Wrongful Death

Update: Woman Killed by Car in Los Angeles Hit and Run Identified

December 31, 2010 | by Robert Walch

In an update of our California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog entry of December 29, 2010, the woman who was killed in the Los Angeles hit and run accident has been identified as Brigitte Burdine.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Burdine, who was 48, was a well known video game casting director, who worked on games such as “World of Warcraft” and “Socom 3: U.S. Navy Seals.”

The Los Angeles Police Department has said that the car that struck Burdine was a dark sedan, which allegedly left the scene after the collision. The driver of the sedan has not yet been located. Unfortunately, there is currently no description of the driver available.

The LAPD is investigating the Los Angeles pedestrian collision and notes that the car may have front end damage.

If the driver of the vehicle that killed Brigitte Burdine is located, it must be proven that the driver was responsible for the hit and run collision before his/her insurance company will pay for the Los Angeles wrongful death damages to Burdine’s family, if there was a valid liability insurance policy in effect.

Woman Killed in Los Angeles Hit and Run Accident

December 29, 2010 | by Robert Walch

At about 2:00 a.m. this morning, a woman was killed when she was hit by a car in Los Angeles, California. The accident happened in Marina del Rey and, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Police Department is currently looking for the driver of the car that hit the woman, as it apparently left the scene of the accident in this Los Angeles hit and run case.

The woman, whose name has not been released, was crossing the street at Culver and Jefferson in Marina del Rey, when she was struck by the vehicle. She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

We hope that the driver of the hit and run vehicle is brought to justice as soon as possible. If you ever witness a Los Angeles hit and run accident, it is very important to try to write down the license plate number and any other information about the driver and car that is leaving the scene. Next, you should call 911 to report the incident so that police can locate the hit and run driver. If it is safe to do so, we have seen witnesses who have followed the hit and run driver, while talking to 911 operators and providing the location of the car, so that the police can catch the responsible driver.

If you have been injured in a Los Angeles hit and run collision, there are important things to know, such as the fact you may have a claim with your own insurance company, under the uninsured motorist coverage, if you have it. If you do have such a claim, your own insurance takes the place of the responsible party, so that you can get compensated for your damages.

Strange Los Angeles Wrongful Death Could be Medical Malpractice

December 28, 2010 | by Robert Walch

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the negligent care of Dr. Ehab Aly Mohamed, a plastic surgeon, may have led to the wrongful death of one of his patients. The California state medical board has moved to suspend Dr. Mohamed’s license.

In a strange set of circumstances, Dr. Mohamed allegedly misled patients that he had an affiliation with Harvard University and promised a $40,000 discount to a patient in exchange for the patient’s participation in a Harvard study. It appears that no such affiliation or study existed.

It is currently unclear as to what Dr. Mohamed did that led to the wrongful death of his patient, but it can be assumed that the patient’s family will have a Los Angeles wrongful death claim against the Doctor, based on medical malpractice.

It is important to remember that California medical malpractice cases have an entirely different set of rules from other types of California personal injury cases. These rules include a different statute of limitations, which must always be considered by victims of negligence.

Due to the complicated nature of the separate rules and guidelines, it is important for victims of negligence to contact a California personal injury attorney right away, to make sure that their rights are protected.

Pedestrian Killed in Laguna Beach Accident

December 24, 2010 | by Robert Walch

On December 22, 2010, an unidentified woman was killed after being hit by a sport utility vehicle. The Laguna Beach car accident occurred during heavy rains at about 6:40 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Times.

The woman was struck by the sport utility vehicle as she crossed South Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, California, in yet another rain related auto accident in California.

While the investigation into the accident is continuing, police investigating the accident said there was a lot of rain at the time. The rain, combined with poor visibility, has been the cause of many a car accident in Los Angeles, and its surrounding areas.

Drunk Driver Who Killed Los Angeles Angels Pitcher Gets 51 Years to Life

December 23, 2010 | by Robert Walch

On April 9, 2009, Andrew Gallo, who was on parole for a felony DUI conviction, ran a red light and T-boned a car carrying Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, and three friends, in a horrific California drunk driving collision.

Adenhart, as well as Courtney Stewart and Henry Pearson, were killed in the collision. Another passenger, Jon Wilhite, sustained catastrophic injuries as a result of this impact.

According to ESPN.com, Mr. Gallo, who had a blood alcohol level nearly three times the California legal limit of .08%, had been drinking beer and shots at three different bars with his stepbrother before causing this collision. Mr. Gallo’s Criminal defense attorney requested one sentence of 15 years to life for her client, with the argument being that he did not intend to hurt anyone.

Teen Driver Charged in Orange County Drunk Driving Accident

December 22, 2010 | by Robert Walch

Another tragic California drunk driving collision resulted in the deaths of Steven Uselton and his son, Douglas Uselton. According to the Los Angeles Times, the driver of the other car, Rafael Lopez, has been charged with two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter, for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

The Orange County car accident, which occurred this past Sunday, happened in the early hours of the morning and apparently Mr. Lopez was traveling at high speeds when he collided with the Uselton’s Buick.

Mr. Lopez, who is only 18 years old, now faces significant time in jail or prison as a result of this tragic California drunk driving accident. The family of the victims also has a potential wrongful death claim against Mr. Lopez. If Mr. Lopez does not have adequate insurance coverage, he could be found personally liable for the excess damages he has allegedly caused.

Glendale Pedestrian Collision and Wrongful Death Possibly Caused by Texting Driver

December 21, 2010 | by Robert Walch

Ani Voskanian has been arrested and charged with gross vehicular manslaughter for allegedly texting while driving, running a stop sign and colliding with an 80 year old man in a Glendale pedestrian accident. The man, Misak Ranjbar, later died from head trauma in Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

Ms. Voskanian’s attorney claims that she was not texting, the sun was in her eyes and that Mr. Ranjbar hit her car, causing this Glendale pedestrian collision. However, the district attorney’s office said the case was filed based on a careful review of the evidence (which might include cellular phone records from the time of the accident or an eyewitness account of the incident).

According to the Los Angeles Times, Glendale Mayor, Ara Najarian, has said that distracted driving has reached “epidemic” proportions in Glendale. Distractions, which are sometimes illegal, depending on the jurisdiction, should always be avoided, and can include talking on a cell phone, texting, eating, putting on makeup, caring for children in passenger seats, looking at a navigation system, etc.

Pedestrian Killed Crossing Street in Los Angeles

December 20, 2010 | by Robert Walch

A Lawndale, California resident, Maria Castaneda Núñez, was killed Saturday when she was struck by a vehicle, and possibly hit by a bus, in a Los Angeles pedestrian accident.

According to the driver, after his pickup truck collided with the victim, a Metro bus struck her as well. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (who frequently deny claims made against them), it is unclear if a Metro bus was involved in this Los Angeles pedestrian collision. The MTA said it inspected five buses that could have been in the area and sent the video footage from their cameras to the police.

Tragedy: Two Killed in Palmdale Automobile Accident

December 19, 2010 | by Robert Walch

The details are unclear at this time, but it can probably be assumed that the weather can at least partly be to blame for a two car collision in Palmdale that left two people dead and another three people injured, according to the Los Angeles Times. Two of the injured are in critical condition at Antelope Valley Hospital.

The California Highway Patrol reports that the Palmdale car accident, involving a Mercedes-Benz and a sport utility vehicle occurred on Pearblossom Highway at Sierra Highway.

Inspections Ordered To Prevent Future California Gas Explosion Injuries

December 17, 2010 | by Robert Walch

After the fatal explosion and fire in San Bruno, California, regulators have ordered that natural gas lines receive intensified inspections. The September 9, 2010 explosion and fire killed eight people and destroyed numerous homes. It remains to be seen if these California fire deaths and injuries may have been preventable and the goal is to prevent future disasters.

Federal investigators have found that seam wields in the Pacific Gas & Electric line may have been the cause of the Northern California explosion and fire injuries, property damage and deaths, although the official cause has yet to be determined. According to the Los Angeles Times, “The directive calls for internal, X-ray or liquid pressure tests on lines not previously examined that are similar in size and age to the pipeline that blew. That line was 30-inches in diameter and more than half a century old.” According to PG & E, gas service to customers should not be affected by the order.