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Tesla_Model_S_2016-01@2x-300x169The family of a California couple who died in the crash of their Model S Tesla has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the carmaker. Mary Lou Seelandt, 66, and Karl Seelandt, 67, from Lompoc, died on July 6, 2022, when their 2015 Model S hit the back of a tractor-trailer rig at a Florida highway rest stop. The lawsuit alleges the car was defective and malfunctioned, although it does not specify the exact problem or whether the Autopilot function was in use at the time.

According to a reconstruction of the events, the tragedy happened in the early afternoon, on I-75, near Gainesville, Florida. The highway exit in question split into two lanes, one for cars and the other for trucks and buses. Somehow the couple’s Tesla ended up in the lane for larger vehicles, and its roof was crushed when the car became edged under the truck. The retired California couple was on a road trip that included a visit with family in Georgia to celebrate their granddaughter’s first birthday.

Tesla’s Autopilot system is under investigation from federal agencies. For now, 16 crashes in which the Autopilot system played a role have been included in the investigation, but several others may be added shortly. Last month, a California resident was killed when his Tesla struck the side of a firetruck in Walnut Creek. An investigation into the crash is still ongoing, but it is believed the car malfunctioned. 

Four people were killed on the spot following a horrific wrong-way crash on the 71 Freeway near Chino Hills. According to the police, an as-yet unidentified driver was driving a white 2021 Volvo S60 going northbound on the southbound 71 Freeway lanes. The white Volvo crashed into a black 2018 Volvo. Both vehicles spun out and made contact with other cars nearby. The four occupants in the two Volvos were pronounced dead at the scene, while the other drivers involved in the accident escaped with only minor injuries. 

How do wrong-way accidents happen?

For most drivers, driving on the wrong side of the road is unthinkable. In most cases, such accidents occur when a driver is somehow impaired and doesn’t realize they’re driving the wrong way. If you’re ever involved in such a crash, you must speak with an experienced California accident lawyer as soon as possible as in certain situations you may lose the right to sue the other driver and recover damages. 

dog-g7220f5c12_1280-300x216A California man was attacked and killed by 4 dogs while doing some work at a house in Jurupa Valley. According to police reports, the man had been asked by the owner to do some work at the house. It was not the first time he was working there and there hadn’t been any incidents previously. However, last Tuesday someone called 911 to report screaming at the house. When the police arrived, the man was already dead. The owner rushed back and immediately agreed to surrender the animals – three Belgian Malinois and one Cane Corso – to the authorities for human euthanasia, which took place the same day.

The story doesn’t stop here as the dogs’ owner is liable for his animals’ actions and may even face criminal charges.

While such tragic cases are fortunately rare, dog bites are not. What happens if a dog attacks you or your kid? Can you sue the owner? Who is liable for damages?

pexels-energepiccom-174936-300x225An on-duty Long Beach PD officer was injured after a drunk driver hit his patrol car. The crash occurred in downtown Long Beach, near the area of West Ocean Boulevard and Magnolia Avenue. Fortunately, the black sedan hit the police car on the passenger side so the officer escaped with minor injuries. Anthony Roy Say, 28, was charged with driving under the influence and one count of carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle.

According to statistics, in 2022, alcohol-related accidents accounted for 30% of the 1,069 traffic fatalities. Thousands of other road users were injured in crashes caused by alcohol consumption. 

What types of damages can you recover after a DUI accident in Long Beach?

national-cancer-institute-SRb9nfQ48fs-unsplash-300x199A Los Angeles couple filed a lawsuit on Thursday in Orange County Superior Court against a Santa Ana-based company that used toxic oil during in vitro fertilization that destroyed their embryos. The plaintiffs, whose identity was not revealed, sued Fujifilm Irvine Scientific Inc. on several charges, including manufacturing defect, design defect, failure to warn, negligence, and negligent failure to recall. The oil developed by the company is used to protect fertilized eggs when they are stored. The company issued a recall in January when it received complaints of the deaths of human embryos when coming into contact with the toxic oil. The plaintiffs allege they “learned from their fertility clinic that their embryos were killed upon coming into contact with oil. Those embryos were viable prior to coming into contact with the defendant’s oil, and then were killed by the defendant’s oil … The plaintiffs) are devastated. They may no longer be able to have children with their genetic material as a result of the defendant’s conduct.”

What you need to know about defective product lawsuits

Defective product claims, also known as product liability claims, are legal actions taken by consumers against manufacturers, distributors, retailers, or other parties involved in the production, distribution, or sale of a defective product that causes injury or damage to the consumer or their property. To bring a successful defective product claim, the person bringing the claim (the plaintiff) must contact experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyers to prove three elements:

https://www.californiainjurylawyerblog.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/240/2023/02/blue_line.0-300x225.jpgTwo people were killed and another four were injured on Monday in downtown LA, following two separate accidents involving Metro Blue Line trains. In the first accident, a pedestrian was hit by a train in Central City. The victim was transported to the hospital in unknown condition and the train was evacuated.

Later that day, two people were killed and three injured after another Metro Blue Line train hit a Honda Civic at 1629 E. 24th St., several blocks south of the Santa Monica (10) Freeway.  All the people in the Honda were employees from a nearby soap manufacturing company who were returning home after their shift. 

The train was carrying 125 passengers at the time, but only one was reported injured. 

bobby-car-g91acf5609_1280-300x200Police in Long Beach are investigating a hit-and-run that left one bicyclist dead. Two weeks ago, a motorcyclist was killed in a collision with an SUV. A 90-year-old driver died after speeding through a parking lot, injuring several people before the car came to a stop. These are just a few of the most recent headlines concerning accidents in the Long Beach area. One may think it’s just a coincidence that so many fatal crashes happened within the past two weeks. It’s not. According to the latest statistics, in 2022, California had the most fatal crashes in the country, 3,558, resulting in 3,847 deaths. More than 10 people die every day in some type of traffic accident and tens of thousands are injured. This means tens of thousands of families are devastated, grieving their loved ones or struggling with mounting hospital bills. There is no remedy for loss and grief, except maybe time, but victims and their families can at least get compensation for the financial losses they suffered. Many families in this situation wonder how much their claim may be worth. This is something only seasoned Long Beach accident lawyers can tell you. The value of a claim depends on the severity of the injury and the extent to which it impacts a family. 

Do you need a lawyer for any type of crash? Not really. You can deal with a minor crash by talking to the insurance company directly. For more serious accidents, you will however have to contact skilled lawyers to help you determine who is liable for your damages and how to proceed with your case. Many claims can be settled outside of court, but for a catastrophic accident, you may want to sue the at-fault driver.

Here are some of the most dangerous types of car accidents in California, accidents for which it is best to seek legal advice as soon as possible:

candles-g9a894582d_640-300x200Three people were killed and another injured in a high-speed crash in Lynwood following a police pursuit that began in South Gate early on Sunday. A married couple, Flavio Balderas, 60, and his wife Micaela were killed after their car was hit by a Tesla that was being chased by the police. The driver of the Tesla, 20-year-old James Griffin, died on the spot while another passenger in the car was critically injured.

It all started when a police officer saw two people tampering with a parked vehicle in South Gate, believed to be a catalytic converter theft in progress. When they noticed the officer, the two people got into a Tesla and drove away. The police said the officers had called off the pursuit when it reached dangerous speeds, but shortly after that, the Tesla hit the Balderas’ car. 

Can you hold the police accountable for a crash following a high-speed chase?

motorcycle-gb47cb739e_1280-300x200A 57-year-old motorcyclist lost his life after crashing into a GMC SUV on Ellis Street in Long Beach. According to the police, John Blackwell Jr. was riding a 2014 Kawasaki at high speed when his motorcycle collided with an SUV that was making a turn into a parking lot. Blackwell suffered serious injury to the lower body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The SUV driver remained at the scene and there are no indications he was either distracted or intoxicated. 

Speeding is, unfortunately, the leading cause of fatalities in motorcycle crashes. In 2020, 5,268 motorcycle riders were killed in crashes nationwide. About 34% of those fatal crashes involved speeding, By comparison, alcohol was a factor in only 27% of all fatal motorcycle accidents.

How fast can you ride a motorcycle in California?

6089-300x300The family of a woman injured in an accident on a Disneyland attraction has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Walt Disney Company, claiming that complications from the injury led to her untimely death.

According to the Orange County Register, 66-year-old Joanne Aguilar was injured on the park’s Jungle Cruise attraction. In April 2021, the woman, who was wheelchair-bound, visited Disneyland with her two adult daughters. She wanted to go on the Jungle Cruise, but was told a wheelchair-accessible boat was not available at that time. Ms.Aguilar managed to get on a standard boat but had difficulties trying to get out. She lost her balance and fell backward, breaking a leg. After undergoing surgery, she spent five months in a rehab facility. While there she got an infection, went into septic shock, and died in January of last year. 

The lawsuit alleges that the septic shock was a result of the surgery, which was due to the attraction injury, therefore Disneyland should be liable for their damages. The family is seeking compensation for “all past economic damages,” including medical costs, burial and funeral expenses, attorney fees, and any other incidental damages.

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