Three people, including two brothers, were seriously injured in a Los Angeles car accident after a car ran a red light and hit another vehicle. According to a news report in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the injury crash occurred the night of December 22, 2011 at the intersection of Azusa and Cameron avenues in West Covina. Police say that a Chevy Impala that was northbound on Azusa was speeding and struck a car that was preparing to make a left turn from Cameron to Azusa. The Impala’s driver, who ran the red light, is also suspected of being under the influence. He was hospitalized with injuries. Of the two brothers in the other car, one was critically injured and the other was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. An investigation is ongoing.
My thoughts and prayers are with the two brothers who were injured in this crash. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
DUI Collisions
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 55 injuries involving alcohol-related collisions in West Covina. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 204 people died and 4,672 were injured as a result of DUI collisions, during the same year.
Violation of Laws
Based on this news report, driver of the Chevrolet Impala violated several laws. Officials say that not only was he speeding and under the influence, but also ran a red light at the intersection before he struck the other vehicle carrying the two victims. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is illegal under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a).
California Vehicle Code Section 22350 (Basic Speed Law) states: “No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic and on surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.”
In addition, California Vehicle Code Section 21453 (a) states: “A driver facing a circular red signal shall stop at the limit line before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown.”
Holding Negligent Drivers Accountable
In such cases where negligence and wrongdoing is involved, injured victims would be well advised to retain the services of an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will ensure that the negligent parties are held accountable. A skilled car accident attorney will also advise victims in such cases about how their own auto insurance policy might apply to an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. For more information about the dangers of driving under the influence, please visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) web site at www.madd.org.