Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Two Killed when Hay Baler Crashes into Honda

A hay baler became an instrument of death after it crashed into a Honda in southwest of Visalia.

According to reports, two male Honda passengers were killed after the vehicle was struck by the hay baler along the intersection of Road 36 and Avenue 232.

Meanwhile, the driver was rushed to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno to be treated for major injuries.

The three were extricated from the vehicle with the use of a hydraulic prying tool. Authorities have not yet determined whether they were wearing their seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Reports said the driver of the hay baler left the accident area without a scratch.

The hay baler driver will be held liable for the death of the two passengers, injuries of the driver, and damages sustained by the Honda if it was proven that his or her negligence had caused the fatal accident.

Monetary damages that may be required from the liable party will likely cover pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and medical expenses.

Child Nearly Drowns in Pool

Recently, two young boys died as the adult who was asked to watch over them failed to keep his eyes on the boys. Their deaths could have been avoided if only their mother’s friends were more cautious in letting them play near the pool.

Parents should make sure that children would not go near uncovered pools unsupervised as this can cause serious accidents, such as drowning and slip and fall that may even end their life.

A four-year-old girl from Merced County was recently rushed to a hospital after her family discovered her to have fallen into the pool.

Reports indicate that the girl was riding her tricycle near the pool when she suddenly fell into it. Rescuers were able to perform CPR and brought the child to Children's Hospital Central California in Madera where she is being treated.

Good thing someone noticed the child in time and was able to ask for help. The child could have sustained more serious, and possibly fatal, injuries if she wasn’t given medical attention immediately.

Suspected Speeding SUV Driver Remains in Critical Condition after Accident

Speeding is strictly prohibited by the law as excessive speed causes drivers to lose control of their vehicles. In fact, this negligent action might have caused an accident that left a female SUV driver with critical injuries.

Reports stated that Lizeth Pimentel, 24, from Long Beach, may have been speeding when her vehicle suddenly crashed through the Seventh Street bridge’s guardrail, right into the Los Angeles River last March 11.

She sustained serious brain damage when the SUV sunk into the water, said reports.

Pimentel was brought to St. Mary’s Medical Center where she remains under critical condition. She is still under medical sedation because tests are being administered by the doctors.

Authorities are trying to know how fast the woman was driving to establish if speeding is a contributing factor in the accident.

Speeding is often done by drivers who want to arrive at their target destination as soon as possible. Accidents involving it can be avoided if only drivers would allot more time in traveling.

Man on Scooter Attempted to Cross Street, Dies

Pedestrians must always keep in mind the dangers of crossing streets on unmarked crosswalks as it is understandable that motorists wouldn’t notice them and will fail to slow down and stop.

A 58-year-old man on his electric mobility scooter was killed after he was hit by a northbound vehicle on Watt Avenue at around 7 pm.

Reginaldo E. Rios from Antelope reportedly died at the scene after being thrown from his three-wheeled scooter. The driver was questioned by authorities and he stated that he failed to notice Rios who was wearing dark clothes.

The scooter also had no reflectors or lights that should have warned approaching motorists.

To prevent pedestrian accidents, both motorists and pedestrians should exercise caution. Pedestrians should avoid crossing streets without crosswalks and drivers at the same time should slow down when nearing crosswalks and stop once pedestrians have the right of way.  

Single Car Crash in Sonoma County kills one Person

A single-car crash in Sonoma County claimed the life of a 23-year-old man the other day.

According to CHP, James Ortega was one of the passengers in a 2006 Mazda 3 being driven by 24-year-old Donald Arrodondo.

As they were traveling north on Frei road, Arrodondo failed to safely negotiate a curve and their vehicle went off the road then struck a tree and a fence.

Ortega did not survive and was pronounced dead on the scene. Arrodondo and another passenger were brought to a hospital after sustaining injuries.

Arrodondo was also arrested for suspicion of DUI.

The family of Ortega may file a wrongful death claim against Arrodondo.

Under the law, passengers are never liable in a car accident unless they intentionally distracted the driver to cause the crash. It did not say whether Ortega was wearing a seatbelt, but if he isn’t, it will somewhat reduce the damages he will receive.

It is called comparative negligence or the level of fault the victim contributed to his own injuries.

SUV Crash Injures LAPD Officers

Residents count on Los Angeles Police Department to aid them in case they get into mishaps. However, in a recent vehicle accident, two LAPD officers themselves had to be rescued after their patrol car hit an SUV.

Paramedics rescued the unidentified officers in the Jefferson Park area who both sustained minor injuries. The officers were said to be responding to a crime and had their emergency lights and sirens on when the accident took place. Their patrol car came to a rest on an unused railroad tracks. The extent of the damages on both vehicles was not immediately stated.

The occupant of the SUV was unhurt and it is unclear how things happened but authorities are conducting a thorough investigation on the accident.

Motorists should be cautious of sirens and emergency lights as it indicates that officers and rescuers are responding to an accident or an accident where someone needs their assistance.

Inexperienced Motorcyclist Fractures Skull

A 25-year-old unidentified man from Reno suffered skull fractures after he crashed his newly-bought motorcycle near his home. The man was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

No one else was reportedly injured in the motorcycle accident in Northwest Reno but it clearly shows the importance of wearing a helmet especially to inexperienced riders.

Helmets and protective pads are the only protection of a motorcyclist to avoid or lessen injuries if in case he loses balance or crashes his motorcycle. Because of this, it is very important to wear them especially by inexperienced riders who are not equipped with the knowledge of what to do in cases of accidents.

Motorcycle riders should be careful not to hit their heads and back as brain and spinal injuries will have a permanent effect on them. Some victims of motorcycle crashes live with paralysis and some has brain damage that compromises their way of living.

Overturned Garbage Truck Closes Highway 180 Ramps

Not all accidents that cause extreme stress to people involve severe injuries or deaths. The mere presence of broken or damaged vehicles on the roads can cause enough problems especially when it results to road closures.

People who often pass by the Fulton Street ramps along westbound Highway 180 experienced traffic problems after an overturned garbage truck triggered the area’s closure.

According to reports, the ramps were closed for hours so that emergency crews can remove the mess from the roadway.

Police said the driver involved only sustained minor injuries.