A Los Angeles car accident caused serious injuries for two people who were inside a Torrance bakery the afternoon of June 18, 2010, the Daily Breeze reports. Officials say that a female driver who mistook the gas pedal for the brake rammed into the J.J. Bakery on Crenshaw Boulevard in Torrance. As the car went into the building, a customer and a cashier were hurt. Both sustained multiple fractures and were transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to both the injured victims in this case. There were apparently several other customers in the bakery at the time of the collision. It is indeed fortunate that there were no other injuries. I wish the victims here the very best for a speedy recovery and sincerely hope they have not sustained any catastrophic injuries.

Los Angeles Car Accidents

In Los Angeles County, 667 people died and 52,229 were injured as a result of car accidents in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In the city of Torrance, nine deaths and 480 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Causes and Liability Issues

It is not clear what exactly caused the woman to push the accelerator instead of the brake. These types of accidents tend to occur due to distracted driving. Recently we have seen many such incidents involving elderly drivers. Eyewitnesses to the crash tell the newspaper that the female driver appeared to have been in her 60s and seemed to be disoriented after the crash. I trust officials are looking into whether her age or some type of medical condition led to this crash. In such cases, authorities should also examine whether impairment, distracted driving or some other form of negligence caused or contributed to the crash.

Injured victims in these cases would be well-served by consulting an experienced personal injury attorney in Los Angeles, who will advise them about their legal rights and options. Victims can seek compensation from the at-fault driver for medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy, pain and suffering, and other related damages.

What kind of safeguards can be placed in front of stores and buildings to prevent or minimize the impact of such an accident?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.