California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Drunk Driver Kills Cyclist in Newport Beach Bicycle Accident

February 25, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Danae Marie Miller, has been arrested and booked on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, for a Newport Beach accident that resulted in the wrongful death of a bicyclist. The fatal collision occurred on San Joaquin Hills Road in Newport Beach.

According to the Los Angeles Times, court records show that Ms. Miller has received 16 traffic citations since 2005. Her alleged infractions included driving the wrong way on a street, failure to stop for a stop sign, speeding and talking on her cell phone while driving.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department records show that Ms. Miller, who is 22 years old, was released after posting $100,000 bail.

In addition to the criminal charges against Ms. Miller, the family of the victim will also have a possible Newport Beach wrongful death claim against Miller. It remains to be seen if Ms. Miller will have enough insurance coverage to cover the significant wrongful death damages that the victim’s family will likely be claiming.

If there is not enough insurance coverage, the family may seek personal assets from Ms. Miller and, even though the wrongful death victim was on a bike, the family may make a claim with any uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage that might have covered the victim.

According to records, since July 2009, this was the fourth fatal bicycle accident between a vehicle and a cyclist in Newport Beach.

Woman Seriously Injured in Los Angeles Hit and Run Accident

February 24, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A Los Angeles woman was seriously injured in a hit and run accident in South Los Angeles. The woman was crossing the street at 111th Place and Figueroa Street when she was hit by a Toyota Camry. The woman who was driving the Camry left the scene of the accident and was not located.

The injured woman had injuries that were described as life-threatening head trauma and was being treated at Harbor UCLA Medical Center.

It is against the law for a person to leave the scene of an accident without stopping to provide their information. If the driver of the Camry is found, she will face serious legal charges for the Los Angeles hit and run accident.

In addition to the criminal charges, the driver will likely face a personal injury claim made against her on behalf of the woman who was injured in the hit and run accident. In situations like this, the driver of the vehicle often does not have enough insurance coverage to cover the extensive damages that the injured woman has likely incurred, including hospital bills which can be six or seven figures.

The family of the injured woman should immediately contact a Los Angeles personal injury attorney who can investigate the relevant insurance coverages and liability, to see if there is possibly an uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist claim that can be made with the injured party’s insurance company as well.

Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers Launch New Injury Website!!!

February 23, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Our Los Angeles personal injury law firm is pleased to announce the publishing of our new injury website, located at www.walchlaw.com. The new look website, featuring upgraded and expanded content, is designed to help guide injury victims to obtain the help that they need without delay.

Our team of California personal injury lawyers and support staff strives to give every client the personal attention they need and deserve. We constantly receive compliments about how friendly and helpful our staff is.

Over the more than thirty five years we have been handling injury claims, we have helped all types of injury victims, from Van Nuys car accident injuries, to Woodland Hills burn injuries, San Bernardino truck accident injuries, North Hollywood slip and fall injuries, Los Angeles bus accident injuries, Hermosa Beach premises liability injuries, Thousand Oaks bicycle accident injuries, Pomona motorcycle accident injuries, Sherman Oaks dog bite and dog attack injuries, etc. Many of these cases involve fractures, surgery and wrongful death claims.

We also handle hit and run, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist claims. If the person responsible for your injuries does not have insurance, it does not necessarily mean you do not have a viable claim. It is always best to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney right away.

Update: Bus Driver Killed, 23 Injured in Lake Arrowhead Church Bus Accident

February 22, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Regarding the tragic church bus accident yesterday, the Los Angeles Times reported additional information today. Apparently, the bus was from a Korean Church in Pasadena, The Light of Love Mission Church. The bus driver was killed and 23 were injured, ten seriously, when the bus apparently crossed over the dividing line on a curve near Lake Arrowhead, struck a car and went down a steep snow covered embankment yesterday.

The bus was traveling down the sharp curves on California 189 in the Lake Arrowhead region when it collided with an SUV traveling in the other direction. The bus apparently went through a utility pole, plunging about 25 feet into a grove of trees, which eventually stopped the bus.

The driver of the bus was identified as Won Seok Chae, from Los Angeles. He was found dead at the scene. The bus driver was said to be a professional tour bus driver who volunteered his time to drive the church’s bus.

The coroner’s office stated that Chae lost control of the church bus as it rounded a curve, crossing over into the opposite lane, colliding with the other vehicle. A man and a woman in the vehicle struck by the bus were also injured in the Lake Arrowhead bus accident.

San Bernardino Bus Accident Kills One and Injures Many on Church Retreat

February 21, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Earlier today, a bus accident in San Bernardino, California, killed one and injured many after a bus carrying a predominately Korean church group collided head on with a fire truck driven by an off duty firefighter. According to the Southwest Riverside News Network, the bus passengers were from the Light of Love Mission Church in Pasadena.

The San Bernardino bus accident occurred on Highway 89, near Lake Gregory Drive, in San Bernardino, California. After the collision, the bus went down a ravine of about 50 feet, before hitting a power pole and then a tree.

In addition to the person on the bus who was killed in the bus accident, 24 more people were taken to hospitals for their injuries. According to CBS2, ten of the victims suffered serious injuries, while 13 had minor or moderate injuries from the crash.

The other vehicle involved in the San Bernardino accident was a sport utility vehicle belonging to the fire department, driven by an off duty firefighter and his wife, who was also seriously injured in the accident.

It is unknown at this time whether it was the bus driver or the firefighter who caused this collision. Because there are serious injuries and at least one possible San Bernardino wrongful death claim, a considerable investigation will need to be conducted to determine the liability for this accident, and who will have to pay for the damages incurred by so many people. If it was the fire vehicle, the injured bus passengers may need to file a government claim for damages with the city in order to preserve their rights. If the bus driver was at fault, it will have to be the insurance company for the bus company that covers most of the wrongful death and injury damages.

Southern California Rain Accident Danger

February 19, 2011 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, the weather service has reported that there will be rainstorms, as well as snow as low as 3,000 feet, which should last until this Sunday. The weather will likely cause Southern California rain accidents.

As our readers know, rain accidents in California lead to many serious injuries and deaths every year. We wish to remind everyone to be extra safe and cautious when conditions are bad, such as when driving in rain, snow or icy conditions, to prevent a serious car accident injury.

It is further advised that, whenever possible, avoid driving in these conditions all together. Even the best driver cannot always avoid the careless or reckless actions of other drivers, and can be injured in a rain accident in California.

Gardena Apartment Fire Injures 5

February 17, 2011 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, five people were taken to the hospital with burn injuries after a Gardena apartment fire Wednesday morning. The fire occurred at about 1:00 a.m. near Wilkie Avenue and Redondo Beach Boulevard, in Gardena, California.

The most serious burn injury appears to be to a man in his 40s, who was listed in critical condition. The condition of the other Gardena fire injury victims is not currently known.

Apartment fires can be particularly dangerous for various reasons, including because they can spread from unit to unit very quickly, parking problems may block fire hydrants, lack of exits, burning stairwells blocking exits and inadequate alarms.

For these reasons, it is advised to prevent apartment fires by checking smoke alarms, knowing the locations of extinguishers and all exits, not overloading extension cords or sockets, and fully extinguishing cigarettes.

Unfortunately, many apartments, especially older buildings, are not fully updated with fire prevention safety in mind. For this reason, it is important, when seeking out an apartment, to make sure it is in a safe building.

Tragic Orange County Car Accident Kills Pedestrian Helping a Dog

February 16, 2011 | by Robert Walch

According to the Orange County Sherriff’s Department, a very sad car accident occurred in Laguna Niguel, wherein a woman jogger, who was helping a dog who had ran onto the street, was killed after two cars collided and one of the cars struck her.

The woman, who rescued the dog from the street, was kneeling next to the dog on the street corner, possibly checking its tags, when she was hit by the car. The two car collision was apparently unrelated to the dog, but resulted in one of the cars running onto the sidewalk, striking the woman, who died at the scene of the accident. The dog apparently left the scene before rescuers arrived, and has not been located.

It is unclear at this time which vehicle caused the Orange County car accident. The occupants of the vehicles suffered injuries including a broken collarbone as well as bumps and bruises. The family of the woman, who was an innocent bystander, may make an Orange County wrongful death claim against the driver and/or owner of the car that caused the collision. If it remains unclear which car caused the initial collision, the family should make the claim against both vehicles.

2 Police Officers Injured in Los Angeles Hit and Run Accident

February 15, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Two Los Angeles Police Department officers were injured when their vehicle was rear ended in Los Angeles. The two occupants of the car that rear ended the patrol car fled the scene and were not located by police.

The Los Angeles rear end accident happened near the intersection of Whitworth Drive and Fairfax Boulevard. According to the Los Angeles Times, the two officers who were injured in the accident sustained back and neck injuries and were treated at a local hospital.

This will likely be considered a work accident and the officers should be able to make a workers’ compensation claim for their injuries. Also, because the suspects left the vehicle and fled the scene on foot, police will be able to determine who the owner of the vehicle was. This will help investigators determine if the owner was involved in the Los Angeles car accident or if the car was stolen from the owner prior to the accident, in which case the owner may not bear any legal liability.

If the owner carried liability insurance, and was the driver or allowed someone else to drive the car, the police officers may make a bodily injury insurance claim against the owner’s insurance coverage. If no insurance is found, then the police officers may make a claim with their own uninsured motorist coverage, which may be covered by the police department for this type of situation.

San Diego Taxi Accident Injures 35

February 14, 2011 | by Robert Walch

35 people in San Diego, California were injured this weekend in a serious auto v. pedestrian accident when a taxi cab went out of control and into a crowd of people outside the popular Stingaree nightclub in the Gaslamp District of the city.

The San Diego accident happened at approximately 2:00 a.m., which is right around the time when the club closes and there is a mass exodus of people leaving the club, as witnessed by one of our attorneys on a prior visit to the nightclub.

According to San Diego police, the taxi cab driver was pulled out of the car after the accident and attacked by an angry crowd, resulting in only a broken nose. It is unclear at this time whether the taxi driver had blacked out or fallen asleep prior to the car accident.

Initial reports said that of the 35 people who suffered injuries in the San Diego taxi accident, six were in critical condition. It has since emerged that 23 people were taken to the hospital and none of the injuries were considered life threatening. The injuries reportedly included a woman with a severed limb, as well as others with broken limbs, bruises and scrapes.

There are many legal ramifications for an auto versus pedestrian accident such as this. One important legal factor will be the driving and medical histories of this taxi driver. If the driver has been involved in other accidents or has a history of blackouts or other such occurrences, the taxi company may be subject to a punitive damages claim for placing the public in danger by employing this person. The taxi company should also be held responsible for the injuries caused by its employee while on the job. Because there may be 35 or more people making a claim against the taxi company, the financial ramifications may end up being quite severe.