Northern California Accident Attorney Blog

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 - In personal injury news, the San Francisco Chronicle reported a jury in Solano County has awarded $29.2 million to victims of a head-on collision on Highway 12. The jury found that the state department of transportation (Caltrans) was responsible for the dangerous conditions on the hilly roadway.

However, jurors assigned the majority of the blame to San Francisco resident Nicola Bucci, who crossed his SUV across the center line and into an oncoming vehicle. Bucci was travelling an estimated 65 to 80 mph when he struck a Toyota at the top of a hill in November 2006, killing 12-year-old Demari Hutchinson and 7-year-old Immanuel Collison. Immanuel's mother was hospitalized for more than two months with major injuries. His brother was paralyzed from the waist down.

Bucci, according to the Chronicle, had previously been convicted of manslaughter for killing two people in 1994 in a head-on on crash in which he fell asleep at the wheel. He was convicted of second-degree murder following the 2006 crash on Highway 12.

According to the lawsuit, Caltrans had determined in the late 199's that the hills limited drivers' line of sight. Improvements were proposed, such as paved shoulders on each side of the road, but no action was ever taken. After another fatal collision in 2007, Caltrans installed a median barrier on part of the highway, but about 12 miles were still unprotected.

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SOLANO COUNTY - One person was tragically killed and three others were injured when a bus and car collided at approximately 1:10 p.m. June 29th in Suisun City. According to a News 10 report, two people were in the car at the time of the accident. It was not known how many people were on the MV Transportation bus when the accident occurred. The two occupants of the car and two bus passengers were transported to local hospitals by ground and air ambulances. The remaining bus passengers sustained minor injuries in the accident and were expected to recover.

Cause of the Car Accident

At this time it is not known what caused the crash. Hopefully law enforcement will be able to determine if the collision was caused by driver negligence, a poor road condition, bad weather condition or defective auto part.

Car accidents such as this one can have devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences. While this crash remains under investigation, the victims should consult a northern California car accident lawyer before speaking to an insurance company adjuster or other representative of an involved party. A skilled lawyer can inform victims of their legal rights and advise victims of the best legal course of action.

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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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VALLEJO - A San Francisco rollover crash on Interstate 780 that occurred on the night of Wednesday, March 16, 2011, has left an 8-year-old Benicia girl with moderate-to-serious head injuries and her mother, the driver, with moderate injuries. The Oakland Tribune reports that the mother and daughter were heading west on I-780 when the mother lost control of the vehicle, causing it to swerve and roll over at approximately 6:18 p.m.

A California Highway Patrol Officer (CHP) stated that after rolling over twice, the vehicle came to a stop on its roof, perpendicular to the road. The mother apparently let emergency personnel know that she and her daughter were both wearing their seat belts. However, the mother said that the young girl was flung into the front seat during the collision.

While the events leading up to the rollover accident are still being examined, investigators may evaluate whether dangerous roadways, distracted driving, or a form of negligence contributed to the crash. Some vehicles, such as SUVs, are more likely to rollover than others due to having a higher center of gravity. Although manufacturers of these vehicles are aware of certain rollover risks presented by poor design and crashworthiness flaws, they are still placed on the market.

Rollover accidents can cause serious injuries, especially if a vehicle occupant is ejected from the vehicle or if the roof of the vehicle is crushed in after rolling over one or multiple times. San Francisco rollover accident lawyers are highly familiar with the best tactics for preserving auto accident evidence and devising reconstruction of a crash. With a skilled attorney on your side, you can focus on healing from your injuries or caring for an injured loved one while a strong and effective case is built on your behalf.

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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 15-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy suffered very serious injuries when they were struck by a 1997 Ford Aerostar van Thursday evening in Benicia, the Vallejo Times-Herald reported. The Solano County pedestrian accident occurred at about 8:20 p.m. in a crosswalk at Military West at West 2nd Street. A third teen walking with the two victims was not struck. The teens were crossing northbound when they were struck by the westbound van.

The young victims were identified as Lacey Wilson, 15, and Jordan Hebert, 14, both of Benicia. They were taken to the trauma center at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek following the July 1st crash. Both remained hospitalized the next day; Wilson suffered potentially life-threatening injuries and was in critical condition in the intensive care unit, the Times-Herald reported.

The driver of the 1997 Ford Aerostar van, identified by Benicia Police as Bruce Ricketts, 49, showed no signs of alcohol intoxication or impairment, police said. He provided a blood sample and is said to be cooperating with the investigation. So far, he has not been cited. Police have not determined how fast the van was traveling; the posted speed limit on Military West is 35 mph.

Please keep the young victims of this Benecia pedestrian accident in your prayers. We hope they both make a full recovery from their undoubtedly very serious injuries.

Cause of the Pedestrian Accident

The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Benicia Police Department's specialized Traffic Unit. It is not clear why the driver of the Aerostar van did not see the teens in the marked crosswalk.

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