Case Background
On July 27, 2018, around 4:00 a.m., Maria E. Gonzalez was driving her 2009 Toyota Corolla westbound on East Avenue T in Littlerock, California. As she approached a railroad bridge overpass, her car hit a patch of loose gravel, causing her to lose control. The vehicle fish-tailed, careened off the side of the road, and plunged down a steep embankment before crashing onto the railroad tracks below. At the time, the roadway was undergoing resurfacing and construction. While the road remained closed during the day, officials had opened it to nighttime traffic despite the presence of construction materials.
Cause
The crash occurred because loose gravel had accumulated on the pavement, creating a slick surface that lacked proper traction. The local government had failed to clear the debris or provide adequate warning signs to alert drivers of the hazardous conditions left behind by the construction crews.
Injury
The violent impact of the fall caused Maria Gonzalez to suffer a closed fracture of her lumbar vertebra. These spinal injuries resulted in significant physical pain, mental anguish, and a permanent reduction in her physical strength and mobility.
Damages Sought
Maria Gonzalez sought compensation for her past and future medical expenses, as well as the income she lost because she could no longer work. She also asked for general damages to cover her physical pain, emotional distress, and the loss of her quality of life.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The legal battle began in August 2019 when Maria Gonzalez filed a lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles and the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The case eventually proceeded to a jury trial in early 2026.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Maria E. Gonzalez
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): P. Christopher Ardalan | Rachel Gezerseh | William A. Baird | Lindsey Downey of Ardalan & Associates, PLC
· Expert for Plaintiff(s): Todd Gravori | Ed Ruzak
Defendant(s): County of Los Angeles and State of California Department of Transportation
· Counsel for Defendant(s): Allen L. Thomas | Sivi G. Pederson | Manal H. Pelch | Julie Del Rivo
· Expert for Defendant(s): Arthur Kowell | Rock Miller
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Claims
Attorneys for Maria Gonzalez argued that the County and Caltrans were responsible for the "dangerous condition" of the public road. They contended that the government entities knew the loose gravel posed a risk but failed to fix it or warn motorists. The legal team emphasized that the roadway was public property under the Defendants' control and that their negligence directly led to the catastrophic accident.
Defense
The State of California (Caltrans) denied all allegations of negligence. In their formal response, the government argued that they had followed all safety protocols and that the roadway did not constitute a dangerous condition. While the initial complaint named both the State and the County, the final jury verdict focused on the County’s liability.
Jury Verdict
The jury reached a decision on February 13, 2026. After reviewing the evidence, the jurors determined that the County of Los Angeles owned or controlled the property and that the road was indeed in a dangerous condition at the time of the crash. They found that the County had sufficient notice of the hazard to have corrected it before the accident happened.
Crucially, the jury decided that Maria Gonzalez was not negligent in her driving; they found she had used the roadway with reasonable care and assigned 100% of the responsibility for the harm to the County of Los Angeles.
Awarded Damages
The jury awarded a total of $13,954,719.39 in damages:
Past Economic Loss: $190,719.39 for medical expenses.
Future Economic Loss: $1,500,000.00 for future medical care and $2,452,800.00 for lost future earnings.
Non-Economic Loss: $9,811,200.00 for physical pain, mental suffering, and emotional distress.
The Court entered the final judgment based on this verdict on March 12, 2026.
Court documents are available upon request at [email protected]
