Fireball Crash Kills One, Injures One in Van Nuys

Injured passengers normally have legal options, even if they were hurt in a single-car vehicle collision.

In this particular wreck, a vehicle was southbound on the 405 Freeway in Van Nuys when, for unknown reasons, the driver lost control. The vehicle tumbled into a field, where it burst into flame. The driver, who was trapped inside as the car burned, was declared dead at the scene. Emergency responders rushed the passenger, who was ejected from the vehicle, to a nearby hospital.

Car Crash Injuries

At low speeds, many vehicle collisions only cause property damage. Today’s vehicles are much safer than the ones produced in the twentieth century. But speed multiplies the force in a collision. And, even the most advanced restraint systems can only absorb so much force. As a result, many high-speed car crashes cause injuries like:

• Broken Bones: Accidental fall broken bones are normally not that severe. Car crash broken bones are a different story. Typically, doctors must use metal plates or screws to set these bones. So, these victims must go through extensive physical therapy to regain lost functions.
• Blood Loss: Exsanguination, mostly because of internal bleeding, is often the official cause of death in fatal vehicle collisions. The extreme forces cause internal organs to grind and bump against each other. Since these organs have no protective skin layer, they often bleed profusely.
• Head Injuries: These same forces cause the brain to repeatedly slam against the inside of the skull. Although a combination of surgery and physical therapy can usually ease the symptoms, the injury itself is always permanent. When brain cells die, they never regenerate.

Medical insurance companies usually do not cover accident-related medical expenses. Fortunately, a Los Angeles car crash lawyer can usually arrange for victims to receive treatment at no upfront cost.

Passenger Claims

Most car crash injury victims are drivers. If the victim was a passenger, there are some unique emotional and legal issues involved, especially if the crash was a single-car accident.

Typically, passengers personally know drivers. In fact, this relationship is typically close. So, many victims hesitate to file legal claims.

However, a negligence claim does not “blame” the driver for the wreck. This claim simply generates the money the victim needs to pay medical bills and otherwise carry on with life. Additionally, the driver is not financially responsible for damages, at least in most cases. The insurance company provides a lawyer and pays the settlement.

Legally, some insurance companies try to use the assumption of the risk defense, especially if the victim was a rideshare passenger. This defense, which is common in many premises liability claims, generally does not apply in passenger injury situations. If you need money after an accident, compensation is usually available. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Los Angeles, contact Sharona Hakim at the Law Offices of Eslamboly Hakim.

Photo by Dominik Sostmann on Unsplash