Woman Injured in Long Beach Car Accident

A 54-year-old woman sustained grave injuries in a Long Beach car accident after her vehicle was struck by another car that was coming out of a parking lot. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the woman was driving a Toyota Landcruiser SUV the morning of January 7, 2010, when a Ford Taurus pulled up in front of her near the intersection of Redondo Avenue and Kilroy Street. The Ford was apparently coming out of a parking lot. The force of the crash sent the SUV through a chain-link fence and left it teetering at the edge of an embankment near the 405 Freeway. The woman was severely injured. The 63-year-old driver of the Ford Taurus was not injured.

I sympathize with this injured victim and her family. I wish her a speedy and full recovery from her serious injuries. Please keep this victim and her family in your prayers.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 39 deaths and 2,212 injuries involving car accidents in Long Beach. Countywide, 712 fatalities and 56,475 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2007.

Car Accident Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it is not clear why the driver of the Ford did not stop for the driver of the SUV, who seemed to have had the right-of-way. Was the driver of the Ford inattentive, speeding, distracted, or simply did not have a clear view of the roadway? Was there a dangerous condition on the private driveway or public roadway, which caused or contributed to the collision? If that was the case, depending on where the dangerous condition was, the property owner or the city could be held liable for the woman's injuries.

California law requires that any claim against a governmental entity be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. An experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer should also advise victims about how a claim for compensation may be made through their car insurance policy in an accident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.