On Oct. 4 at around 9:30 p.m., the 42-year-old driver of an SUV lost control of her vehicle, causing her to travel through a Canoga Park doughnut shop. The car came to rest in the street on the 8300 block of De Soto Avenue. The crash killed one man who the shop’s owner described as a possible transient who regularly ordered coffee and charged his phone in the shop.
Four other customers in the shop suffered serious injuries in the crash. Doctors listed all four in critical condition. Paramedics transported the driver to the hospital, and doctors later released her.
The crash knocked over another customer, but he was not seriously injured. Officials did not immediately know the cause of the accident, and they did not file any charges in connection to it.
In car accidents involving serious injuries like this, the victims may be able to receive compensation for the damages suffered in the incident. This could include all accident-related hospital bills, pain and suffering, loss of income and even loss of future earning potential if the injuries were severe enough. Officials may create a complete accident report after an investigation, which may attribute fault to one of the individuals involved in the crash. The victims could use this information as part of their claims against the allegedly at-fault party.
In some cases, the driver may not be responsible for the accident. This occurs when poorly designed or improperly installed parts cause the vehicle to malfunction. In such cases, the company that manufactured or installed the parts could be at fault in the accident.
Source: KABC, “1 killed, 4 injured in Canoga Park Doughnut Shop crash“, October 04, 2014