California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

3 Injured in Big-Rig Crash on 405 Freeway

May 3, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A major Los Angeles truck accident occurred earlier this week on Sepulveda Pass on the 405 Freeway. The accident occurred around 2:50 p.m. causing a SigAlert and closing lanes on both sides of the freeway. The closure lasted late into the night, impacting traffic throughout Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Daily News reported that the truck, loaded with concrete and gravel, struck a car and overturned on top of the car, which led to a fire. The fire ended up burning both vehicles. Three people were hurt in the collision, two of which were critically injured. Officers credit a group of witnesses for saving the victims’ lives by pulling the victims from the burning car. The two victims in critical condition were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Continue Reading

Woman Hit by City Car While at Beach in Newport Beach

May 1, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A woman visiting the beach in Newport Beach, California, was hit by a city vehicle while lying on the beach.

According to CBS Los Angeles, the woman, who has not yet been identified, was resting on a spot in the sand by the lifeguard headquarters. Around 1 p.m., a male driver drove a Newport Beach City truck, rolling over the woman in the process.

The woman was rushed to the hospital and is expected to survive. It has been confirmed the truck’s tires rolled over her and she suffered injuries to her chest and her pelvis. Continue Reading

Driver Opening Car Door Causes Burbank Bike Accident Wrongful Death

April 25, 2018 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, around 5 p.m. on April 17, 2018, a 52-year old man was killed after he was knocked off his bike and thrown into oncoming traffic.

Lenny Trinh, the victim of this Burbank bicycle accident wrongful death, was riding his bike in the designated bike lane when a driver of a parked car opened the door just as Mr. Trinh rode past. The collision with the door caused Mr. Trinh to fall into the street. The Burbank Police Department reported that Trinh was then hit by a pick-up truck traveling on Alameda Avenue.

Car Accident on the Way to Coachella—One Dead, One Seriously Injured

April 19, 2018 | by Robert Walch

ABC 7 News reported that an 18-year-old girl is dead and a 16-year-old girl is in critical condition after the driver of the car they were riding in lost control while on their way to the Coachella music festival.

According to the report, the wrongful death car accident occurred early in the morning, just after 4 a.m. The three were travelling from San Diego to the concert in a 2009 BMW 328i and were on the freeway in Banning when the accident happened. It appears the young driver, a 21-year-old male, “drifted onto the dirt shoulder at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control as he tried to steer the sedan back into lanes, then went over the embankment and struck two trees.” Continue Reading

Apps that Redirect Traffic May Cause Dangerous Driving Conditions

April 16, 2018 | by Robert Walch

According to the Daily Breeze, many mobile traffic map apps are causing problems on small Los Angeles residential streets. The apps such as Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps attempt to help drivers take the fastest route to their destination and avoid detected traffic. The problem is that some of the traffic is diverted to small side streets or residential streets that are not designed for heavy traffic, and too much traffic on these small streets can lead to dangerous conditions.

A new motion before the Los Angeles city council proposes that the city get involved with these app makers to attempt to reduce the problems these apps cause. As one councilman put it, “Mobile app makers are sacrificing the quality of life in our neighborhoods, just so drivers can save a few seconds or minutes with an alternate route, we have an obligation to see what can be done to protect our neighborhoods and prevent these apps from continuing to divert drivers from major avenues onto small residential streets that aren’t designed to accommodate high-volume traffic.” Continue Reading

Hacienda Heights Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash

April 13, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A 51-year-old man from Hacienda Heights was killed when he collided with an SUV in Industry, California. The motorcyclist was driving east when a Nissan Rogue, heading west, made a left-hand turn. The car and motorcycle crashed, and the motorcyclist was thrown from his motorcycle.

According to the Whittier Daily News, the motorcyclist died at the scene from blunt force injuries. The driver of the car was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. As of now, the motorcyclist’s death has been ruled an accident. The cause of the crash—determining if it was the motorcyclist or the car driver that was at fault—is still under investigation. Continue Reading

Four People Injured in Torrance Apartment Building Gas Explosion

April 10, 2018 | by Robert Walch

An explosion in an apartment building in Torrance injured four people and caused serious damage to several apartments in the building. When the explosion occurred, contract workers were renovating units in the building and installing kitchen appliances. Though the cause was originally unknown, it has been determined that the installation of new kitchen appliances is what lead to the explosion.

The Daily Breeze reported, “When (the contractors) went to activate one of the appliances, that provided the spark that led to the explosion. The source of the explosion was a service line into the kitchen.” The fire department is still trying to determine whether the gas leak occurred before or after the new appliances were installed. Continue Reading

Hawthorne Driver and Passenger Killed When Corvette Hits Building

April 7, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A Hawthorne driver, Jose Padilla, and his passenger, were killed in a Gardena car accident on Wednesday evening. CBS Los Angeles reported that Mr. Padilla was driving a Chevrolet Corvette when it jumped the curb, hit a power pole, and struck a Gardena building.

Immediately after the crash the Corvette caught fire leaving the car completely mangled. Mr. Padilla was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident after being ejected from the car. A witness of the accident stated that he and others attempted to save the two men, but the fire caused explosions forcing those trying to help away from the car. It appears both men died on impact, not from the fire. Continue Reading

5.3 Earthquake near Channel Islands Rocks Southern California

April 6, 2018 | by Robert Walch

According to ABC 7 News, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake shook Southern California Thursday afternoon. The earthquake struck of the coast, near the Channel Islands, approximately “39 miles southwest of Oxnard.” People in areas such as downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown, West Los Angeles, Calabasas and Santa Monica all reported feeling the shaking of the quake.

Immediately following the quake the Los Angeles Fire Department surveyed and examined the Los Angeles area, checking buildings, transportation, and power. Luckily, no earthquake damage or injuries have been reported so far on the mainland, though the Channel Islands suffered some structural damage.

15-year-old Tarzana Cyclist Killed When Stuck by Car on Easter Morning

April 4, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A 15-year-old Tarzana boy, and biking enthusiast, Sebastian Montero, was tragically killed when he was struck by a car while riding his bike in Woodland Hills, California. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the Woodland Hills bicycle accident occurred when Montero was riding his bike with a friend on Easter morning. He followed his friend through an intersection when a white 2018 Infiniti entered the intersection and hit Montero, sending him flying into the car’s windshield.

The young boy was rushed to the hospital reportedly suffering from blunt force trauma. He was pronounced dead just a short time later. The driver was a 31-year-old Tarzana man. The driver stopped after the accident and the police determined that he was not driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.