Car Hits 8 Pedestrians Outside Arlington Heights Grocery Store; Driver Arrested

Firefighters and paramedics were sent at 12:51 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, to 4040 West Washington Boulevard, a couple of blocks north of the 10 Freeway, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. Investigators said the driver of a sedan lost control, hit a parked vehicle, and went onto the sidewalk in front of the Superior Grocers store, as reported by ABC7 and FOX 11.

Paramedics assessed 10 people and took eight to hospitals, the Fire Department said. A young child was among the injured. One person was seriously hurt, and the others had injuries that were not life-threatening, CBS Los Angeles reported, citing firefighters. All of the injured are expected to survive, according to ABC7. Two people were pinned by the car, and bystanders freed them before emergency crews arrived, FOX 11 and CBS Los Angeles reported.

Police arrested the driver, who stayed at the scene, on suspicion of felony reckless driving, ABC7 reported. An arrest is not a conviction. Police said they do not believe the driver was impaired. The driver told officers the brakes may have failed, which a police sergeant described as unconfirmed, and the cause of the crash has not been determined. This article may be updated as police release more information.

A criminal case and an injury claim are separate. Reckless driving means driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property (Vehicle Code §23103), and prosecutors decide whether to file that charge. An injury claim asks a different question: whether someone’s carelessness caused the harm. Our article on what counts as reckless driving in California explains the criminal side.

A driver’s statement that the brakes failed does not end the matter. California requires a vehicle’s brakes to be kept in good condition and good working order (Vehicle Code §26453). If an inspection confirms a brake problem, the questions become who was responsible for maintaining the car, whether a repair was done poorly, and whether a part was defective. Our guide to negligent repair claims covers when a repair shop can be held responsible.

When one crash injures many people, the driver’s insurance limits may not cover everyone. An injured pedestrian’s own auto policy can help: uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage generally protects the policyholder and relatives in the same household even when they are on foot (Insurance Code §11580.2). This is a general summary of California law and not legal advice.

Wilshire Law Firm may be able to help people hurt in the Arlington Heights crash. Our Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyers work from the firm’s Los Angeles office and represent people struck by vehicles across the city, including injured children. When a child is hurt, a settlement needs a court’s approval, which our guide to a minor’s compromise explains.

We can request the police report, ask that the vehicle and any store video be preserved, and deal with the insurance companies for you. You can read about our pedestrian accident practice and our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers, or meet our attorneys. Last month we covered a five-car crash at Main Street and Washington Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles.

Being hit by a car on a sidewalk is the last thing anyone expects on a trip to the store. A Wilshire Law Firm legal professional can go over what happened with you at no cost, at any hour, and there are no fees unless you get paid.

Contact Wilshire Law Firm today.