California Injury Blog
At least two people were injured in a car accident in South Los Angeles after a big-rig crashed into a Tom’s Jr. Burger restaurant early morning on March 12, 2015. According to a KTLA news report, the U.S. Postal Service truck was traveling on Florence Avenue when it collided with a sedan going south on Hoover Street.
The impact from the collision caused the truck to veer off the roadway and into the restaurant’s storefront. No workers were in the restaurant at the time. The truck driver was trapped in the wreckage and was extricated by firefighters. He was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the car was also hospitalized with unknown injuries. The investigation is ongoing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this crash. We wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. It is indeed fortunate that there was no one in the restaurant at the time of this crash.
Traffic Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 235 fatalities and 24,789 injuries involving traffic accidents in the city of Los Angeles. Countywide, 585 people died and 50,917 were injured due to traffic accidents during the same year.
What Caused This Injury Crash?
Based on this news report, it appears that a collision between the large truck and the sedan triggered a chain reaction crash that resulted in the truck going into the restaurant. Officials are still looking into who caused that crash and who had the right of way at the street intersection. There are also other unanswered questions here. Did one of the drivers fail to yield the right of way? Did driver distraction, impaired driving or excessive speed cause or contribute to the incident? Did one of the drivers run a red light at the intersection? We trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
Liability Issues
If the truck driver is determined to have been at fault, he could be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. If he was on the job at the time, his or her employer could also be held liable. If the driver of the sedan was at fault, he could be held accountable for the injuries, damages and losses sustained.
Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.