California Injury Blog
A family of three suffered injuries in a Santa Ana car accident after an SUV went out of control and crashed into a fast food restaurant. CBS Los Angeles reports that the injury crash occurred the afternoon of April 17, 2013 at Big K’s Burgers at 1320 W. First St. in Santa Ana. Police say the driver of a white Ford Expedition was trying to get behind a school bus when he lost control of the SUV, jumped a curb and slammed into the restaurant.
A man and a woman in their 30s and their 5-year-old daughter were sitting at a table when the SUV accident occurred. The man was trapped under the SUV while the woman and the little girl were thrown and struck by debris. All three were hospitalized in stable condition. California Highway Patrol officials are looking at images from a nearby surveillance camera as part of their investigation. No arrests or citations have been reported.
OC Crash Statistics
According to CHP’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 10 fatalities and 10,461 injuries reported as a result of traffic collisions in Santa Ana. Also, during the same year, 100 people died and 13,368 were injured as the result of traffic accidents countywide.
What Caused This Crash?
Based on this news report, police say that the driver of the SUV lost control of the vehicle because he was trying to get behind a school bus. There are still several questions here. How fast was the driver of the SUV going at the time? Was he driving recklessly? Was he under the influence of alcohol or drugs? Were distracted driving or inattention factors in this crash? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
Liability Issues
In this particular case, if the driver of the SUV is determined to have been at fault, he can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Injured victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Santa Ana personal injury lawyer who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.