There was quite a stir at the Los Angeles International Airport this past Sunday, when the driver of a Porsche accidentally accelerated, presumably rather than braking, and struck a nine-year-old girl before crashing into a nearby terminal.
According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, the girl was taken to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in critical condition following the accident. She reportedly suffered major head trauma and remains in critical condition.
The car reportedly crashed into Terminal 7. Three people in total were taken to the hospital.
According to reports, the girl was standing on the sidewalk with her family, waiting to be picked up, when the driver suddenly veered from an outer lane, and into a utility closet at the terminal. The Los Angeles Police Department have stated they believe that the driver probably mistook the gas pedal for the brake pedal. The police did not believe that the driver was intoxicated, nor did he have a known medical condition.
According to airport officials, the damage to the terminal was confined mostly to the area where the car entered the utility closet. Air travel was reportedly unaffected by the accident.
Although there was no report of such, the circumstances surrounding the incident suggest that the driver may have become temporarily distracted.
One common way for drivers to become distracted is when they text or attempt to make phone calls while driving.
Distracted driving is often negligent driving. Negligence occurs when drivers are not intending to hurt anyone but, due to some distraction, engage in behavior that leads to an accident.
All drivers owe a duty to use reasonable care while driving, and a driver’s failure to do so in becoming distracted by a text, a phone call, eating, grooming, or even changing the station on the radio can be considered a breach of the reasonable care required.
Furthermore, under California state law, drivers must use hands-free equipment while talking on cellular telephones. Additionally, as of January 1, 2009. a law took effect that prohibits driving while reading, writing, or sending a text message. This applies to all forms of text-based communication, including e-mail and instant messaging. Teenage drivers, namely those younger than 18, may not use any cellphone or other device, even with hands-free equipment, except in cases of emergency.
Distracted driving can have devastating consequences to others on the road. A defendant’s decision to pay more attention to phone call or text can lead to a dangerous result. If you were injured due to an auto crash in or near Riverside, our attorneys can bring a lawsuit to pursue damages on your behalf. Contact us at 1-866-422-7222 or via our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation. We also represent clients in Rancho Cucamonga, Temecula, and San Bernardino.
More Blog Posts:
Google Admits to Self-Driving Car Accidents in California, Southern California Injury Lawyer Blog, published May 28, 2015
California Court of Appeals Rules in Health Club Injury Case, Southern California Injury Lawyer Blog, published May 26, 2015