California Injury Blog
A 22-year-old Rosemead man who died after his vehicle veered off a Los Angeles County roadway and rolled down an embankment in the Angeles National Forest has been identified as Simon Alexander Perez. According to this article the Los Angeles Daily News, the accident occurred January 5, 2009 on the Upper Big Tujunga Canyon west of Angeles Crest Highway. Perez was driving a 2007 Volkswagen west on Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road when the vehicle veered left across the westbound lanes, crossed the edge of the roadway and struck a tree.
California Highway Patrol officials said the car continued down a dirt embankment and came to rest against some shrubs. A 21-year-old Sun Valley man, who was a passenger in the Volkswagen, suffered moderate injuries in the crash.
My heart goes out to the family of Simon Alexander Perez, who died in this tragic accident. I offer my deepest condolences to them.
If this newspaper report is accurate, there are no indications that Perez was under the influence or speeding. Based on his age, I would be really surprised if he suffered a medical condition at the time of the accident. If it turns out that none of these factors contributed to this crash, then there is a possibility that something went horribly wrong with the Volkswagen that Perez was driving.
If I were a member of Perez’s family, I would preserve the Volkswagen in its crashed condition and get in touch with a experienced California auto product defect attorney. That Volkswagen must be carefully examined by an expert for product defects and mechanical malfunctions. In many cases, mechanical malfunctions are triggered by inherent manufacturing or vehicle design defects.
A skilled Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will also look into whether a dangerous condition on the roadway played a part in the accident. If that was the case, then the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency or public entity must be properly filed within six months of the accident.