Another Fatality on the Angeles Crest road
Another auto accident occurred on the Angeles Crest Highway last weekend, resulting in the death of the driver at the scene. This is the fourth fatality on this stretch of road since it was re-opened in June 2011 following its 18 month closure.
The closure, in January 2010, was due to washaways and damage to the road surface. The washaways have been blamed on the forest fires in the San Gabriel Mountains which denuded the undergrowth and allowed soil erosion to devastate the area.
The other accidents, which were attributed to excessive speed, occurred shortly after it was reopened. One of the fatalities was on a motorcycle while the other 2 were in separate automobiles.
This latest fatality occurred in the early afternoon of Saturday when the driver apparently lost control just north of Mount Wilson to Red-Box road, according to the reports by the traffic patrol officer on the scene. The vehicle overturned on colliding with an object after leaving the road. There are no reports as yet as to what was struck or whether there were other occupants of the car. The driver, who was killed and has not as yet been identified.
Such accidents are common place occurrences. This instance was in fact a solo driver. But he may have had passengers or have struck another car in causing the accident. He also may have dependents who have now been left destitute. A Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorney may be able to give them some relief in determining whether the road is unsafe to drive or should have had some form of barrier or speed limiting or ramps to calm the traffic down.
If such a suit were successful the dependents of the driver might receive a substantial settlement. Not only that but such an action may galvanize the county in to taking measures to make the road safer for use, by installing Armco barriers on all bends for example.
This particular stretch of road has been off limits to large rigs since April 2009. In that month a car carrier with a double deck lost control when its brakes failed. It collided with several vehicles before running into a store causing 2 fatalities and multiple injuries. This was a second big rig accident within a short space of time.
Those injured and the dependents of those killed would benefit from consultation and appointment of one of Los Angeles Trucking Accident Lawyers whose job it is to vigorously represent the interests of their clients.
It is a normal fact that the trucker’s insurance company has a default answer to any claim for liability, and that is to deny it. They are, of course, much wealthier than the claimant and thus able to bring considerable resources to bear on reducing the liability, and thus the amount of the claims against them. Attorneys appointed to look after the rights and the claims of the injured in this incident are well aware of this and able to get around such a stance.
Any award is likely to be substantially higher, if represented by a reputable attorney, than if attempting to claim on one’s own.
Source : 1 dies after car plunges off Angeles Crest Highway Los Angeles Times 14 August 2011.