Last week, we brought you a story about a man who collided with a Boyle Heights taco stand that sent two people to the hospital with injuries. Now, we bring you another unfortunate story about an incident that occurred nearly one year ago.
On November 10, 2017, Joe Louis Perez was driving under the influence of nitrous oxide when he crashed his vehicle into a Boyle Heights taco stand. The collision killed 11-year-old Elektra Yepez. His mother and two aunts were also injured in the crash.
Lopez now faces one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of a drug causing injury.
At the Compass Law Group, we know that this incident highlights the unpredictability of being a pedestrian in Los Angeles.
If you need a Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorney, you can count on our team to be by your side, fighting for the compensation you deserve.
What Can Happen?
We have spoken over and over about the dangers Californians, especially those in and around the city, face when they go out on foot. For the latest reporting year, there were 14,215 pedestrian accident injuries and 867 pedestrian accident deaths. For LA County, we saw almost 6,000 pedestrians injured or killed.
These numbers are astounding. Nearly every pedestrian that is struck is injured in some way or killed because they have no protection against the force of a vehicle slamming into them. We commonly see the following:
- Spinal cord injuries (often paralysis)
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Other head injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Lacerations or amputations
All of these require extensive medical care and often long-term rehabilitation. If an accident victim is disabled, they may need in-home care.
What if a person is unable to return to work? Will they be able to support their families?
How They Happen
Drivers who speed or are aggressive behind the wheel continue to be a problem for all Californians. IN fact, that tops the list of what state drivers say the biggest safety concern is for them.
We know that distracted driving continues to be a problem, despite efforts to pass laws to cut down on texting and talking on cell phones. If a driver is looking at the screen of their phone, they are not watching the roadway.
Drunk drivers were responsible for 27 percent of the traffic-related fatalities for the latest reporting year, a number that shows us how deadly impaired drivers are.
What You Can Do
If you or a loved one have been injured in a pedestrian accident that was caused by the negligence of someone else, the Compass Law Group is ready to help. We know that the aftermath of an accident with injuries can be confusing. We also know that the expenses will begin to pile up.
We want to help you get the compensation you need for all of your accident-related expenses.
