An Orange County man who was killed in a car accident in Los Angeles has been identified as 52-year-old Luis Magana. The fatal crash also seriously injured three other members of Magana's family – Jamie Magana, 38, Manuel Magana, 89, and Maria Magana, 83. The crash occurred on the westbound 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar the morning of May 24, 2010, according to a news report in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

Chain Reaction Crash Proves Fatal

California Highway Patrol officials say a prior crash occurred moments before this fatal one which involved a Chevy Impala, a 2005 Pontiac GTO, a 2002 Honda Civic and a 2000 Toyota Camry. That collision was triggered apparently by the driver of the Impala, who stopped her car on the freeway shoulder and forgot to put the parking brake. The car rolled onto the freeway initiating the first set of collisions. Moments later a Chevy Caprice driven by Luis Magana struck the Civic in the carpool lane. Luis Magana died at the scene, while his other relatives were transported to an area hospital with major injuries.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Magana family. Not only are they grieving the death of a loved one, but are also dealing with three seriously injured family members in the hospital. The Magana family will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers.

Wrongful Death Claim

Where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased car accident victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation to cover medical or funeral expenses, lost future earnings, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. In this case, if the driver of the Impala is determined to have been at fault for causing the crashes, then she could be held liable.

Accidents involving multiple vehicles and victims are extremely complicated to investigate. Officials may be listening to conflicting accounts of the incident from different parties. If you are a victim in a similar accident, please remember not to make any statements or sign any papers. Do not enter into a premature settlement without first talking to your own Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will have your best interests at heart.

What are some of the toughest challenges you have faced in the aftermath of a car accident?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.