A serious motor vehicle accident on the morning of Jan. 10 left seven people injured and debris strewn across a busy Ontario street. The collision took place on Gerrard Street East between Rathmore Avenue and Coalport Drive in the Birch Cliff area of Toronto at approximately 11:45 a.m. Police are still investigating the cause of the accident and have asked any bystanders who witnessed the events unfold to step forward.
Initial reports suggest that the two-vehicle accident was caused by a blue sedan that was traveling at a high rate of speed in the westbound lane of Gerrard Street East. Witnesses say that the car struck an SUV with enough force to spin it completely around. The car struck a fire hydrant and lamp post before coming to a rest. The car was so badly damaged that first responders could not tell its make and model. A brief fire was ignited by the car’s engine, which was dislodged by the collision.
The seven people transported to local hospitals suffered injuries that were described as severe but not life-threatening. The most seriously injured accident victim was a teenage boy who was ejected from the car when it struck the SUV. East Gerrard Street was closed for more than an hour following the crash as emergency crews removed the two wrecked vehicles and cleared debris from the roadway.
Negligent drivers who ignore speed limits or get behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs are often killed in the accidents they cause, and those who survive may be prosecuted for serious crimes like dangerous driving causing serious injury. However, that does not mean that those who are harmed have no legal recourse. In this kind of situation, experienced personal injury lawyers may seek compensation for accident victims by initiating litigation against the driver’s automobile insurance company or estate.
