Northern California Accident Attorney Blog

SACRAMENTO COUNTY -- A motorcyclist was tragically killed in a Sacramento hit-and-run accident Monday evening, The Sacramento Bee reported. The motorcyclist, Robert Preston Wilson, 64, of North Highlands, was struck by a white Volkswagen Bug at about 8:51 p.m. on the northbound lanes of Capital City Freeway. The impact of collision caused Wilson to be ejected from his bike and land on the freeway. As Wilson was lying on the roadway, a Mitsubishi Eclipse severely struck him as well. Witnesses at the scene told officials that the driver in the Volkswagen was weaving through traffic prior to the crash.

Following the two collisions, the driver of the Mitsubishi stopped, while the driver of the Volkswagen fled the scene of the accident. According to 10 News, the Volkswagen was found abandoned with a flat tire roughly an hour later on Interstate 80 near Elkhorn Boulevard.

UPDATE: 10 News reported on October 27th that the hit-and-run driver involved in a fatal Sacramento accident on Interstate 80 was arrested on Wednesday. The driver, Sequoia Jones, 22, of Sacramento, is being charged with felony hit-and-run, and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.

Cause of the Hit-And-Run Motorcycle Crash in Sacramento

The accident on October 24th remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. However, based on the information provided by The Sacramento Bee and 10 News, it is unclear why the driver of the Volkswagen Bug failed to stop. Under the California Vehicle Code Section 20001(a): "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident." Anyone with information regarding this fatal incident is asked to call the California Highway Dispatch at (916)338-6710, or after-hours at (916)861-1300.

Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Death Liability

The sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one can be traumatizing and devastating for family members. Therefore, while the accident remains ongoing, the family of the victim would be well-advised to contact a Sacramento motorcycle accident lawyer. A skilled attorney who has handled Northern California hit-and-run motorcycle collisions, can advise the family of their legal rights, help in efforts to locate the driver, and determine the best course of action to the hold the responsible parties financially liable. If the family decides to take action in a wrongful death claim, an attorney can help them receive the maximum compensation they are entitled to for funeral/burial costs, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other related damages in this tragic motorcycle 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.

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A pedestrian accident in North Highlands on May 3 led to the death of a 29-year-old man who apparently walked into the lane in front of a car and was hit. A Sacramento Bee story reports that the Sacramento pedestrian crash took place around 9 p.m. where Watt Avenue intersects with Interstate 80.

A spokeswoman for the California Highway Patrol stated that a 51-year-old Sacramento woman was driving a black Volkswagen Jetta southbound on Watt Avenue around 35 to 40 mph when the male pedestrian, thought to be from Fair Oaks, reportedly stepped in front of her vehicle. The pedestrian accident victim is reported to have been wearing dark clothing and the driver stopped after the crash and has not been detained. Paramedics who arrived at the scene of the accident pronounced the victim dead.

Pedestrians are susceptible to serious, and sometimes, life-threatening injuries because there is no outer protection against the force of a vehicle in the event of an accident.

Pedestrian Detection Systems' Role in Crash Avoidance
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, a recent study was conducted to help guide automakers as they continue to develop crash avoidance technology aimed at preventing or decreasing the seriousness of pedestrian crashes. At this point, about 19 vehicle models in 2011 offer forward collision warning systems. Other crash avoidance features that have gained prominence include departure warning, side view assist, and adaptive headlights.

If all vehicles had forward collision warning systems, based on estimates gathered by the Institute, approximately 1.2 million collisions, as well as 879 fatal accidents, could be prevented or lessened every year. It's possible that with pedestrian detection systems, an additional 39,000 accidents, including 2,932 fatal collisions, could be prevented.

Pedestrian Crash Liability
Sacramento pedestrian accident attorneys understand the difficult challenges a family must overcome after losing a loved one in a pedestrian collision caused by a negligent, distracted, or reckless driver. Depending on the circumstance of a fatal crash, family members of wrongful death victims may be able to obtain compensation from a negligent individual or state entity.

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A 26-year-old Fairfield man was tragically killed early Saturday morning in a crash on Interstate 80, according to the Vacaville Reporter. The victim, Joshua Murril, 26, was a front-seat passenger in a 2001 Toyota Camry driven by Nathan Martorelli, 26, also of Fairfield. Also in the vehicle was Samantha Goeringer, 22, also of Fairfield. The three were travelling on westbound Interstate 80 in Vacaville shortly before 2 a.m. when Martorelli allowed the vehicle to drift of the roadway and strike a tree. The accident occurred near the beginning of the guardrail to the east of the Mason Street undercrossing.

Murril, Goeringer, and Martorelli all suffered major injuries in the crash, but Murril was unconscious when emergency responders arrived at the scene. Both Martorelli and Murril were pinned inside the vehicle and had to be extricated by Vacaville firefighters. Murril was flown to University of California, Davis, Medical Center, where he later died. Martorelli was flown to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, and Goeringer was taken by ambulance to UC Davis Medical Center.

Cause of the Interstate 80 Accident

If news reports are accurate, this Solano County accident was likely caused by the suspected drunk driver of the Toyota Camry, Nathan Martorelli, who was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter. However, the cause of the October 16th Interstate 80 accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Alcohol-impaired driving crashes destroy lives and families. Accidents caused by drunk drivers are senseless tragedies that are 100% preventable. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), alcohol-impaired driving is the most commonly committed violent crime in the United States. On average, someone is killed by a drunk driver every 40 minutes. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Joshua Murril, and everyone who knew him and loved him.

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A 59-year-old Truckee man suffered moderate injures Thursday morning after the garbage truck he was driving overturned on westbound Interstate 80, the Colfax Record reported. The July 22nd accident occurred shortly after 9 a.m., east of Emigrant Gap. According to a CHP report, the driver of the Tahoe-Truckee disposal truck, Richard Christensen, lost control of the truck when the right front tire failed. The truck drifted to the right side of the road and down an embankment. It overturned and slid across the exit to westbound Carpenter Flat Road, according to news reports.

Christensen was extricated from his vehicle and flown by CHP helicopter to Sutter Hsopital in Roseville. The CHP did not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident, which remains under investigation.

Tire Failures and Accidents

The failure of a tire can easily cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle. In this situation, it is fortunate that no other vehicles were involved. In situations where the driver of a company owned vehicle (in this case, a trash truck) is injured, the victim may be entitled to compensation for his injuries from whoever is deemed responsible for the accident. If the tire failed due to negligent maintenance, the garbage company may be responsible for the truck driver's injuries. If the tire failed due to a manufacturing defect, the manufacturer of the tire may be responsible for the accident. In situations such as this one, the family of the injured truck driver would be well-advised to seek a consultation with an experienced northern California personal injury attorney about the unique legal issues of this accident, and the victim's legal rights to compensation in a personal injury claim.

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