A Dec. 19 accident in Huntington Beach was attributed to a 74-year-old's failure to stop. As the man collided with a vehicle that was stopped at an intersection, a chain reaction was caused as that vehicle then hit the motorcycle ahead of it. Another vehicle was hit as well during the 10:54 a.m. car crash.

The vehicle driven by the 74-year-old flipped during the incident, catching fire and trapping the man inside. He was cut out by emergency response personnel and transported to an area medical facility in critical condition. A 20-year-old man in one of the other vehicles also suffered injuries and was taken to a medical center. Two occupants of another involved vehicle, both women in their 60s, suffered mild injuries and were transported for medical care. Although the motorcyclist suffered minor injuries, he refused transport to a hospital.

Authorities indicate that they are unsure of the cause of the accident. The unidentified elderly driver required surgery that afternoon. Area streets were closed for several hours because of the accident. In a similar multi-vehicle collision, accident investigation results could be important if any injured parties decide to file personal injury claims. In some cases, driver errors could play a role in multi-car crashes. In other cases, impairment could be an issue. Poor road conditions or inaccurate signs could also affect a driver's responses, leading to a collision. An accident investigation typically pinpoints the issues contributing to the situation and may assist officials in deciding whether to file charges.

Even if charges are not filed, an accident investigation may provide enough information for an injured party to proceed with personal injury litigation. A lawyer may assist in reviewing such results to determine whether such a claim is warranted.

Source: Orange County Register, "Multi-car crash in Huntington Beach sends four to hospital, closes streets for hours", Alma Fausto , December 19, 2014