California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Woman Killed in Long Beach Elevator Accident Wrongful Death

December 9, 2011 | by Robert Walch

An elevator accident in Long Beach, California on Wednesday, at the campus of California State University at Long Beach, resulted in the death of an employee of the school. Annette Lujan, a Huntington Beach resident, who worked for the university, died after being crushed by the malfunctioning elevator.

The elevator accident occurred after the elevator first became stuck in between the second and third floors. After an unrevealed period of time, Ms. Lujan apparently climbed out of the elevator. However, after she climbed out, the elevator began to move again and the 2,000 pound elevator car crushed her to death.

The cause of this elevator accident is still being investigated. It has been reported that the elevator was last inspected in April, 2011, and no problems were reported at that time. The Los Angeles Times also reports that officials have said that this accident shows the danger of trying to escape an elevator after it stops and becomes stuck.

Many people have fears that an elevator may break down while they are in it, and this causes anxiety in many people who ride elevators, particularly when they are crowded with people, it is a small elevator or it is in an older building.

Newport Beach Motorist Killed By Falling Tree

November 1, 2011 | by Robert Walch

New details have emerged in the case of the woman who was killed when her car was struck and crushed by a falling tree in Newport Beach. The Daily Pilot has tried to obtain the investigation results from the City of Newport Beach, as to the cause of the tree falling. The city has refused to share the results of its investigation into the cause of the Newport Beach accident.

The victim of the Newport Beach wrongful death accident was Haeyoon Miller, who was driving on Irvine Avenue when the blue gum Eucalyptus tree crushed her vehicle. According to the Los Angeles Times, the family of the Newport Beach wrongful death victim is waiting to decide if it will take legal action, which would likely include a Newport Beach wrongful death claim.

Halloween Safety Tips

October 24, 2011 | by Gary Walch

Halloween is fast approaching – October 31, 2011 — and the last thing any of us want is for our children to have an injury accident. Having a child injured any day of the year is horrific and the last thing any of us want is for a child to be injured on a holiday or special day, such as Halloween.

Accidents on holidays or specials days like birthdays, anniversaries, the Fourth of July, Christmas or Halloween tend to always be remembered by the injured child or family, possibly ruining the enjoyment of these special days for years to come.

Pedestrian Killed in Northridge Amtrak Train Accident

October 21, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A twenty eight year old man was killed this morning when he was struck by an Amtrak train in a Northridge train accident. According to the Los Angeles Times, the man was walking on the railroad tracks when he was hit by the Amtrak passenger train near Lindley Ave. in Northridge, California. Los Angeles Fire Department rescuers declared the man dead at the scene.

According to the Los Angeles police department, nobody on the train was injured in the California train accident. The reason the man was on the tracks and hit by the train remains unknown to investigators.

Los Angeles Car Accident Averted Due To Help From 911 Dispatcher

October 18, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A very serious Los Angeles car accident was avoided on Monday due to quick thinking from a 911 operator. A woman called 911 as the accelerator on her Ford Escort was stuck and she could not get her car to stop. The woman also had her young child in the car with her.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the 911 dispatcher, Richard Engersbach, instructed the woman to place the car into neutral and to shut off the engine. Fortunately, as the vehicle was traveling at about 25 miles per hour towards a red light at Foothill Blvd. and Sport Chalet Dr., the instructions worked and the car slowed down before the engine died and the car stopped before reaching the intersection.

No Injuries in Mall Accident in Baldwin Hills

October 5, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A Baldwin Hills car accident this morning involving a woman who drove her car through the doors to a mall before her vehicle was stopped by the second floor guardrail fortunately did not result in any injuries to the driver, passenger or any bystanders. The car accident in Baldwin Hills happened before 9:00am, and fortunately the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza mall had not yet opened.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the woman, who is 37 years old, who is reportedly not a licensed driver, accidentally hit the gas when she meant to hit the brake, causing her to crash through the mall doors, into the mall and almost halfway through the second floor railing, which was 20 feet high. Had the 1986 Acura Legend gone completely through the railing and crashed down into the first floor, serious injuries to the driver and passenger would likely have occurred.

Tragic Calabasas Car Accident Leaves 1 Dead and 1 Critically Injured

October 3, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A tragic Calabasas car accident on the 101 freeway, near the Las Virgenes exit, has left a 9 year old girl dead and her mother critically injured with burn injuries. Dramatic video from the scene of the Calabasas accident, wherein bystanders are trying to help the mother after rescuing her from the vehicle, can be seen here courtesy of CBS News.

The Calabasas freeway accident happened Saturday morning at about 8:30am on the southbound lanes of the 101 freeway. The car apparently lost control and hit the center divider and a tanker truck. As a result, the car rolled over and became engulfed in flames. While the mother was able to exit the car with severe burn injuries, she was not able to save her 9 year old daughter, who died in the accident in Calabasas.

Truck Driver Injured in South Gate Train Accident

September 30, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A South Gate train accident occurred this morning when a truck was struck by a freight train. The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries in the South Gate train crash, which also resulted in a vegetable oil spill. According to the Los Angeles Times, although a team was called in for potentially hazardous material, the oil spill was considered nontoxic and there did not appear to be any threat to the general public.

South Gate is a city in Los Angeles County, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the Los Angeles train accident. According to a spokesperson for Union Pacific, the operator of the train, the truck driver caused the Los Angeles truck crash with the train when he allegedly tried to get over the tracks before the train.

3 Seriously Injured in Echo Park Pedestrian Accident

September 27, 2011 | by Robert Walch

An Echo Park pedestrian accident earlier today resulted in serious injuries to three young girls who were hit by a car. According to the Los Angeles Times, the girls, aged five, ten and sixteen, were crossing the street, in a crosswalk when they were hit by the car.

The pedestrian accident in Echo Park allegedly happened because the driver of the car could not see the girls as she claimed she had been blinded by the morning sun as she went through the intersection. The Echo Park accident happened at approximately eight in the morning as the girls were crossing Temple Street at the 1400 block.

Upgrades Planned to Increase Train Safety and Prevent Glendale Train Accidents

September 22, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Glendale officials unveiled plans to increase safety at two railroad crossings in an effort to prevent a Glendale train accident and also to make way for the corridors to be quieter. The project, which will cost almost ten million dollars, will include improving traffic lights, widening roads and better lighting to increase safety and eventually achieve “quiet zone” status.

According to the Glendale News Press, residents in the area have complained about the horns from the trains that are required to sound when approaching the crossings. If the crossings become safe enough to be labeled quiet zones, the trains will not have to blare the horns in those areas.