2017, when they were involved in a car accident in Riverside, California. According to the Los Angeles Times, Dennis Carver was driving a 2010 Mercedes when he went off the roadway and crashed, killing himself and his passenger, his wife Lorraine.

Dennis and Lorraine were at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas when a shooter fired at the festival from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. In that tragic incident, 58 people were killed. The deceased couple leaves behind a 16 year old daughter.

What Happens After An Accident?

October 23, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Your day has just gotten worse. You were involved in a car accident in California. What do you do now? Knowing the steps to take after an accident can not only help you in the moment but can also help your financial recovery down the line. An accident could make you feel shaky, nervous, and even sick to your stomach, even if you were not injured. These steps will help you:

● Get to safety. The first thing that you should consider is getting someplace safe. This means moving you and your car out of harm’s way if possible. If you cannot move your car, you will want to draw attention to your vehicle by putting on your hazards and even properly using road flares if you have them.

Night Driving: How to Keep Yourself Safe

September 14, 2017 | by Robert Walch

One of the most dangerous times to be on the California roadways is nighttime. There’s a number of reasons behind why the darkness makes it inherently more dangerous. Did you know that when it comes to fatal wrongful death accidents, almost half of them happen at night, even though there are fewer people on the roadways at this time? It’s unfortunately true.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help you to be more aware of potential problems, and make you feel more confident about night driving.

Seatbelt: Too many people still ignore the need for their seatbelt. Your seatbelt is one of the first lines of defense against injuries and fatalities that can happen from a car accident. No matter the time of day or night, taking the step to buckle up your seatbelt can save your life.

Riverside Grandmother Critically Injured By Alleged Street Racers in Crash

September 7, 2017 | by Robert Walch

A car coming off of the 215 freeway in San Bernardino was hit by two cars that witnesses described as racing each other. A 62 year-old grandmother was in the backseat of the car when it was struck. Her injuries from this San Bernardino car accident are very serious and it is unknown if she will ever walk or talk again due to the injuries she sustained. She is currently being treated for a broken neck, severe internal injuries and traumatic brain injury.

According to CBS Los Angeles, the accident took place as the first car clipped the back end of the car that the grandmother was riding in. This caused the car to spin before it was struck by the second car allegedly involved in the illegal street racing. This second hit caused the car to roll. The first car fled the scene while the second car remained with those inside being injured themselves in the crash. The driver and passenger both were treated and released from the hospital, but no further information has been available about whether or not they’ll be facing charges.

California Laws and Street Racing

What Reports Should I Make After an Orange County Car Accident?

June 25, 2017 | by Robert Walch

If you’ve been in an Orange County car accident, you’re aware of the shock and fright brought on by such an event. Car accidents can shake you up physically and mentally. Immediately after an accident, you’re likely thinking of how badly you’ve been injured, whether the people in the car with you are okay, and the damage to your car. Yet, in the days to come, there are several reports you should file. Here’s a handy list for you to keep track of the reports to make:

File a Police Report Within 24 Hours of the Crash: You will need to file a police report even if no one involved in your accident was injured. According to the California Vehicle Code, Section 20008, any driver of any vehicle who has been in a car accident must report the accident to either the California Highway Patrol, or the local police department where the crash took place. This report has to be filed within 24 hours of your accident. Generally, the police officer arriving at the scene will write this report. You should tell the officer your version of what happened and whether you are injured. Try to get a copy of the police report to take home with you, because your insurance company will likely require a copy.
File a Report with the California DMV: If any of the following events happened because of your accident, you are required to report the crash to the California DMV: