California Injury Blog
A 54-year-old woman was seriously injured in a Long Beach car accident after the SUV she was driving was hit by a car pulling out of a parking lot. The Press Telegram reports that a 63-year-old driver of a Ford Taurus pulled out of a parking lot striking the woman’s Toyota Landcruiser the morning of January 7, 2010, at the intersection of Redondo Avenue and Kilroy Street. The impact from the collision sent the SUV through a chain link fence and it came to a stop over the edge of an embankment near the 405 Freeway. Firefighters and other emergency personnel had to extricate the woman from the SUV. She was transported to a local trauma unit with severe injuries. The driver of the Ford was uninjured.
My heart goes out to this woman who has apparently been severely injured in this horrific car crash. I hope and pray that she recovers quickly and completely from her injuries. This injured victim will certainly be in my prayers.
Car Accident Statistics
There were 39 deaths and 2,212 injuries involving car accidents in Long Beach in 2007, according to California Highway Patrol’s traffic accident statistics. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 712 fatalities and 56,475 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents during that year.
Who or What Caused the Accident?
In this particular case, if the news report is accurate, it appears that the driver of the Ford did not see the woman coming down the street. If the man was pulling out of the private parking lot, the woman had the right-of-way on this roadway. It is not entirely clear from this news account, why the man did not see the SUV. Was he distracted? Was he inattentive? Was there a visual obstruction or a dangerous condition on the private parking lot or the public roadway, which may have caused or contributed to this accident? I trust investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine how and why this major injury collision occurred.
Liability Issues
If this accident is determined to be the male driver’s fault, he could be held liable for the accident and injuries caused. In such cases, victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, and other related damages. If there was a dangerous condition in the parking lot, the private property owner could be held liable. If there was a dangerous condition on the public roadway, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. According to California Governmental Code section 911.2, any claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injuries. An experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer will be able to guide victims and their families through these complex issues and make sure their legal rights and best interests are protected.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.