Four people were injured in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials report was caused by a wrong-way driver. According to a news article in NBC Los Angeles, the injury collision occurred on the 710 Freeway near Paramount, early morning on January 14, 2012. California Highway Patrol officials say 20-year-old Osvaldo Castanon of Long Beach was southbound in the number two northbound lane of the freeway when he struck a Union Pacific Railroad police officer's car. Castanon was driving a 1980 Chevrolet with its headlights off. The male police officer, who was driving a 2011 Ford, suffered non-life-threatening as did Castanon's three male passengers. Castanon was also injured and transported to a hospital, but was arrested. The nature of the charges is not known.

My heart goes out to the injured victims of this car accident. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Los Angeles Crash Statistics

According to CHP's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 227 fatalities and 25,043 injuries involving car accidents in the city of Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 554 deaths and 50,817 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents, during the same year.

Causes and Compensation Issues

Based on this news report, officials say that Castanon was driving his vehicle the wrong way on the freeway. It is not clear why he did so. Was Castanon under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs? Were his passengers intoxicated as well? Why was Castanon disoriented? Officials have arrested Castanon in this incident, but have not yet announced what charges he will face.

In this particular case, the police officer who was injured in the crash, can seek compensation from the at-fault driver for damages including medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. If the officer was on-the-job at the time, he can also claim workers compensation benefits from his employer. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will better advise victims and their families in such cases about their legal rights and options. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to car accident victims and their families.