Irate Customer Slams Into Englewood CarMax

Eight people were injured when a 25-year-old man drove through a showroom as panicked customers and employees dove for cover.

The man now faces several charges, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, hit-and-run resulting in injury, and vandalism, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Witnesses said the man apparently didn’t like a vehicle appraisal offer and snapped. However, a CarMax spokesperson said that employee reports “do not support this characterization” and said the company “deems it speculative and not based on facts.”

Video shows the driver reversing into the entrance of the showroom as panicked employees and customers scattered. As of March 12, 2025, the man is being held without bond.

Negligence Per Se

When authorities cite a tortfeasor (negligent driver) for a safety violation, the Best Personal Injury Lawyer can hold the tortfeasor liable for damages as a matter of law if that safety law violation substantially caused injury.

The negligence per se rule undercuts liability arguments. Instead of proving that a breach of duty, like aggressive driving or operator impairment, substantially caused a crash, a personal injury lawyer must only bring a copy of the citation to court.

The citation is sufficient evidence to establish negligence. It doesn’t matter if the tortfeasor “beats” the case in court. In a civil trial, a civil jury determines all the relevant facts.

Unfortunately, the negligence per se shortcut is often unavailable. Even if a tortfeasor clearly broke a traffic or other safety law prior to a wreck, emergency responders often don’t issue such citations. They believe vehicle wrecks are civil matters, and as a matter of policy, most law enforcement divisions don’t get involved in civil matters.

Damages Available

Damages in a car crash claim usually include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. In extreme cases, such as the one in the above story, additional punitive damages are available as well.

Damages are based on a simple “you break it, you buy it” responsibility principle. If Mike accidentally drops a plate at a restaurant, he must pay compensation (replace the plate). If Mike accidentally causes a vehicle collision, he must likewise pay compensation, as outlined above. The compensation in a car crash case is higher because a person is worth much more than a dinner plate.

To continue with this analogy, if Mike yelled “This is what I think of your crummy restaurant!” as he threw a plate on the ground, he’s subject to additional sanctions. Likewise, if a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer proves that a tortfeasor deliberately ignored a known risk, additional punitive damages are available. A punitive damages cap applies in some cases.

Schedule a free consultation with our car accident lawyers!

Car crash victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with our Car Accident Injury Lawyers in California, contact the Law Offices of Eslamboly Hakim. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start working for you.

Credit: Photo by Midjourney