A toddler and her mother suffered serious injuries in a Los Angeles car accident when an elderly woman struck them and then crashed through the storefront of a drycleaner in Woodland Hills, California. The Los Angeles Daily News reports that the serious injury pedestrian accident occurred the afternoon of November 7, 2009. Both woman and her daughter, believed to be 4 or 5 years old, were transported to a local hospital. The girl suffered major injuries, but she has fortunately stabilized, officials said. Los Angeles police say the senior driver mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake.

I'm very glad to hear that the girl is out of danger and has been listed in stable condition. I hope she will not be left with lifelong disabilities as a result of this accident. I wish her and her mother the best for a quick and full recovery. These injured victims will be in my prayers.

Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 90 fatalities and 2,690 injuries were reported in Los Angeles as a result of pedestrian accidents. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 210 deaths and 5,095 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian injuries in 2007. Also, car accidents in Los Angeles County claimed 712 lives and injured 56,475 people in 2007.

If this news report is accurate, it seems to me that the senior driver made a mistake, which in this case could have taken the life of a little girl. It's a miracle that the toddler was not killed. I would question whether this elderly driver should have been driving in the first place. Did she have the mental and physical faculties to be able to drive? Did she have a valid driver's license? At this time, we don't really know. This is one of many recent car accidents involving elderly drivers in the Los Angeles area where cars have gone into buildings. It seems that most of these cases have something else in common – the driver mistaking the accelerator for the brake or putting the car in wrong gear.

To Drive or Not to Drive

Many of these accidents caused serious personal injuries. These are mistakes, which a healthy, young, absent-minded person could make. However, it is important for elderly drivers and their family members to decide when it's time to hand over the keys. A person's independence and mobility are important, but not more important than someone else's safety or well-being. If you or someone you love is a senior driver and if you are debating about the driving issue, please don't hesitate to ask for help. I've found Keeping Us Safe (http://www.keepingussafe.org/) is a great resource, which educates senior drivers and their families. The site even provides a comprehensive self-assessment tool to help elderly drivers decide if they should continue driving.

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.

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