Nubia Del Carmen Preza, a nanny who was injured in a Los Angeles car accident, has filed a personal injury lawsuit against actress Lindsay Lohan who was behind the wheel of a Maserati that hit her. According to a TMZ report, this accident occurred in September 2010 when Lohan reportedly ran a red light in West Hollywood. The actress hit Preza who was pushing a stroller across the intersection.

A paparazzi photographer, Brayan Jaime, who witnessed this crash told TMZ that the accident was a "major hit." The bumper of Lohan's sports car hit Preza in the leg and lifted three of the stroller's four wheels into the air on impact. Thankfully, the child was not injured. Lohan left the scene of the crash. Preza is seeking unspecified damages in her suit. The nature and extent of Preza's injuries is not clear.

My heart goes out to Preza who appears to have suffered serious injuries in this hit-and-run car accident. I truly hope she has not suffered any long-term effects and that she has recovered completely from the injuries she had sustained.

Alleged Violations of the Law

Based on this news report, Lohan was driving recklessly at the time. This civil lawsuit is expected to bring more evidence against the actress. It is not clear if the photographer who was following the actress and witnessed the collision had any footage of the pedestrian accident.

It is a serious violation of California law to run a red light. California Vehicle Code Section 21453 (a) states: "A driver facing a circular red signal shall stop at the limit line before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown." In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the actress left the scene of the crash, which is not only an irresponsible act, but also a violation of California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a).

Seeking Compensation

In such cases, for a successful compensation claim, the victim has to prove the accident occurred, that he or she was injured as a result, and suffered losses as a result. Injured victims can seek compensation from at-fault motorists for medical expenses, loss of wages, hospitalization, rehabilitative treatment, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. It is important for victims to seek prompt medical attention after a car accident, to file a police report and keep a record of all the expenses they have incurred as a result of the accident. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to advise injured victims about their legal rights and options, and the pitfalls they should avoid in a personal injury case.