Jaime M. Arias, an 18-year-old man, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after the vehicle in which he was a passenger plunged into a ravine off Sand Canyon Road in the Placerita Canyon area. According to a news report in The Signal, a 17-year-old girl was driving a 2003 Mitsubishi on Sand Canyon Road the night of February 22, 2010 when she lost control of the vehicle. The Mitsubishi spun off the roadway and plunged 160 feet into a ravine. Arias was pronounced dead at the scene while the girl was transported to a local hospital with injuries. The extent of her injuries is not known. Alcohol or drugs were not factors in this fatal car accident, California Highway Patrol officials say.

My heart goes out to Jaime Arias’ family and friends for this tragic, untimely and devastating loss. Please keep his grieving family in your thoughts and prayers. I also hope and pray that the young driver of the Mitsubishi did not sustain any catastrophic injuries. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Los Angeles Car Accident Statistics

There were 121 deaths and 4,683 injuries involving car accidents in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County in 2008, according to CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Countywide, 667 fatalities and 52,229 injuries were reported as a result of traffic accidents in 2008.

Car Accident Causes

There are more questions than answers here from the lack of details in the news report. Officials have said that drugs or alcohol were not a factor. There is also no mention of speed or recklessness as issues. So, what exactly happened here? Was this the accident the result of driver error or inexperience? Why did the young driver lose control of the car? Was there a vehicle defect or mechanical malfunction in the Mitsubishi? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway? Was this accident caused by another vehicle? For example, did this vehicle get run off the roadway by another driver? I trust the answers to these and other questions will help shed some light on who or what caused this accident.

How an Experienced Injury Lawyer Can Help

If this accident was in fact caused by an auto product defect, the auto maker or manufacturer of the defective product could be held liable. In such cases, it would be prudent to preserve the crashed vehicle, in tact, so it can be examined by an expert for vehicle defects, malfunctions and other evidence. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to determine whether there was negligence, wrongdoing or any auto product liability issues involved.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.