California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Limo Crash Kills 20 People

October 19, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A supersized limousine crashed in upstate New York this week, killing the 18 people inside, as well as 2 pedestrians. The limo was headed to a brewery for a 30^th birthday party for one of the passengers. According to the Los Angeles Times, the limo “ran a stop sign at a T-shaped intersection at the bottom of a hill and slammed into an unoccupied SUV.”

Investigators have yet to determine the exact cause of the accident. The crash left no visible skid marks on the road, which may mean the driver failed to brake. Investigators have uncovered several other negative details about the incident. As it turns out, the limousine had failed a safety inspection last month and the driver was not properly licensed.

Large-limo wrecks are typically uncommon. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were only “12 [limo crashes] nationwide between 2012 and 2016, compared with over 157,000 crashes involving all types of vehicles during that period.” However, crashes involving limos are often more severe. The state of California has not been immune to limo crashes. For example, in 2013 five women celebrating a bachelorette party were killed when their stretch limo caught on fire in Northern California.

Young Father in Coma After Rialto Hit-and-Run

October 15, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A young father, Andy Welch, was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident in Rialto. The accident occurred while Andy was riding his bike towards Rosa’s Market on Bohnert Avenue to get something to eat. The vehicle struck Andy and then fled the scene without stopping to help.

According to ABC 7 News, Andy remained in the street for over a half hour, while other vehicles passed him by. He was severely injured, but conscious, and was eventually able to reach his cellphone and call his family for help. He was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for surgery to repair intestines that were ruptured in the accident. He was then put into a medically induced coma. While originally Andy took a turn for the worse, he is now stable and breathing on his own, though he remains in the coma.

Sadly, far too often when a pedestrian or cyclist collision occurs, drivers think it is better to flee the scene rather than stay and face liability. However, this is not a good idea and leaving the scene of an accident can result in both a civil offense and criminal charges.

Van Nuys Woman Killed by Car While Walking Neighbor’s Dog

October 9, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A Van Nuys pedestrian accident this week caused the death of veterinary nurse, Pamela Ramos. According to ABC 7 News, 27-year-old Ramos was out walking her neighbor’s dog when she was fatally struck by a black Camaro.

The Van Nuys pedestrian accident occurred in the early morning hours, around 2:45 a.m. Ramos was crossing the street when the black Camaro, traveling north on Burnet Avenue, hit her. The driver called 911 and stayed at the scene to cooperate with officers. Officers at the scene said the neighbor’s dog was not hurt in the incident.

Ramos’ brother stated, “my sister was a very loving person, she loved animals, she would help others before helping herself, a very genuine person.” The investigation into what happened in this early morning accident is ongoing. At this point, investigators do not believe the driver was speeding or under the influence, however they will continue to work to determine the cause. We offer our condolences to the Ramos family for their loss.

Nine Children Injured in Orange County Car Accident After Van Brakes Fail

October 5, 2018 | by Robert Walch

According to the Orange County Register, on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 3, 2018, at around 3:19 p.m., a passenger van carrying nine students crashed into a tree, injuring the students inside. The van was taking the children to paddle board activity at Baby Beach as part of an after-school program, not connected with the school. As the van was coming down the Cove Road hill in Dana Point, the brakes on the van went out.

The driver of the van was uninjured but was extremely distressed about what happened. When the brakes gave out, she did her best to steer the van down the hill while honking at other drivers to avoid collision. The car finally stopped at the bottom of the hill when it hit a tree. The students in the car ranged from 9-12 years old and all nine suffered personal injuries in the collision. Five students in the van were seriously injured and were immediately taken to Mission Medical Center.

Luckily, none of the children suffered life-threatening injuries in this Orange County car accident. Currently, it appears that the cause of the accident was mechanical failure of the brakes. The families of the students who suffered personal injuries in this accident should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer immediately who can help them make a personal injury claim to receive compensation for their injuries.

14-Year-Old Student Killed in San Bernardino Hit-and-Run

October 1, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A young student walking to Pacific High School was killed after being hit by a speeding car in San Bernardino, California. The student, Jade Maldonado, was only 14 years old. The San Bernardino hit-and-run accident occurred in the morning before school, just after 7 a.m., as she was walking to class.

According to the San Bernardino Sun, Jade was crossing in a marked crosswalk when she was hit by a car that immediately fled the scene. The car was described as a Tan 2000-2004 GMC SUV. The vehicle was traveling approximately 40-50 mph when Jade was hit.

Jade was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center. Doctors performed surgery in attempts to save her, but Jade passed away later that day. The school district released a statement offering their condolences and letting parents and students know that school counselors are available to speak with students struggling because of this tragic accident. Police ask anyone with information about this hit-and-run accident to contact them immediately at 909-383-4247.

Volunteer Landscaper Electrocuted to Death While Trimming Trees at Local Church

September 29, 2018 | by Robert Walch

A tragic San Diego electrical accident caused the wrongful death of a local landscaper who was trimming a pine tree. Moises Hernandez Sr., owner of his own tree-trimming and landscaping company, often volunteered at a local church by maintaining its grounds. According to The Coast News, Hernandez was trimming a large pine tree near the church when his metal tool came in contact with a San Diego Gas & Electric Wire, instantly electrocuting Hernandez.

Hernandez was hit with a shock of 12,000-volts that resulted in his wrongful death. Police reports stated “the church’s caretaker called 911 after hearing a ‘loud buzzing’ noise.” The first responders found Hernandez, unresponsive in the tree. SDG&E had to be called to cut power to lines touching the tree before Hernandez could be rescued. It took SDG&E three hours to get trucks to the scene to cut power—Hernandez was ultimately pronounced dead before he was removed from the tree. Continue Reading

25-year-old Man Killed in 5 Freeway Motorcycle Accident in Los Angeles

September 26, 2018 | by Robert Walch

25-year-old Granada Hills resident, Matthew Fielding, was killed Sunday morning, September 16, 2018 in a Los Angeles motorcycle accident. This motorcycle accident occurred in the Newhall Pass on the southbound side of the 5 freeway, around 11:10 a.m. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the motorcycle and a 2002 BMW collided on the freeway.

As a result of the crash, “Fielding was ejected from his motorcycle and landed on the southbound truck lanes,” police reported. The driver and passenger in the BMW were uninjured. Due to the motorcycle accident fatality, the investigating officers closed the southbound truck lanes on the 5 freeway for four hours. Continue Reading

BMW Crashes into Apartment in Los Angeles Accident Killing 2, Injuring 1

September 24, 2018 | by Robert Walch

Just before midnight on Tuesday, September 12, 2018, a white BMW crashed into an apartment building in a Los Angeles County car accident. The car accident that occurred near Golden Springs Drive and Diamond Bar Boulevard in Diamond Bar, killed two of the three male passengers. The third passenger survived the crash, but was sent to the hospital in critical condition.

According to CBS Los Angeles News, police say the BMW was “traveling at 100 mph whit it hit a curb, went airborne and hit the apartment building.” Pictures of the vehicle show that the car was completely destroyed as a result of the accident. Continue Reading

Amusement Park Holiday Season Begins—What to do if You Get Hurt

September 22, 2018 | by Robert Walch

Although it’s only September, amusement parks in Southern California have already started celebrating the holiday season. Parks like Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Knott’s Berry Farm are currently decked out in Halloween décor and urging guests to come experience the spooky charm. Halloween festivities will be followed by Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations at the park.

With the added attraction of seeing the park decorated and experiencing the holiday charm, more and more people are visiting the parks. While amusement parks can be a lot of fun, is also true that amusement parks can be locations that result in personal injuries or wrongful deaths. Continue Reading

Boating Accident on Colorado River Kills Four, Injures others

September 20, 2018 | by Robert Walch

Earlier this month, two boats out on the Colorado River, in an area north of Lake Havasu, on the California and Arizona border, collided sending all passengers into the water. The first boat carried 10 people, while the second boat carried six passengers.

Just after the collision, good Samaritans boating nearby helped to pull several of the boat crash victims out of the water. As emergency response teams got to the area, two victims were airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital. The seven others injured in the boating accident were taken to local medical centers. Continue Reading