ABC 7 News recently reported that a car left the road and crashed into the dining room of a home in Tustin, a city in Orange County. The crash occurred just before 2:30 in the morning and the residents of the home described that “it felt like a magnitude-20 earthquake.” Chandeliers, TVs and other property were destroyed, but the residents of the home were okay. Fortunately, the car barley missed the homeowner’s daughters and their friends who were having a sleep over in the living room of the home—the girls suffered only minor scratches.
However, the young driver of the car—a 20-year-old male—was not wear a seatbelt and was killed on impact. The 17-year-old female passenger was wearing a seatbelt and suffered injuries in the crash. She was taken to the hospital to receive treatment for her injuries.
Police are investigating the cause of this crash. They discovered video from a camera down the street that showed the car speeding past at what officer’s guess was 80 to 100 mph. Officers are trying to determine if drugs or alcohol had anything to do with the accident.
An accident like this that lead to death, injuries and property damage is indeed tragic. This type of accident illustrates two things about personal injury claims that are important to know:
- First, when a driver causes an accident that results in the harm of others, that driver is liable to those injured for their injuries and other damages. In the event that the driver is killed in the accident, that liability does not disappear. An injured person can bring a personal injury claim against the deceased driver’s insurance and estate for covering the costs of their injuries the driver caused. This may seem harsh, but this protects individuals who are injured due to no fault of their own, even in situations where the person who caused the accident dies.
- Second, if you are a passenger in a vehicle and are injured in a crash caused by the driver, you can bring a claim against the driver for your injuries. In this case, the young 17-year-old girl injured in the accident can still bring a claim to receive compensation for her injuries against the driver, even though she was a passenger in his car. A driver is responsible for the safety of their passengers, so if they cause injuries, they can be required to cover the costs and damages associated with those injuries.
Orange County car accidents can often be tricky, especially when it comes to determining liability for personal injuries. When the driver dies or passengers are injured, it can leave you wondering what to do or if you can get compensation for your injuries. This is why you should speak with a skilled Orange County personal injury attorney at Walch Law if you are involved with any type of car or vehicle accident. A skilled attorney can help you with your personal injury claim, especially if the claim involves dealing with insurance companies or an estate. Our attorneys have years of experience handling sensitive cases and can help you with your claim. Contact us today at 866-465-8792 for a free consultation.