A 49-year-old woman was struck and seriously injured by a maintenance vehicle while she was sunbathing on a beach near Venice.
According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the accident occurred the morning of May 14, 2014 on Via Marina Peninsula Beach just north of the Marina Del Rey Harbor.
The driver of the vehicle, a longtime employee of the Los Angeles Department of Beaches and Harbors’ beach maintenance division, had stopped to tend to large pieces of debris near the shoreline, officials said.
As he tried to leave the area, he turned his Nissan Xterra SUV from the shore,
striking the woman who was lying face down in the sand. Officials say the employee did not see the sunbathing woman.
She was said to be “alert and oriented” at the scene, but was transported to a local hospital in serious condition. The driver was interviewed and released.
The Department of Beaches and Harbors will conduct a review of this incident, according to the report.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the woman who has been seriously injured in this accident. We wish her the very best for a quick and full recovery.
What Caused This Accident?
Based on this news report, officials say that the driver of the Xterra failed to see the woman who was sunbathing on the sand.
There are still several unanswered questions here.
Was the employee distracted or inattentive at the time? Are sunbathers common in that area of the beach? Why did the employee fail to see the woman? Has he received safety training with regard to driving on the beach? Did he take all possible safety precautions before leaving the area?
These are just some of the questions that must be answered in order to determine who was at fault and what caused this incident.
Liability Issues
If the driver of the maintenance vehicle is determined to be at fault, both he and his employer could be held liable for the woman’s injuries.
In such cases, injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Victims would also be well advised to find a highly rated Los Angeles personal injury attorney who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.
It is also important to remember that any personal injury claim against a governmental entity, under California Government Code Section 911.2, must be filed within 180 days of the incident.