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Law Enforcement around Southern California are warning people to celebrate St. Patrick’s day safely, without drinking and driving.

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, in 2016, 60 people were killed drunk-driving accidents nationwide over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday weekend. Last year, in California alone, there were 148 arrests by the CHP for St. Patrick’s Day related DUIs. Also, in Caifornia, there were three deaths and 66 DUI related car accident injuries on St. Patrick’s Day.

A day of celebration and fun can quickly turn to a day of heartbreak and tragedy if a drunk-driving accident results in the personal injury or wrongful death of another. It is important to take precautions so no one gets hurt. Southern California law enforcement agencies recommend the following 6 ways to stay safe:

  1. Plan ahead—make sure you have a designated driver or a safe way home after your night out.
  2. Check out the state Office of Traffic Safety designated driver mobile app, DDVIP—it’s a free download on iOS and Android devices and gives you offers and discounts to sober designated drivers at participating bars and restaurants.
  3. Take advantage of rideshare services like Uber and Lyft.
  4. See if your community has a sober ride program.
  5. If your friends are planning to drive drunk, take the keys away from them and make sure they get home safely.
  6. Report drunk drivers to the police so Los Angeles roads can stay safe.

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A woman was killed at the Variel Apartments in Canoga Park after she was struck by a hit and run driver. The incident occurred earlier this month when, according to the Los Angeles Daily News, there was some type of altercation, followed by the car striking the woman and then driving away from the scene.

The woman who was killed in the Canoga Park hit and run was Guadalupe Garcia, who is a 35 year old mother and wife. Los Angeles police have not yet found or identified the driver of the hit and run vehicle that killed Guadalupe Garcia. The Canoga Park wrongful death incident apparently occurred in an alley way in the apartment complex.  Continue Reading

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On February 16, 2018, a tragic freeway accident occurred on the 10 freeway in Rialto, California. The California wrongful death accident resulted in five deaths and other injuries. According to the Daily News, the Rialto truck accident occurred when Michael Coley, from Riverside, California, in a cement pumper truck that he was driving for Mack Industries, crashed through the center divider of the freeway, striking numerous cars.

Sadly, five people were killed in this 10 freeway truck accident and they have finally been identified as Linda Crowell-Thomsen, from Menifee, Miguel Martinez-Medina, from Los Angeles, Edgar Kunkler, from West Covina, Jerry D. Thomsen, from Menifee and Duddley White, from Twentynine Palms. All of the wrongful death victims were from California.

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A motorcycle accident this morning in Granada Hills, California, has resulted in the death of a man in his 50s. The Granada Hills motorcycle accident occurred at about five o’clock this morning on the 118 freeway, when a motorcyclist collided with another car.

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the entire freeway was closed this morning during the investigation, but reopened after a few hours. The California Highway Patrol has not yet disclosed the cause of the fatal motorcycle accident in Granada Hills. Continue Reading

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Earlier today, an SUV struck a house in Granada Hills, California. According to the Daily News, the driver of the SUV was injured in the Granada Hills accident, but fortunately there were no injuries to anyone inside of the house. The cause of this car accident has not yet been revealed.

In a situation like this, with a car crashing into a house, it will first have to be determined what caused the car to lose control and strike the house. Was the driver struck by another car, causing him to veer into the house, or did he just lose control due to some other factor, such as driving while intoxicated?

The Granada Hills car accident occurred on Minnehaha Street, at about ten o’clock this morning. The driver had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.  Continue Reading

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Qingwen Zhu, a 29 year old woman from Laguna Hills, California, was killed early on Sunday morning when the vehicle she was in was forcefully rear ended by another vehicle. The Los Angeles rear end accident occurred shortly after midnight, when the Mini Cooper Ms. Zhu was in had stopped on the 405 freeway, in the Sepulveda Pass. According to the Orange County Register, the Mini Cooper was then rear ended by a Nissan Sentra, which the California Highway Patrol says was going about 65 miles per hour.

According to the CHP, the drivers of both cars, who have not yet been identified, were both transported to the hospital with major injuries. The extent of their injuries is not yet known, but we wish them both a fast and full recovery.  Continue Reading

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Mark Kristofferson, a 49 year old man, was killed in a Palm Springs bicycle accident. According to the Desert Sun, Ronnie Huerta, Jr., from Desert Hot Springs, California, struck Kristofferson and another bicyclist, Alyson Lee Akers, from Huntington Beach, California, during the Tour de Palm Springs bicycling event.

Mr. Kristofferson tragically passed away as a result of this Palm Springs wrongful death accident and Ms. Akers suffered severe injuries and had to be airlifted to Desert Regional Medical Center. We wish a speedy recovery to Ms. Akers.  Continue Reading

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A Ferrari, which was carrying professional golfer Bill Haas, crashed yesterday in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. According to CNN, the Los Angeles car accident occurred when the Ferrari, being driven by a man who has not yet been named, collided with an SUV which happened to be driven by the well known actor Luke Wilson. The Ferrari then apparently los control and rolled.

Bill Haas was a passenger in the Ferrari at the time of the car accident in Pacific Palisades and he was taken to the hospital with what have been described by the Los Angeles Fire Department as serious injuries. The driver of the Ferrari was tragically pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Luke Wilson apparently was not injured in this fatal Los Angeles accident. There was also a woman who was taken to the hospital and was listed in serious condition. Her name or involvement in the accident have not yet been released. Continue Reading

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George Johnson, a 91 year old man, who was evacuated from his retirement community due to the Montecito mudslides, tragically died when he was hit by a car being driven by a drunk driver. According to the Independent, the driver of the vehicle, Nicholas Hart, who had two prior DUIs in the last three years, was driving on a suspended license and his blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit of .08.

Mr. Johnson was crossing the street in a crosswalk, at the intersection of State Street and Micheltorena Street, when he was struck by Mr. Hart, a 26 year old man from Goleta. The Santa Barbara wrongful death accident occurred on January 23, 2018 and Mr. Hart is being held on one million dollars bail, for the second degree murder charge. Continue Reading

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Justin Lavelle, a 23 year old man from West Hollywood, was killed on the 110 Freeway in Long Beach, California, when he was struck by a hit and run driver. Details of the Long Beach wrongful death incident are not exactly clear at the moment, but Amy Lavelle, Justin’s mother, said Justin called her and told her he was taking a Lyft to Long Beach.

According to ABC 7 News, Justin then called his mom from the freeway and said that he had been pepper sprayed. Justin was screaming and the call eventually became disconnected. Some time thereafter, Justin was struck by another vehicle on the freeway and he passed away as a result of the impact.  Continue Reading

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Calabasas and Valley Law Offices
23801 Calabasas Road Suite 1019
Calabasas, CA 91302
Toll Free: 866-465-8792Phone: 818-222-3400Fax: 818-222-3405
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9440 Santa Monica Blvd Suite 301
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Toll Free: 866-465-8792Phone: 310-279-5255Fax: 818-222-3405
We serve clients throughout Southern California, including, but not limited to, those in the following localities: Los Angeles County, including Beverly Hills, Burbank, Calabasas, Glendale, Inglewood, Lancaster, Long Beach, Los Angeles, North Hollywood, Norwalk, Palmdale, Pasadena, Pomona, Van Nuys, West Covina and Woodland Hills; Orange County, including Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Orange and Santa Ana; Riverside County, including Menifee, Norco and Riverside; San Bernardino County, including Fontana, Ontario and San Bernardino; and Ventura County, including Camarillo, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Ventura. View More
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