2010 August Archive

A gravel truck rolled off an embankment and crushed a Santa Barbara home, killing a man, woman, and child inside, according to a story by the Associated Press.

The truck driver had just retrieved a load of gravel from a rock quarry. The driver was driving down State Highway 154 when his brakes may have possibly failed. His truck drove through two intersections, reaching a speed of 50 miles per hour. The truck avoided hitting a motel, struck two parked cars and then careened off the road down a driveway and completely flattened a house. The house could not be seen from the road. Rescue crews searched through the rubble in hopes of rescuing victims, but all three occupants of the house were killed. The driver was treated for a small cut on his face. The three individuals killed inside the house were identified as a father, mother, and son from Mexico.

According to reports, the driver suspected something was wrong with his vehicle’s brakes after picking up the gravel, but thought they were in a good enough condition to continue driving. This tragic California truck accident illustrates what can happen when large trucks aren’t properly maintained. If the driver had trusted his instincts, and had the brakes checked when he suspected a problem, this accident could have been prevented.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident involving a truck that you believe was caused by the truck driver’s negligence, contact an experienced San Fernando Valley truck accident lawyer. The dedicated team at The Mandell Law Firm can help you protect your rights. Contact us today at 818-886-6600 for a free consultation.

A tragic accident involving a Greyhound bus killed six people and injured 20 others, according to the L.A. Times.

Three young women in an SUV were traveling north on Highway 99 near Fresno, when the vehicle made a sharp turn, struck the median, rolled over and landed in the left lane. All three women were killed.

A Greyhound bus on its way from Los Angeles to Sacramento at that time struck the SUV, which was lying in the road and most likely did not have its lights on. The bus swerved and hit a Honda CR-V. The bus, the Honda and the SUV then left the highway and rolled down a 15 foot embankment. The bus, which was carrying 36 passengers, struck a tree, which killed the driver and two of the passengers and caused the bus to break into pieces.

This tragic accident began with the three young women in the SUV making a turn into the median and ended with six people dead and 20 injured, some of them critically. Police are currently investigating the accident, but in many California vehicle accidents like this one, distracted driving is the cause. In 2008 alone, 6,000 people died as the result of distracted driving.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a California auto accident due to another person’s negligence, you need to protect your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses (both current and future), pain and suffering, damage to your vehicle, lost wages, and more. Call the qualified San Fernando Valley auto accident attorneys at The Mandell Law Firm today at 818-886-6600 for a free consultation on your case.

A tragic accident occurred at a California 200 off-road race in the Mojave Desert in mid-August. The race features modified vehicles navigating obstacles, including a rock pile.

According to the L.A. Times, a driver in the race lost control of his truck when while attempting to navigate the rock pile, the truck flipped into the crowd. The truck was going an estimated 45 to 50 miles per hour when it flipped. Six people died at the scene. Nine were taken by helicopter to local hospitals, and two died later that evening.

Questions are being raised about the event’s safety preparations. The company that sponsored the race told officials that two men were responsible for coordinating a response to an emergency. However, when contacted, one of the men said he was not assigned to any of those tasks at the race. He claimed he did have that type of role at past events, but at this race he was responsible for a checkpoint.

In addition, spectators are supposed to be a minimum of 100 feet from the cars while they are racing. The spectators at this race were much closer to the racing vehicles.

This tragic accident reminds us that just because something is a public event doesn’t mean it is safe. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact the dedicated San Fernando Valley injury accident attorneys at The Mandell Law Firm. Our team can help you navigate a difficult time. Call us today for a free consultation at 818-886-6600.

Sadly, a Russian man was killed in a skydiving accident in Perris, California. The man was attending a two week training camp for experienced skydivers who want to learn more about multi-person skydives. Based on a Southwest Riverside News Network article, people from 29 countries were scheduled to attend the camp.

The man crashed into another skydiver during a multi-person jump. He was an estimated 40 or 50 feet above the ground when the collision occurred as he was trying to land. The collision caused his parachute to collapse immediately. Upon the parachute’s collapse, he fell to earth.

The wrongful death victim was an experienced skydiver. He was one of a group of 30 skydivers who jumped out of two separate airplanes. An employee of Perris Valley Skydiving, the instructional facility where the victim was training, told reporters that the victim probably lost sight of a few people while he was skydiving, and being aware of surroundings is the most important aspect to skydiving. Two skydives with 100 skydivers each was scheduled for the following weekend after the camp.

Wrongful death accidents are tragic mainly because they are unexpected incidents that change lives forever. Losing a loved one due to another person’s negligence is not only emotionally traumatic, but such a loss may also contribute to unplanned financial strain and other challenges.

If you have lost a family member in an accident that you believe was caused by someone else’s negligence, you should contact an experienced legal team for help as quickly as possible, as you may be entitled to compensation for your loss. The experienced Northridge wrongful death attorneys at The Mandell Law Firm are ready to assist you today. Our firm has a wide range of experience obtaining successful outcomes in a variety of personal injury accident and wrongful death cases. Please contact us today by calling 818-866-6600 for a free consultation.

On May 23, around 2 a.m., three people were involved in a three-vehicle collision in Sherman Oaks on the 101 Freeway. The vehicles crashed west of the Coldwater Canyon Boulevard exit. According to The Los Angeles Times, the accident blocked the three center lanes of traffic.

Shortly after the accident, three male drivers and one female passenger got out of all three cars and were about to exchange contact information and insurance information when a 2000 BMW crashed into the cars. The second vehicle crash killed two of the male drivers as well as the female passenger. The male driver who survived did so by running towards the right shoulder of the road. The California fatal automobile accident is still under investigation. The driver of the BMW suffered minor injuries and was detained by the CHP for unknown reasons.

After the second accident, traffic on the freeway was at a standstill. Drivers reported making u-turns in the middle of the freeway in order to get to an exit. The freeway was closed for over five hours, until 7:30 a.m. It is important for motorists to follow the law and maintain safe driving practices, even when a freeway is congested due to an accident.

While it is recommended that all those involved in a vehicle crash exchange information, don’t forget to be fully aware of your surroundings and to safely pull over to the side of the road. Similarly, motorists driving on the freeway must be alert at all times, keeping a particular eye-out for other vehicles that have pulled over and any individuals who may step out onto the freeway momentarily.

Auto accidents in the San Fernando Valley, even minor ones, can have lifelong consequences. If you or someone you know has been injured in an auto accident due to someone else’s negligence, you need to contact an experienced legal team for help. You could be entitled to compensation for vehicle damage, medical expenses, time missed from work, and much more. The dedicated and skilled Simi Valley car accident attorneys at The Mandell Law Firm are ready to assist you today. Please contact us by calling 818-866-6600 for a free consultation.