Car Accident on Beach Blvd. in Huntington Beach, CA leaves 3 dead, 2 injured

Huntington Beach Car Accident Leaves 2 Dead, 3 Injured

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At approximately 9:30 p.m. on July 23, 2019, a two-car accident at Beach Boulevard and Taylor Drive in Huntington Beach, CA left two dead and three injured.  According to news outlets, the identities of the deceased individuals will be released once the Orange County coroner notifies the next of kin.  The Huntington Beach Police Department is still investigating the car crash.  Police stated that the crash involved a 2007 red Honda Fit and a 2012 Volkswagen Passat.  Officers also stated that the collision was a broadside collision, also known as a “t-bone” car accident.  The Honda Fit’s driver, Kenneth Walsh, 29, of Chino Hills died of blunt force trauma to his head.  Miriam Rodriguez, a 36-year-old woman from Huntington Beach was also pronounced dead at the scene.  The Huntington Beach Fire Department confirmed that the three others in the Volkswagen were taken to a local trauma center in unknown condition.

The remainder of this article shall briefly discuss broadside car accidents, and what you should do if you are involved in a broadside car accident.

What are broadside car accidents?

Broadside car accidents are commonly referred to as t-bone collisions.  Ordinarily, the front of one vehicle referred to as the “bullet vehicle” will impact the side of another car.  Property damage in t-bone collisions is usually centered at either the driver side or passenger side doors.  However, property damage in t-bone collisions is also sometimes located at the front or rear side of the impacted vehicle.

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An example of property damage incurred by a car in a broadside collision.

Who is “at fault” in a broadside car accident?

T-bone collisions often occur because of failure by one vehicle to yield at a stop sign or traffic signal.  They also regularly occur when one vehicle attempts to make an unsafe left turn.  California law states:

“(a) The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety.

(b) A driver having yielded as prescribed in subdivision (a), and having given a signal when and as required by this code, may turn left or complete a U-turn, and the drivers of vehicles approaching the intersection or the entrance to the property or alley from the opposite direction shall yield the right-of-way to the turning vehicle.” California Vehicle Code § 21801.

In situations contemplated by subsection (b) of the above vehicle code, car accident attorneys are often contacted.  One party will often claim that the turning vehicle failed to yield, and the turning vehicle’s driver will claim that they yielded and then lawfully completed their turn.  When one or both of the parties are injured, personal injury claims or personal injury lawsuits often follow.

How serious are broadside car accidents?

Broadside vehicle collisions are often some of the most serious car accidents that can occur.  The “bullet vehicle” involved in these collisions is often traveling at a high rate of speed.  As a result, even though the front of the bullet vehicle is the portion that is impacted, significant physical forces are transferred to the driver and passengers.  With respect to the side impacted vehicle, the lack of bumpers and metal to shield the victims can result in traumatic injuries to the vehicle occupants.  In the most serious cases, a broadside collision can cause the death of people involved.  In situations such as these, a family may consult with law firms regarding a potential wrongful death action.

What should you do if you have been in a broadside car accident?

If you have been involved in a t-bone car accident, the first thing that you should do is check on your well-being and that of everyone else involved.  If there is anyone in need of medical care immediately contact emergency personnel for assistance.  Once you are seen by medical examiners make sure that you tell them all of your symptoms so that they can properly treat you.

You should try to collect as much information as you can from witnesses.  In the event that there are nearby businesses, you should consider asking if they have surveillance video of the car accident.  Sometimes businesses are unwilling to provide surveillance video to private parties.  Once retained, a Huntington Beach car accident attorney, or Seal Beach Car Accident Attorney, will demand that the business produce or preserve the video evidence.

Liability in a broadside car accident is often disputed regardless of who is actually at fault.  Therefore, do not apologize to anyone or accept blame for the car accident.  You will want to speak to a Huntington Beach lawyer, or Seal Beach lawyer that practices personal injury law.

If You Have Been in a Car Accident Contact a Local Huntington Beach Car Accident Lawyer Right Away!

If you have been in a car accident, call a personal injury attorney right away. Make sure that you gather all of the other drivers’ auto insurance information.  No one article can cover everything that people should know after a car accident.  Additionally, t-bone car accidents present unique legal challenges.  There are many local Huntington Beach car accident lawyers, Seal Beach car accident lawyers, and Long Beach car accident lawyers that can help.  Most personal injury lawyers can also assist if you are a family member with wrongful death claims for a loved one.  Contact a lawyer right away to protect your personal injury or wrongful death statute of limitations.  Don’t let an insurance company lowball your demand for reimbursement of medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering. Ensure that you receive full justice for your insurance claims!

The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this post, or website, should be taken as legal advice for any individual or case situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.  Contact us If you have lost a loved one or have pain and suffering from a personal injury.  For more information, visit our wrongful death page and car accidents page. For a free consultation, please reach out to our attorneys to arrange a time to discuss your case.  All you have to do is hit the big blue button labeled Contact Us at the top of this page!

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Fatal Car Accident Statistics on Holiday Weekends vs. Normal Three Day WeekendLaw Offices of Justin R. Heim, APC

Memorial Day Car Accidents Result in Arrests and Fatalities

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Southern California’s Memorial Day Weekend Continues Trend of Drunk Drivers and Car Accidents

Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, left California drivers with ominous feelings after hundreds of car accidents and DUI arrests occurred.  Regardless of whether the DUI arrest involved a car accident, many of those that did ended with deadly results.  Even car accidents that did not involve intoxicated drivers saw several injuries and wrongful deaths occur.  Sadly, these incidents are not unusual for the holiday, as summer holidays traditionally represent the deadliest time to drive.  With the influx of tourists and drivers coming to the beach communities in Orange County and Los Angeles this summer, now is the time to be especially cautious on the roadways.

If you suspect that there is a drunk or reckless driver on the roadway, make sure to call local police. If you are involved in a car accident with a drunk or reckless driver this summer, be sure to speak with a car accident attorney right away.

Memorial Day Weekend’s Historical Car Accident Statistics

Along with remembrance and barbeques, Memorial Day weekend has become just as well known for car accidents and drunk drivers.  The holiday has sadly become the least safe time to drive on the road. Unfortunately, statistics show that things do not get much better as other summer holiday weekends continue.  Los Angeles, in particular, stands out as a locale with an increased number of holiday car accidents.  Unsurprisingly, holiday car accident statistics show that there is a clear correlation between the increased number of drunk drivers on the roadway and the number of accidents that occur.

According to the financial firm Value Penguin, from 2011-2015 an ordinary three-day weekend in the United States saw an average of 250 traffic fatalities.  On Memorial Day weekend, the average number of traffic fatalities jumped to 312.  Respectively, the Fourth of July weekend averaged 307, and Labor Day 308. The question begs to ask, is there a reason for the increase in fatal car accidents on the holiday weekends?

Fatal Car Accident Statistics on Holiday Weekends vs. Normal Three Day Weekend

Drivers and passengers face the highest risk of being in a fatal car accident during the three major summer holiday weekends.

The answer might be that the number of fatal car accidents is related to the number of people driving under the influence.  The available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 40.3 percent of all car accidents on Memorial Day weekend involved a drunk driver. The usual rate of car accidents involving someone driving under the influence was 29.2%.  Thus, there is an approximate 40 percent increase in the number of car accidents involving people driving under the influence on holiday weekends compared to ordinary three-day weekends.

Percentage of Car Accidents Involving Drunk Drivers

The summer holidays represent three of the top four holidays involving car accidents and drunk drivers.

Memorial Day Weekend 2019 Car Accidents

This year, car accidents, arrests of drunk drivers, and fatalities came rapidly in Southern California. By Monday, the California Highway Patrol reported that Memorial Day weekend resulted in 1099 arrests for people driving under the influence.  After a car accident involving a Long Beach pedestrian resulted in a fatality before the weekend commenced, fatal accidents continued to come in fast and furious.  In total, Memorial Day weekend resulted in the wrongful death of at least a thirty-four drivers and passengers.

Before Memorial Day Weekend began, Long Beach car accident reports relayed a sad pedestrian hit-and-run death.   The report stated that a vehicle struck 44-year-old Latonia Williams while she walked just outside of a crosswalk at Pacific Ave. and 25th Street.  After the car hit Ms. Williams, she was then hit by another car and died at the scene. The first vehicle that hit Ms. Williams fled the scene, and the driver is still at large.  We are asking anyone with information regarding this hit and run incident to contact Det. Sirilo Garcia at the Long Beach Police Department.

Then, within the first six hours of the holiday weekend, eight people died in a car crash. Authorities reported that more than half of those that died were not wearing a seat belt. Authorities did not release the names of any the victims or state what the cause of the crash was.

In Silverado, CA, a car crash Saturday morning killed two teens and left three others injured.  The 1998 Mazda Protégé was being driven by Joshua Morales on Santiago Canyon Road when it suddenly left the road. Property damage photographs show that the vehicle struck a tree and required the jaws of life to pry the occupants out.  Joshua Morales died in the car.  One passenger, Colton Mundy, died hours later at UCI Medical Center.  Three other teens went to hospitals with major injuries. Families of Morales, Mundy, and another passenger have set up GoFundMe pages.

Then on Sunday, a Pomona family died when they crashed into a tree near Los Banos, CA.  Reports stated that the driver lost control of his Nissan Altima, causing him to cross the freeway onto a dirt shoulder where he hit a tree. The wreckage was scattered on the road and included a car seat latch, broken glass, and a taillight. A relative identified the driver Samuel Soto, and his pregnant wife, Alondra Soto.  The Soto’s two children also died in the crash.  A family friend set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses.

Take Action and Help Make our Roads Safe this Summer

In sum, Memorial Day Weekend 2019 ended with tragic consequences.  The holiday typically marks the deadliest three-day holiday weekend of the year before two of the next three follow.  Huntington Beach, Bolsa Chica, Seal Beach, and Long Beach will see countless tourists flock to the beaches this summer.  Statistics show that on holiday weekends an increased number of those tourist drivers will drive under the influence.  It is vital that members of the community call the police if they suspect a drunk driver is on the road.  Residents and tourists should also generally be on the lookout for reckless drivers and make sure to report them immediately.

If You Have Been in a Car Accident in the Long Beach Traffic Circle Contact a Local Personal Injury Lawyer Right Away!

If you have been in a car accident, call a personal injury attorney right away. Make sure that you gather all of the other drivers’ auto insurance information.  No one article can cover everything that people should know after a car accident.  Additionally, car accidents with drunk drivers present unique legal challenges.  There are many local personal injury law firms throughout Long Beach, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach that can help with filing a claim.  Most personal injury law firms can also assist if you have a wrongful death action.  Contact a lawyer right away to protect your statute of limitations, and ensure that you receive full justice for your insurance claims.  Don’t let an insurance company lowball your demand for reimbursement of medical expenses, lost wages, or pain and suffering.

The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this post, or website, should be taken as legal advice for any individual or case situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.  Contact us If you have lost a loved one or have pain and suffering from a personal injury.  For more information, visit our wrongful death page and car accidents page. For a free consultation, please reach out to our attorneys to arrange a time to discuss your case.  All you have to do is hit the big blue button labeled Contact Us at the top of this page!

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