Verahram Namdarian, 26, of Garden Grove, was killed in a Santa Ana car accident after the SUV he was driving crashed into a utility pole. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal crash occurred the night of March 31, 2013. California Highway Patrol officials say Namdarian was driving a small SUV south of Main Street on the northbound 5 Freeway in Santa Ana when the vehicle crashed into a utility pole. The cause of this fatal crash is still under investigation.
Crash Statistics
According to the California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 10 fatalities and 1,461 injuries involving car accidents in the city of Santa Ana. In Orange County as a whole, 100 people died and 13,368 were injured due to car crashes during the same year.
What Caused the Crash?
Officials say the Namdarian lost control of his SUV and crashed into the pole. However, the circumstances of this crash are still unclear. There are several unanswered questions here. Was alcohol or drugs involved? Was the driver traveling at an excessive rate of speed? Were any other vehicles involved? For example was Namdarian’s vehicle clipped or run off the roadway by another driver? Did a vehicle defect or a mechanical malfunction cause this fatal crash? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
Potential Liability Issues
In such cases, it would be a good idea to preserve the vehicle so it can be thoroughly examined for defects, malfunctions, design flaws and other evidence. If a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the incident, the governmental entity responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. If a defective vehicle caused the crash, then, a product liability claim can be filed against the automaker as well.
Please remember that any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident. Families of deceased victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.