California Injury Blog
A man was killed and his passenger was seriously injured after the luxury sports car he was driving slammed into a palm tree splitting the vehicle in half. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, police said the vehicle reached a speed of up to 100 mph. Newport Beach police began pursuing the 2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG as it was traveling south on Balboa Boulevard on the Balboa Peninsula early morning on March 3.
Violent Crash
The driver, a man in his late 20s, had reportedly been involved in an argument with someone at a nearby bar before the pursuit began. The pursuit lasted for about 10 minutes and ended when the car failed to negotiate a turn and crashed into a palm tree on Balboa Boulevard near 24th Street. Photos from the scene showed the car mangled near the tree with the vehicle’s engine lying 100 feet away and a large field of debris scattered across the road.
Officials said that in it showed the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed and that the crash occurred with tremendous impact. It’s not clear if alcohol or drugs were factors in this crash. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger was transported to an area hospital with major injuries.
Causes and Compensation Issues
Based on this report, it appears that the driver was traveling at an extremely high-speed rate – about 100 mph – on a surface street, which is extremely dangerous. 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 this particular case, it is unclear why the driver was being pursued by the police as well. We trust a comprehensive investigation is underway.
In such cases, it is important to remember that injured passengers have legal rights to compensation. Generally speaking, if the driver of the vehicle in which you’re riding was at fault for the crash, you will be able to make a claim against that driver’s auto insurance. Under California law, drivers have a duty of care not just to others on the roadway, but also their own passengers.
Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced Newport Beach car accident lawyer will be able to advise victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-03/mercedes-crash-pursuit-newport-beach