Mar 12, 2019 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 2minutes
HUNTINGTON BEACH (March 12, 2019) – Over the weekend, two pedestrians died in separate and unrelated accidents in Huntington Beach. Both pedestrians were attempting to cross Beach Boulevard outside of a crosswalk. And both died as a result of the severe trauma they suffered when hit by vehicles proceeding on green lights. Just before 10:50 pm on Saturday a silver Nissan Versa struck a woman while she attempted crossing Beach Boulevard, just south of the intersection at Slater Avenue. The woman, believed to be between 50 and 60 years old, was not in the crosswalk when she was struck. Police pronounced her dead at the scene as a result of significant head and body trauma. The Nissan was going northbound through a green light at the intersection. The driver was not injured and remained on the scene. The vehicle sustained major front end, hood and windshield damage. The second incident happened early Sunday morning, around 3:15 am. A 19-year-old man from Greeley, Colorado was hit and killed just north of the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Warner Ave. He was also outside the crosswalk when the accident happened. A silver Kia Optima was proceeding through the intersection on a green light when it struck the man. The pedestrian also suffered severe trauma to his head and body and died at the scene. The second driver, a 26-year old Riverside man, stayed on the scene. If you’ve been injured in an accident, our car accident attorney can help you with any questions you may have. If you prefer to speak with Michael on the phone, please call us at (562) 452-3772. Contact us today to receive your free consultation. If a family member would like the name of a person removed for any reason, please click the “Remove Post” link. Remove Post Source: NBC Los Angeles Disclaimer: The information here is general information that should not be taken as legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established between you and our attorneys by reading this article. This article is attorney advertising and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a qualified lawyer.
Mar 11, 2019 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 2minutes
LONG BEACH (March 11, 2019) – Early Sunday morning, Long Beach Police responded to an accident that caused the death of an adult male. Police suspect the man was responsible for a hit-and-run minutes earlier. When they arrived on the scene, Police found a red 2004 Toyota Camry had crashed into a traffic control pole at the southeast corner of 2nd St. and Marina Drive. The vehicle was completely consumed in flames. Witnesses pulled the driver clear of the vehicle. The male driver was lying unconscious near the center median of Marina Drive. Officers began CPR and Long Beach Fire personnel continued life-saving measures when they arrived. The man was then transported to an area hospital but died a short time later as a result of the critical nature of his injuries. Police believe the Toyota was involved in a hit and run just minutes before. The initial investigation shows the driver was fleeing the scene of that accident at a high rate of speed when he lost control and collided with the traffic pole. The driver did not have identification on him at the time of the crash. If you’ve been injured in an accident, our car accident attorney can help you with any questions you may have. If you prefer to speak with Michael on the phone, please call us at (562) 452-3772. Contact us today to receive your free consultation. If a family member would like the name of a person removed for any reason, please click the “Remove Post” link. Remove Post Source: Orange County Breeze Disclaimer: The information here is general information that should not be taken as legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established between you and our attorneys by reading this article. This article is attorney advertising and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a qualified lawyer.
Feb 22, 2019 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 2minutes
Long Beach (February 22, 2019) – Around 8:45 p.m. on Monday, February 18th officers responded to an accident on Pacific Avenue and West Burnett Street. When police responded they located an unconscious 63-year-old man lying in the road with a bystander performing CPR on him. When the fire department arrived at the scene, they continued life-saving measures but, the pedestrian later past away from his injuries at a local hospital. The investigation revealed the pedestrian was going eastbound in a marked crosswalk on Pacific Avenue and was struck by a 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 going southbound on Pacific Avenue. The driver of the Mercedes is a 41-year-old male of Long Beach. He got out of the car to help after the crash and called 9-1-1. The pedestrian’s identity has not yet been revealed. Officials do not believe the driver was under the influence and he had a valid driver’s license with insurance. If you have any further information about this accident, please contact Long Beach police. If you’ve been injured in an accident, our car accident attorney can help you with any questions you may have. If you prefer to speak with Michael on the phone, please call us at (562) 452-3772. Contact us today to receive your free consultation. If a family member would like the name of a person removed for any reason, please click the “Remove Post” link. Remove Post Source: Orange County Breeze Disclaimer: This article contains opinions and NOT statements of fact in any way whatsoever. The information here is general information that should not be taken as legal advice. NO attorney-client relationship is established between you and our attorneys by reading this article. This article is attorney advertising and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a qualified lawyer.
Feb 22, 2019 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: < 1minute
Santa Ana (February 22, 2019) – A driver crashed into the back of a semi-truck and was killed after being trapped underneath it Tuesday on the 5 Freeway in Santa Ana. The crash happened around 12:300 p.m. on a transition roadway on the northbound 5 and northbound 14 Freeway. The car trapped beneath the big rig was a Mercedes-Benz and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. No information has been released about the driver’s identity. The road was closed during the investigation, creating a lot of traffic in the area. Officials still aren’t sure what may have caused this crash. If you’ve been injured in an accident, our car accident attorney can help you with any questions you may have. If you prefer to speak with Michael on the phone, please call us at (562) 452-3772. Contact us today to receive your free consultation. If a family member would like the name of a person removed for any reason, please click the “Remove Post” link. Remove Post Source: LA Times Disclaimer: This article contains opinions and NOT statements of fact in any way whatsoever. The information here is general information that should not be taken as legal advice. NO attorney-client relationship is established between you and our attorneys by reading this article. This article is attorney advertising and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a qualified lawyer.
Feb 22, 2019 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 2minutes
Santa Ana (February 18, 2019) – A two-car collision in Santa Ana this Sunday took the lives of four Orange County residents. The victims were in their 20s and 30s and were killed by an impaired driver. The impaired driver was arrested on four counts of murder and a felony DUI. The victims of the crash were identified as: 23-year-old Antonio Alonso Santibanez of Orange; 31-year-old Jose Alberto Avila-Rosas of Santa Ana, who was the driver of the vehicle struck by the impaired driver; 34-year-old Prisma Yuliana Montoya of Santa Ana; and 23-year-old Ziomara Zaragoza of Garden Grove. The collision occurred around 2:30 a.m. at Tustin Avenue and 4th Street when a black jeep, traveling west on 4th Street, ran a red light and crashed with a Chevrolet Silverado truck going south on Tustin. The crash caused both vehicles to flip multiple times and one vehicle burst into flames. An off-duty firefighter was in the area at the time and was able to put out the flames with his wife. His wife, who is a nurse, was able to give aid at the scene while waiting for officials. The driver of the truck and the three passengers were killed upon arrival and officials transported the driver of the black Jeep to a nearby hospital in critical condition. The 28-year-old driver who survived has been identified as Vincent Michael Calvo from Buena Park. He appeared to be very impaired when officials arrived at the scene and once released from the hospital, he was arrested with a bail set to $4 million. Surveillance videos in the area clearly show the Jeep running a red light and crashing into the truck. If you’ve been injured in an accident, our car accident attorney can help you with any questions you may have. If you prefer to speak with Michael on the phone, please call us at (562) 452-3772. Contact us today to receive your free consultation. If a family member would like the name of a person removed for any reason, please click the “Remove Post” link. Remove Post Source: ABC7 Disclaimer: This article contains opinions and NOT statements of fact in any way whatsoever. The information here is general information that should not be taken as legal advice. NO attorney-client relationship is established between you and our attorneys by reading this article. This article is attorney advertising and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a qualified lawyer.
Feb 20, 2019 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 5minutes
Crashes related to the consumption of alcohol have long plagued the United States. Even in the modern age of Uber, Lyft, and other low-cost ridesharing options, some still make the decision to consume, perhaps even over-consume, alcohol, and get behind the wheel. Every year during the holidays The Beliz Law Firm has offered free cab rides to get home safe. Find out more information here. The recent trend of DUI injury accidents in Long Beach, California, shows that such horrific and entirely preventable incidents are on the rise. In 2016, the last year for which the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has data available, 304 collisions in the city of Long Beach were ‘alcohol involved.’ That means that more than 10% of collisions in the LBC involved alcohol and those who had consumed it shortly prior to the wreck. Obviously, collisions related to drinking and driving remain a very serious problem in the city, in Los Angeles County, and in California as a whole, especially as crashes related to driving under the influence continue to trend upwards. In 2015, Long Beach had 278 such collisions. In 2014, OTS defined 230 collisions in city limits as related to alcohol. The number of DUI-related crashes in the city has been on the rise, steadily, since 2011. Interactive Chart Mapping Long Beach Driving Under Influence Injuries For those hoping to avoid a similar collision, mapping the collisions in 2016 shows a handful of interesting patterns, and provides information about areas that appear to be ‘hotspots’ for wrecks involving those who consumed alcohol before driving. When viewing the data on a map, a number of problem stretches of road and intersections appear. Alcohol Related Collisions 01/01/2016 – 12/31/2016 Source: TIMS.com Dangerous Stretches Of Road When the data is properly mapped out, some portions of the street seem to be a bit more dangerous than others. The major highways and freeways which run through the Long Beach corporate limits all have a large number of DUI incidents recorded on them in the 2016’s statistics. There is a correlation with more drivers that use a certain roadway; the more likely any type of collision will happen. Therefore since the San Diego (Interstate 405) and the Long Beach (Interstate 710) freeways have the most traffic, both have the highest numbers of DUI crashes. In 2016, the Long Beach Freeway saw 24 collisions that the OTS said were ‘alcohol involved’ in nature, which produced one death and 29 injuries. That same year, the San Diego Freeway was home to 20 collisions involving alcohol, which caused one death and 23 injuries. However, some short stretches of road were home to a surprising number of collisions as well. One block of West Anaheim Street was home to three alcohol-related collisions, which caused three injuries. The entirety of Anaheim Street saw 17 collisions in 2016, including one death and 16 injuries. Long Beach Boulevard was also home to a large number of such collisions, with nine crashes that produced 15 injuries, but no deaths. One particular crash shortly before Thanksgiving 2016 involved five injuries alone! Redondo Avenue was also home to a large number of collisions, specifically between Anaheim Street and 7th Street. In less than a mile, there were six collisions involving alcohol. Luckily, these incidents caused only six injuries and no deaths. A stretch of Carson Street just over half a mile in length was home to two severe collisions involving alcohol, each of which took one life and injured one person. Dangerous Intersections As some stretches of the road appear more dangerous than others, some intersections and their immediate surroundings appear more prone to collisions related to alcohol. The intersections of Anaheim Street and Redondo Avenue and Anaheim Street and 11th Street were both the site for two collisions apiece, and two injuries each. The intersection of East Market Street and Lime Avenue saw the same number of collisions and the same number of injuries. Thankfully, it seems that most intersections are relatively free of collisions, or are only home to, at most, two. Severe Collisions For the purposes of record keeping, all reported collisions receive a severity rating between 1 and 4. Collisions rated 4 produced an injury, which consists of a complaint of pain (for example neck pain or back pain). Those given a rating of 3 produced some sort of ‘other visible’ injury. Collisions that earn a severity rating of 2 produced a severe injury like a fracture or broken bone. A wreck with a collision severity of 1 produced at least one fatality. Thankfully, there were only 12 such collisions related to alcohol in Long Beach, California, during 2016. These 12 automobile wrecks took 12 lives and injured four people as well. What the Numbers Say About Alcohol-Related Collisions Of these most severe collisions, ratings with a 1, four of them took place on major roads and freeways. This may be due to more traffic and higher speed limits. Strangely, two of these severe collisions which included fatalities occurred less than a mile apart, on East Carson Street, between Clark Avenue and San Anseline Avenue. For a city with so many accidents related to driving under the influence, this number is quite small, representing less than one out of every 20 alcohol-related collisions. However, that is likely no consolation to the families of the deceased. Moving Forward What can the city, the government, and the people do to reverse the disturbing trend of consistent increases in alcohol-related collisions in the area? Firstly, the education that drinking and driving should not be mixed together. That is a driver is to consume alcohol then that person should avoid driving a vehicle and hand his or her keys to a designated driver. Designated drivers can be a friend or relative. However, with technology designated drivers can be reached via a smartphone. The low cost of services like Uber and Lyft make it much cheaper to get home after a night out on the town. Additionally,...
Feb 1, 2019 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 2minutes
Have you been involved in a Long Beach accident? If so, it’s important to request a copy of your accident report. The responding police officer fills out this document which contains all the details related to your accident. The report is useful for legal purposes, ensuring you get the most compensation for your losses. Getting your Accident Report In-Person According to the official Long Beach website, you can request your report in-person. You must fill out an application for release of traffic collision report information and bring it to the Long Beach Police Department: Long Beach Police Department 400 West Broadway Long Beach, CA 90802 Get Directions The Records Inquiry Desk is open Monday through Friday, 7:00am – 7:00pm, and Saturday, from 9:00am – 1:00pm. The front is closed on the last Saturday of each month. Let The Beliz Law Firm Help Get a Copy of Your Long Beach Car Accident Report Submit your information below about the details of your accident in Long Beach and we will will contact you to go over the details of what happened. Getting Your Accident Report by Mail You may request a copy of your collision report by sending a completed request form in a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Long Beach Police Department: Long Beach Police Department 400 West Broadway Long Beach, CA 90802 ATTN: RECORDS DIVISION Additional Information about Accident Report Requests The Long Beach Police Department does not charge a request fee for accident victims. The average processing time for reports is around 3 weeks. If you decide to request your report in-person, you must present your valid government-issued ID to the desk clerk for verification. If you submit your request via mail, make sure to include a photocopy of your ID. If you have any questions or concerns, you may call the 24/7 Long Beach Records Division at (562) 570-7381. Contact A California Personal Injury Lawyer If you’ve been injured in a car crash, you should contact a car accident legal expert for guidance. Our experienced attorneys can help you with the next steps. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Jan 2, 2019 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 4minutes
When a car and a truck collide with each other, the crash is more likely to injure the occupants of the car than the truck driver. This is due to the sheer differences in weight and power between a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle. While commercial trucking companies have a responsibility to operate their large vehicles in a safe manner, semi-truck accidents remain a serious public safety problem. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), around 300 people are killed in large truck crashes in the state each year. Truck accident victims can file personal injury claims to compensate for their damages. These damages can include their medical bills, their lost wages, and their pain and suffering damages. This may include their emotional distress and need for hired domestic help while they recover. So, you may be wondering what the average semi-truck accident settlement is in California. The answer is that an average truck accident settlement cannot be specified, as every commercial truck accident claim is unique. A truck accident attorney is committed to helping our clients recover the maximum compensation. We know how to hold negligent trucking companies legally accountable. To find out more about how much your semi-truck accident claim is worth, please contact our law firm for a free consultation. Semi-Trucks Usually Carry Higher Insurance Values In California, every passenger vehicle driver needs to carry insurance. Minimum coverage is $15,000 per person, $30,000 per incident. However, a semi-truck usually carries higher liability insurance. This is because semi-trucks can cause more serious injuries in crashes. The insurance limits for semi-trucks may be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. It is even possible to have a seven-figure policy. Therefore only in catastrophic injury cases like death, paralyzation, or brain injury, may an injured person not be fully compensated for his or her losses in a truck crash. Factors that Can Impact your Truck Accident Settlement With your personal injury claim, you can seek compensation for your medical bills, your lost wages, and your pain and suffering. California divides damages into two categories, general and special. Special damages come with a tangible price tag. These include your medical bills and the wages you could not earn while recovering. General damages are the less tangible expenses you face, as the cost of a permanently reduced quality of life. There is no definite way to calculate fair compensation figure for your general damages. Parties of a case will look at how the incident affects your social life with family and friends, household chores, and spousal relationships. Testimonies from loved ones and documentation showing your ongoing need for psychological counseling to overcome the emotional distress of the injury may be used to show your general damages. Other factors that can impact the average truck accident settlement amount include: With limited exceptions, your settlement offer should account for your specific, individual damages. In practice, this means that your truck accident injury claim must be well supported by the evidence. Without well-organized, comprehensive documents and records that establish the value of your damages, it will be difficult to get the full and fair settlement offer that you deserve. A collision with a semi-truck may leave you severely injured. You are facing extensive medical treatment, time out of work, or even an end to your career. These, compounded by issues like emotional trauma following the accident, chronic pain in the time that follows, and past and future expenses related to the injury, maybe collectible damages in a potential personal injury claim. Indeed, under California law, you have the right to hold the negligent defendant legally liable for the full value of your damages. Unfortunately, recovering fair compensation after a commercial truck accident can be deeply challenging. The personal injury claims process is notoriously complex. The large insurance providers that typically defend personal injury cases on behalf of the trucking companies are extremely aggressive in settling and litigating these claims. In fact, insurance companies are known to try to resolve claim as quickly and as low as possible — even trying to deny liability altogether if possible. Work With An Experienced Semi Truck Accident Lawyer in California Today At The Beliz Law Firm, our Long Beach, CA truck accident attorneys fight to protect the rights and interests of injured victims. Among other things, our legal team will: We want to make sure that you and your family get access to every dollar that you deserve under the law. Our law firm will push for the best settlement offer. Most personal injury claims can be settled prior to litigation. At the same time, we are always ready to litigate your truck accident claim if the truck company or its insurer refuses to play by the rules or treat you fairly. At The Beliz Law Firm, our California personal injury attorney has the skills and experience needed to hold negligent trucking companies liable. If the truck driver, trucking company, or truck manufacturer was at fault for your accident, you should seek compensation for your losses. You will need to file a personal injury claim. For help with your claim and to find out more about your potential semi-truck accident settlement, please contact The Beliz Law Firm today to set up your free case evaluation.
Oct 23, 2018 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 3minutes
It’s dangerous out there being a pedestrian. Not only do you have to worry about California’s crumbling sidewalks, but distracted and aggressive motorists show very little respect for pedestrians. According to one source, pedestrian deaths account for 22% of all traffic fatalities, so it important that pedestrians protect themselves. At the Beliz Law Firm, we receive a common question: “I got hit by a car while crossing the street. What are my rights?” In this post, we will explain how the law protects pedestrians in California and what to do after a collision. Hitting a Pedestrian in a Crosswalk All motorists must operate their vehicles with sufficient care. This does not mean that they must be perfect, but they must use due care so as not to injure anyone—including pedestrians. When drivers fail to be sufficiently careful, they are negligent and legally responsible for the injuries they cause. Examples of negligence include: Failing to stop Running a red light Trying to scoot around a pedestrian Distracted driving, such as texting or talking on the phone while driving Backing up without checking in the rearview mirror California Vehicle Code § 21950 confirms that both pedestrians and motorists owe each other a duty of care. The code specifically states that motorists who are approaching a pedestrian in any marked or unmarked crosswalk must slow down their vehicle and take any other action necessary to avoid hitting a pedestrian. However, the Code also says that pedestrians must not rush in front of a vehicle so that they create a hazard. Pedestrians also cannot delay traffic while in the crosswalk. If a driver fails to operate their vehicle carefully, and they injure a pedestrian, then the pedestrian can sue the driver for compensation. However, if the pedestrian did not exercise care, they might not have a lawsuit. Use Common Sense Pedestrians and motorists can protect everyone’s safety by using common sense and not being in a rush to get somewhere. Simply wait for vehicles or pedestrians to get through the crosswalk before heading across. The California Driver Handbook implores pedestrians and motorists to exhibit courtesy to each other, which will reduce the chances of an accident. Of course, some accidents are unavoidable, and pedestrians should do everything possible to protect their right to compensation. For example, you should do the following after getting struck: Contact emergency services to have an ambulance come out. Take pictures of anything, such as damage to the car that hit you, or the area where you landed. If you are in extreme pain, ask someone else to take these pictures with their camera. Contact the police to come out to the accident and write up a police report. These reports will contain important information. Identify any witnesses to the collision. Get their names and contact information. Promptly seek medical attention. The more information you find, the greater your case for compensation. If you are too injured to collect anything, then ask for help or have your lawyer look for this information as soon as possible. Contact Us Today If you are a pedestrian hit by a car, laws in California protect you. These laws allow injured pedestrians to hold negligent drivers accountable when they negligently injure other people. At the Beliz Law Firm, we meet with many people who have suffered devastating injuries in pedestrian crashes, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and permanent nerve damage. We know how stressful it is to be in pain and possibly unable to work. To speak with an attorney, please reach out to us today. One of our pedestrian accident lawyers can meet with you to discuss your case. Avoid delay. California law gives injured pedestrians a short amount of time to request compensation after a crash.
Oct 20, 2018 | By Michael Beliz | Read Time: 3minutes
Seat belts save lives. This simple fact is the reason that every passenger in a car in California must wear a seat belt, even when riding in the back seat. The California seat belt law is found in the Motor Vehicle Code § 27315 and is strictly enforced. Seat Belts are Required Under the California seatbelt law, no person can operate a vehicle on a highway unless the driver and all passengers aged 16 or older are wearing a safety belt. This law applies to passengers riding in the front seat as well as in the back. At a minimum, the seat belt should be a lap belt that crosses at the hips and upper thighs. If there is an upper portion to the belt, then it should cross the chest. The motor vehicle owner also must make sure to maintain that there are seat belts in the vehicle that works. This law also applies to anyone operating or owning a taxi. Penalties The seat belt law in California identifies the penalty that you will have to pay if the police pull you over and you are not wearing a belt: $20 fine for a first offense $50 fine for each subsequent offense Instead of paying the fine, you might be able to attend traffic school, where you will learn about traffic safety. Child Safety Seats Children have different safety needs, and for that reason, California has created separate seat belt requirements for children. Because restraints save lives, the state will require that you put your child in an appropriate car or booster seat. The type of seat you need will depend on several factors. Here are the details of the law: If your child is younger than 2, you should put them in a rear-facing seat unless the child is large for their age, e.g., 40+ pounds or 40+ inches tall. After age 2, they should be in a forward-facing safety seat. If your child is under age 8, then they must be secured in a booster or car seat located in the back seat. Children 8 or older, or any child that is 4’9” tall, can also be secured in a booster seat. If you choose not to use a booster seat, then but at a minimum,q the child must wear a safety belt. Children 16 or older must follow the seat belt law in California as described above. Some questions arise about when a child can move on from a car seat that has a five-point harness to a booster seat. California law does not lay out precisely when you should make this move. Instead, the state recommends that you take things slow. Graduating your child to a booster seat actually decreases the amount of restraint and safety they have, so California recommends that you keep your child in their current seat for as long as possible. California also provides some basic guidance: Your child is ready for a booster seat when they have surpassed the limits for a forward-facing harness, typically between 40 and 65 pounds. Children should stay in their booster seat until they are at least 4’9” tall and 8-12 years old. Remember that safety belts were designed for men around 165 pounds, so the belts are an awkward fit for smaller children. Seat Belts and Car Accidents California is a pure comparative negligence state. This means that the law recognizes that a car accident victim could have contributed to their accident or injuries. The victim can still sue, but their own negligence will reduce the amount of compensation they can receive. Under the state’s seat belt law, failure to wear a seat belt is not per se proof of negligence. This means the driver cannot point to your failure to wear a seat belt as automatically proving you were negligent. However, a jury can still use the fact that you were not wearing a seatbelt to find that you contributed to your injuries. For this reason, wearing a seatbelt not only protects you but protects your right to compensation in the event of a collision. Speak to a Long Beach Car Accident Lawyer At the Beliz Law Firm, we have helped countless accident victims get the compensation they deserve. Please reach out to us today for a free consultation. One of our Long Beach car accident lawyers will be happy to meet with you to discuss your case as well as your options for compensation. Call 562-452-3772.
Long Beach Accident News
