A man who was killed in an Orange County car accident the morning of January 2, 2010, has been identified as 62-year-old Roger LaSalle. The fatal car crash occurred after LaSalle, who was driving his 2002 Ford Explorer SUV west on Chapman Avenue in Orange, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a utility pole. He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police suspect LaSalle may have suffered a heart attack and lost control of the SUV.

My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Roger LaSalle for their tragic loss. They will certainly be in my prayers.

Car Accidents

There were 10 deaths and 84 injuries involving car accidents in Orange, according to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. Countywide, car accidents claimed 178 lives and injured 14,185 in 2007

Causes and Liability Issues

If this newspaper report is accurate, officials are saying that LaSalle died of a heart attack. However, if I were a member of his family, I'd want to know whether he suffered the medical condition before or after his vehicle crashed into the pole. There is also the possibility that a vehicle defect or a mechanical malfunction in the Ford SUV may have caused LaSalle to initially lose control and crash.

An Experienced Injury Lawyer Can Help

In such cases, it is in the family's best interests to contact a reputed Orange County personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled auto products liability cases. The Ford Explorer should also be preserved in its current damaged condition so it can be examined by an accident reconstruction expert for product defects, malfunctions or other evidence.

An experienced car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether there were any dangerous conditions on the roadway, which may have contributed to LaSalle's fatal injuries. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could be held liable as well. According to California Government Code, any claim against a governmental agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

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.