A 52-year-old woman, identified by officials as Ana Ramirez, was killed and six others were injured after a pickup truck careened on to a crowded sidewalk and into a business. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the fatal crash occurred in the 300 block of North Broadway Street in downtown Los Angeles the afternoon of March 10, 2013.
Officials say a man driving a Chevy Avalanche was heading south on Broadway and lost control. He allegedly crossed into oncoming traffic before running on to the sidewalk and hitting several pedestrians.
Officials say this incident occurred in a very busy part of the city. Witnesses say Ramirez, who was pinned under the truck, died even as her husband pleaded for help. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Of the six other victims, three were occupants of the truck. Four of those victims are reported to be in serious condition. Officials say although speed was not a factor but the driver has a medical condition that may have caused him to lose control.
Pedestrian Crashes
There were 100 fatalities and 2,512 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in the city of Los Angeles, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Los Angeles County as a whole, 530 fatalities and 50,513 injuries were reported due to pedestrian crashes during the same year.
Causes and Compensation Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the pickup truck may have lost control due to a medical condition. I trust officials are asking a number of questions at this point. Did the driver have a prior medical condition? Should he or she have been driving in the first place? Did negligence cause or contribute to the incident?
In such cases injured victims and families of deceased victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.
Injured victims can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries and other related damages. Families of deceased victims can seek compensation for damages such as medical and funeral costs, lost future income and loss of love and companionship.
SLS Consulting