Not only do motorists have to act responsibly behind the wheel to avoid accidents on the road, they must also ensure they have placed the car securely in the parked position and preferably applied the handbrake when parking their vehicles, especially on inclines. No one has yet to determine what caused a car to roll down a driveway and strike a 102-year-old woman who was on the sidewalk. However, the accident claimed the life of the centenarian.
Accident details
News reports state that the accident occurred around 3:40 in the afternoon on Friday, Dec. 10 in Long Beach. A 102-year-old woman was on the sidewalk in front of a residence located in the 4500 block of Tolbert Avenue. Reports state she was seated in a rolling walker apparatus.
For reasons yet to be determined, a car parked in the driveway of the residence began to roll backwards on its own. The vehicle rolled down the driveway and struck the elderly woman as she sat in her walker. The woman was rushed to a medical center, but ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
Legal recourse
Although family members at the scene stopped the car from rolling any further and rendered aid to the victim until emergency crews arrived, it was to no avail. Now, the victim’s family is left to deal with tragedy this unfortunate and freak accident caused. Although the owner of the vehicle reportedly remained on the scene and cooperated with authorities, he or she can still be named in a wrongful death claim brought against the deceased surviving family members. Should they choose to pursue this route, they will want to work with an experienced personal injury attorney to gain a full understanding of their rights and options with regard to seeking compensation.