Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

Four people were injured in a chain-reaction accident on eastbound Interstate 10 Monday afternoon, the Desert Sun reported. The crash occurred at 2:40 p.m., west of Haugen-Lehmann Way in the Whitewater area. Accordinto to California Highway Patrol reports, five vehicles were involved in the crash. One of the vehicles, a truck, overturned, and at least one person had to be freed from a vehicle by firefighters. Four people were taken by ambulance to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. No one died in the accident.

Cause of the Interstate 10 Crash

The CHP is investigating the cause of the accident. According to news reports, the incident began when a driver cut off another driver, who honked his horn. The driver of the car that cut off the driver swerved back and collided with the other vehicle. Based on these reports, road rage, defined as violent behavior exhibited by drivers in traffic, may have played a role in the crash. Honking, flashing lights, rude gestures, or intentionally causing a collision are all manifestations of road rage, which is a serious public safety concern. Drivers who exhibit road rage may have their license suspected under California Vehicle Code Section 13210 and held liable for the injuries they cause.

Highway Pileups and Personal Injury Liability

Multi-vehicle accidents on freeways can be complex insurance matters. While this Interstate 10 Whitewater accident remains under investigation, the injured victims of this accident would be well-advised to consult with an experienced California auto accident attorney familiar with the unique legal issues of multi-vehicle crashes on interstate highways. A skilled lawyer can help the victims protect their rights and recover the maximum financial compensation they are entitled for their injuries, including their medical expenses, lost earnings and pain and suffering. In any accident resulting in injury, it is always advisable to speak to a personal injury attorney before discussing an accident with an insurance adjustor.

Continue reading "Four People Injured in Chain Reaction Crash on Interstate 10 " »

Two women died Saturday in a violent head-on collision on Interstate 10 near Blythe, the Desert Sun reported. The July 17th accident occurred at about 9:40 a.m. on westbound I-10, approximately three miles east of Corn Springs Road. According to news reports, Kimiko Kamita, 79, of Scottsdale Arizona, was driving her 2005 Toyota Avalon eastbound on Interstate 10, when for unknown reasons, her vehicle crossed the median into westbound traffic, where it collided head-on with a pickup truck.

Kimiko Kamita was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center, where she died shortly before 11:30 a.m. The driver of the 2006 Ford pickup truck, Eduardo Del Toro, 61, of Queen Creek, Arizona, suffered only minor injuries. A passenger in the vehicle, Ofelia Tallon, 83, of Queen Creek, was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where she died around 1:30 p.m.. A 53-year-old woman in the Ford pickup truck suffered major injuries and was also taken to Desert Regional Medical Center. The CHP reported all of the parties involved in the Riverside County crash were wearing their seatbelts.

Cause of the Crash

If news reports are accurate, it appears that this accident was the result of the driver of the Avalon losing control of her vehicle and ending up going in the wrong direction on Interstate 10. The CHP is looking into why this occurred, and whether the accident was caused by the driver herself, or a defect or malfunction in her vehicle, or even possibly a dangerous condition on the highway that caused her to lose control of the car.

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Liability

Based on the limited information provided in news reports, it is not clear who caused this accident, although it is evident that the driver of the pickup truck was not responsible. While the crash remains under investigation, the family of the victims in the Ford truck would be well-advised to talk to a California personal injury lawyer about the unique legal issues (including possible auto defect issues) of this Interstate 10 accident and protecting their rights in a personal injury or wrongful death claim. If the accident was the result of a malfunction in the Toyota, the manufacturer could be responsible and liable for the injuries and deaths of all involved parties.

Continue reading "Two Killed, Two Injured in Interstate 10 Head-On Collision" »

An Upland man died Sunday afternoon and an 11-year-old boy, who was not related to him, suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reported. According to the CHP, the solo vehicle motorcycle accident occurred at 12:05 p.m. on the on the transition road between the southbound 57 Freeway (Orange Freeway) and the eastbound 10 Freeway.

The driver, Michael Smith 36, lost control of the 2007 Honda CBS 1000 motorcycle and was thrown from the bike. The 11-year-old passenger, Nathan Ryan of Upland, stayed onboard as the bike went from the west guardrail and across traffic lanes into the east guardrail.

Smith died at the scene and Ryan was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center with serious injuries. Both the driver and passenger were wearing helmets. The transition road was closed for approximately three hours while officers investigated.

Continue reading "Upland Man Killed, 11-Year-Old Seriously Injured in San Dimas Motorcycle Crash " »

Five people were injured in a rollover crash on Interstate 10 Wednesday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol reported. The injury accident was reported at 4:23 p.m. on Interstate 10 at Frontage Road, east of the Cactus City Rest Area in Chuckwalla. According to KPSP Local 2 News, the vehicle rollover was triggered by a tire blowout on the freeway. Firefighers extricated five people from the car. One person suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a hospital. Two others suffered moderate injuries and two others suffered minor injuries.

Tire Blowouts and Accidents

By definition, tire blowouts are a rapid loss of air pressure in a tire, usually caused by a tire bursting or falling apart. With advances in tire technology, blowouts are less common than they were several decades ago, but these events still occur. Blowouts can occur for a number of reasons ranging from debris in the road, under inflation of a tire, or a small puncture that allows a tire to slowly deflate until it fails. In some cases, blowouts occur because of defects in the manufacturing of the tire. In any event, tire blowouts often cause loss of control of a vehicle, which can result in a rollover.

Continue reading "Five Injured After Tire Blowout Causes Rollover Crash on Interstate 10 " »

The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident Sunday afternoon in Riverside County. Gene Gomez, 47, of Calimesa, was riding a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle westbound on Interstate 10, when, while exiting Interstate 10 at the Whitewater rest stop, Gomez struck a raised curb and was thrown from his bike. The crash occurred around 2:10 p.m. A CHP officer who responded to the scene performed a modified jaw thrust maneuver on Gomez, and initially restored his breathing. Gomez was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center where he died shortly after 3 p.m.

Please keep the family of Gene Gomez in your prayers. Our thoughts go out to everyone who knew and loved him.

The CHP San Gorgonio Office is investigating the cause of the February 14 motorcycle crash. Based on the reports of this accident in the Desert Sun, it is not clear why this accident occurred. Was the curb constructed in such a way that it was inherently dangerous? Was there a problem with the Harley that caused Gomez to strike the curb? While this Interstate 10 accident remains under investigation, the family of Gene Gomez may benefit from consulting with an experienced California motorcycle accident wrongful death attorney. If the accident was caused by a dangerous road condition, or a mechanical malfunction on the Harley Davidson, the family may be entitled to compensation for their loss.

Continue reading "Calimesa Man Killed in I-10 Motorcycle Crash at Whitewater Rest Stop Exit" »