A teen driving a Mercedes-Benz struck three vehicles killing one person and injuring three others Monday night, March 29, 2019. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, driver had been driving fast and recklessly for several blocks before running a red light at the intersection of Winnetka Avenue and Ventura Boulevard.
After running the light, the Mercedes hit a Toyota Tacoma pickup then hit a Ford SUV and a Lexus SUV before coming to a stop. The driver of the Tacoma died at the scene. Two others were seriously injured and were taken to Northridge Hospital and are in critical condition while another person sustained minor injuries.
Police have arrested the driver of the Mercedes—who was uninjured—and charged him with murder. “The totality of the circumstances indicates the driver of the Mercedes displayed a willful disregard for human life,” a spokesperson for LAPD said.
Aggressive Driving Crashes
Aggressive driving is a serious problem for LA motorists with almost 50 percent of all crashes in the greater LA region attributed at least in part to aggressive driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA) defines aggressive driving as occurring when “an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.”
It’s difficult to pin down when aggressive driving is occurring, but basically it’s driving fast in and out of traffic, cutting people off and sometimes throwing a few hand gestures out when people honk or react. While there are no direct statistics on aggressive driving, the NHTSA’s Fatal Accident Report states that some of the contributing factors found in aggressive driving were factors in 56 percent of all fatal crashes from 2003 to 2007. Some of those factors are:
- Excessive Speed
- Following improperly
- Improper or erratic lane changing
- Illegal driving on road shoulder, in ditch, or on sidewalk or median
- Passing where prohibited
- Operating the vehicle in an erratic, reckless, careless, or negligent manner or suddenly changing speeds
- Failure to yield right of way
- Failure to obey traffic signs, traffic control devices, or traffic officers, failure to observe safety zone traffic laws
- Failure to observe warnings or instructions on vehicle displaying them
- Failure to signal
Aggressive Driving Injuries
What isn’t vague about aggressive driving is that it can lead to serious injuries to those who are victims of and aggressive driver. What makes these accidents so deadly and serious is that in almost all cases, the driver is speeding. The NHTSA attributes speeding as a primary factor in over 35 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities.
While speeding alone isn’t aggressive driving, it is present in most aggressive driving accidents which means that in many cases, the impact is greater and thus the risk of fatalities and serious injury are higher as well. Some of the common injuries from aggressive driving are:
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Concussion
- Broken Ribs/Collar Bones
- Deep Bruises
- Deep Lacerations
What if I’m Injured by and Aggressive Driver?
The most important thing is to stay safe. If the driver of the other vehicle is still around, use caution and try to avoid any confrontation. Get pictures if possible. Cooperate with authorities, and take care of your injuries.
Don’t talk to anyone from the insurance company or their attorneys. This is to keep them from taking your words and turning them around to deflect liability for their client. Once you are well enough, talk to an attorney about your circumstances. A good personal injury attorney can evaluate your case and give you good advice on how to proceed. In most cases if the injuries are serious, you should hire an attorney to represent you so you can get the maximum compensation allowed by the law.
Call the Law Offices of Steers & Associates at 800 824 5416 or click here to contact us online. We have attorneys with years of experience dealing with every type of motor vehicle accident, and we get results against the insurance companies and their highly-paid lawyers. Call us now to even the playing field and get the compensation you deserve.
