California Injury Blog
Nine people were injured, two critically, in a Los Angeles area car crash the evening of December 22, 2013. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the incident occurred in the 20300 block of Parthenia Street in Winnetka. Police said an SUV collided with a minivan sending the van careening into the curb of a home. A surveillance camera mounted onto the home caught the accident on video, which investigators are examining.
The homeowner, Anthony Gartman, said he has lived in the home for three years and since that time, he has seen four major accidents at the corner outside his house. The minivan had nine passengers. Seven of the passengers are said to be in fair condition while two others are in critical condition. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Crash Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 219 fatalities and 24,561 injuries reported as a result of car accidents in the Los Angeles area. Countywide, 530 people were killed and 50,153 were injured due to car crashes during the same year.
What Caused the Collision?
Based on this news report, it is unclear as to what caused or contributed to the crash. There are still several unanswered questions here. Did the crash occur at an intersection? Did one of the drivers fail to obey a stop sign or a red light? Did impairment or distracted driving play a part in the collision? Was speed a factor? Did one of the drivers fail to yield the right-of-way? Did this crash occur due to a dangerous roadway or intersection? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
Fault and Liability
In such cases, the at-fault driver can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Injured victims can seek compensation to cover damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the incident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. According to California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident.