Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

A lawsuit was filed earlier this month against the city of Newport Beach, alleging that the city of Newport Beach was negligent in the death of 43-year-old Darryl Benefiel. Benefiel died after he was struck by a Honda Accord on July 23 at the intersection of Ridge Park Road and Tesoro. He suffered massive head trauma and died at the scene of the crash. The suit seeks damages for funeral and burial expenses, legal fees and other damages.

In the wrongful death suit, Darryl's mother, Karen Benefiel, claims that the road was poorly designed without street signs. The suit also names the driver and owner of the vehicle that struck Benefiel. The city has denied liability for this accident, although bicycle safety has been a topic of concern in Newport Beach in the past few months. In response to the death of Darryl Benefiel, the city has put together a new task force on cycling safety.

Continue reading "Mother Files Lawsuit Against City of Newport Beach for Son's Fatal Bicycle Accident " »

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, you have legal rights to compensation for whatever you have lost - including your medical bills, lost earnings, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering. That being said, the insurance company will try to pay you as little as possible for your injuries. If you have sustained serious injuries, it is within your best interest to consult with an attorney with experience and proven results.

Motorcycle Accident Frequently Asked Questions

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The San Bernardino County coroner's office has identified the victim of a dune buggy crash in Pinion Hills as Patrick Dodgin, 60, of Jupiter, Florida. Dodgin crashed the sand rail on Sacramento Road, near the intersection of Wintergreen Road, at about 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, December 26, 2009. According to the San Bernardino County Coroner's press release, Dodgin was ejected from the sand rail when the vehicle became airborne and struck a dirt embankment. Dodgin died of his injuries at the scene.

Please keep the family of Patrick Dodgin in your prayers. Our condolences go out to everyone who knew and loved him. Losing a loved one unexpectedly in an accident such as this one is undoubtedly devastating.

The cause of this fatal dune buggy accident in San Bernardino County is currently under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Although many people assume that dune buggy crashes are caused by careless or reckless driving, this is not necessarily the case. Sand rail accidents can be the result of defective design or negligent manufacturing, or improper vehicle maintenance. While this accident is still being investigated, the family would be well advised to consult with a California personal injury attorney who will have the vehicle inspected to see what caused this fatal accident.

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A man was killed following a rollover crash early Thursday, December 24, 2009 on East Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City, authorities in Cathedral City reported. The fatal crash occurred at 2:14 a.m. on East Palm Canyon Drive (CA-111), near the Cathedral City Auto Center, about 150 feet west of Bankside Drive. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was partially ejected and died at the scene. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department identified the victim as Henry Arthur, 31, of Palm Springs.

According to reports in the Desert Sun, Arthur struck a water-filled center divider in the construction zone, causing his vehicle to flip and come to rest in the eastbound lanes of the road. Police do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash, but an investigation is ongoing. Please keep the family of Henry Arthur in your prayers. The loss of a loved one so unexpectedly is shocking and devastating. Our thoughts and condolences go out to everyone who knew and loved this man.

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Five people were injured early Monday morning in a multi-vehicle collision on the northbound Hollywood Freeway (170), at the Ventura Freeway. The crash, which involved four vehicles, was reported at 2:39 a.m. on Monday, December 21, near the Valley Village area.

Six people were involved in the accident, and five were taken to Los Angeles area hospitals with varying injuries. Based on the facts of this accident reported in the Los Angeles Daily News, it is not completely clear who was at fault for the crash. While this crash remains under investigation, those involved in this crash would be well-advised to consult with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney regarding this accident. An attorney will consult with an investigator to determine the cause of the crash and help the injured victims obtain full and fair compensation for their injuries, lost earnings due to not being able to work, and pain and suffering.

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The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of 17-year-old Deanae Weatherall, of Mira Loma, in a pedestrian accident Sunday evening (12-21-2009) on Highway 18 in Apple Valley. Weatherall had been walking with friends on the westbound side of the Happy Trails Hwy when she was struck by a Chevy Astro van at about 6:05 p.m. The accident occurred near Mana Road. She was taken by ambulance to Loma Linda University Medical Center where she died at about 8:30 p.m.

The driver of the Astro van, a 28-year-old woman, remained at the scene. Sheriff's officials did not believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The cause of the fatal Apple Valley pedestrian accident is under investigation. Based on the facts reported in the San Bernardino Sun and by the San Bernardino County Coroner's press release, it is not clear who is at fault for this accident.

Please keep the family of Deanae Weatherall in your prayers. The sudden loss of this young woman is surely heartbreaking. In types of cases like this, it is in the best interests of the family to discuss the situation with an experienced San Bernardino pedestrian accident attorney, who will independently investigate the accident and hold the negligent parties liable. In this case, the accident could possibly be caused by a negligent driver, or even a dangerous roadway condition, such as a poorly lit highway.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Office has reported a 24-year-old man was killed Thursday in a rollover crash on I-15 in Barstow. The crash occurred at about 1:15 p.m. on northbound I-15 at Cady Wash. The driver, Edward Tutundjian, reportedly veered into the dirt median for unknown reasons and overcorrected across traffic lanes. His 2008 BMW rolled several times and Tutundjian was ejected from his vehicle. He died at the scene of the crash.

Please keep Edward's family in your thoughts and prayers as they cope with the loss of this young man. Based on the news reports in the San Bernardino Sun, it is not clear what caused this crash. Was there a mechanical failure of the vehicle, or did something in the roadway cause Tutundjian to lose control of his vehicle? The facts of this accident leave more questions than answers. Tutundjian's family would be wise to consult with a Los Angeles personal injury attorney who will perform and independent investigation into the cause of this fatal rollover crash.

Continue reading "North Hollywood Man Killed in I-15 Rollover Crash in Barstow " »

A report by TRIP, a national nonprofit transportation research group, revealed that Los Angeles roads are the worst in the nation, with 92% of the major metropolitan roads in poor or mediocre condition. These deteriorating and congested roadways cost Los Angeles motorists $2,464 a year in higher vehicle operating costs.

The Worst Roads in Los Angeles

According to the report, the worst stretches of road include:

• Highland Avenue between Santa Monica Boulevard and Franklin Avenue in Hollywood


• Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) between Beach Boulevard and the Los Angeles County line near Buena Park
• Santa Monica Boulevard between Centinela Avenue and the San Diego (405) Freeway
• Venice Boulevard between Pacific Coast Highway and Sawtelle Boulevard in West Los Angeles

Los Angeles drivers also put up with the worst traffic congestion in the country. Eighty-one percent (81%) of major roadways experience "significant" rush hour delays, costing Los Angeles motorists on average 70 hours per year in traffic. The report says that California faces an annual surfaces shortfall of $10.9 billion. Without a significant boost in funding, road conditions will only worsen.

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The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating an accident Monday evening that killed a freelance photographer. According to reports in the Los Angeles Downtown News, Daniel Salazar Moreno, 31, a freelance photographer, was taking pictures of model Adriana Palacios, 22, on Monday evening in the Arts District when the two were struck by an out of control Honda Accord. The accident happened at East Sixth and Mateo Streets in Skid Row.

Moreno died at the scene of the crash, and Palacios suffered a fractured left leg and right knee. The driver of the Accord, Moises Casillas, 26, told police something was mechanically wrong with his vehicle. Casillas was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Alcohol or drug use is not suspected, although an investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

Police will be turning the case over to the District Attorney's office, who will determine whether or not to pursue charges. Witnesses to the crash or anyone with additional relevant information that could help the investigation are asked to call traffic Detective Michael Keden at 213-927-1825.

Continue reading "Photographer Killed, Model Injured Following Accident in Arts District" »

Temecula police reported Tuesday that a 20-year-old man is in critical condition after being struck by a Honda Accord at the intersection of Ynez Road and Rancho California Road Monday night. The man's identity was not released Tuesday because his family had not been notified. He was taken to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.

According to reports in the Californian, a 17-year-old girl turning left from northbound Ynez Road onto westbound Rancho California Road struck the man. He was crossing Rancho California Road going north when he came into contact with the left front of the Accord. The crash occurred just before 5 p.m. Monday night. It was not known whether the man was wearing a helmet. The driver of the Honda was not injured.

Skateboard accidents involving collisions with other vehicles are essentially another type of pedestrian accident. Accidents involving serious injury and death are relatively common in Southern California. Below are several of the documented skateboard accidents in the last six months in Southern California:

• A 24-year-old Vista man, Christopher Toraason Pompa, was killed on November 15, 2009, after he was struck by a car on Hacienda Drive in Vista (San Diego County).


• A 17-year-old Hesperia boy, Bryan Gomez, was killed August 25, 2009 when he was struck by a car while skateboarding in Hesperia.


• A 14-year-old boy suffered broken bones on July 27, 2009 when he was struck by a car in Nipomo (San Luis Obispo County).


• A 14-year-old Lake Forest boy, Nestor Barrientos-Macias, died of his injuries several days after he fell in the parking lot of La Tierra Elemetary School (Orange County) on June 13, 2009.


• A 17-year-old skateboarder, Dustin Rogers Martin, died in San Bernardino County after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver while skateboarding on Cottonwood Avenue on June 15, 2009.

Continue reading "Skateboarder Critically Injured After Being Struck by Car in Temecula " »

A 78-year-old Fountain Valley woman died following a crash on Interstate 5 on Saturday afternoon, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office reported. The victim, a passenger in a 2008 Chevy Cobalt, was identified as Yi Jia. She died of her injuries at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital about an hour and a half after the 4 p.m. crash, which occurred on southbound I-5 in Los Angeles, south of Templin Highway.

According to reports in the Santa Clarita Valley Signal, the crash involved a 2009 Honda, a 2002 Ford Explorer, and the 2008 Cobalt. The driver of the Honda came to a sudden stop after seeing a stalled vehicle in front of her. The driver of the Ford Explorer, unable to stop in time, struck the Honda from behind. The driver of the Cobalt, in the second lane, saw the vehicles stopping and also hit his brakes, causing him to lose control of the car and strike the center divider and then the Explorer. Jia, a passenger, was taken to the hospital where she died of her injuries a short time later. Several other people were also injured in the crash.

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A jury in Franklin County, Missouri has awarded $89 million to the family of a man killed in a 2008 crash on February 2, 2008. The jury reached the award after a one-day trial in Franklin County Circuit Court. According to the suit, Troy Zerna, 20, already had one DWI when he crashed his vehicle head-on with Dennis Riegel Jr., 28, of Washington. Riegel's fiancée, Christine Hodge, who was 13 weeks pregnant, was seriously injured. The couple were driving home from registering for wedding gifts at a shopping mall when the head-on collision occurred.

According to the St. Louis Today, the jury's award included $53.5 million to Christine Hodge and $35.5 million to the couple's daughter and Riegel's parents. Zerna has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for this drunk driving accident in his previous involvement in a driving-while-intoxicated accident five months earlier in September 2007.

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