Northern California Accident Attorney Blog

SISKIYOU COUNTY - The Redding Record Searchlight reported a 22-year-old Washington woman tragically died early Saturday morning when the SUV she was riding in overturned on Interstate 5. The accident was reported just before 3 a.m. on southbound Interstate 5 near the Klamath River Bridge in Siskiyou County. The victim, identified as Sarah Cullen, was lying in the back of a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero when the 20-year-old driver of the vehicle lost control of the SUV, which went off the road and overturned multiple times.

Cullen, who was unrestrained, was ejected from the SUV and died from her injuries. The driver and the other occupants of the vehicle, a 21-year-old woman, and a 2-year-old, were taken to Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford, Oregon. The cause of the fatal January 1st crash remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. According to CHP investigators, alcohol and drugs were not factors in the fatal wreck.

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SOLANO COUNTY -- According to the San Francisco Chronicle, six people were injured in a terrible Dixon school bus accident. The collision was reported around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, when the driver of the school bus, traveling east on Hackman Road decided to pass a slower-moving tractor-trailer that had its hazard lights flashing. The driver of truck then attempted to make a left turn, but instead, the driver hit the school bus causing it to overturn. Following the collision, the five children riding in the school bus sustained minor injuries, while the bus driver suffered moderate injuries. All six occupants in the school bus were then taken to local hospitals for further treatment.

Cause of the October 12th School Bus Accident in Dixon

The school bus accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. However, based on the information provided by the Dixon Patch and the San Francisco Chronicle, it is unclear who may be at fault for the collision. Hopefully, authorities investigating the accident can come to a conclusion as to what happened and why.

School Bus Accident Injury Liability

While the accident is ongoing, victims or family members of the victims would be well-advised to contact a Northern California personal injury lawyer. A knowledgeable attorney who has handled complex and unique incidents such as this one, can advised the victims of their legal rights, and if necessary, hire a private investigator to reconstruct the scene of the accident to determine who is officially responsible. A skilled attorney can also help the victims decide the best course of action to receive compensation for medical care expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other related damages in this terrible school bus accident.

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SOLANO COUNTY - A tragic rollover accident claimed the life of a 5-year-old boy Tuesday afternoon in Fairfield, reports News 10. According to the California Highway Patrol, the boy was a passenger in a Dodge pickup truck that barreled off Interstate 80 and overturned near the Red Top Road off-ramp around 12:00 p.m. A CHP patrol unit was on the off-ramp at the time the pickup truck rolled over. The CHP patrol car was broadsided by the pickup truck, but the officer was not injured in the collision. The driver of the Dodge truck was also unharmed in the crash.

Cause of the Rollover Accident

Because of the limited information available, it is not clear what caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. A CHP officer at the scene of the accident said it was raining at the time the rollover crash occurred. Police will surely investigate whether the driver of the pickup truck lost control because of bad weather conditions or if the driver lost control because of a distraction or impairment. it is also possible the driver lost control because of vehicle defect. Hopefully law enforcement will be able to determine why and how this tragic accident occurred.

While the cause of the crash is under investigation, the family of the victim would be well advised to contact a northern California car accident lawyer. A reputable lawyer can help grieving families understand their legal rights and help the family preserve evidence important to a future personal injury claim.

Continue reading "5-Year-Old Boy Killed in Rollover Accident on Interstate 80 " »

UPPER LAKE -- A 29-year-old man tragically died and two young children were killed Monday evening in a solo-vehicle vehicle on Elk Mountain Road, the Lake County News reported. According to reports, Carlos Eddie Narvaes was driving a 1991 Toyota Previa minivan southbound on Elk Mountain Road, when he lost control of the vehicle. The minivan went into oncoming traffic and exited the west edge of the road and struck an uphill embankment. The collision caused the minivan to overturn. Narvaes, who the CHP stated was not wearing a seat belt. was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred just after 5 p.m., about 2.2 miles north of Pitney Lane. The children were taken to UC Davis Medical Center and Children's Hospital & Research Center in Oakland. The cause of the May 23rd fatal car accident remains under investigation.

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Most of us don't give jumping into our SUVs, pickup trucks, or vans a second thought. As consumers, we trust that the vehicles we drive are safe and free of any defect that could limit crashworthiness or cause an accident. However, certain risks posed by poor vehicle design still present many risks to motorists, vehicle occupants, and others on the road. One of the main dangers posed by taller, narrower vehicles like SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans is their susceptibility to rollover because they have a high center of gravity.

Rollover accidents in San Francisco and throughout California are especially dangerous, often resulting in roof crush, multiple rollovers, vehicle occupant ejection, and catastrophic injury. Rollover crashes are considered to be hazardous incidents with a higher fatality rate than other kinds of collisions.

Since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recognized rollover accidents as one of its highest safety priorities in 2002, specific safety measures have been implemented to help prevent accidents and improve the crashworthiness of vehicles more likely to rollover. However, due to auto manufacturer negligence, distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, or other forms of reckless behavior, rollover collisions in California still take place.

It may be shocking to learn that on average, rollover accidents account for 33 percent of passenger vehicle fatalities and that over 10,000 people a year die in rollover crashes. When individuals are fortunate enough to survive such a tragic accident as a rollover, which often involves roof crush, they may face significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges.

Individuals who suffer serious injuries, such as lacerations, broken bones, paralysis, or traumatic brain injuries, in rollover accidents caused by another person's negligence may be able to obtain compensation for medical bills, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. An SUV San Francisco rollover crash lawyer will work meticulously to ensure that negligent parties are held liable for your injuries and that you can move on with your life.

Continue reading "San Francisco Rollover Accidents: Know the Risks" »

SISKIYOU COUNTY - Three people were very tragically killed last week when a car went off State Route 96 into the Klamath River, the San Francisco Chronicle and Siskiyou Daily reported. The accident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2011. According to CHP reports, Ahwenga Meyers, 25, of Yreka, was driving a 1999 Subaru on Highway 96, approaching Independence Road, when for reasons unknown, she allowed her vehicle to drift off the road. Meyers then steered her car back to the left and reportedly lost control of the vehicle. The Subaru crossed both lanes of State Route 96 and the southern shoulder before going off the road and down an embankment into the Klamath River.

Meyers, reportedly the only occupant who was properly restrained, survived the crash. She was able to extricate herself and was later found by a Cal Trans worker on a large rock upstream. She was flown to Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medeford, Oregon with non-life-threatening injuries. The three passengers in the car died, although it is not clear if they drowned or died due to trauma from the accident. The victims were identified as Dale Attebury, 58, of Happy Camp; Kenneth Kirby Sims Jr., 54, also of Happy Camp and a third unidentified female passenger.

Cause of the Highway 96 Accident

The California Highway Patrol is the agency investigating this collision. There are a number of possible causes of this accident in rural Siskiyou County. It is possible that the driver fell asleep at the wheel, or lost control of the car because she was distracted. It is also possible that a tire blew out in the Subaru, causing the driver to lose control, or that there was a dangerous road condition. Based on the limited details provided in news reports, it is not clear what happened. The CHP will surely interview the driver as well as look at evidence at the crash scene.

Fatal Car Accident Wrongful Death Liability

After an accident such as this one, where the cause is unclear, the family members of the three deceased passengers would be well-advised to speak with a northern California wrongful death lawyer. If it is determined that Meyers is responsible for this accident, she may be liable for the wrongful deaths of her three passengers. If negligence of the manufacturer of the vehicle or the agency responsible for maintaining State Route 96 (Cal Trans) is responsible for this car accident, the family members may pursue a wrongful death claim against those entities. Damages awarded in a wrongful death claim may include compensation for funeral and burial expenses, lost earnings and benefits, and loss of love, care, affection and companionship.

Continue reading "Three Killed in Crash into Klamath River Near Happy Camp " »

A 21-year-old Redding woman suffered critical injuries in an accident early Tuesday morning in Shasta County, the Record Searchlight reported. The woman, identified by the California Highway Patrol as Emily Jean Weaver, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Stephen J. Bakerrubio, 21, also of Redding.

Bakerrubio was reportedly driving southbound on Old Oregon Trail North at 2:55 a.m. at an unknown speed when he lost control of his vehicle. The car spun out, struck an embankment and then a telephone pole guy wire. The vehicle overturned and both Bakerrubio and Weaver were ejected. Both occupants were transported to Mercy Medical Center. Bakerrubio only suffered minor injuries, and Weaver suffered critical injuries and was placed on life-support. Bakerrubio was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of alcohol, the Record Searchlight said.

Alcohol-Related Accidents and Personal Injury Liability

If news reports are accurate, this crash was caused by Bakerrubio, who authorities arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. However, the cause of the crash remains under investigation. In situations such as this one, where a drunk driver is suspected of causing a crash that gravely injures a passenger, the family members of the injured passenger would be well-advised to contact a northern California drunk driving accident lawyer. An attorney who has represented passenger victims of alcohol-related accidents can help the victim's family protect their legal rights and ensure the at-fault driver is held not just criminally responsible, but also financially accountable for the devastation he is suspected to have caused.

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The Fresno Bee reported that a 58-year-old Madera man suffered major injuries Wednesday night when he was hit by a 16-year-old unlicensed driver suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. The accident, which involved a 1995 Toyota Avalon and a 1993 Jeep Cherokee SUV, occurred at the intersection of Avenue 14 and Road 29 at around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 11, 2010. According to news reports, the 16-year-old driver of the Toyota was travelling eastbound on Avenue 14, while at the same time Juan Ramirez, 58, was driving the Jeep northbound on Avenue. Avenue 14 has a stop sign at the intersection, while Road 29 does not. The Toyota struck the Jeep, resulting in major injuries to Ramirez and less serious injuries to three passengers. Ramirez was air-lifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.

The 16-year-old driver of the Toyota fled the scene. He and a 16-year-old passenger, also from Madera, were not injured. The teen, who did not have a driver's license, was arrested a short time later at his home by Madera County Sheriff's Deputies. KMPH News reported that investigators believe the teen was under the influence at the time of the crash.

Cause of the Madera County Accident

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. However, if news reports are accurate, the 16-year-old driver of the Toyota is responsible for this accident. He may face criminal charges for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a license. Accidents caused by drunk drivers are 100% preventable. In this situation, the young driver even had the audacity to flee the scene of the crash. It is fortunate that he was apprehended.

Drunk Driving Accidents and Personal Injury Liability

California is second only to Texas with the most drunk driving crashes every year. The attorneys at Estey Bomberger represent injured victims of drunk driving crashes and help them hold negligent parties accountable. If the driver was uninsured (which is likely, since he was unlicensed), a skilled northern California personal injury lawyer may be able to help the victims obtain financial compensation for their injuries, including medical expenses, lost earnings and pain and suffering, from their own insurance policy. In situations such as this one, while an accident remains under investigation, the family members of the victims are well-advised ton consult with a lawyer knowledgeable in the unique legal issues of alcohol-related car accidents.

Continue reading "Madera Man Seriously Injured in Crash Caused by Suspected Drunken Teen Driver " »

A 67-year-old Covelo woman died Friday, July 9th, in a violent rollover accident in the Mendocino National Forest, the Chico Enterprise Record reported. The accident, which involved a 1994 Isuzu SUV, occurred at about 8:00 p.m. Forest Road 21N04, about five miles north of Forest Highway 7, the extension of Highway 162.

According to news reports, the driver, Sylvester M. Joaquin, lost control of his SUV and the vehicle struck a tree, rolled multiple times, and then became wedged against another tree. The driver was able to get out on his own, along with two other passengers identified as Angie Lynn Joaquin, 36, and Frances Y. Hoaglen, 47. A third passenger, Fern G. Joaquin, 69, of Covelo, remained trapped in the vehicle and died at the scene of the crash. The three survivors were taken to Enloe Medical Center in Chico with major injuries.

The Glenn County Sheriff's Department, the Department of Fish and Game, and the California Highway Patrol all responded to the crash, along with a medical helicopter and an ambulance. Authorities reported that everyone involved in the accident was wearing a seat belt, and alcohol was not believed to be a factor. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Rollover Accidents and Product Liability Issues

Solo vehicle sport utility vehicle rollover accidents have unique legal issues. If it is determined that a defect in the vehicle (or a vehicle part, such as a tire) caused this fatal rollover accident, the manufacturer of the vehicle or vehicle part may be financially liable for the wrongful death and serious injuries of the occupants. While this accident remains under investigation by law enforcement, the family members of the victims may benefit from seeking a consultation with an experienced northern California SUV rollover accident lawyer about their rights following this Glenn County accident.

Continue reading "Covelo Woman Killed, Three Others Injured in Rollover Crash in Mendocino National Forest " »