A woman and four children were injured in a Los Angeles area traffic collision after two vehicles crashed, the afternoon of September 2, 2012. According to a City News Service report, the injury collision occurred in the northbound lanes of the 170 Freeway at Sheldon Street in Sun Valley. California Highway Patrol officials say the woman and four children were in an SUV, which overturned after the collision. The ages of the children ranged from 3 to 13. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured. None of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing.
My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this crash. I wish them the very best for a quick and full recovery.
Los Angeles Crash Statistics
According to CHP’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 219 fatalities and 24,561 injuries involving car accidents in Los Angeles. Countywide, car crashes caused 530 fatalities and injured 50,513 people, during the same year.
Possible Accident Causes
Based on this news account, it is unclear as to what caused this two-car collision. There are several unanswered questions here. Did driver impairment, distraction or fatigue play a part in this crash? Did one of the drivers follow too close and fail to leave sufficient space between the vehicles? Did one of the drivers make an unsafe lane change? Did excessive speed play a part in this crash? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine what occurred here and why.
Laws and Liability Issues
California Vehicle Code Section 21658 (a) states that whenever a roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction the vehicle “shall be driven as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.”
In such cases, the at-fault driver can be held liable for the resulting injuries and damages. Car accident victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. Injured victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.
SLS Consulting