Mother and Child Die in Rollover Crash on 605 South

Car accident scenes are often mysterious at first glance. On July 22 at 7:30 a.m., a mother and her three young children traveling in a Pontiac Grand Am veered off the 605 South in Bassett, flipped over, and struck a tree.

The 30-year-old mother and the 7-year-old sitting in the backseat were instantly killed in the crash. Firefighters freed a three-year-old and an 11-year-old, who sustained critical injuries in the crash, and transported them to a trauma center for treatment. Their identities have not been released. Witnesses are asked to call law enforcement with any information.

What happened? Who is liable?

While the investigation is in the earliest stages, San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that drugs and alcohol are not suspected as factors. A solo car crash where the driver has been killed is not always an open-and-shut case. In some cases, the driver may be found liable for speeding, driving distracted, or falling asleep at the wheel.

In other cases, a third party that is not immediately clear may be found liable. Surviving family members may be able to file a lawsuit against the local municipality for negligent road maintenance or design for:

• Potholes
• Poorly graded shoulder
• Lack of signage or blocked signage
• Lack of warning for known hazards
• Malfunctioning traffic signals
• Faded or missing lane markers
• Burnt-out streetlights
• Crumbling bridges
• Debris on the road
• Uneven pavement
• Failure to clear snow and ice
• History of accidents in a particular spot with no action taken

Was another driver at fault?

Sometimes eyewitnesses come forward and another driver is identified as contributing to the collision. An experienced personal injury lawyer can build a strong case against a driver who cuts another car off, causing them to skid off the road and crash.

Car accident duty of care

All motorists have what is called an “ordinary duty of care,” which says they must:

• Maintain adequate insurance coverage, as mandated by state law
• Keep the vehicle under control at all times to avoid hitting other vehicles, people, or property
• Allow a safe following distance
• Drive within the stated speed limits
• Follow proper “right-of-way” protocols
• Heed all signs and lights
• Use blinkers to signal lane change
• Maintain the vehicle in safe working order
• Pay attention to avoid sudden stops that may put other drivers at risk
• Stop and render aid if their actions caused another vehicle to crash

If a driver has breached any of these duties, he or she may be found “negligent” in a court of law. Damages may be awarded to another party for medical bills, property damage, lost wages and income, disability, funeral expenses / wrongful death, and emotional pain and suffering.

Legal help for car accident victims

The Ellis Injury Law Firm has a vast network of crash scene investigators who will work hard for your family when it seems police inquiries go nowhere.

The Los Angeles car accident lawyers at Ellis Law have recovered over $350 million for our clients, including settlements over $1 million for car accident injuries and wrongful deaths. Legal assistance costs nothing unless a personal injury attorney takes on your case and wins compensation, so there is no harm in calling 310-641-3335 for a free consultation.