Pizzeria Crash Caused by Pedal Mix Up
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. A store-front crash on April 1 caused damage to a local business and minor injuries to the driver. According to a California Highway Patrol (CHP) representative, the accident happened around 6:00 in the evening when the driver of a Subaru Outback was parking in front of a local pizzeria on Arden Way. The driver mistakenly pushed the accelerator instead of the brake pedal, causing the Outback to pass through the windows of the restaurant, stopping inside the pizzeria and damaging chairs and tables. Fortunately, no one inside the pizzeria was injured.
What Type of Injuries?
The Subaru driver, a Redding resident, and his female passenger were visiting in the area around the pizzeria in Sacramento where the woman is a resident. The driver suffered minor injuries because of the crash, and the vehicle sustained minor damage. The County Fire Department from Sacramento was called to help extract the vehicle from the restaurant.
Mistaken Pedals
Mistaking the gas pedal for the brakes is a common event, particularly among some older drivers. For most of 2010, Toyotas were being investigated for sudden acceleration. After 10 months, the Department of Transportation said in February 2011 that the acceleration was not due to the electronic throttle control. In 2008 and 2009, eight million vehicles were recalled due to sticky accelerator pedals and mats that were installed incorrectly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that driver error was regarded as the cause of many cases of sudden acceleration.
The Incidence of Pedal Mix-Ups
According to authorities, pedal mix-ups happen on average 16,000 times annually. Both inexperienced drivers and those over 65 account for most pedal mix-up related accidents. Approximately, 9,000 accidents due to this error occur in driveways and parking lots.
Ways to Avoid Pedal Mix-Ups
Unless there is a defect in the way the manufacturer-intended distance between the pedals is to blame, there are things you can do to avoid this type of mistake:
- Move slowly in driveways and parking lots. These areas are a likely spot where a vehicle may encounter a pedestrian.
- When you drive a car you are not familiar with, check out such things as pedal location, mirror adjustments and steering wheel placement. Even knowing where the windshield wipers are can save you a problem if a sudden storm erupts.
- Make sure the shoes you wear to drive are appropriate. Such footwear as flip-flops, high heel shoes, and heavy boots may not be so easy to work with behind the wheel.
- When your foot is aimed at the brake pedal, get used to hitting the center. This prevents your foot from slipping off the pedal and accelerating.
- Before you start down the road, adjust the seat. If you are too far away from the brake and gas pedals, you may have a difficult time hitting them appropriately.
Injuries With Pedal Mix-Ups
Serious injuries can be encountered in such accidents. For instance, if a vehicle is backing up in a parking lot, the most common injury would be to a pedestrian. Depending on the speed of the vehicle, it can result in broken bones or wrongful death. When the accident involves going forward in traffic, accidents such as rear-ending another vehicle are common. On occasion, a vehicle may jump the curb and either hit pedestrians on the sidewalk or a building. In the latter case, the driver of the vehicle may be injured as well as causing property damage. Rarely are those inside the building affected.
Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. Mistakes happen all the time, but when they happen behind the wheel, they can be deadly. If a negligent driver harmed you or someone in your family died due to negligence, you would benefit from speaking with a seasoned injury lawyer. Phone me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You can reach me online too. I will provide friendly and free advice.
Before you make a decision on any attorney, you should look at what former clients have said about me and my law practice. Go to:
You can also review how other cases were resolved on our settlements and verdicts page.
I am a California member of the Million Dollar Advocates, a forum of trial attorneys with cases that exceeded $1 million for settlements or verdicts for clients.
Stay here on AutoAccident.com to read more about personal injuries and car accidents.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/pizza-fire-food-restaurant-1041104/
:cd [cs 778] cv