High-Speed Sepulveda Basin Lamborghini Crash Leaves Two Dead
Two young people died after a Lamborghini crash in the Sepulveda Basin just after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15t. The vehicle had been traveling down Burbank Avenue at speeds topping 100 miles per hour when it hit a 2018 Jeep Cherokee making a left onto Hayvenhurt, collided with trees, split in half, and burst into flames.
The deceased include driver, 25-year-old Joel David White, who was a luxury car photographer who had rented the $200,000 vehicle from his employer, and the passenger, 19-year-old Luiza Vaagnovna Karakhanyan, a psychology student at UCLA who spoke four languages, as well as dabbling in modeling and photography. The 36-year-old driver of the SUV was treated for minor cuts and bruises, and stayed at the scene to assist the police with their investigation. Anyone with information on the wreck is encouraged to call Officer Garcia at 818-644-8117 or Crime Stoppers at 877-527-3247.
Friends say the two were “hard-working dreamers” and “creative, bright souls.” One friend, Alexander Lopez, said White was supposed to pick him up at the LA International Airport that evening, but wasn’t responding to texts – which was very uncharacteristic. “He doesn’t usually drive like that,” Lopez told KTLA News, adding: “I don’t know what was going on at the time.”
Eyewitnesses interviewed at the scene described a horrific scene with White’s ejected body covered by a sheet beneath the vehicle and the young woman covered with a sheet inside the car. One good Samaritan caressed the deceased person’s head and held the hand, sobbing. Flames reached into the night sky, traffic was backed up, and the car was almost unrecognizable. The fiery wreck was the worst anyone on the scene had ever witnessed.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits
In the wake of such a terrible tragedy, our hearts go out to the surviving friends and family members grappling with what happened. Investigations undertaken by law firms like Ellis Injury Law can help those grieving find the answers they seek. We work with local law enforcement and a vast network of professionals like accident reconstructionists and forensic investigators to learn more about the events leading up to the crash.
The family members of Miss Karakhanyan may be eligible to bring legal action against the estate of the deceased driver to compensate for losses incurred through no fault of their own. The two types of legal claims for family members who have lost loved ones in fatal car accidents include:
- Survival Action – The estate of the deceased passenger can sue through the executor for pain and suffering before death, medical expenses, funeral and burial costs. The benefit of filing a survival action is that family members can sue for punitive damages. However, the survival action suit is also subject to liens for medical bills, creditor claims, and health insurance subrogation.
- Wrongful Death – A spouse, child, parent, or heirs at law can recover money for loss of “full value of the life” of the decedent – including projected lifetime income (with no deduction for living expenses or income taxes), as well as loss of enjoyment in life. Wrongful death claims can be highly subjective, depending on the sympathies of jurors, and will not be subject to medical liens or creditor claims.
While no amount of money can ever bring a deceased person back to life, the financial security negates one extra concern for grieving family members and the answers they receive through in-depth investigation can provide catharsis.
Contact Los Angeles Car Accident Attorneys
If you or a loved one have suffered serious catastrophic injury or loss after a car accident, contact Ellis Injury Law. We’ve secured over $350 million on behalf of our personal injury clients over the past few decades. Our compassionate car accident lawyers ensure injured parties receive the best possible medical care and rehabilitation, while our wrongful death experts connect you with helpful local services during the aftermath. Contact us for a free consultation. You pay us nothing unless you recover compensation.