Accident Attorneys' Group

Personal Injury Lawyers of CA

Jun
18

By

Areas of 405 Freeway Closing Tuesday through Friday

Category: Auto Safety, Safety Tips Tags: , , , , , ,

Interstate 110 and State Route 110 (California)

Interstate 110 and State Route 110 (California) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Los Angeles is about to experience more inconvenient driving this week, beginning Tuesday evening. Parts of the 405 Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass will be closed in order to address the work that needs to be done on the Skirball Bridge.

Freeway ramps will begin closing at 7:00 p.m., and some lanes will be closed by 10:00 p.m. The full closure is expected to be completed by midnight and will reopen at approximately 5:00 a.m.

The working crews will install girders during the closure, beginning in stages for the southbound lanes.

On the northbound side, the same areas will be closed beginning Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. Those closures will be in effect Wednesday and Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. as well on Friday morning from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

The Skirball Bridge will be closed each night from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., but Sepulveda Boulevard will remain open for the duration of the work.

The 405 Freeway is a major highway for Los Angeles travelers, so it is important to know how this may affect you. Find alternate routes, such as Sepulveda Boulevard; and allow yourself extra time for commuting.

It is also vital to remain alert and safe as you may be driving new routes with which you are not familiar. If you happen to be involved in an accident, contact a Los Angeles injury attorney who will assist you with identifying negligence, filing claims; and can ensure that you receive the highest possible compensation for the damages that you have suffered, which is a major step toward your recovery.

Jun
14

By

Fatal Accident in Pico Rivera

Category: Auto Accident, Car Accident Tags: , , , , , , , ,

English: Pico Rivera Library - County of Los A...

English: Pico Rivera Library – County of Los Angeles Public Library (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thursday night, three people were killed in an accident in Pico Rivera. The collision was caused by a speeding driver.

A Honda Civic was traveling northbound on San Gabriel River Parkway in the 3500 block. A 22-year-old man was driving the Civic, and had a female and three children as passengers.

The Civic was going very fast while on a curve and was then forced over the line onto the southbound side of the parkway. The Civic then crashed head-on into a Nissan Sentra.

Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department officials arrived at the accident and began conducting the investigation.

The Civic driver and two boys, ages 11 and 13, died at the scene as they were ejected from the vehicle. The woman in the front seat and the third child were both taken to the hospital in critical condition. According to the police, the driver was taking the kids home after a party.

Two women were in the Nissan that was hit in the collision. They were both rushed to a hospital with serious injuries.

The fatal accident occurred around 8:45 p.m. by the 605 freeway. None of the victims’ identities has been released at this point and their conditions are still unknown.

The accident is still under investigation; however, there is no doubt that speed is a major factor in this crash.

If you or someone you know has been in an accident, contact a Los Angeles Accident Attorney who can assist you with filing claims; and can ensure that you receive the highest possible compensation for the damages that you have suffered, including punitive damages in the event of a death.

Jun
12

By

More Gun Fire in Santa Monica

Category: Blog, News, Personal Injury Tags: , , , , , ,

English: Santa Monica College Boardwalk, 2011.

English: Santa Monica College Boardwalk, 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Los Angeles grieves for those affected by the Friday shooting at Santa Monica College. And its grief must now be extended as more victims have been added to the list of the city’s shootings.

Early Tuesday morning, just blocks away from the anguished college, police responded to a report of shots fired. Two men were taken to the hospital.

The shooting occurred on the 1500 block of Michigan Avenue and police arrived around 8:20 a.m.

Each victim was in serious condition and were both taken for medical operations. However, one man has died due to his injuries. The other victim’s current condition is unknown.

According to the police, the suspect was possibly driving a blue Infiniti. The shooter approached the two men in an alley and began firing shots at them and then left.

Police are still investigating the attack and searching for the suspect and the vehicle.

Friday’s shooting in Santa Monica was conducted by John Zawahri, a 23-year-old former student of the college. He first went to his childhood home and killed his father and brother. He then traveled to the campus where he killed three more victims and injured others until police came bearing arms. Zawahri was shot and died later from the injuries.

Los Angeles can only hope that the police apprehend this new shooter and the two men and their families receive justice.

If you or someone you know has been injured in any type of accident, contact a Los Angeles Injury Attorney who can assist you with identifying negligence, filing claims; and receiving the highest possible compensation for the damages that you have suffered, including punitive damages in the event of fatalities.

Jun
11

By

Stranger Saves Two Children’s Lives

Category: Personal Injury Tags: , , , ,

Collins Lake, Spring 2004

Collins Lake, Spring 2004 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Over the weekend, a woman was vital in the rescue of two children at Collins Lake, California. More interesting is that she had no affiliation with them prior to the incidences.

Lori Carpenter is from Yuba City, California. She and her husband were at the lake this weekend, enjoying the break. He was in the water and rushed to his wife after he had seen a child in danger.

David Cole remembers the event and recalls how he ran out of the water and yelled, “Lori, Lori, Lori go help that girl!” There was a crowd around a young child who had evidently struggled in the water. Carpenter pushed though and then administered CPR to the three year old girl.

Once she was revived, the family crowded around the toddler and Carpenter edged away from the scene. No one involved had learned her name or had even be able to properly thank her as she escaped so quickly.

As if that was not enough, Carpenter rushed to assist once more with another kid. 45 minutes she saved the three year old, she was attempting to save a thirteen year old girl. According to Carpenter, the teenager was unresponsive for several minutes and had a weak pulse.

She was yelling the girl’s name and splashing water on her face for bit and then she had finally come around. Once again, Carpenter left the scene as the child was embraced by her friends and family.

Carpenter’s identity was revealed by her proud parents. She explains how she is just “a regular person who knew what to do at the right moment.” Indeed she did; she had just completed her CPR class three days before the accidents.

Friends, family, and those who were present for her saving lives all call her a hero and an angel.

The two children were quite fortunate to have a woman like Lori Carpenter around after their accidents. Not all situations turn out this way, though. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, contact a Los Angeles Injury Attorney today to receive assistance with identifying negligence, filing claims; and to receive the highest possible compensation for the damages that you have suffered, including punitive damages in the event of a fatality.

Jun
5

By

Chrysler Refuses to Recall

Category: Auto Accident, Auto Safety, Car Accident, Negligence, Product Liability, Wrongful Death Tags: , , , , , , ,

1993-1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee photographed in ...

1993-1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee photographed in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. Category:Jeep ZJ Grand Cherokee (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The federal government has issued a warning to Chrysler and Chrysler car owners that certain models have defective properties that make them incredibly dangerous; however, the carmaker is declining to officially recall the models.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has asked Chrysler to recall 2.7 million Jeep vehicles. The 1993-2004 Grand Cherokee models and the 2002-2007 Liberty models are all at risk to cause deadly fires.

At this point, fifty-one people have died in these models after being rear-ended and then trapped in a burning vehicle. These specific cars have fuel tanks that are behind the rear axle; and a collision from behind can cause a leak in the tank, which then creates a fire that quickly engulfs the Jeeps.

NHTSA has confronted Chrysler with the problem, but the company has not complied with establishing a recall or a solution. It has until June 18 to issue a formal response to NHTSA explaining why it will not recall the vehicles.

Chrysler stands by its models, claiming that safety is a top priority when manufacturing each vehicle. According to its CEO, Sergio Machionne, “[Chrysler] stands behind the quality of its vehicles.” The company supposedly rejects the recall because the dangers of any rear-end collision are high, and its Jeeps are not to blame specifically for the fatalities.

Though the millions of Jeeps that are under question passed original safety standards, NHTSA does not feel that that is enough to ignore an overlooked defect that it causing dozens of deaths. NHTSA has not provided a way to fix the issue at this point; however, alerting drivers of the dangers and getting the vehicles off of the road officially is a good first step.

Whether you have been injured in an accident due to a defect or something else, contact a Los Angeles accident attorney. A lawyer can assist you in finding negligence, filing claims and can award to you the highest possible compensation for the damages that you have suffered.

Jun
3

By

Tragic Accidents Plagued the State this Weekend

Category: Auto Accident, Blog, Negligence, Personal Injury Tags: , , , , , ,

A woman is loaded into an air ambulance that l...

A woman is loaded into an air ambulance that landed on Ski Hill Rd. after a head-on crash near Lifford Rd. on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. She was flown to Toronto’s Sunnybrook hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. Another woman was also airlifted to the same hospital with serious injuries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In Southern California, two accidents occurred over the weekend that caused major distress for police officers and those involved. A Los Angeles crash produced one fatality and a San Diego collision left an injured child abandoned in a wrecked vehicle.

On Saturday afternoon in East Los Angeles, a crash occurred after police were led on a high-speed pursuit. A reckless driver in an SUV that may have been stolen sped away from the police after they attempted to pull him over. The chase lasted five minutes and concluded when the SUV crashed into a truck and another car.

The accident took place in El Sereno around the 5300 block of Poplar Boulevard. Paramedics arrived on the scene and immediately found one dead bystander.

Four others were injured from the accident, three men and one woman. One man was in critical condition, while the other three injured parties were reported to be in fair conditions.

The driver of the SUV tried to escape once more after exiting his wrecked vehicle, but officers caught up to him. He was arrested and suffered injuries from bites of a police dog.

The accident is still under investigation, but the driver will likely face criminal charges for both the status of the SUV and the results of the crash.

On Sunday evening in Old Town, San Diego, a vehicle collision occurred resulting with an injured child and a runaway driver. The accident was reported by witnesses who saw a truck dangling off of the edge of the Interstate 5 Southbound freeway.

California Highway Patrol rushed to the scene where they were told by witnesses that a man ran from the crash, despite there being an injured child in the backseat.

Officers found a two-year-old child strapped into the vehicle’s backseat as it hung off of the highway. The child’s condition is currently unknown; however, it was transported to Rady Children’s Hospital immediately.

The driver of the truck is suspected to be a Hispanic male in his 30s. He was seen wearing a white shirt, black shorts, and sandals. CHP is working hard to find the runaway and is currently investigating the registration information of the vehicle.

Accidents are incredibly unfortunate, no matter the situation. If you or someone you know was involved in an accident, whether it caused fatalities or included runaway drivers; contact a Los Angeles accident attorney today for assistance. Our lawyers will help you in finding medical attention and filing claims; and will ensure that you receive the highest possible compensation for the damages that you suffered, including punitive damages for instances of death.

May
29

By

Chris Brown Facing Charges after Minor Accident

Category: Auto Accident, Blog, Car Accident, News Tags: , , , , , , ,

Chris Brown

Chris Brown (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The R&B singer Chris Brown risked violating his probation last week when he hit another vehicle in Los Angeles. According to reports, Brown may not have given accurate insurance information to the other driver; and if that is true, he could be sentenced to jail.

On May 21, Brown’s Range Rover bumped into a Mercedes-Benz. There was no real damage to either car; however, common procedure is to exchange insurance and identification information. According to the other driver, Brown was very reluctant to give her the information and then the information that she finally obtained may have been false.

Brown is still on probation after assaulting his girlfriend Rihanna in 2009; and providing false insurance information violates that probation. Brown claims that the information was valid and that the other driver’s statements are incorrect. His attorneys have attempted to contact the victim of the accident, but they have not had much luck.

If Brown is found guilty in this matter, he can serve four years in jail. Though the accident was only minor and no real damage was done, his unwillingness to oblige may create severe consequences.

This is not the first time that Brown’s information lacked credibility or truth. He was required to serve time in community labor after the previously mentioned assault; and though he stated that it had been completed, there were no records of his attendance.

Car accidents can cause serious damage or minor dents; but either way, all of those involved must follow proper procedure. Driving without proper insurance or a valid I.D. is illegal. In this instance, the other driver did not experience serious damage to her car or herself; but in accidents that do demand reparation, dealing with insured drivers is much easier.

If you or someone you know has been in an accident and needs information, contact the Accident Attorneys’ Group. Whether you are an uninsured driver or were hit by one, our lawyers can help you file the appropriate paperwork that will assist you in receiving the highest possible compensation available.

May
21

By

Settlement with Edison for 2007 Malibu Fires Totaling $37 Million

Category: Blog, Negligence, News Tags: , , , , ,

Malibu Fires

Malibu Fires (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In 2007, Malibu was among the Southern California cities that experienced the destructive wildfire; and now the city is receiving some compensation from a negligent party. Southern California Edison has agreed to pay $37 million to the state and city to repair the damages that its mistake caused.

According to the settlement agreement, Edison admits blame because it did not take “prompt action to prevent telecommunications company NextG from attaching fiber optic cable to joint poles in Malibu Canyon” after learning the dangers of doing nothing. This caused the poles to exceed state-mandated safety limits for weight.

The overweight pole was one of the three that failed by snapping and starting the fire. The fire then spread across the canyon, burning over 3,800 acres in October.

The case originally asked for $49 million, but the plaintiffs are happy with the outcome still. The settlement equaled 75 percent of the asking amount and will be sufficient in use of reparations. Edison will pay $20 million to the State of California’s General Fund and $17 million will fund pole loading assessments and resulting remediation work in Malibu.

This is great news for Los Angeles County and the state of California. The wild fires destroyed a lot of land and structures in 2007, and this money will aid greatly in the restoration of the area.

Losing property from a fire can be terribly traumatic and then very confusing. It is difficult to know what to do next and how to file paperwork correctly to ensure that everything is recovered. For property damage, accidents, injuries, etc. having an attorney is incredibly helpful. Contact an accident lawyer today to get the support that you need for your case.

May
20

By

Major Crash on 210 Freeway

Category: Auto Accident, Blog, Car Accident, News, Truck Accidents Tags: , , , , , , ,

The 210 Freeway in Pasadena, CA

The 210 Freeway in Pasadena, CA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This morning, your drive may have been severely halted if you take the 210 freeway to work. In the San Gabriel Valley, a big rig crashed and blocked lanes for both east- and westbound drivers.

The big rig carrying fruit overturned just before 5 a.m. The driver crashed through the center divider near Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia. It is unknown whether the driver or anyone else has suffered any injuries at this time.

The accident has blocked three of the westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes and is expected to be fully cleared around 9:15. California Highway Patrol is on the scene, working as quickly as it can to clear the highway and reopen the lanes.

Traffic is also heavy on the westbound 605 freeway due to the accident.

Los Angeles traffic is always frustrating, but this morning it became much worse for commuters. The closed lanes have caused an intense backup for anyone driving on the two freeways and hopefully CHP will be able to remove the truck by its estimated time, if not sooner.

Major accidents like this are not uncommon. Whether it is a 35,000 pound big rig or your own personal car, vehicle crashes can occur at anytime and the outcomes are never certain. If you or someone you know has been in an accident and is unsure about what to do next, contact an injury attorney today to find out more information.

May
14

By

Police Search for Former Billionaire Club Member and Ex-Convict for Manslaughter Charges

Category: Auto Accident, Blog, Car Accident, Negligence, News, Wrongful Death Tags: , , , , , , ,

San Francisco just before sunset. This panoram...

San Francisco just before sunset. This panorama was taken at the Twin Peaks and is stitched from 12 portrait format images. For stitching PTGUI was used. Français : San Francisco au coucher du soleil. Vue panoramique depuis Twin Peaks réaliée en assemblant 12 images format portrait avec PTGUI. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In August of last year, Edmond Ralph Capalla was hit and killed by a taxi cab while crossing the street in San Francisco. Justice has not been served, but it can be now.

San Francisco police are searching for Reza Eslaminia, a once wealthy man whose previous trial in the 1980s opened the public’s eyes to the Billionaire Boys Club, onto whom to press charges. He was connected to the 1984 death of his father and was later sentenced to life in prison. However, in an appeal, the charges were dropped and he moved to San Francisco after being freed.

Eslaminia and his father, Hedayat Eslaminia, a former Iranian government official lived in exile in the Bay area. Eslaminia became a member of the Billionaire Boys Club while living with father. This social club was an investment group that recruited sons of billionaires to join in on get-rich-quick schemes. The death of Eslaminia’s father was suspected to be a kind of botched extortion job.

Eslaminia and an associate were brought to trial. They were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life without possibility of parole. In 2000, Eslaminia’s conviction was overturned and he was released from prison. He then began working as a taxi driver in San Francisco.

On the night of Capalla’s death, Eslaminia was driving his taxi and ran a red light. He then hit another car, spun out of control and crashed into Capalla, who was crossing the street. Police immediately arrested him for the crime, but a judge ruled that there was not enough evidence to charge him for a felony and he was released.

Law enforcement is now filing charges against him for misdemeanor manslaughter. The warrant was released on March 29 and he has still not been found. Eslaminia is also wanted in a 2008 DUI case from Los Angeles on a separate warrant.

Once he is arrested, he will be tried and faces possible jail time. It is important that he is captured, as his criminal record needs to be addressed and so future offenses can be stopped.

Accidents happen far too often, unfortunately. Whether it’s a vehicle crash, hit and run or pedestrian collision, it is important to enlist an accident attorney.

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