Francisca Reyes, 87, was killed in a Riverside car accident after the vehicle in which she was a passenger was broadsided by a pickup truck at an intersection in Indio. According to The Press Enterprise, the fatal car accident occurred at the intersection of Avenue 48 and Indio Boulevard the morning of February 1, 2010. Reyes was transported to an area hospital where she died a few hours later. One other person in the sedan had to be extricated from the wreckage and sustained moderate injuries.
I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Francisca Reyes for their devastating loss. They will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers. I also wish the injured victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), nine fatalities and 222 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in Indio, California. In Riverside County as a whole, 279 fatalities and 9,925 injuries occurred during the same year, involving car accidents.
Deadly Side Impact Crash
Based on the information provided in this news report, it is not clear how or why this collision occurred. But we do know that it occurred at a street intersection. This is a broadside or "T-bone crash," which means typically, that it involves a collision occurring at a right angle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most deadly side-angle crashes in the year 2005 nationwide were broadside crashes. The NHTSA estimates that about 62.5 percent of all fatal side-angle crashes each year, are broadside crashes. Side-impact crashes can cause catastrophic injuries or death because the sides of vehicles offer less protection from the impact of the collision than the front or back of the vehicle.
Who is At Fault?
In such cases, one of the drivers is at-fault for failing to yield right-of-way or running a red light. I trust investigators are looking into which one of the drivers failed to yield right-of-way at this intersection and caused this deadly crash. If the driver of the pickup is determined to have caused this crash, he or she could be held liable for the accident, fatality and injuries caused. If that individual was on-the-job at the time, then his or her employer could also be held liable.
Victims and their families in such cases would be well-advised to contact a reputed Riverside personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. The best personal injury law firms will always provide a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation to injured victims and their families.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
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