Northern California Accident Attorney Blog

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY - Air ambulance crews lifted two people to a hospital while one was transported to a hospital via ground ambulance following a devastating collision in the city of Brentwood. Information from the Mercury News indicated the accident was reported at 5:24 a.m. Thursday morning on Sellers Avenue south of Sunset Road and involved a Ford Ranger pickup truck and a Toyota Sienna minivan.

A 34-year-old man in the pickup was one of the individuals airlifted to a hospital with major injuries. The minivan driver, a 64-year-old man from Brentwood sustained moderate injuries, and his 50-year-old female passenger from Oakley also suffered injuries. The extent of the woman's injuries was not available.

Limited information provided by the Mercury News does not immediately clarify what could have caused this car crash on May 3rd in Brentwood. Therefore, while the accident is being investigated by the CHP, the victims or family members of these victims would be well-advised to contact a knowledgeable Contra Costa County personal injury lawyer.

If the injured victims intend to pursue a civil claim, an experienced attorney can help the victims understand and protect their legal rights. As head-on collisions can have complex legal issues, an attorney can review police reports, determine who may be held financially liable, and advise them the best option in recovering compensation for their injuries, lost earnings, medical care expenses, any pain and suffering they endured, and other related damages in this terrible car accident.

Continue reading "Head-On Crash in Brentwood Injures Three" »

ANTIOCH - An 83-year-old woman suffered very serious injuries Tuesday afternoon when she was struck by a car on Lone Tree Way, Mercury News reported. The injury accident was reported at about 3:30 p.m. just north of Davidson Drive. The woman, who was not identified, was in the northbound lanes of Lone Tree Way when she was hit by a car in the number one lane. She was airlifted to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, where she was reported to be in critical condition late Tuesday. According to the news report, there is no crosswalk at the location where the collision occurred. The speed limit on that stretch of Lone Tree Way is 35 mph, but it was not clear how fast the vehicle that struck the woman was travelling.

Antioch Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Liability

Based on the very limited information provided in news reports, it is not clear why this accident occurred. Investigated officers are surely working to determine whether the driver of the vehicle was distracted, not paying attention, speeding, or otherwise negligently operating the vehicle. If the investigation reveals that the driver could have prevented the crash, the victim may be entitled to compensation in a personal injury claim. Following an accident such as this May 1st Contra Costa County crash, the victim's family would be well-advised to consult an experienced and knowledgeable California personal injury attorney, who can advise the family's best course of action to protect their legal rights.

Continue reading "Elderly Woman Critically Injured in Antioch Pedestrian Accident " »

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY - A family riding their bicycles was horrifically struck by a speeding SUV in Concord on Saturday, Mercury News reports. The accident happened on Treat Boulevard, near Oak Grove Road, at about 9:30 a.m. when a 17-year-old Concord man in a 2002 Cadillac Escalade traveling west on Treat, lost control of the vehicle, jumped the curb and hit Solaiman Nuri, 41, of Concord, and his two daughters, 9- and 12-years-old.

Witnesses at the scene stated the driver was going at "a high rate of speed." Officers said the driver, David Rosen of Concord, swerved to avoid a car in front of him as he sped through the intersection and lost control of the SUV. According to The Contra Costa Times, Rosen was transported to a Contra Costa County Hospital with minor injuries, and later arrested on the suspicion of manslaughter at the Concord police station.

The father, Solaiman Nuri, was pronounced dead at the scene. His 9-year-old daughter, Hadessa, who was unconscious and not breathing, was transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek where she was pronounced dead. His oldest daughter sustained minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital.

Cause of the Fatal Bicycle Accident

The accident on April 7th remains under investigation by the Concord Police Department. However, if the information provided by news sources is accurate, the driver of the SUV may be at fault due to speeding and negligence. Therefore, it is evident the pedestrians had no way to prevent or avoid this horrible collision.

Bicycle Accident Injury and Wrongful Death Liability

When pedestrians are struck by a vehicle that is traveling at a high rate of speed, the results can be tragic and devastating. Major injuries or death of innocent victims are usually what occurs after the collision. Therefore, after an accident such as this one, the family of the victims would be well-advised to speak to an experienced and knowledgeable Northern California bicycle accident lawyer. A caring attorney who has handled numerous personal injury and wrongful death claims, can ensure the family's legal rights are protected and that they are fully compensated for the child's injuries, and for the dreadful and unexpected loss of their family members.

Continue reading "Father and Daughter Struck and Killed by SUV in Concord" »

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY - A four-vehicle collision on Interstate 680 in Alamo left at least one person injured, the Contra Costa Times reported. The accident was reported in the southbound lanes of I-680, just south of the Livorna Road exit, at 5:24 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2012. One person was taken to Kaiser Medical Center in Walnut Creek. The cause of the pile-up crash is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Multi-Vehicle Car Accident Injury Liability

Time is of the essence following a serious injury accident. Following a crash such as this March 29th crash in Alamo, the injured victims or their family members would be well-advised to contact a knowledgeable and experienced California car accident lawyer. An attorney who has successfully represented injured victims of multi-vehicle freeway accidents can advise the victims of their legal rights and best course of action should they wish to pursue a personal injury claim for medical care costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Continue reading "One Person Injured in Four-Car Crash On Interstate 680 " »

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY - In personal injury news, the Contra Costa Times reported a jury has ordered Contra Costa County to pay $11.7 million in damages to the family of William Tindall, 56, of Clayton, who died in an August 20, 2008 crash on Marsh Creek Road in Brentwood. Tindall's accident was one of 15 serious collisions that occurred on the road during the County's resurfacing project.

According to the Contra Costa Times, Tindall had been on his way to work when he stopped to help an Army reservist whose vehicle had overturned on a curve that was covered with gravel. After he exited his vehicle, he was struck by an out-of-control vehicle. Evidence was presented at trial that many vehicles lost control during the resurfacing work, causing a number of collisions. The county allegedly had erected 25 mph speed limit signs, but had failed to cover up the more prominent permanent speed limit signs, as per state guidelines. The county also kept excess gravel in the roadway in lieu of industry standards of sweeping it at the end of the day.

According to the story in the Contra Costa Times, during the month long trial, a county employee testified that following Tindall's death, sweeping excess gravel and covering speed limit signs became a standard practice during its resurfacing projects. The award included $1.5 million in economic damages and $10.2 million in emotional pain and suffering for Tindall's widow and daughter.

For more information about hazardous roadways and dangerous road conditions and government liability following a car accident, contact the California personal injury lawyers at Estey Bomberger for a free consultation.

Continue reading "Contra Costa County to Pay $11.7 Million to Crash Victim's Family " »

One of the oldest cities in the state of California, Antioch is a diverse community that has seen enormous growth over the last 30 years. A suburb of San Francisco and Oakland, Antioch's population continues to grow as Bay Area families in search of affordable housing move towards the outskirts of the Bay Area. A community of working adults, many Antioch residents commute daily to the Bay Area for work. In 2009, according to City-Data.com, there were five fatal car accidents in Antioch. Drunk drivers were responsible for three of the five fatal car crashes in 2009.

In addition to representing individuals injured in crashes caused by drunk drivers, the Antioch car accident attorneys at the law firm of Estey Bomberger have represented individuals injured in car collisions caused by inattentive drivers, defective auto parts, fatigued drivers, bad road conditions and speeding drivers. We understand how difficult it can be to deal with the aftermath of a serious collision and are committed to helping clients see justice served. We approach each case as if it is our only case and will not back down until our clients receive maximum compensation for damages related to the car crash. Call our northern California personal injury lawyers today for a free case review at your home, office or hospital room.

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CONCORD - The driver of a Subaru Forrester hatchback died Saturday night when her vehicle crashed into a sound barrier in Concord Saturday night, the Oakland Tribune reported. The accident occurred at about 9:20 p.m. on Saturday, February 12, 2011, on Highway 4 near the on-ramp to southbound Interstate Highway 680. The driver, Shanna Meyers, 27, of Martinez, was taken to John Muir Medical Center where she died about an hour after the accident. Based on the news reports, the cause of the accident is unclear. Neither drugs or alcohol were believed to be a factor in the crash. The cause of the Concord car accident remains under investigation.

Continue reading "Martinez Woman Killed in Highway 4 Accident in Concord" »

Two people tragically died Saturday, July 31st in a head-on collision on Byron Highway in Contra Costa County, the CHP reported. The accident was reported at 4:24 p.m. near Herdlyn Road. Three vehicles were involved in the crash: an eastbound Toyota pickup, a westbound GMC pickup, and a westbound Nissan Maxima.

According to CHP reports, the driver of the Toyota pickup, Jess Bandiola, 31, of Danville, may have been attempting to pass another vehicle when his vehicle entered westbound lanes. Bandiola's vehicle collided head-on with the GMC pickup truck drive by Ernesto Licea, 40, of Tracy. Seconds after the initial collision, the Nissan Maximua struck Licea's truck. Both Bandiola and Licea died in the crash. Two male passengers in the GMC pickup truck suffered non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Nissan was reportedly not hurt.

Cause of the Head-on Collision

If news reports are accurate, this crash may have been caused by the Danville man driving the Toyota pickup. The main issue in this accident appears to be whether the driver of the Toyota had sufficient clearance to pass. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21751 (Passing Without Sufficient Clearance), "On a two-lane highway, no vehicle shall be driven to the left side of the center of the roadway in overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless the left side is clearly visible and free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering with the safe operation of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction." The CHP is still investigating the cause of the accident. In the course of their investigation, law enforcement will look at other possible contributing factors such as the speed of all three vehicles, possible driver distraction or impairment, the condition of the roadway, and other factors.

Continue reading "Two Killed, Two Injured in Head-on Collision in Contra Costa County " »

A 45-year-old Lafayette man riding a bicycle suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a pickup truck towing a utility trailer in Alamo, Mercury News reported. The Contra Costa County bicycle accident occurred at Danville Boulevard and Las Trampas Road, just after 1 p.m. on Friday, July 30th. According to news reports, the cyclist, who was wearing a helmet, was travelling southbound on Danville Boulevard, while the pickup truck, driven by a Yuba City man, was turning from northbound Danville onto Las Trampas Road. As the truck made the turn, the cyclist collided with the pickup truck's trailer hitch and was thrown off his bicycle onto the street.

The cyclist was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, but is expected to survive, the CHP reported. We wish him the best for a complete and quick recovery.

Cause of the Alamo Bicycle Accident

The CHP is still investigating the cause of the crash. However, if news reports are accurate, it appears that the driver of the pickup truck likely failed to yield to the right of way of the cyclist, and made a left turn into his path. The state law pertaining to left turns is found in California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a) "The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety." In this situation, the bicycle would be considered a vehicle.

Bicycle Accidents and Personal Injury Liability

In situations such as this one, where a the driver of a vehicle is likely responsible for hitting a cyclist, the family of the injured victim would be well-advised to contact a northern California bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. A knowledgeable, experienced attorney who specializes in bicycle accident personal injury claims can help the injured cyclist protect his rights to obtain the maximum compensation he may be entitled to for his injuries, including all medical expenses and related care costs, lost earnings due to the accident, and pain and suffering. If the driver of the vehicle was driving a company-owned vehicle or was driving while on the job, his employer could also be liable for the cyclist's injuries, depending on the circumstances of the crash.

Continue reading "Cyclist Struck by Car Seriously Injured in Alamo " »

The CHP is investigating an accident that killed a pedestrian early Tuesday morning in Contra Costa County. The accident was reported in the eastbound lanes of Highway 4 near Somersville Road, at about 1:10 a.m. The victim was identified as Ryan David Sears, 26, of Antioch. According to the Contra Costa Times, The 51-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck him contacted the CHP and reported that something from the right hand shoulder of the road appeared to strike his pickup truck. The fatal pedestrian accident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about this July 6th Highway 4 accident may contact the California Highway Patrol at (800)TELL-CHP or the Contra Costa area field office at (925)646-4980.

Cause of the Fatal Pedestrian Accident

Based on the limited information in news reports, it is not clear why this accident occurred. At this point, there are more questions than answers. Did Sears walk into the path of the pickup truck, or did the pickup truck go off the road and strike Sears? How fast was the pickup truck going when it hit Sears? The CHP stated that there was evidence that Sears had consumed alcohol before his death, although it was not clear what that evidence was.

Pedestrian Accident Wrongful Death Liability

If the pickup truck driver is determined to have caused or contributed this accident, he may be liable for the death of David Sears. While this pedestrian accident remains under investigation, the family members of the victim would be well-advised to speak with a California wrongful death attorney about the incident and the unique legal issues involved. An experienced lawyer can help the victim's family understand their legal rights, options and responsibilities, as well as advise them of their best course of action to protect their rights going forward.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Struck and Killed on Highway 4 in Antioch " »

The California Highway Patrol is seeking the driver of a pickup truck, who is believed to have made an unsafe lane change that caused a collision that killed two people on a motorcycle late Tuesday afternoon in Contra Costa County. According to news reports, the crash occurred at about 4:40 p.m. on the eastbound Highway 4 Bypass, near Lone Tree Way.

The driver of a black Ford F-250, which was towing a boat, was reportedly tailgating a silver Honda Civic going westbound, when the driver of the truck made an unsafe lane change. The Honda Civic swerved or was forced into oncoming traffic, where it collided head-on with an eastbound blue Harley Davidson Road King.

The male driver of the motorcycle died at the scene, and the female passenger died shortly after arriving at the hospital. Authorities say both of the victims, who were not identified, were wearing helmets. The teenage driver of the Honda Civic suffered serious injuries, but is expected to survive.

Hopefully, for the sake of all parties involved, the driver of the third vehicle will be located or come forward. Authorities are currently treating the accident as a hit-and-run, but that status could change pending the investigation. The truck involved in this accident was believed to be a newer black Ford F-250 with a specialized license plate that was pulling a black and white wakeboard style boat. Anyone with information about the accident or the driver of the black Ford F-250 is asked to contact authorities at 1-800-TELL-CHP. Callers may remain anonymous.

According to Mercury News, the June 15th collision was the fourth fatality and the second in two months on the bypass between Antioch and Brentwood since the route began opening in stages eight years ago.

Continue reading "Two Killed in Motorcycle Crash on Highway 4 Near Antioch " »