ABC 7 News reported that an 18-year-old girl is dead and a 16-year-old girl is in critical condition after the driver of the car they were riding in lost control while on their way to the Coachella music festival.
According to the report, the wrongful death car accident occurred early in the morning, just after 4 a.m. The three were travelling from San Diego to the concert in a 2009 BMW 328i and were on the freeway in Banning when the accident happened. It appears the young driver, a 21-year-old male, “drifted onto the dirt shoulder at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control as he tried to steer the sedan back into lanes, then went over the embankment and struck two trees.”
The impact with the trees caused the car to split in two—tragically, the 18-year-old girl was ejected from the car and died at the scene. The driver and the 16-year-old girl were rushed to the hospital, with the young girl in critical condition. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators did find alcohol in the vehicle, but it has been ruled out as the cause of the accident.
Even so, If the investigators find that the crash was caused by the negligence of the driver, such as driving at a reckless speed, or if he fell asleep at the wheel, the 18-year-old victim’s family could make a wrongful death claim and the 16-year-old victim’s family could make a personal injury claim against the negligent driver or the driver’s insurance company. The families of the victims should consult with an experienced Southern California wrongful death attorney, who can advise them on their right to pursue compensation for the death and injuries of their loved ones.
We are very sorry to hear about this heartbreaking loss of life and we will continue to do our best to help the families of victims of accidents just like this one.