Off-duty Orange County Sheriff's deputy Terry Stepp, 44, and his father-in-law, 59-year-old David Kerr, were killed in a Huntington Beach car accident after Stepp lost control of his Dodge Viper and crashed. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Stepp was northbound on Goldenwest Street, the evening of March 20, 2010, when the fatal car crash occurred. Huntington Beach police say Stepp may have been traveling at a high rate of speed as he struck a tree on Pecan Avenue.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Stepp and Kerr for their untimely and devastating loss. Stepp was apparently a 20-year veteran of the sheriff's department and is survived by his wife and three children. Tragic! I offer my deepest condolences to these grieving families.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 12 fatalities and 943 injuries involving car accidents in Huntington Beach, California. In Orange County as a whole, 152 fatalities and 13,414 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Car Accident Causes

Based on this news report, officials at this time, believe that speed was a factor in this car accident. However, if I were a member of the victims' family, I would also want to determine whether there was any negligence on someone else’s part. Was there a vehicle defect or a mechanical problem in the vehicle, which may have caused or contributed to this tragic crash? Was there another driver involved? For example, was the Viper run off the road because of the actions of another driver? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway that caused Stepp to lose control of the vehicle? The families of these victims deserve answers here.

Liability Issues

In such cases, an experienced Huntington Beach personal injury lawyer will stay abreast of the official investigation and help determine whether there was any negligence or wrongdoing involved. A skilled car accident attorney will also be able to determine if this accident was caused by an auto product defect, or by an unsafe roadway. If that was the case, the auto maker or the city (governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway) could be held liable. California Government Code section 911.2 states that any claim against a governmental agency must be properly filed within six months of the accident or injury.

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.