Train Accidents

Every two hours there is a train accident in the United States, almost all of which involve some type of property damage. The two most common train wrecks are derailments, which are often caused by extensive damage to rolling stock and the railroad track, and train-car collisions at railroad crossings.

In 2011 there was a total of 11,319 railroad accidents and incidents in the United States, 669 of which were fatal. In California alone there were 84 accidents, which resulted in a total of 80 fatalities. Of those California accidents, 43 were caused by human error. More than 80% of all railroad crossings have insufficient warning signals and devices, and half of all railroad accidents occur at crossings that are inadequately protected.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety Analysis there are five train accident cause codes:

1. Track, roadbed and structure

2. Signal and communication

3. Train operation – human factor

4. Mechanical and electrical failures

5. Miscellaneous causes not otherwise listed

BMW, Mercedes and Chrysler 2013 models hit by rounds of recalls

Luxury German automakers Mercedes Benz and BMW are finding themselves in hot water after potentially dangerous crash conditions have come to light. 432 of the 2013 SL class sports cars, starting at a comfy $100,000, will be affected by this recall. Under certain crash conditions the air conditioning refrigerant can explode and potentially cause a fire. Mercedes plans to fix the problem by using alternate refrigerants and different hose lines. They discovered the safety hazard when testing another vehicle not sold in the US but that uses the same refrigerant. When put in a worst-case scenario frontal crash, the refrigerant spills dangerously in to the engine causing it to ignite.

Also affected are the BMW 696 M5 and M6 coupe and convertibles from the year 2013. The oil pump has the potential to stall causing the car to fail and crash. BMW will replace the pumps on all affected models.  However luxury automakers aren’t the only ones that seem to be affected, Chrysler has also joined the recent rounds of recalls by recalling more than 44,000 of the 2009 to 2010 Ram1500 and Dodge Dakota trucks. The rear axle pinion nut can loosen, causing the vehicle to lock up compromising control of the vehicle and possibly result in a crash.

If you believe that your vehicle may be affected, call your local car dealership to see if you qualify for a complimentary revision. If you were involved in a crash caused by faulty construction you may be eligible to receive compensation for your losses and injuries. The Attorneys at the Legal Office of David Grey specialize in auto defects and injuries that arise from such malfunctions. They will be able to help you prepare your case and secure the largest payout available to you.

Los Angeles Car Crash Kills 3

A Studio City fiery car crash claimed the lives of Pasha Voldokovich, Jason Shmelnik and Ekatrina Botvinieva.

The auto accident in Los Angeles County occurred in the early hours of Sept. 9th off Ventura Boulevard just west of Tejunga Ave.

The three were said to be celebrating a birthday celebration at a nearby restaurant and bar. Ekatrina Botvinieva had flown in from New York specifically for the occasion.

At around 3:30 a.m, the group decided to move the party over to the drivers home nearby when the accident occurred. The 25 year-old Voldokovich was reportedly driving up to 100 mph as he crashed into several parking meters, trees, and ultimately a pizzeria where flames quickly engulfed the vehicle and restaurant.

Friends and witnesses say  the driver had consumed alcohol that night, but the investigation is still pending as to whether this played a role in the accident.

Jason Shmelnik will be remembered by family and friends for his love of dancing and a 2007 appearance on Dancing With the Stars.

 

Lindsay Lohan Injures Pedestrian

Lindsay Lohan was arrested yet again earlier this morning for allegedly hitting a pedestrian with her car.

The incident happened in a parking lot outside of a nightclub Lohan was visiting for the night. Reports say that she hit a man while entering the lot and then went into the nightclub as if nothing had happened.

The man, who had just ended his shift at a nearby restaurant, was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries. After an hour, Lohan was taken out from the club and arrested for fleeing the scene of a crime. Soon after Lohan was released without needing to post bail and without any sobriety test.

Sadly, this happens all too often. An individual should never be held above the constraints of the law because of their celebrity status. The right lawyer can make the difference between holding these individuals accountable for their actions or letting them get away with their negligence.

If you or someone you know has been injured, regardless of who they are, contact the right personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles and get the justice you deserve.

Doctor Not Responsible for Patient’s Fatal Car Accident

An Orange County jury ruled on Thursday that a doctor who believed his 85-year-old patient’s dementia condition not to interfere with her driving abilities, was not responsible for her fatal 2010 car accident.

Doctor Arthur Daigneault was sued for wrongful death after his dementia patient Lorianne Sullivan was driving with 90-year-old passenger and longtime partner William Powers, and turned their Toyota into fast-moving traffic. The car crashed and Powers died 6 weeks later from injuries related to the crash.

California law requires physicians to notify authorities if they deem their patient’s condition to put them at risk while driving. The law allows doctors to use clinical judgement, and Doctor Daigneault who had been seeing Sullivan for two years saw no evidence that his patient exhibited the “lapses of consciousness” that he needed to look for for when making his decision.

Daigneault’s lawyer argued that there was no proof that Sullivan’s dementia was a contributing factor in the accident, or that the Department of Motor Vehicles would have revoked her license if he had in fact reported her. Daigneault even stated that Sullivan’s condition was so mild that she was able to hide it from her family.

The jury deliberated for only 30 minutes before deciding that Daigneault did not stray from standards of care or state law. Craig Powers, the victim’s son, is disappointed in the decision but pleased that the case got attention. Powers forced their 90-year-old father to stop driving in early 2010 but did not express any concern about Sullivan, according to court filings. He hopes that it will change the reporting law to give reporting doctors less leeway.

Auto Accident Statistics

In the United States there are more than six million car accidents annually causing the deaths of nearly 40,000 people. This means that someone is fatally injured in an auto accident every 12 minutes nationally. Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 2 and 34. Over 25% of all drivers were involved in an auto accident in a five-year period with excessive speed being the second most common cause of deadly auto accidents, which accounts for about 30% of fatal accidents.

When living in a densely populated area such as Los Angeles county the risk of being involved in an auto accident is greatly increased. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident do not hesitate to contact a Los Angeles Accident Attorney