Angel Avila Corrales Killed in Pacoima Car Accident
Three other occupants hospitalized after gray sedan plunges down embankment, strikes a tree
California recorded 4,061 traffic fatalities in 2023, a grim statistic that now includes a 49-year-old passenger killed over the weekend in Los Angeles County.
Angel Avila Corrales died when the car he was riding in crashed on the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Pacoima on Sept. 5, according to the California Highway Patrol. Los Angeles Fire Department rescue crews arrived to find a gray sedan that had plunged down the right shoulder embankment near the San Fernando Road off-ramp and struck a tree. Paramedics evaluated the conscious driver at the scene.
Three surviving passengers were then transported to local hospitals.
One person suffered serious injuries, while two others were listed in fair condition.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
How do investigators determine fault in a solo-vehicle crash?
While single-vehicle crashes often appear straightforward, investigators must determine why the driver lost control before leaving the freeway.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash rarely produces simple answers because speed, road surface, mechanical condition, and driver behavior often overlap within the same tragic sequence of events."
"Serving as an advocate, an attorney coordinates specialists across several disciplines, pulling together data recorder readouts, forensic photographs, and witness statements into one coherent narrative surviving relatives can understand and rely upon later," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
What is the status of the surviving victims?
Three other passengers of the gray sedan remain hospitalized, with one facing serious injuries. The driver's condition and potential liability remain central to the ongoing highway patrol inquiry.
California wrongful death statute
Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. California applies pure comparative fault. The statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.
"Vehicle roof crush resistance and seatbelt retractor performance are closely scrutinized following fatal single vehicle rollover incidents," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "Legal counsel helps surviving family members evaluate crashworthiness standards, inspect internal cabin intrusion levels, consult automotive safety design experts, pursue product claims, and safeguard long term family interests."