Two people sustained injuries in an Orange County car accident after a 78-year-old woman drove her Infiniti into a crafts store the morning of February 22, 2010. The Orange County Register reports that the woman rammed the car into a Michaels craft store at 25310 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo. The vehicle struck a 53-year-old woman who was shopping inside the store. She was taken to a local hospital with moderate injuries. A 4-year-old boy, who was there with his mother, was hit by flying glass. No arrests were made. An investigation is ongoing.

I sympathize with the injured victims in this car accident. I can only imagine the shock and horror these victims and others in the store must have felt when they saw the car barreling through the window. I hope and pray that they make a quick and complete recovery. They will be in my prayers.

Car Accidents

There were three fatalities and 235 injuries involving car accidents in Mission Viejo, according to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records Systems (SWITRS). Countywide, 152 deaths and 13414 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2008.

Elderly Drivers

I trust CHP officials who are investigating this case are looking into whether this woman had a valid driver's license and whether she was in a good enough physical and mental condition to drive. It is indeed fortunate that this accident did not result in any catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

There has been a rash of recent car accidents in Orange and Los Angeles counties involving elderly drivers. This incident reminds us yet again, about the important issue of our aging driving population. California now has almost 3 million drivers who are 65 years or older, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. A recent study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds fatality rates for drivers begin to climb after age 65. In 2005, about 11 percent of fatal traffic accidents in the United States had involved drivers 65 or older.
A reputed Orange County personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims in such cases about their legal rights and options.

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.