California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

One Killed in Anaheim Big Rig Crash that Closes 5 Freeway

April 12, 2019 | by Robert Walch

Recently an individual was killed as a result of a big rig truck crash on the 5 Freeway in Anaheim. KTLA News reports that just before 3 a.m. the semi-truck was involved in a crash with a Toyota Camry. The big rig semi-truck overturned on the freeway which resulted in the closure of all southbound lanes of the 5 for several hours.

Officers immediately responded to the scene. At this point, no specific details of the fatality have been released, and authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the accident. If the investigation reveals that the car driver was killed due to the fault of the big rig driver, the family of the victim will be able to bring an Anaheim wrongful death claim on behalf of the victim.

When a big rig semi-truck is involved in an accident that results in a death, the subsequent investigation is very important because it can determine which party or parties will be liable for wrongful death damages. It will be important to sort out the case facts to determine if the truck driver caused the accident by driving negligently—driving while drowsy, driving under the influence, driving while distracted—or if the accident was perhaps caused by a problem with the truck, such as a mechanical problem or a failure by the truck company to properly maintain the truck. In a big rig accident both the driver and the company that owns the truck are potential responsible parties and depending on the facts may be responsible for wrongful death damages if someone is killed as a result. Truck companies often carry large insurance policies to cover these types of incidents.

Increased Traffic and Crashes on Silver Lake Roads Due to Traffic App “Short-cuts”

April 6, 2019 | by Robert Walch

According to ABC 7 News, popular traffic map apps, such as Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps, are causing big problems on small Los Angeles residential streets. One residential road in Silver Lake has become a popular “short cut” for app users. However, with more commuters using this “short cut,” the small street has now experienced increased traffic leading to several crashes.

Recently, the Waze app directed a large tour bus down the small Silver Lake street. The bus ended up hitting several vehicles—one witness reported that after hitting his car, the bus “hit four other cars and removed the bumper off of another one.” Luckily, no one was hurt. While Waze did respond to the incident stating the app was not designed for charter buses or oversized trucks, there is nothing to prevent drivers of these vehicles from using the app. Residents say that these apps have taken over the lives of daily drivers and it is ultimately having a negative impact on the quality of life in the small neighborhoods affected.

Residents on the street in Silver Lake say that the increased traffic has also led to more road rage, with drivers getting out of their cars and yelling obscenities at each other when the “short cut” turns out to still take a long time. Residents are very concerned about the safety of their small streets that are now becoming highly trafficked areas.

Attack at Dodgers Game Leaves Fan with Serious Personal Injuries

April 3, 2019 | by Robert Walch

A recent Dodgers game ended in a tragic personal injury for one fan. Rafael Reyna, father of four, was attacked by another fan in the parking lot after an intense game with extra innings. ABC 7 News reported that because of the intense game, fans were heated and “people got a little excited, and some people got angry.”

Reyna was on the phone with his wife when he was attacked—she heard arguing and then a “smack, a crack, [that] sounded like a baseball bat.” Reyna was rushed to the LAC+USC Medical Center in serious condition. He suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain due to the incident. The attacker fled the scene in a white Toyota 4 Runner. Police are asking anyone with more information to come forward.

This is not the first time a fan was seriously injured at a Dodger’s game. Several years ago, a man was permanently disabled after he was beaten by two men. Since this incident, the Dodgers have allegedly increased security and tried to make the game environment safer for fans. However, Reyna still got seriously hurt—his family plans to bring a personal injury suit to receive compensation for his injuries.

Teen Arrested for Murder After Causing Deadly Woodland Hills Car Accident

March 31, 2019 | by Robert Walch

Recently a 17-year-old boy was arrested for murder after causing a deadly accident in Woodland Hills that involved four other cars. The accident occurred just after 10 p.m. at the intersection of Winnetka Avenue and Ventura Boulevard. ABC 7 News reported that the teenager was recklessly driving a Mercedes-Benz for several blocks before causing the multi-car collision. He then sped through a red light at the busy intersection, without pausing, and slammed into a Toyota Tacoma. The force of that collision sent him spinning into a Ford Expedition and Lexus.

Tragically, the driver on the Toyota Tacoma died at the scene. The teenage driver that caused the accident and his passenger were both hospitalized. Two others involved in the crash were in critical condition, and one other passenger suffered minor injuries. After a preliminary investigation, the police stated, “The totality of the circumstances indicates the driver of the Mercedes displayed a willful disregard for human life.” As a result, officers arrested the young driver for murder.

It is certainly heart wrenching to see the consequences of one person’s poor decision to drive recklessly. In this case, 3 other cars were impacted, several injured, and one person died, certainly leaving a family in mourning. In this situation, not only will the young driver that caused this accident face criminal charges, but he will also be civilly liable to all those harmed by his careless and reckless actions. This civil liability would come through personal injury claims by those injured in this accident and a wrongful death claim by the family of the Toyota Tacoma driver who was killed in this Woodland Hills car accident.

Two Hospitalized After Gas Tanker Explosion in South Los Angeles

March 25, 2019 | by Robert Walch

A large, 9,000 gallon gasoline tanker exploded in South Los Angeles. According to ABC 7 News, the tank was parked on the side of the street on Slauson Avenue. Several neighbors reported smelling gas and called the fire department before the explosion occurred.

The first fire fighters arrived on the scene just prior to the explosion. Apparently, the tank had been leaking and something ignited the leaked gas—the enormous explosion caused the tank to erupt in flames, catching two homes on fire and resulting in burn injuries to two people nearby. Those injured were immediately taken to the hospital with at least one in serious condition from her burns.

Some of the leaked gas got into the sewer system and the buildup caused a second explosion down the street, sending a manhole covering blasting into the air. The fire from the explosion filled the Los Angeles sky with a dark cloud. Ultimately, 80 firefighters responded to the scene to get the blaze contained and put out.

Lyft Driver Causes Deadly Costa Mesa Motorcycle Crash

March 21, 2019 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, a 22-year-old motorcyclist died after he was hit by a Lyft driver in Costa Mesa. The police responded to the scene of the crash, which occurred around 8:50 p.m., and found the motorcyclist unresponsive. The accident occurred as the motorcyclist was traveling north on Fairview Road. The Lyft driver was traveling west and made a left turn, causing the collision. “The Lyft driver had just completed a trip to the Mesa del Mar neighborhood and had no passengers at the time of the collision.”

Ride sharing apps like Lyft and Uber are now a part of life, especially in busy areas like Los Angeles. For some time, it was unclear if Lyft and Uber could be held responsible for injuries and deaths caused by their drivers. Now, they offer insurance coverage for their drivers, however, how much liability they have depends on if or how the driver was using the app at the time of the accident. For example, in this motorcycle/Lyft accident it makes a difference that the Lyft driver had completed a trip and did not have a passenger in the car.

According to the Uber and Lyft websites, their insurance coverage for drivers is categorized to how the driver is using their car:

Multiple Pacoima Big Rig Crashes Close Freeway—Rainy Conditions to Blame

March 17, 2019 | by Robert Walch

Early in the morning on Thursday, February 28, 2019, two separate Pacoima big rig truck freeway crashes occurred, caused by the heavy rain that soaked the freeway. According to ABC 7 News one driver was reported to have minor injuries, but no other freeway drivers were harmed.

The first collision occurred in Newhall Pass, when the big rig driver crashed into the center divider. The crash closed all truck lanes in both directions on the freeway. A second big rig jack-knifed on the connecting road from the northbound 5 to the westbound 118 Freeway in Pacoima. This closed the 5 Freeway for several hours.

As of right now, the rainy conditions are being blamed for causing both accidents, though officials will still conduct a thorough investigation. It is not uncommon for these types of large truck accidents to occur due to the rain, especially if the big rig truck driver does not appropriately adjust his or her speed for road conditions, including curves in the road and transitions between different freeways.

3 Injured When Construction Scaffolding Collapses onto Hollywood Sidewalk

March 14, 2019 | by Robert Walch

When pedestrians walk down the sidewalk, the hope is that they can do so safely, without any incident. However, many times construction sites can put not only workers, but also passing pedestrians at risk of injury. This was the case this week in Hollywood, where a section of scaffolding collapsed on to the sidewalk injuring three people.

According to ABC 7 News, a large section of scaffolding on the outside of a six-story building under construction collapsed around 2:15 a.m. The building was located on the 6700 block of Selma Avenue in Hollywood. The falling objects struck victims below—one victim was hit in the head. Two of those injured were treated at the scene by emergency personnel, but one victim had to be transferred to the hospital due to more serious injuries.

The construction crew working on the building arrived later and began clean-up of the collapsed scaffolding. At this point, the exact cause of the collapse is unknown, however police say it was very windy at the time of the collapse. However, if the collapse occurred due to the negligence of the construction company, they may be liable for the injuries they caused in this Hollywood personal injury accident.

Woman Killed by Los Angeles Metro Bus While Waiting at Stop

March 13, 2019 | by Robert Walch

CBS Los Angeles News reported that a woman was killed by a metro bus while waiting at the bus stop. The Los Angeles Bus Accident occurred in the early morning around 12:20 a.m. The woman was identified as Heather Kirkorowicz, who was 41-years-old.

Police are currently investigating what caused the accident. Initial reports suggest that Kirkorowicz may have been hit as she was trying to flag down the bus. It appears that she may have stepped off the curb and into the street as the bus approached, which resulted in her being hit. The bus driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with the police after the incident.

Bus accidents are always frightening. Because of the size, force and momentum of a bus, occupants of vehicles or pedestrians hit by a bus frequently sustain catastrophic injuries, including fatalities. A bus accident will generally always involve an in-depth investigation to determine what caused the accident. Luckily, many buses are equipped with video cameras that can be useful in determining what happened.

Lyft and Uber Accidents

March 10, 2019 | by Robert Walch

You cannot drive around the greater Los Angeles area without seeing Uber and Lyft vehicles everywhere. They are a very helpful service for many people who need transportation. In fact, we often assist our seriously injured clients with obtaining transportation to their medical appointments, via Uber or Lyft.

Uber and Lyft have obviously disrupted the transportation industry. Previously, people would have to call a taxi company, give them their pick up address, and the taxi company would send a taxi to pick up that person in a certain time range. Now, people just go onto the app from their smart phone, which already has their location, and they can get the price of the ride in advance and often a car within minutes.

With this great benefit in convenience, however, comes certain problems. Uber and Lyft vehicles are all over the road. Sometimes Uber and Lyft drivers are waiting by curbs or in parking spots, other times they are just driving around waiting for a ride. Once they get the ride, they have to act quickly to confirm the ride and get to the pick up spot. Once they have the passenger, they frequently want to drop the passenger off at the destination as quickly as possible so that they can pick up the next rider and make more money.