Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

ORANGE COUNTY -- A multi-vehicle accident in Santa Ana left one person injured, Orange County Register reported. The collision between a Volvo and a Nissan Sentra occurred just before 10:49 a.m. on the southbound lanes of the Interstate 5. Following this horrible car crash, the woman in the Sentra was transported to a hospital for further treatment. The extent of her injuries and the condition of the other driver were not immediately available.

Cause of the I-5 Car Crash in Santa Ana

The accident on October 21st remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. However, based on the limited information provided by the Orange County Register, it is unclear what caused this crash to occur. Therefore, it is impossible to determine who is a fault. Hopefully, police officials investigating the collision can come to a conclusion as to what happened and who is officially responsible.

Car Accident Personal Injury Liability

While the investigation of this terrible car accident is ongoing, victims or the victims' families would be well-advised to contact a Orange County personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable and experienced lawyer who is familiar with Interstate 5 accidents, can help the victims protect their legal rights, and decide the best course of action to recover compensation they may be entitled to for medical care expenses, lost earning, pain and suffering, and other related damages.

Continue reading "One Injured in Santa Ana Car Accident on Interstate 5" »

BUENA PARK - Three people were tragically killed and two others hospitalized with serious injuries Monday night after the Ford Excursion SUV they were riding in overturned on Interstate 5, the Los Angeles Times reported. According to news reports, the SUV, carrying a family returning from a church service at the Crystal Cathedral, overturned when the driver lost control while exiting the Beach Boulevard offramp. Four passengers were ejected from the vehicle before it became engulfed in flames. The driver, a 41-year-old Downey woman, and a 16-year-old girl, were taken to UCI Medical Center. Three women, ages, 24, 30, and 49, died at the scene of the crash. None of the parties identities were immediately available.

Cause of the Accident

Based on the limited information provided in news accounts, the cause of this horrific Orange County rollover crash is unclear. The CHP reported that alcohol is not believed to be a factor, and that the agency is investigating speed and the sharp angle of the freeway exit were factors in the Santa Ana Freeway rollover.

SUV Rollover Accident Liability

Following a catastrophic accident such as this August 8th SUV rollover in Buena Park, the family members of the injured victims would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable SUV rollover accident lawyer. An attorney who understands the unique liability issues of accidents such as this one can arrange to have an independent investigator reconstruct the accident to determine if the accident was the result of a manufacturing defect in the vehicle, a dangerous road condition, or negligent operation. Once the cause of the accident has been assessed and determined, the victims may pursue a wrongful death or personal injury claim against whoever is determined to be responsible for their injuries or loss.

Continue reading "Three People Killed, Two Hurt in In SUV Rollover on Interstate 5 " »

TUSTIN - A 74-year-old Tustin woman was killed Monday morning after she was struck by a car and dragged for several blocks, the OC Register and multiple news outlets reported. The victim, identified by the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner as Berna Martinez, was crossing Red Hill Avenue at the bottom of the I-5 freeway offramp when she was hit by a Mercury Sable exiting the freeway. The driver, who apparently didn't realize what happened, continued for several blocks dragging the victim, until police stopped her as she pulled into a strip mall at Newport Avenue and Bryan Avenue. It was reportedly raining heavily when the incident occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m.

Cause of the Fatal Accident

Tustin Police are continuing to investigate the fatal March 21st incident. Police said the driver of the Mercury, 79-year-old female resident of Aliso Viejo, was not facing any charges immediately. However, that could change pending the investigation. It is unclear why the driver did not stop when she first struck Martinez. It appears that Martinez was struck in a marked crosswalk, in which case the driver should have yielded to her right of way (under California Vehicle Code Section 21950).

Wrongful Death Liability Compensation Claims

In situations were negligent driving causes the death of a pedestrian, the at-fault driver may he held liable for the death of the pedestrian. While Tustin Police are continuing to investigate the incident, the family members of the victim would be well-advised to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable California wrongful death lawyer, who can help them protect their legal rights. A skilled pedestrian accident lawyer who has represented families of victims of accidents similar to this one can advise the family members of their best course of action to hold the driver - and any other negligent parties - fully accountable.

Continue reading "Elderly Woman Dies After Being Dragged by Car in Tustin Accident" »

A 23-year-old Oceanside man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence early Monday morning after an accident sent five other people, including a 5-year-old child, to the hospital. According to the OC Register, the suspected alcohol-related accident occurred on northbound Interstate 5, south of the 91 freeway, around 12:26 a.m., according to the CHP. The suspected drunken driver, Sabah Mikha, was driving a 2004 Mazda that struck a 1993 Ford Explorer and caused it to overturn. The five occupants of the Explorer, Maria Garcia-Salas, 24, the driver, and passengers Elizabeth Garcia, 22, Rosa Garcia, 5, Jesus Garcia, 20, and Evelyn Aguilar, 19 suffered injuries ranging from minor to moderate.

Cause of the Interstate 5 Accident

The cause of the Orange County Interstate 5 crash remains under investigation by the CHP. However, if news reports are accurate, this unfortunate accident was likely caused by drinking and driving. Accidents caused by drunk drivers are 100% preventable.

Drunk Driving Accidents and Personal Injury Liability

If the suspected drunk driver is determined to having driving under the influence of alcohol, he may face criminal charges for driving under the influence and causing an accident resulting in injury. Additionally, he may be held liable for the injuries sustained by the five occupants of the Ford Explorer in a personal injury claim. In situations such as this September 27th Anaheim car accident, the family members of the injured victims would be well-advised to consult with a Los Angeles car accident lawyer. An attorney who has successfully represented hundreds of injured victims of alcohol-related accidents can advise the family of their best course of action to hold the driver financially accountable for their injuries and recover the maximum financial compensation they may be entitled to.

Continue reading "Five Injured in Anaheim Crash on Interstate 5; Oceanside Man Arrested On Suspicion of DUI " »

Two men from Norco who were occupants of a white Toyota Tacoma sustained moderate injuries Wednesday morning when their truck was rear-ended in Orange County, the San Clemente Times reported. The accident occurred on southbound Interstate 5, north of Camino Las Ramblas, at about 8 a.m. on Wednesday, September 15, 2010. The white Toyota pickup was rear-ended by a black Audi, driven by Jesse James Matheny, 20, of San Clemente. Matheny, who was not injured, was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of alcohol.

Cause of the September 15th Crash

If news reports are accurate, the driver of the Audi, who is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol, is likely responsible for this collision. However, the cause of the crash is still under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Rear-End Accidents and Personal Injury Liability

If it is determined that the driver of the Audi is responsible for causing the collision, he may be liable for the injuries sustained by the two men in the Tacoma. In situations such as this September 15th Interstate 5 car accident, injured victims or their family members would be well-advised to speak to an experienced and knowledgeable California car accident lawyer. A skilled attorney familiar with the unique legal issues of rear-end accidents on Interstate freeways can help the victims understand and protect their legal rights so that they may recover the maximum financial compensation they may be entitled to for their medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering and other accident related expenses.

Continue reading "Two Norco Men Injured in Suspected DUI Crash on Interstate 5 " »

Three people were injured, including one critically, Friday morning in a crash on Interstate 5 north of Los Angeles, Mercury News reported. The crash, which occurred in the northbound lanes of the freeway in the Valencia area at about 11:17 a.m., involved a small car being involved between two trucks. Based on the limited information provided in news reports, it is not clear how this crash occurred or who was at fault. The California Highway Patrol is investigating.

This accident is just another example of the severe damage a tractor-trailer can cause. Semi-trucks can weigh up to 40 times more than a small passenger vehicle, and are responsible for several hundred fatal accidents and more than 3,000 injury accidents each year in California alone. We hope the three injured parties involved in this crash make a full and quick recovery from their serious injuries sustained in this July 30th truck accident.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Truck Accident?

In accidents involving only passenger vehicles, most of the time fault and liability is attributed to one of the drivers. However, in trucking accidents, there are often multiple parties that may be liable, including the truck driver, the trucking company, the manufacturer of the truck or truck parts, the company or individuals responsible for maintaining the truck, the shipping company, and others. It is always a good idea to contact an attorney soon after any accident; however, in truck accidents, it is especially important. The trucking company will fight liability and do everything to limit the amount of compensation a victim ultimately receives, including presenting evidence to suggest an injured party is responsible for a crash.

Truck Accidents and Personal Injury Liability

The injured victims of this accident would be well-advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles truck accident attorney as soon as possible who can review the accident report and advise of their legal rights and options to pursue compensation in a personal injury claim. Accidents involving big-rigs and semi-trucks have very unique legal issues due to the federal laws governing the trucking industry. A skilled truck accident lawyer can advise the victims of their best course of action following this crash to ensure they receive the maximum, full and fair compensation for their injuries.

Continue reading "Three People Injured in Big Rig Crash on Interstate 5 in Valencia " »

A 29-year-old woman died following a solo vehicle freeway crash early Tuesday morning on Interstate 5 in Castaic, authorities reported. The accident happened at about 1:25 a.m., on the southbound Golden State Freeway (I-5) in Castaic. According to reports by CBS News, the Toyota Camry hit a guardrail and overturned as it went down a hillside. The vehicle came to rest on its roof, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The woman who died in the crash was identified as Stephanie M. Kelper. Her 35-year-old husband, 11-year-old son, 3-year-old son, and an 8-year-old boy were injured in the crash. Authorities reported that a speed limit sign and about 50 feet of guard rail were damaged in the accident. Alcohol is not suspected to be a factor, but the cause of the Los Angeles County crash remains under investigation.

What Caused this Accident?

Based on the limited information provided in news reports, it's not clear why the accident occurred, or even who was driving. Did the driver swerve to avoid something in the roadway, or fall asleep at the wheel? Or was something wrong with the Toyota? Hopefully the investigation by the California Highway Patrol will yield answers as to what happened to cause this crash.

Continue reading "One Dead, Four Injured April 6 in Interstate 5 Solo-Vehicle Accident in Castaic " »

Two young men died in a horrific solo-vehicle SUV rollover crash Tuesday night in Santa Fe Springs, the California Highway Patrol reported. The accident occurred in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5, south of the 605 Freeway, at about 11:25 p.m. According to reports in the Whittier Daily News, the driver of the 2003 Nissan Xterra, Ryan Tiederman, 18, of Cerritos, lost control of the SUV for unknown reasons and veered off the freeway. The vehicle then struck a raised embankment and rolled several times, coming to a rest on its roof near the bottom of the on-ramp at Florence Avenue. The passenger, Jacob Aragon, 19, of Lakewood, was partially ejected from the vehicle. Both men died at the scene of the crash.

Our sympathy goes out to the families of Ryan Tiederman and Jacob Aragon, and everyone who knew and loved them. Please keep their families in your prayers as they are grieving the sudden and unexpected loss of these two young men.

CHP Investigation

Any witnesses to the accident or anyone else with information about the accident is asked to contact the CHP's Santa Fe Springs office at (562)868-0503. CHP officers are investigating the cause of the crash, and working to determine the speed of the SUV at the time of the crash, whether the two men were wearing seat belts, and whether alcohol or drugs were involved. A CHP officer said investigators at the scene did not find any initial evidence that alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Who Was At Fault?

Based on the news reports of this accident, it is impossible to tell what caused this rollover accident or who was at fault. The family of both of the men killed in this accident would be well advised to consult with a Los Angeles SUV rollover accident lawyer who can help them determine the cause of the accident, and whether deficient roof-strength in the Nissan XTerra contributed to the two men's deaths. Some SUVs also have defective door latches that are too weak to keep the doors closed in the event of a rollover, which may cause passengers to be ejected. If a defect in the SUV caused the two young men to die in this accident, the families may consider filing a wrongful death claim against the vehicle's manufacturer. An experienced Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer can help the family understand their legal rights, options and obligations following a devastating accident such as this one.

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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