LOS ANGELES, California — A Sun Valley woman was killed in a single-car accident Wednesday night in Pacoima after losing control of her 2005 Toyota Corolla at around 10:40 p.m., a Los Angeles Police Department release said.
The car was traveling on Branford Street when Brianda Lopez, 20, lost control of her car and collided with multiple objects before the vehicle came to a stop, the release said.
Los Angeles Fire Department officials responded to the accident and pronounced Lopez dead at the scene.
Officials said she was not wearing a seatbelt when she crashed.
According to friends who posted comments on a news article, Lopez was a graduate of John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley.
According to a James Madison University study nearly half of the 35,000 fatalities of car accidents each year could have been prevented if the victims were wearing seat belts.
While not wearing a seatbelt may contribute to the deaths of so many accident victims other causes such as manufacturing defects and faulty tires lead to accidents as well.
Toyota, the maker of Lopez’s car has had a series of recalls for some of their vehicles with the last recall just happening a few days ago in China that recalled hundreds of thousands of RAV4 model vehicles, according to Reuters.
In 2011 the company also recalled 52,000 Prius vehicles to fix problems with the electronic steering, according to a company release.
“While vehicle safety has improved a lot over time manufacturers still make plenty of mistakes,” said Attorney West Seegmiller, founder of the Seegmiller Law Firm. “Owners are not always aware of problems a vehicle might have and sometimes manufacturers aren’t quick enough to notify customers of possible defects.”
While it is unclear whether the car in this case suffered from any defects, Seegmiller said it is important to have someone inspect because often times there is a good reason someone loses control of a car, such as defects of the car or tires.
If you have lost a loved one in a car accident we know that this is a difficult time. We offer our condolences to the family and friends of the victim. If someone else was responsible for this accident it’s important that you act quickly to protect your rights and future. For roughly 30 years, the legal experts at Seegmiller Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients who were injured in serious traffic accidents or have lost a loved one.
Our legal team has also handled hundreds of wrongful death claims for families of victims killed in traffic accidents. Our staff is compassionate and understands the pain its clients are going through.
There is no cost to clients until our experienced team of lawyers and legal professionals have won your case. Finding the best car accident attorney can mean you will get the settlement you need to get your life back on track. Compensation for your injuries, loss of wages and pain and suffering can’t take away the trauma of the accident, but it can help you rebuild your life.
Call us today at 1-855-ASK WEST (1-855-275-9378) to speak with our car accident law firm. Seegmiller Law Firm has offices in California including its headquarters in Irvine. We also have offices outside of Orange County to serve you in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and in Las Vegas, Nevada.
