Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyers

Las Vegas Helicopter Crash Leaves Five Dead

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:56:53 +0000

On Wednesday, a helicopter belonging to and operated by Sundance Helicopters in Las Vegas crashed near Lake Mead leaving all onboard dead including the pilot.

The passengers were on a sunset tour near Hoover Dam at the time of its crash; a normally scheduled route. The cause of the crash has not yet been released. This particular Sundance helicopter was an Aerospatiale AS350.

In 2003, Sundance Helicopter company had another tragic disaster in Arizona which resulted in the death of 6 passengers and a pilot. That crash was found to be caused by unsafe piloting.

For more information on aviation accidents please call or visit our aviation accident attorney page.

Helicopter Crashes like this one are tragic and catastrophic in nature. It is important that a proper and independent investigation be done immediately to preserve any evidence that will be critical to the future of any claims that may be brought to hold those accountable and responsible for this horrific crash.

Call today for a free legal consultation 888.222.8286 and to learn more about the critical steps that must be taken immediately to preserve any claims you or a loved one may have.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011 – Safety Tips & Statistics

admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:58:06 +0000

This Thursday is Thanksgiving. A time to get together with family and friends and celebrate all the things we have to be thankful for. We want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving with a few tips to enjoy the long weekend with safety first.

No Drinking and Driving: While many people will be hosting parties, it may seem easier just to have a few drinks and drive than it is to leave your car and call a cab or have a designated driver. Plan ahead. Should you have even a single drink, it is better to be prepared and have a plan before leaving the house. Either designated a driver who won’t be drinking or make plans to have a cab take you to and from your destination. Statistically, each year during the Thanksgiving weekend hundreds of people are killed in accidents and thousands are injured.
Seat Belts are a MUST: Nearly 70% of all injuries and fatalities during the Thanksgiving weekend are caused by the injured party not wearing a seat belt. If you will be travelling by car, whether driving or as a passenger, make sure to buckle up.
Expect Delays: The Thanksgiving weekend, which starts on Wednesday for many will most likely be an extremely busy travel day. Like most years, expect traffic jams and long delays at the airports and on the freeways. You can anticipate this in advance and make your travel schedule accordingly.
Prevent Home Cooking Fires: Every year during Thanksgiving, there are more than 4,000 reported home fires as a result of home cooking. That is more than double the average on any other single day throughout the year. The best way to prevent a home fire is to make sure you have help in the kitchen. Keep all wrappers, articles of clothing and other flammable materials away from stoves and ovens. Use timers to keep track of the cooking and make sure that you pay attention to all candles that may be lit around the house.

Pedestrian Killed in Santa Monica Hit-and-Run

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:02:38 +0000

News reports are coming out that at around 6:05am this morning, a pedestrian was struck and killed while crossing the street between Santa Monica Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard.

The identity of the deceased has not been released other than he is a male in his 50′s. The car took off and fled the scene after fatally striking the man and is said to be driving a grey Toyota Camry. Witnesses saw the Camry drive through a red-light.

If anyone has any information regarding this mornings tragic accident, please contact the Santa Monica Police Department at 310.395.9931

To learn more about hit-and-run accidents, pedestrian accidents and wrongful death claims – feel free to browse through our practice areas sections or call us directly for a free consultation 310.882.6810 or 888.222.8286

Hit & Run Accident Leaves One Dead in Huntington Beach

admin — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:02:08 +0000

Around 2:00 a.m. Friday morning, July 22, 2011, 24-year old Oriana Millan was
walking with a group of friends in a lighted crosswalk when she was hit and killed by a
car at the intersection of Brookhurst Street and Atlanta Avenue. A man in his mid-20s
was also hurt in the accident and was hospitalized in stable condition. A suspect was
arrested for felony Hit and Run around 4:00 a.m. in Laguna Beach.

Although it is not known in this case, many hit and runs, especially at night, are caused by drivers who are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. In the eyes of the law, flight from the scene of a crime can be used as evidence of guilt or civil liability. Learn more about hit and run accidents here.

Burn Injury Victim Derek Thomas Goes Home

admin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:58:16 +0000

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 was a watershed day in the life of 19-year-old Derek Thomas. Thomas was severely burned in a car accident 11 months earlier and given only a 1% chance of surviving. More than 85% of his body was burned in the multi-car collision near Bishop. The accident killed four people and injured 15 others. During his stay at the hospital, Derek underwent 42 surgeries and had to have every inch of his burned skin scraped off. Although he still has a number of surgeries to undergo and will
be permanently scarred from the burns, Derek was in good spirits and happy to go home.

For more information on burn injuries and accidents, see our burn injury section.

New Hope for Quadriplegics and Paraplegics

admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:00:30 +0000

Automobile accidents due to a driver’s negligence are a leading cause of paralysis from the neck or back down. When the trauma is to the seven cervical vertebrae that make up the neck, the victim usually has no control over his or her body from the neckdown. A break of one of the twelve thoracic vertebrae that make up the back results invarious degrees of paralysis; the lower the break on the spinal cord, the more control the paraplegic will have over his or her body, but his or her legs will be paralyzed.

An important medical research study has just commenced in which doctors are implanting embryonic stem cells into the damaged spinal cord of a victim suffering from paralysis due to spinal cord injury. The goal is to create new cells that will replace the damaged nerve cells, allowing the brain’s messages to travel down the spinal cord to their destination and signal the body to execute its function, such as move the legs so the person can walk. In a quadriplegic, even the slightest success can prove significant. For example, if the stem cell implant allows the quadriplegic to raise even one finger, he or she will be able to operate a specially designed wheelchair and give him or her a tremendous amount of freedom and control that we all take for granted.

But make no mistake about it: The use of embryonic stem cells is not without its critics. These are mainly the right-to-life people who feel that the embryo is a potential human life and to destroy it is to kill a life. These people do not understand that hundreds of thousands of embryos are destroyed each year by fertility clinics and other facilities.Wouldn’t it be much better to use embryonic stem cells to help the infirm and paralyzedlead a normal life?

Currently, stem cells are grown in the laboratory and treated according to aspecific biochemical regimen that encourages them to develop into a certain kind of nerve cell. These cells help an injured spine in two ways: they restore the necessary myelin (the protective sheath around the neurons), and they release loads of growth factors that nurse the tissue and prevent the secondary loss of neuron. Experiments with rats have been very promising, with the rat being able to walk and even run, albeit with alimp, after injuries to the back (thoracic spine) and the cervical spine (neck).
Stem cell research is in its infancy but from what we have seen so far, the results are promising. It will probably be 10 years or more before stem cell therapy hits its peak,but we should start investigating their use now. If this procedure proves effective in humans who have been paralyzed due to the fault of another person, the cost of the stemcell therapy will be borne by the wrongdoer, along with all other damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

SUV Rollover Accidents & Products Liability

admin — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:00:48 +0000

Have you been injured or a loved one killed in an SUV rollover accident? You may be entitled to sue the manufacturer for your injuries or your loved one’s death. SUVs are built on truck chasis and have a high center of gravity, which makes them prone to roll over, especially in a sharp turn to avoid an accident, an animal, or other obstacle.

This is called a “products liability” lawsuit, because the product (i.e., the SUV) is negligently designed and constructed. You are entitled to recover all of your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of or impairment to a limb, andother injuries you suffered in the rollover.

If you have been injured in an SUV rollover accident, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. The lawyer must begin his or her investigation of the events leading up to the rollover as soon as possible, get the SUV inspected before crucial evidence is lost, make sure that evidence is properly preserved and help you get the medical attention you need and deserve.

Amputations and Phantom Pain

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:00:58 +0000

If you have had a part of your body amputated, such as a leg above or below the knee or an arm above or below the elbow, one thing you will probably have to deal with at one time or another is “phantom pain,” where you feel hot, cold, or pain where the limb used to be. Medical experts do not really know what causes such sensations, but various thoughts are that the phantom pain is due to the nerves at the end of the stump,while others believe it is due to signals sent by the brain, which doesn’t know the limb or other part of the body has been amputated.

The pain and discomfort from phantom pain can range from mild discomfort to severe pain. Phantom pain is not easy to treat. Drugs such as antiseizure drugs (such asgabapentin and carbanazepine), antidepressant drugs (especially amitriptyline and nortriptyline), local anesthetics, morphine, and oxycodone help alleviate the pain in somepersons. Other treatments include nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, hypnosis,biofeedback, and cognitive techniques such as relaxation training and distraction.

If you have suffered an amputation due to another person’s carelessness(“negligence”), your attorney should point out to the insurance company or jury the phenomenon of phantom pain and its seriousness, and get you fully compensated for this element of damages. Make sure you speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer about your case.

Electrocution and Electrical Injuries

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:00:54 +0000

Coming into contact with a downed power line, an exposed live wire, or other electrical source can be among the most serious of injuries, including death. When electricity comes into the body, it looks for a place to exit. Hence, many people lose armsand legs caused by the electrical charge leaving their body, causing extensive burns to the limbs. You may lose only part of the limb, such as below the elbow or below the knee . Or the exit wound may be so severe that one or more limbs will have to be amputated completely. In addition to visible injuries, exposure to electricity can cause severe damage to your internal organs. In some cases, the electricity causes the death by electrocution of an innocent person who inadvertently or unknowingly comes into contact with an exposed live electrical wire.

In many electrical injury cases, not only is a limb amputated or an internal organseverely damaged, but there may be severe disfigurement of the body. If the affected area is one that is normally covered by clothes, that is one thing. But suppose the disfigurement is to an exposed part of your body, such as your face, which cannot becovered. People will avoid looking at you and young children may think you’re a scarymonster. When you go out for dinner, people may leave or ask to be moved to anothertable or booth where they can’t see you. Every time you look in the mirror, you will bereminded of how hideous you may look, even after a number of plastic surgeries. If you suffer disfiguring injuries, you may develop serious psychological injuries regarding yourconcept of your body image. This may result in a deep, even suicidal, depression, so it isvitally important that you receive mental health care (e.g., psychotherapy) as well as physical health care as soon as possible.

If you have suffered a severe electrical injury, or a loved one has died by electrocution, due to the fault of another person, utility company, or governmental entity,you have the right to be compensated for all of your medical bills, wages you lost as well as the loss of your future earning power, disfigurement, psychological injuries, and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one has been severely injured due to the carelessness(“negligence”) of another, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer assoon as possible so that the lawyer can begin to investigate the case before the wrong doer has a chance to remedy the defect and remove all traces of carelessness.

Dealing with Insurance Companies and Adjusters

admin — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 12:06:33 +0000

When you have been injured due to another person’s fault, the insurance company will assign one of its “adjusters” to handle the case. The adjuster will seek to settle the case for as little money as possible in as quickly as possible.

The bottom line is that you cannot effectively represent yourself against an insurance company whose sole objective is to make a profit by saving every penny they can – even it if comes at your expense.

Insurance adjusters are trained to handle claims to their advantage. While they might seem to be on your side and helpful, their ultimate goal is to settle your case for as little as they can get away with. Once you settle you cannot come back and ask for further compensation.

The adjuster knows that his or her job security is based largely on the overall amount of all the cases he or she has settled throughout the year. Accordingly, the adjuster will want to settle your case for as little as possible as save the company money.

Don’t guess about the value of your case or let the insurance company and their army of lawyers take advantage of you. Call an experienced personal injury attorney today about your case.