LAPD Car Involved in a Sun Valley Car Accident

Just recently, a Los Angeles Police Department’s car was involved in a car accident with a motorcycle at Sun Valley, Los Angeles, California.

The LAPD vehicle was driven by a Los Angeles Police officer when the mishap involving a motorcycle occurred at around 2:07, February 19, in the afternoon at Stonehurst Avenue and Sunland, according to LAPD Officer, Karen Rayner.

Rayner confirmed that it was a car and a motorcycle collision. The motorcycle involved was one of the hundreds of motorcycle passing around the area.

The officer involved immediately requested a back-up due to the considerable volume of motorcycles within the area.

Rayner added that it was not yet clear if anyone sustained personal injury from the crash. However, a team of Los Angeles Fire Paramedic was still sent to the scene to address possible injuries.

Officers had cleared the road blocks at around 2:30 pm.

Surely, it was not really a huge impact accident; because if it was, it would have created a multiple-vehicle accident or left several people injured since hundreds of vehicles were passing by the accident scene during that time.

Ironically, in such mishaps, police officers were always the ones to rescue immediately; but, in this incident, nobody was instantly available since the police vehicle supposed to perform rescue operations was the one involved in the accident.

Generally, vehicular accidents happen as a result of negligence or recklessness on the part of drivers. The driver’s failure to observe traffic rules and regulations, or to implement reasonable care in driving, brings the risk of road disasters higher.

In such cases, only competent Los Angeles car accident lawyers can ensure victims that they will get the legal services and advice that they need regarding their case. Additionally, these lawyers have the expertise needed to manage insurance and personal injury claims and provide favorable results to their clients.

Share |

Pedestrian Walking Through Red Light Hit by a Train

A Metro Blue train in Watts last February 12 at 103rd Street and Grandee Avenue in California struck a man while was walking through a red light.

According to the investigation, the pedestrian missed to see the incoming southbound train because he was then looking for a northbound train. The man disregarded the red light. He walked through the traffic lights even though the traffic arm barriers and the other pedestrians and vehicles had stopped causing him to be struck by the fast approaching southbound train.

The man was taken to St. Francis Medical Center for the serious injuries he sustained from the incident. He was listed in serious condition and his identity was not released until Sunday night.

On the other hand, the train driver was taken to the hospital for minor injuries while two other train passengers, who complained minor injuries, were given medical treatment right at the accident scene and have been released almost immediately.

Los Angeles Police Department Police officer, Sgt. Jerome Calhoun said that the man struck by the Metro Blue Line Train was not paying attention. He added that they don’t understand why people think that they can beat the trains for some reason.

Each year, there are always accidents that occur at the intersection near shopping malls, residences wherein both people and vehicles are often busy especially during rush hours.

Crossing the busy roads without giving proper care and attention, disregarding traffic rules and regulations and being unmindful while crossing the streets are the most common cause of fatal pedestrian accidents like what happened to the person who walked through the red light.

In this case, the accident was caused by the pedestrian’s negligence. Therefore, no one still to blame but the pedestrian alone, nevertheless, in some cases where one’s injuries were caused by other people’s carelessness, a victim could have a legal assistance from a personal injury lawyer Los Angeles specializing in pedestrian accidents.

Share |

Pilot Dies in an Aviation Accident in West Fresno, California

A pilot has died after the small four-seater plane he was riding in crashed at West Fresno.

According to witnesses, a Cessna heading south came crashing down, took out multiple power lines and then furiously landed in a canal last February 5 at around 4 o’clock in the afternoon near Garfield and Barstow.

The Cessna pilot died in the crash. Investigation found out that the pilot was the only person on board. The identity of the pilot still remains undisclosed but his age was said to be in 40’s to 50’s.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s office asserts that the plane came from outside the vicinity and was flying over the Central Valley when the aviation accident occurred. One of the witnesses has said that there was a loud explosion before the Cessna lost its control.

The clipped power lines made it risky for the rescuers to respond at the accident until the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) crews arrived and fixed the power lines.

The rural area where the plane crashed in is surrounded by plenty of houses. Fortunately, the plane smashed into a canal and not into a house and no other person sustained personal injury.

Until present, the federal government is still trying to figure out in their investigation what had caused the Cessna to crash.

According to the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), the Cessna is registered under a man from Walnut Creek. Records from the agency show that the said Cessna plane 172 is a single-engine plane with four-seating capacity and the same was manufactured in 1979.

Aviation accidents rarely happen but unfortunately, when it occurs, there is a huge possibility that all its passengers will be killed. In such incidents, personal injury lawyers are important.

Share |

Italian Ship Cruise Captain Held Liable for the Drowning Accident Happened Last Friday the 13th

The captain of the Italian cruise ship that capsized last Friday the 13th at Tuscany was arrested on Saturday, January 14.

Allegedly, the cruise ship captain, Francesco Schettino made an unauthorized deviation from its programmed course. According to the Italian ship owner, the accident was purely caused by human error which led to the vessels’ fatal grounding.

Comments from the Luigi Foschi, the Chairman and CEO of the Costa Crociere, the company that owns the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia said that the ship’s captain was already under investigation by the proper authorities. They are concerned as the captain is suspected for manslaughter and on allegedly abandoning the ship before all passengers were safe - a clear violation of the Italian Navigation Code. Under the said provision, a captain who abandons a ship in danger can face up to 12 years of imprisonment.

The arrest of the ship captain Schettino together with its first officer Ciro Ambrosio was conducted 24 – hours after the incident. They would be facing multiple charges of homicide and ship abandonment

The Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia that was loaded with over 4,000 people on board before it struck into a coral reef, which caused 70 to 100 meters deep cut into its hull not long after setting off from Civitavecchia, a sea port near Rome. As a result, the ship quickly leaned on one side.

The passengers all panicked and rushed to get into the lifeboats where they could be rescued from the sea. As of January 16, six people have been reported dead while sixteen people remain missing.

The Costa Crociere is owned by the largest cruise line in the world – Carnival Corp. that stood by the ship captain despite what happened. The said cruise line would still provide the captain with legal assistance but made it clear that the company had nothing to do with the captain’s behavior.

In a press conference, Foschi explained that every Costa ship has its own routes programmed. He further stated that the alarms went off when ship captain Schettino made an unauthorized deviation. Foschi added that the liner had passed all the safety and technical tests in the 2011 evaluation.

It was on November 22, 2008, that the same ship was featured on the news after trying to enter the port of Palermo, Sicily during a storm and was damaged when it struck the dock. There must be extensive trainings and seminars for all cruise ship crews to avoid fatal drowning accidents among themselves and their passengers.

It is still unclear whether the cruise line, captain alone or both would be accountable for the said drowning accidents. However, based upon the ongoing situation and statements, it seems that the captain alone would be held liable for the all damages that occurred from the incident.

In such drowning mishaps, determining the liable party can be the toughest step in pursuing a lawsuit whether it is a personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death claim. Either way, a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles would be excellent for winning such clients’ claims.

Share |

Three-train Collision in Indiana Caused Fire and Hazardous Chemical Spill

Three freight trains carrying cars and chemical substances collided at the Porter County, Northwest of Indiana last December 5. The incident caused fire, traffic jam and panic to nearby residents.

According to reports, one freight train carrying 60 cars rear ended another freight train pulling empty ethanol tankers and 77 cars. As a result of incident, cars from the first and second freight train derailed and both trains crashed to the third freight train hauling 48 cars on a separate track. The third train did not avoid the derailed trains thus causing the three trains to collide against each other and burst into fire.

Two of trains’ crew members have sustained physical injuries and were sent to the hospital for proper medical treatment. Injuries sustained by victims were said to be non–life threatening and are expected to recover soon.

The train accident left mingled cars by the road side. The Porter County authorities evacuated the residents nearby the accident scene in to protect them from hazardous smokes coming from the crashed trains. The fire from the trains was up for six hours until county firefighters managed to extinguish it by sunset.

Fortunately, all of the three freight trains are owned by only one transportation company – the CSX Transportation Inc. Because of this, financial expenses would all be under the involved company’s responsibilities alone.

According to statistics, for every one and a half hour, train accidents occur in the country and for every two weeks, a freight train pulling hazardous substances derails causing poisonous chemicals to spill. Hence, train drivers are expected to be more careful and vigilant in order to train accidents. Accidents that were caused by freight trains loaded with hazardous materials may not only result into death but might also create a health threat to the community due to chemical spills.

Because of the mentioned Indiana train accident, it is clear that the first train driver became reckless and failed to take safety measures while at the railway. Although the cause of the accident is currently under investigation, mechanical failure is probably not a factor to the said train accident but definitely recklessness and negligence.

Share |