Los Angeles Car Accident Caused by Elderly Driver Injures Six

Six people sustained injuries in a Los Angeles car accident after an elderly woman crashed into a La Mirada restaurant on October 30, 2009. The Whittier Daily News reports, 87-year-old Lurlene Bell told officials that she mistakenly put her car in drive instead of reverse and then pressed the gas pedal. Bell's Toyota sedan then jumped over a parking block, drove over a sidewalk and went into the front of the Cabo Taco Baja Grill on Rosecrans Avenue. Police said one man suffered a broken leg and internal injuries. The others sustained relatively minor injuries.

I sympathize with the injured victims who I can only imagine experienced extreme shock when they saw the vehicle come barreling into the restaurant. I hope and pray that the man who was seriously injured in this crash has a quick and complete recovery. Please keep these victims in your prayers.

Car Accidents in Los Angeles

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), five fatalities and 182 injuries were reported in La Mirada as a result of car accidents in 2007. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 712 fatalities and 56,475 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2007.

This particular car accident seems to have been caused by Bell. Still, the more serious issue here is if Bell should continue to drive. Did this incident have anything to do with their ability to react to situations or her presence of mind? Does she have health issues? Does she have a tendency to get confused? Did Bell have a valid driver's license at the time of the crash?

The Issue of Elderly Drivers

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, California has nearly 3 million drivers who are 65 year or older. This accident and others we see everyday involving senior drivers, emphasizes the need for more stringent regulations, especially relating to retesting. Senior drivers must be made to renew their licenses more frequently with driving and vision tests so their ability to follow safety procedures and react to situations can be properly gauged. It’s understandable that the ability to drive affects seniors’ ability to be independent. But it’s certainly not worth the life of another human being. The errors these drivers make can sometimes cause serious personal injury or even death.

We are 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 a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.