Southern California Injury Law Blog

At about 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22nd, seven people were seriously injured in a crash on the 110 Freeway in South Los Angeles. According to initial reports from the California Highway Patrol, a vehicle collided with pedestrians on the busway. The Los Angeles Times reported that 50 firefighters responded to the scene of the accident and a SigAlert was issued while authorities investigated.

“After a serious accident, it is important for authorities to gather evidence immediately that will assist them in their investigation,” explained California personal injury lawyer James Ballidis.

Los Angeles County accounted for 390 of the 2,373 fatalities and 64,178 of the 207,651 injuries suffered by motor vehicle occupants in traffic accidents in California in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. That year, 177 of the 596 fatalities and 5,215 of the 13,083 injuries suffered by pedestrians in the state occurred in the county.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the seven people who were seriously injured in the 110 Freeway crash involving the busway a full recovery.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as books and articles on the process of pursuing an injury claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before noon on Friday, February 18th, an accident involving a transportation bus and three vehicles injured three people in Alhambra. The collision occurred on the westbound 10 Freeway near Atlantic Avenue. Paramedics transported the injured to local hospitals. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

Alhambra accounted for 3 of the 390 fatalities and 485 of the 64,178 injuries suffered by motor vehicle occupants in traffic accidents in Los Angeles County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. The California Office of Traffic Safety compares the accident statistics of cities with similar populations, giving those with the poorest records the highest rankings, with first place considered the worst. That year, Alhambra ranked 35th out of 104 cities for fatal and injury crashes.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the three people who were injured in the accident involving the bus yesterday a full recovery.

The Los Angeles Times originally reported this Alhambra collision.

Resources for accident victims, such as books and articles on the process of pursuing an injury claim, are available to the public free of charge.

To request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 8 a.m. on Tuesday, February 14th, 28-year-old bicyclist Christian Rhineer was struck by a vehicle in an Irvine intersection, sustaining injuries that proved to be fatal. The accident occurred at the intersection of Von Karman Avenue and Michelson Drive when the 26-year-old driver of a Volvo Sedan collided with Rhineer. He suffered serious trauma and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities are investigating the accident, reported the Orange County Register.

“After a fatal accident, the investigation can take several weeks,” explains Orange County-based injury lawyer James Ballidis, “which can be frustrating for a family seeking information about what happened to their loved one.”

Irvine accounted for none of the 12 fatalities and 71 of the 1,201 injuries suffered in bicycle accidents in Orange County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. The California Office of Traffic Safety compares the accident statistics of counties with similar populations, giving those with the poorest records the highest rankings, with 1st place considered the worst. That year, Orange County ranked 11th out of 58 counties for bicyclist safety.

When the negligence of a driver results in a fatal accident, the family of the victim has legal recourse, including the right to compensation for the loss of the loved one; however, the outcome of such cases is dependant on evidence, much of which must be gathered immediately after the accident. Families in such circumstances should consult with a lawyer specializing in personal injury as soon as possible. The lawyer would conduct an immediate and thorough investigation, including visiting the scene, interviewing witnesses, and interacting with police working on the case.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Christian Rhineer, the Irvine man who sustained fatal injuries in the bicycle accident on Tuesday.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as books and articles on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge through our office.

To request one of these free resources, or to discuss a specific legal matter with an Orange County injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 3 a.m. on Saturday, February 11th, a wrong-way driver caused a head-on freeway collision in Tustin. While traveling south on the northbound 55 Freeway in a Nissan sedan, the man crashed into a Volkswagen SUV, the impact causing the woman inside to suffer major trauma. She was transported to a local hospital, while the man was pronounced dead at the scene after being freed from the wreckage. Authorities are investigating the accident, explains an auto accident lawyer in Orange County.

Tustin accounted for 3 of the 101 fatalities and 453 of the 16,620 injuries suffered by motor vehicle occupants in traffic accidents in Orange County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. The California Office of Traffic Safety compares the accident statistics of cities with similar populations, giving those with the poorest records the highest rankings, with 1st place considered the worst. That year, Tustin ranked 44th out of 104 cities.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of the man who was killed in the wrong-way freeway collision in Tustin. We would also like to wish the woman who was seriously injured a full recovery.

The Los Angeles Times originally reported this Tustin accident.

Resources for accident victims and their families, including books and articles on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with an auto accident lawyer in Orange County, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on Friday, February 10th, Jose Anthony Hernandez and Everardo Zuniga, both 22 years old, were killed in a DUI crash near the county line bordering Orange and Los Angeles counties. While traveling west on La Mirada Boulevard near Alondra Boulevard, 22-year-old Ryan Hernandez collided with a raised median and continued west across the intersection before crashing into a block wall and a concrete light pole. Jose Anthony Hernandez and Everardo Zuniga were riding in the back seat and died in the accident; a passenger in the front seat suffered minor injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment. Ryan Hernandez was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter, explains an auto accident lawyer in Orange County.

Orange County accounted for 62 of the fatalities and 1,340 of the injuries and Los Angeles County accounted for 204 of the fatalities and 4,672 of the injuries suffered in traffic accidents in the state in which alcohol was a factor in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. Throughout the state, alcohol contributed to 1,146 fatalities and 17,976 injuries in crashes that year.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the families of Jose Anthony Hernandez and Everardo Zuniga, the two passengers who were killed in the DUI crash in Buena Park last Friday.

The Orange County Register originally reported this accident.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as books and articles on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with an auto accident lawyer in Orange County, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At about 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8th, a toddler was killed and her mother critically injured in a hit-and-run accident involving a stolen vehicle in Anaheim. The crash occurred in a crosswalk on Gilbert Street at Guinida Lane when a 1995 Nissan Maxima struck a 26-year-old woman who was pushing her 3-year-old daughter in a stroller. Paramedics transported the mother and child to a local hospital, where the child died and the mother remains in critical condition. The driver fled the scene, leaving the vehicle, which had been reported stolen minutes before the accident, in a nearby residential area. The California Highway Patrol has requested that anyone with information about this crash or the whereabouts of the driver call 949-559-7888, explains an Orange County injury attorney.

Residents of the neighborhood where the accident occurred conveyed that they had been urging the city for years to install a light at the crosswalk, both due to a high incidence of accidents and its location near an elementary and high school.

Anaheim accounted for 8 of the 41 fatalities and 110 of the 914 injuries suffered by pedestrians in traffic accidents in Orange County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. Throughout the state, pedestrian fatalities increased by 15.4 percent, from 567 in 2009 to 599 in 2010, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the mother who was struck and critically injured last night and her family for the loss of their child. We would also like to wish her a full recovery from her injuries.

The Orange County Register originally reported this hit-and-run accident involving the stolen vehicle.

Resources for accident victims and their families, such as books and articles on pedestrian rights and the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with an Orange County injury attorney, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

At about 11 a.m. on Monday, February 6th, two women were seriously injured in a semi crash in San Clemente. The accident occurred at the Interstate 5 off-ramp near Avenida Pico when a semi ran a red light while exiting the freeway, colliding with a sedan and an SUV. A second semi was also involved in the crash. Paramedics transported the two women, believed to be in their twenties, to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. Another person suffered minor injuries, while a fourth declined treatment at the scene. Authorities are investigating the incident, explains a truck accident lawyer in Orange County.

San Clemente accounted for 2 of the 101 fatalities and 242 of the 16,620 injuries suffered by motor vehicle occupants in traffic accidents in Orange County, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. Large trucks were involved in 5 of the fatal and 298 of the injury collisions that occurred that year in the county.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish the two women who were seriously injured in the semi crash this morning a full recovery.

The Orange County Register originally reported this San Clemente accident.

Resources for accident victims, such as books and articles on the process of pursuing an injury claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a truck accident lawyer in Orange County, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 25th, a van struck 29-year-old Nelly Ruelasvela and her children in a crosswalk in Camarillo. The accident occurred at the intersection of East Las Posas Road and Glenbrook Avenue when a minivan driven by 37-year-old Christopher Rowland turned left and hit Ruelasvela, who was pushing her 3-month-old and 20-month-old children in a stroller. She sustained significant trauma and was transported to a local hospital. Although her children were not hurt, they were also taken to the hospital as a precaution. Police have asked that witnesses call 805-388-5100, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

Camarillo accounted for 3 of the 50 fatalities and 432 of the 4,259 injuries suffered by motor vehicle occupants in traffic accidents in Ventura County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. The California Office of Traffic Safety compares the accident statistics of cities with similarly sized populations, giving those with the poorest records the highest rankings, with 1st place considered the worst. That year, Camarillo ranked 15th out of 104 cities.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to wish Nelly Ruelasvela, the woman who was struck and injured while walking in the Camarillo crosswalk with her children, a full recovery.

The Ventura County Star originally reported this pedestrian accident.

Resources for accidents victims, such as articles on pedestrian rights and the process of pursuing an injury claim, are available to the public free of charge.

To request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.

Shortly before 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 31st, a wrong-way head-on collision killed two people in Victorville. While traveling northbound on Interstate 15 near the Bear Valley Road onramp in a 2007 Corolla, an 85-year-old woman crashed into a 1993 Cadillac Eldorado occupied by a 67-year-old man heading in the opposite, and correct, direction. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while she succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital. A third vehicle was also involved in the accident, but the driver was not injured. Authorities are investigating the collision, explains a California personal injury lawyer.

Victorville accounted for 15 of the 192 fatalities and 365 of the 10,983 injuries suffered by motor vehicle occupants in traffic accidents throughout San Bernardino County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. That year, traffic fatalities decreased by 10.3 percent in the state, from 3,434 to 3,081.

All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the families of the two people who were killed in the head-on collision on Tuesday.

The Los Angeles Times originally reported this Victorville wrong-way crash.

Resources for accident victims and their families, including books and articles on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.

If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.