Single-Vehicle Crash in Orange Leaves One Dead

A young woman was killed early this morning in a fiery, single-vehicle accident in Orange.  According to KABC News, the accident occurred on eastbound Katella Aveneue just before 4:00 a.m.  The 26-year-old from Anaheim apparently lost control of her vehicle in a curve and struck a sign before her car burst into flames.  Despite rescue efforts, the victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition where she later succumbed to her injuries.  The precise cause of this tragic accident is still under investigation.

Cause of the Crash

Whenever there is a solo vehicle accident the question about driver impairment arises.  The accident above happened at a time of the day known for a high percentage of drunk driving accidents.  Beyond this, there is the question of vehicle speed and whether the loss of control was due to excessive speed through the curve.  Even where the accident appears to be related to driver impairment or error, issues of "crashworthiness" of the vehicle and the condition of the roadway arise.  For example, was this an accident that should have caused a fire?  Was there something about the gas tank configuration that caused this vehicle to burst into flames?  As far as the roadway is concerned, is this an area where similar accident have happened in the past?  Was there a defect in the roadway (pothole, slippery asphalt, etc.) that caused the driver to lose control?  To fully investigate this accident all of these questions should be answered.  

If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in an auto accident involving a defective vehicle or a dangerous roadway, contacting an experienced personal injury attorney can be the most important step toward obtaining a clear understanding of your right to compensation.

SOURCE:  Anaheim woman killed in fiery crash in Orange, KABC News, Orange County, August 31, 2013

The Killed in Long Beach Collision

According to KTLA news and the Belmont Shore-Naples Dispatch, two men were instantly killed and a third died in the hospital as a result of a traffic collision in Long Beach Saturday night.  The first two victims, Mark Martineau, 36, and Richard McAleavey, 54, were declared at the scene of the accident in the 2900 block of Redondo Avenue.  Reportedly, Martineau lost control of his  Dodge Ram when trying to change lanes, causing the vehicle to careen over a sidewalk and into a pylon beneath the 405 Freeway.  Another passenger, 36-year-old Terrence Harris, was badly injured and succumbed to his injuries on Sunday afternoon.  The crash is under investigation, but the driver may have been speeding and lost control in wet weather.  The Long Beach Police Department would like witnesses to call them at (562) 570-7355.

LONG BEACH TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, the City of Long Beach ranks 10th/9th out of the 13 cities in Los Angeles County with a population of more than 250,000 residents, in terms of injury and fatal accidents.  In 2010, there were 1,874 injury or fatal accidents in Long Beach.  Of those accidents, 254 were reportedly speed related, as may have been the case in the accident above.  From a quick review of the scene via Google Maps, there does not appear to be anything unusual or dangerous about this particular area of Redondo Avenue.  To the contrary, the roadway appears flat and straight with virtually no obstacles of any kind.  Absent other information to the contrary, this tragic, triple-fatality accident would appear to be the result of driver negligence.

WRONGFUL DEATH RECOVERY

The families of McAleavey and Harris would appear to have the right to pursue claims for wrongful death against the insurance carrier for Martineau and/or his estate.  Under California law, surviving family members (typically the spouse and children) have the right to pursue claims for the loss of the society, care, comfort, affection, love and support their loved one would otherwise have provided.  Claims such as this are generally unlimited in terms of the amount the family can recover, except in the context of a medical malpractice case.  What does impact the recoverable compensation are factors such as the amount the deceased provided in the way of financial support and the closeness of the relationship with the family left behind.

An experienced Orange County personal injury attorney is perhaps in the best position to assess the above factors and the best approach to a wrongful death claim.  

Rollover Crash In Ontario Leaves Five Dead

Early this morning a horrific crash in Ontario left 5 young men dead after a rollover.  According to KTLA news, the accident reportedly happened at about 1:40 a.m. when the driver ran a red light on Haven Avenue south of Creekside Drive.  The vehicle flipped and ultimately came to rest in the backyard of a home.  One of the five occupants was ejected from the Nissan, and he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.  The four occupants who remained the in the car during the accident were all pronounced dead at the scene.  Investigators believe that alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash.

See the KTLA news story HERE.

The cause of this tragic crash will undoubtedly be investigated thoroughly by the responsible police agency.  Unfortunately, at this moment, it would appear to be a solo vehicle accident likely resulting from the driver's intoxication or other impairment.  A late night/early morning crash without an obvious cause, especially one involving a relatively young driver, is often presumed to be the result of drug or alcohol use.  A toxicology screen on the driver and a detailed accident reconstruction will enable the investigators to make a determination of the cause.  Regardless, this accident ended the lives of 5 young men way too early, and it can only be described as heartbreaking for their families.
Compensation for the victims of automobile accidents involving intoxicated or otherwise impaired drivers should be an important concern for everyone.   When an impaired driver causes a crash and lives are lost, like the accident above, he or she should be held accountable.  An Orange County wrongful death lawyer with experience at handling pedestrian accident cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.   Mr. Ralph has more than 21 years of experience handling auto accident cases, including those caused by impaired drivers.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Have you or a family member been the victim of a serious or fatal automobile accident?

Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above. This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter. A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.