Published on:

Orange County Car Accident Proves Fatal for Woman

By

Elvira Bermudez, 57, was killed in a Westminster car accident after the vehicle she was driving was struck by a pickup truck at a street intersection. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal car accident occurred at the intersection of Goldenwest Street and Georgetown Avenue the night of December 23, 2010. Bermudez, who was driving a Saturn sedan was northbound on Goldenwest, when a GMC pickup truck making a left turn from Goldenwest to Georgetown hit her vehicle. Police say the pickup hit Bermudez’s Saturn head-on. Bermudez died at the scene. Both occupants of the GMC were uninjured. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Elvira Bermudez for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were four fatalities and 467 injuries as a result of Westminster car accidents. During the same year, 152 people died and 13,414 were injured as a result of Orange County car accidents.

What Caused This Car Accident?

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the GMC made an unsafe left turn. It is not clear what caused the driver of the pickup to make a sudden left turn across traffic lanes. Was he or she traveling at an unsafe speed or driving recklessly? Were drugs or alcohol involved? Was distracted driving a factor?

Laws and Liability Issues

California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a) states: “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety.”

If the driver of the pickup truck is determined to have been at fault, he or she could be held liable for Bermudez’s wrongful death. Families of deceased car accident victims would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to advise victims’ families about how their own car insurance policy might apply to an incident where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured.

Lost a family member in an Orange County car accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Westminster car accident. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys Orange County wrongful death lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.

By
Posted in:
Published on:
Updated:

Comments are closed.

Contact Information