A woman was fatally injured in a Long Beach car accident early morning on January 27, 2010 after her car crashed into a security gate at the end of the Terminal Island (103) Freeway. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the woman was driving a 1999 Chrysler Sebring north on the freeway when she failed to slow down at the Willow Street intersection and slammed into a closed security gate. The car became airborne and then crashed into a building. The woman was ejected from the vehicle and suffered major internal injuries. She died at the scene. Any witnesses to this incident are asked to contact Long Beach police at 562-570-7355.

My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this deceased victim. I offer my deepest sympathies to her family and friends for their devastating loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

Car Accidents

There were 39 fatalities and 2,212 injuries involving car accidents in Long Beach in 2007, according to California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 712 fatalities and 56,475 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2007.

What Caused the Accident and Injuries?

Based on this news report, it is not quite clear why this woman failed to slow down at the end of the freeway. Did she fall asleep at the wheel? Was their an auto product defect or malfunction in the vehicle that prevented her from slowing down? Was there sufficient signage at the end of the freeway to warn drivers that they need to slow down? I trust the official investigation will look into these and other factors while determining the cause of this fatal car accident. The other issue in this case is also why the woman was ejected. There is no mention in this report that she wasn't wearing her seatbelt. If I were one of her family members, I would certainly want to know if she was ejected as a result of a seat restraint system failure.

Liability Issues

If this accident was the result of a seatbelt defect or any other vehicle defect, the auto maker or manufacturer of the defective product could be held liable for the victim's fatal injuries. If this accident was caused by a defective roadway such as lack of proper signage, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could be held liable. Any such claim against a California governmental agency must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

A reputed Long Beach personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled seatbelt defect cases and other auto product liability cases will be able to help the family have the vehicle inspected by an expert for malfunctions, product defects and other evidence. The best personal injury law firms will always provide a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation to injured victims and their families.

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.