Apollo and General News

Many of you may not be aware that back in the 90’s, when $200 million dollars was a lot of money, congress caved to special interests and capped damages in train accidents no matter how many people were killed, to $200 million dollars. At least one Chatsworth train crash lawyer is speaking out and challenging this law.

Ever since the September 12, 2008 Chatsworth train crash, public transportation attorney, Michael Ehline, has been questioning the constitutional validity and fairness of the $200,000,000 single train crash damages cap ever since the Metrolink spokeswoman accepted fault.

After all says Ehline, “this was the deadliest train crash in Metrolink’s short history”. Readers will recall that this federal damages cap was passed into law back in the 90’s and there has never been any consideration as to inflation, or costs of living increases.

Ehline said that: “All this does is give train companies a chance to weight whether or not to spend the money to make things safe, or rest comforted and assured that if they do nothing, all they have to pay is $200 million dollars, no matter how many people are killed”

And since this recent Chatsworth train crash will likely be the costliest and deadliest and most avoidable train crash in recent memory, Ehline said he will challenge legality of a $200 million cap Congress imposed on a railroad’s liability for single train collisions.

Metrolink accident lawyers representing victims and families alleging negligence in the Chatsworth Metrolink crash are warning that the general, special and punitive damagesarising from this current crash, will more likely than not, exhaust the small pittance of $200 million dollars.

This is especially true when considering that many people aboard the train were professionals who lived in the Valley with incomes that exceeded six figures. This means those well to do people who suffered wrongful death could have come close to or exceeded that figure over their lifetimes in expected contributions to their families left behind.

Typical awards for wrongful death and catastrophic injuries would include economic support of the decedents. Ehlne believes that this may be one instance in which greedy insurance companies and special interest bought and paid for congressmen and senators will have to reverse themselves in the face of the public outcry in the avoidable Chatsworth train crash of September 12, 2008. “It may be the only time in U.S. history where a damages cap would be increased, or at least be made to conform with the costs of living and inflation, unlike medical malpractice damages caps which make it much easier for unscrupulous doctors to get away with malpractice today” Ehline said.

In all events, a constitutional challenge to the damages cap will be likely challenged.

Recent statistics are showing that motorcycle accidents resulting in brain injuries are on the rise in Orange County cities like Anaheim, and LA cities like Santa Monica. With the recent increase in gasoline prices, many people are deciding to commute via motorcycle instead of automobiles, SUV’s or trucks.

Orange County and Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorneys are finding they are receiving an increasing number of calls for information on motorcycle accidents and brain injury lawsuits. This may be because more motorcycles are on the roadways. It is a well-known fact that there is a substantial risk for brain injury when a collision with a car or truck and motorcycle is involved. Even though California has a mandatory helmet law, motorcycle riders are still experiencing head injuries and brain injuries when they are involved in an accident.

Any motorcycle accident carries with it the inherent risk of a fatal or traumatic brain injury resulting from an accident. Unfortunately, many of the fatalities will leave the family members in a state of confusion and grief. They may not know that they could be compensated for wrongful deaths caused by negligent drivers. There is always the option to contact an experienced Motorcycle Accident attorney for much needed advice and direction. Anaheim personal injury lawyers can be located in the phone book or can be found on the Internet and provide a much-needed service in Orange County or LA County.

Every year there are many people that are injured in motorcycle accidents that can leave the victim with amputated limbs or TBI’s. Spinal cord injuries are also common, leaving the victim in a state of life long paralysis. These accidents can lead to an unalterable lifestyle change for the victim and the family. Anaheim residents who ride motorcycles are really at the disadvantage when it comes collisions with other vehicles, they have little protection from impact and the size and weight of a car or truck. Even what would be a small fender bender for two automobiles could be a major cause of damage if a motorcycle is one of the vehicles involved.

Motorcycle riders are notoriously at risk of injury when riding a motorcycle. They have little bodily protection. A leather jacket and chaps may help stave off road rash but will be of absolutely no value against another vehicle or light pole, fence, concrete wall, etc. Broken limbs, severed spinal cords and damaged brains can leave devastation in more ways than the physical element. Untold emotional suffering may be the consequence for the duration of the victims’ life also. Seeking lifetime compensation might not help emotionally but will go a long way to relieve the costs of medical care and lost wages. Always seek out legal representation in these matters and always remember that any motorcycle accident carries with it the inherent risk of a fatal or traumatic brain injury resulting from an accident.

July 20th  (Patrice Garby)

 According California Highway Patrol reports, a Diamond Bar woman was killed Saturday morning in a fatal car crash on the Garden Grove Freeway.

 Reports state that the accident happened at 2:50 am Saturday morning and shut down the freeway until 5:55 am while investigations were underway.

 Bagum Muktar, 64, a resident of Diamond Bar, was a riding as a passenger in a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. Muktar’s daughter was driving on the eastbound side west of the Harbor Boulevard exit, when she as rear-ended by a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The collision caused the Toyota to roll over several times before coming to a stop. California Highway Patrol reports show that there were seven other passengers in the Toyota at the time of the crash. The other passengers reportedly suffered minor injuries.

 The driver of the Malibu was an unidentified man at the time of the report. He reportedly fled the scene of the accident. As reported elsewhere, the police were able to locate and arrest the unidentified man for felony vehicular manslaughter, gross negligence, felony DUI and felony hit-and-run. The time of his arrest was at 1:50 p.m.

 The initial investigation was unable to state the speed of the Chevrolet at the time of the crash.  If you were injured in a car accident, or SUV rollover, contact Los Angeles SUV rollover lawyers now at 888-400-9721.

Any Los Angeles injury lawyer will tell you, it can happen suddenly. You are in a bit of a rush to get to work on time. One more late clock in and you know you will be called into the office. Already stressed, the crowded streets in Huntington Beach add fuel to your release of stress hormones. Easy onto the on ramp, your next move is to settle back and try to calm your nerves by listening to some easy jazz. But as you put in your favorite CD, it slips from your fingers and falls to the floor on the passenger side. You manage to pick it up and insert it in the CD player anyway. Just then the traffic in front of you comes to a complete stop. Slamming on the brakes, you need to swerve just a little, to miss the car in front of you. Much to your surprise though, Your SUV suddenly flips and rolls over. You land upside down and you are trapped in the seat. Your head is bleeding and your ankle hurts. Lucky for you though, that is the extent of your damage to your body. Your vehicle is not so lucky. The SUV’s top is completely collapsed and the SUV is not going to be salvageable.

What just happened? After all, you only swerved just a little and you were really going pretty slow when you swerved to miss that car. Why did the vehicle roll over? Well, probably it was the design flaw in the SUV. You should now call your accident lawyer to find out what your rights to being compensation under the law.Huntington Beach Accident and Los Angeles SUV Rollover law firms can help you with all the steps you need to take to win a claim for compensation from the vehicle manufacturer.Steps to SUV Rollover Rights:
First step was seeking help from your Rollover Crash Lawyer.

Second step is to file a claim against the manufacturer under liability laws.

Third step is to file a claim against the government entity that is responsible for highway safety.Fourth step is to determine if a claim can be filed against the driver in front of you. Was he at fault for your rollover?Fifth step is to file a claim with your insurance carrier. As a rollover crash victim, you have the right to compensation from your insurance carrier at the very least.If you have been involved in a rollover accident you need the assistance of an experienced rollover accident attorney who knows how to prepare this type of case and bring the settlement that you need for current medical bills and those in the future. There are Orange County rollover accident attorneys that can be reached at 888-400-9721.Description: It has been proven that SUV’s are more apt to rollover in an accident than most other vehicles and there are steps you can take if you have been involved in a rollover accident. Learn more: Address 633 W. Fifth St., 28th Fl. Los Angeles, CA 90071; 1875 Century Park East Suite 700 Los Angeles, CA 90067; 14003 Palawan Way Marina del Rey, CA 90292; 620 Newport Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660. Phone 888-400-9721.