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.

Continue reading "SUV Passenger Killed In Interstate 5 Rollover Near Oregon Border " »

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY -- According to KCRA News, a collision involving three vehicles killed one and seriously injured another on Interstate 5 near Highway 4 in Stockton. The terrible collision happened on Tuesday night on the southbound lanes of I-5, when the driver of a Toyota hit a couch that was left in the middle of the freeway, and then pulled over to the side of the road to check the damages to his vehicle. While the driver and of the Toyota was inspecting his vehicle with his passenger, an SUV swerved to try to avoid the couch, but hit the Toyota on the side of the road. A driver of a semi-truck saw the crash and tried to hit the brakes, but ended up hitting the SUV.

The impact of the three-car collision caused the driver of the Toyota to be struck and thrown over the overpass and onto Charter Way. His passenger was also struck by the vehicles and dragged several feet. After the accident, the driver of the Toyota was reported to have died at the scene, and his passenger sustained major injuries and was taken to a hospital for further treatment. The identities of the individuals involved in the accident were not immediately available.

Cause of the I-5 Crash in Stockton

The accident on November 8th remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. However, based on the information provided by KCRA News and ABC 10 News, it is unclear whether the SUV and the big-rig could have avoided the collision. Therefore, police officials investigating this tragic accident will look at a variety factors and determine who is officially responsible for the collision.

Pedestrian Accident Injury and Wrongful Death Liability

In unique and complex accidents such as this one, the injured victim and the family of the deceased victim would be well-advised to contact a Northern California pedestrian accident lawyer. A knowledgeable attorney who has handled personal injury and wrongful death claims, can advise the victim and the family of the deceased of their legal rights in a civil lawsuit, and if necessary, hire a highly skilled independent investigator to reconstruct the accident to determine who is responsible. The attorney can also decide the best course of action to recover the maximum compensation for funeral/burial costs, medical care expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages relating to this horrific accident.

Continue reading "One Killed, One Seriously Injured in Stockton Pedestrian Accident on Interstate 5" »

YOLO COUNTY - Three people were killed Monday afternoon in a chain-reaction wreck on southbound Interstate 5, the Sacramento Bee and multiple other news outlets reported. The triple fatal accident was reported just north of County Road 102 just before 12:45 p.m. on August 8, 2011. Two sport utility vehicles, a jeep, a small four-door passenger car and a tractor-trailer big-rig all went up in flames.

According to the Sacramento Bee, two adults in one of the SUVs died, as well as a child riding in the passenger car. Witnesses reportedly tried to retrieve the child rrom the car, but were pushed back by flames. Seven other people were taken to local hospitals, UC Davis Medical Center (Sacramento), Kaiser Permanente and Mercy San Juan Medical Center (Carmichael). Injuries reportedly ranged from moderate to severe.

News 10 reported that the crash began when traffic was beginning to merge into the left lane to accommodate an upcoming construction zone. A small car, reportedly possibly an Acura, was pushed into the center divider and became engulfed in flames. A Jeep Wrangler was then struck and pushed into the flames. It is unclear who two other vehicles and a larger truck became involved. The tractor-trailer ended up on its side.

Chain Reaction Crash Liability

This accident will surely be a complex and lengthy investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Multi-vehicle accidents, especially collisions involving commercial trucks, have unique liability issues. While this accident remains under investigation, the injured victims and family members of those who lost their lives would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable northern California truck accident lawyer. Attorneys who have successfully handled numerous personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from truck accidents such as this one can help the victims begin protecting their rights immediately. Damages obtained in a truck accident personal injury claim may include compensation for medical expenses and pain and suffering, or the wrongful death of a loved one.

Time is Of the Essence

Following an accident, valuable evidence, such as road debris, skid marks, and wrecked and burned vehicles are often quickly destroyed. To preserve the evidence necessary to demonstrate exactly what happened, and who was responsible, accident victims and their family members are urged to speak to an attorney as soon as possible, so that evidence can be preserved, inspected and photographed. A skilled California personal injury lawyer can arrange for an independent investigator to speak with witnesses, review accident reports, and reconstruct the scene of the accident and evaluate exactly what happened.

Continue reading "Three Killed, Seven Injured in Interstate 5 Crash Near Woodland " »

An 87-year-old Red Bluff woman was taken to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital with major injuries following a collision in Red Bluff Sunday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol reported. The Tehama County accident occurred at about 2:15 p.m. May 16th, at the Diamond Avenue exit offramp on Interstate 5 in Red Bluff. According to reports in the Redding Record Searchlight, Genevieve Johnston, along with several other vehicles, stopped at the bottom of the southbound off-ramp after seeing a disabled van pulling a flatbed trailer that was blocking the roadway. Johnston's vehicle was then struck by a vehicle driven by Jill Ward, 44, of Red Bluff, a CHP spokesman said. Ward, who told officers that she took her eyes off the road to change the station on her radio, collided with Johnston's vehicle without braking at about 50 mph.

Johnston suffered major injuries in the accident. She was taken by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Hospital, and later transferred to Mercy Medical Center, where she was reported to be in fair condition. Ward was reportedly not injured. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts. The Red Bluff Daily News stated that complaint would be filed against Ward for unsafe speed for the conditions and being an unlicensed driver.

Continue reading "Red Bluff Woman Critically Injured in I-5 Off Ramp Crash in Red Bluff " »