Orange County Auto Accidents Leave Three Dead

KABC News, a violent crash on Sunday in Dana Point resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to three others.  The accident happened on Coast Highway at about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.  The second collision reported occurred in Santa Ana, and it tragically took the life of a six year-old boy and also caused serious injuries to his grandmother.

Dana Point Crash

In the Dana Point accident, four vehicles were involved and it appears this was a head-on collision probably caused by an unsafe passing maneuver.  One of the vehicles involved, a Volkswagen Jetta, was reportedly split in half as a result of the impact and both occupants, a 43-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, were killed.  From the news report, it appears the Jetta may have been making some sort of passing maneuver around a Mini Cooper with a 15-year-old student driver behind the wheel.

Santa Ana Collision

In the second accident, a 6-year-old boy was walking to school with his grandmother near Ramona Drive and Central Avenue around 8 a.m.  While within a crosswalk, the boy and his mother were struck by a Ford F-150 pickup being driven by a 17-year-old driver.  The small boy suffered major head trauma and ultimately succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.  The grandmother sustained a broken arm and much less severe head injuries.

Teen Drivers and Accidents

It is an unfortunate reality that teen drivers present a more substantial risk of being involved in an accident when compared to more mature drivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens.  The risk of being involved in an accident is particularly high for newly licensed drivers and male drivers in this age group.  In the accidents above, it is possible that inexperience behind the wheel may have caused or at least contributed to the tragic Santa Ana collision.  While the precise cause of both accidents is still under investigation, the inexperience of the student driver in the Dana Point accident may have some how played a role in that horrific crash.

If you or a loved one have been involved in an Orange County auto accident, contacting an injury attorney with experience at handling such cases could be the most important step toward obtaining compensation for the injuries and damages sustained.

SOURCE:  Dana Point car crash: 2 dead, 3 injured in violent accident, KABC News, Orange County News, October 13, 2013

SOURCE:  Santa Ana crash leaves 6-year-old boy dead, grandma injured, KABC News, Orange County News, October 14, 2013

7-Year-Old Girl Hospitalized in Orange County Hit-and-Run

Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who struck a 7-year-old girl in Santa Ana on Tuesday evening, according to KTLA news.  This horrific, Orange County accident was captured on security cameras near the scene, and police are currently looking for the driver of what they believe is a black Toyota 4Runner.  The little girl was with her mother and was running across the street to get to her home, an apartment complex on the opposite side of the street.  She is still in the hospital following surgery to relieve the swelling on her brain and is expected to survive.

Anyone with information about this tragedy should call the Santa Ana Police Department at 714-245-8665

DUTIES OF DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS

In general, a driver no right of way superior to that of a pedestrian, and each has equal and reciprocal rights, although driver, being in control of dangerous instrumentality capable of inflicting fatal injuries, is charged with a greater amount of care than pedestrian in order to be bound to same standards of ordinary care.  Pedestrians who cross in the middle of a block do not have an equal right to be in path of oncoming motorist, but they are not fair game for a driver who operates his vehicle without regard for what may unexpectedly appear in street.  

ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION AND LIABILITY

Here, from the videotape, it appears the driver is traveling faster than 25 miles per hour but is using the headlights on the vehicle.   Given the apparent speed, the driver was likely in violation of the California Vehicle Code since the accident scene was within a residential area, with a speed limit of 25 mph.  In addition to the speed, the distance at which the victim could be seen and the time the driver had to react play a role in assessing liability.  If it can be shown the driver should have seen the little girl for more than 1 1/2 to 2 seconds prior to the impact and failed to take sufficient, evasive action, the bulk of the liability would likely rest with the driver.

Any personal injury case brought on behalf of the little girl in the accident above will require careful, detailed consideration of the facts and circumstances that will ultimately be necessary to reconstruct this serious accident.  An experienced Orange County car accident attorney can be of help in assessing this type of injury case.  If you or a family member is an accident victim, you should make an informed decision about your rights and whether compensation is available for injuries and damages sustained.

SOURCE:  7-year-old Girl Hospitalized in Santa Ana Hit-and-Run, KTLA News, December 6, 2012