The Los Angeles car accident lawyers at BISNAR | CHASE have represented many clients over the years who were injured as a result of dangerous roadways and intersections. We recently came across another instance of an unsafe road condition where residents are pushing for improvements, at the intersection of Baseline Road and Citrus Avenue. Apparently 12 car accidents have been reported over the last 12 months, including two in late August. According to a news report in the Pasadena Star News, six vehicles were broadsided at the intersection last year and eight injuries were reported.
Dangerous Street Intersection
Police, who are aware of the problem at that dangerous street intersection, say a majority of these Azusa car accidents are caused as a result of vehicles failing to yield to oncoming motorists, people running red lights or red arrows and entering the intersection unsafely. The intersection apparently has left-turn arrows for drivers traveling north and south on Citrus Avenue, but none for drivers heading east or west on Baseline Road.
Officials admit that the number of car collisions at that intersection is abnormally high. That intersection was engineered several decades ago and simply wasn't designed to take the volume of traffic passing through now. Both streets are extremely busy, especially because of traffic from Azusa Pacific University and Citrus College. As part of its street improvement plan, the city of Azusa has planned a new traffic signal at this intersection. They are also running special enforcement at the intersection to monitor drivers who are not following the rules of the road, city officials say.
Car Accidents in Los Angeles
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), two fatalities and 249 injuries were reported in the city of Azusa as a result of car accidents. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 712 fatalities and 56,475 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2007.
I'm glad the city is taking some steps to improve traffic safety at this dangerous intersection. Given the number of incidents there over the last one year and the continuing danger on that roadway, it is very important that the city take immediate action to remedy the situation there. If there are serious injuries or fatalities at that intersection caused or contributed by the dangerous condition, the city could be held liable for those personal injuries.
California’s Government Code section 835 provides that a public entity or governmental agency is liable for damages to an injured person or his or her family because of a condition of public property when the injured person proves that:
• There was a dangerous condition on the public property at the time of injury
• The injury was proximately caused by the dangerous condition
• The dangerous condition created a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury of the kind that occurred; and
• Either (a) The negligent or wrongful action or failure to act of an employee of the public entity created the dangerous condition, or (b) the public entity had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition a sufficient time before the injury to have taken measures to protect against the dangerous condition.
Whether they are involved in a bicycle accident, pedestrian accident or car accident, injury victims, who believe a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the crash, would be well-advised to contact a reputed California personal injury lawyer who has a successful track record of handling dangerous roadway cases. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency in California must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.
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 source for the facts 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, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.
We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
SLS Consulting