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.

Continue reading "Six Injured in Dixon School Bus Accident" »

SACRAMENTO COUNTY -- According to The Sacramento Bee, a FedEx delivery truck severely struck a 10-year-old-boy. The accident occurred near Beitzel Elementary School on Caymus Drive and Chantal Way at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, when the young boy ran onto the crosswalk and into a FedEx truck. As soon as the boy hit the truck, he fell and was tragically ran over by the truck's rear tires. The boy was taken to UC Davis Medical Center with a possible broken pelvis. The names of both the driver and 10-year-old child were not immediately available.

Cause of the Pedestrian Accident in Sacramento

The accident on October 6th remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. However, based on the information provided by The Sacramento Bee and News 10, it is unclear why the FedEx driver was not able to see the child and if he/she was able to prevent or avoid the collision. Hopefully, authorities investigating this terrible pedestrian accident can come to a conclusion as to what happened and who is officially responsible. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the CHP at (916)681-2300, or the CHP Communications Center at (916)861-1300.

Pedestrian Accident Injury Liability

While this pedestrian accident remains under investigation, the family members of the child would be well-advised to speak to a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. A skilled attorney who has represented victims of Sacramento pedestrian accidents, can ensure the family's legal rights and interests are protected, and decide the best course of action to recover the maximum compensation the victim is entitled to for medical care expenses, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and other damages following this horrific Sacramento pedestrian accident.

Continue reading "Boy Seriously Injured in Sacramento Pedestrian Accident" »

STANISLAUS COUNTY -- The Turlock Journal reported that a big-rig hauling two trailers filled with tomatoes was struck by an Amtrack passenger train Monday afternoon. The collision took place at about 1:30 p.m. near the intersection of Geer Road and Santa Fe Avenue. According to CHP officer Eric Parsons, the big-rig was stopped at a stop sign just past the train tracks, however, due to the short distance between the tracks and the stop sign, the second trailer was still on the railroad tracks. Train engineer, Barbara Neu, 58, of San Leandro, sounded the horn and applied the emergency brakes, but the collision was unavoidable. The impact of the collision between the train and truck caused another vehicle to be struck, as one of the big-rig's trailer went in the southbound lane of Sante Fe Road. The vehicle was identified as a 2011 Toyota Camry and driven by Maria Enes, 46, of Hilmar.

Following this horrible collision Enes, Neu, and the big-rig driver, Rigoberto Jimenez, 31, of Delhi, were not injured after the incident. However, out of the 159 passengers and four crew members onboard the train, only 20 passengers had complaints of back and neck pain. Some of those injured passengers were transported to hospital via ambulance while others sought medical care on their own.

Cause of the September 19th Stanislaus Train Accident

Based on the information provided by news reports, it is unclear whether or not the driver could have possibly avoided this collision. Therefore, it is impossible to determine who is at fault for this incident. Police officials will continue to investigate the cause of the accident and determine who is officially responsible.

Train Accident Passenger Injury Liability

Accidents involving trains can result in catastrophic injures or death to anyone involved. While the investigation of the September 19th collision is ongoing, if it is determined by police that the driver of the truck is responsible for the accident, victims or family members of the victims would be well-advised to contact a skilled California train accident lawyer. A knowledgeable and experienced attorney who has handled incidents such as this one, can advise the victims of their legal rights, and best course of action to recover the maximum compensation for medical care expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages in this terrible train accident.

Continue reading "Several Injured in Amtrak Train vs. Tractor-Trailer Crash in Stanislaus" »

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 " »

FRESNO COUNTY - A 63-year-old truck driver was found dead early Wednesday morning after the big-rig he was driving struck a concrete pillar on Highway 99, reports the Fresno Bee. Although the cause of the driver's death has not been determined, according to the California Highway Patrol, the truck driver did not appear to die from any injuries he sustained in the June 29th accident. A 41-year-old Lancaster man, who was a passenger in the big-rig, suffered minor injuries in the collision. The condition of the passenger is not known.

Cause of Highway 99 Truck Accident

If news reports are accurate, shortly after midnight, the truck, which was traveling southbound on Highway 99 north of Jensen Avenue, drifted to the right, hit a concrete pillar and came to a stop on an embankment. Due to the impact of the crash, the truck's fuel tank was ruptured and spilled out onto the highway's shoulder. It is not clear why the truck drifted to the right. It is possible the truck drifted because of a tire blowout, steering system malfunction or shifted cargo. The cause of the crash is currently being investigated by the CHP. Hopefully, their investigation will provide answers to how and why this collision occurred.

Truck Accident Litigation

At this stage in the investigation process, it is unclear what caused the crash and therefore, impossible to determine who is responsible. If a defective tire, steering system or improperly loaded cargo contributed to or was responsible for the accident occurring, the family of the victim has legal rights that may allow them to file a wrongful death claim against a tire manufacturer, truck manufacturer or loading company. The victim's family would be well advised to talk to a skilled northern California truck accident lawyer who can explore all sources of compensation to ensure family members receive fair financial damages.

Continue reading "Driver Found Dead After Big-Rig Accident on Highway 99 " »

Most Sacramentans are familiar with the more commonly reported causes of commercial truck accidents in Sacramento, some of which include truck driver fatigue, truck part failure, overloaded trucks, roadway problems, and prescription drug use. However, most people are not aware of an often overlooked potential risk posed by commercial truck drivers: sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a serious breathing-related sleep disorder that affects as many as 28 percent of commercial driver's license (CDL) holders, as reported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A motorist with untreated sleep apnea increases the chances of a motor vehicle accident occurring. One study demonstrated that drivers with untreated sleep apnea performed worse during tests than healthy, alert drivers with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) above the federal limit for driving a commercial motor vehicle.

While each state establishes its own medical standards for commercial motor vehicle driving in interstate commerce, several states utilize the medical regulations under Section 391.41(b)(5) of the FMCSRs and consider sleep apnea a disqualifying condition. In addition, each state is allowed to suspend a CDL if a motorist has sleep apnea.

Since moderate to severe sleep apnea is considered to hinder safe driving, these levels are designated to be at the disqualifying level. Medical examiners are responsible for qualifying and determining a driver's medical fitness for duty as a commercial truck driver. However, trucking companies and motor carriers are responsible for prohibiting a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle if the driver has a medical condition, such as sleep apnea, that would adversely affect their ability to safely operate a vehicle.

The devastation of a Sacramento truck crash has far-reaching effects. In a lot of cases, it is individuals other than the truck driver who suffer serious injury or death. Individuals who sustain injury and family members of loved ones killed in large truck accidents that are caused by the negligence of a truck driver or another person or entity have valid legal rights. Experienced Sacramento truck accident attorneys are prepared to utilize accident reconstructionists and other effective resources to build a strong cases on behalf of truck accident victims to ensure that full compensation is obtained.

Continue reading "Potential Risks Posed by Commercial Truck Drivers with Sleep Apnea" »

Six people have suffered minor injuries after an accident that involved a San Francisco Municipal Railway light-rail vehicle and a big-rig. According to ABClocal.go.com, the big-rig struck the Muni vehicle on its right side near the front. The six injured individuals were on board the Muni vehicle at the time of the collision, and were transported to a hospital where they are anticipated to survive. The Muni light-rail car was on the KT-Ingleside/Third Street line. The San Francisco big-rig accident involving the light-rail vehicle occurred around 10:23 a.m. at the intersection of Third and 23rd streets in the Dogpatch neighborhood.

As such a busy and densely populated city, San Francisco is unfortunately not immune to accidents. Although the details leading up to this particular auto accident have yet to be determined, many motor vehicle crashes could have been prevented if a motorist had been paying attention to the road or had followed traffic laws. Far too many drivers take for granted the privilege of having a driver's license. And this can even hold truth for commercial truck and public transportation drivers.

Individuals who are fortunate to survive an auto collision, especially one involving a big-rig or other large vehicle, often face a long road to recovery from serious injuries. Some common motor vehicle accident injures include broken bones, back injury, brain injury, spinal cord injury, internal injury, burn injury, and other severe calamities. When a car accident caused by a negligent driver causes another individual or group of individuals injury, San Francisco car accident injury lawyers can help those injured receive compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages.

While contacting an attorney after an auto accident can seem stressful at first, you may find that talking with a lawyer actually helps resolve some of the issues caused by the crash. Ensuring that you receive compensation for an accident involving a big-rig, bus, or light-rail vehicle can be particularly complex. The agencies that employ drivers of these vehicles have attorneys of their own and will do everything possible to protect their company. Pursuing a claim for an auto accident will not only help relieve you of financial strain and compensate you for other damages, but holding negligent parties liable can help prevent them from putting other lives in danger in the future.

Continue reading "Six Injured in Accident Involving San Francisco Municipal Railway Light Rail Vehicle and Big-Rig" »

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently announced new crash test results and analysis revealing the life-threatening risks of tractor-trailer underride guard failure in low-speed accidents. In determining that truck underride guards increase the chances of death or serious injury to small passenger vehicle occupants, the Institute has petitioned the federal government to enact stricter underride guards that will withstand a collision. The agency is also requesting that the federal government authorize guards for more large commercial trucks and trailers.

Although rear guards are the main defense against deaths and injuries when passenger vehicles crash into the back of tractor-trailers, these guards are dangerous because the upper part of the passenger vehicle's occupant compartment usually crushes as the truck body strikes the vehicle. According to a Wall Street Journal report on the crash test results, truck underride guards are capable of failing at crash speeds as low as 35 mph. In a rear-end collision where a passenger vehicle hits the back of a large truck, the car's windshield becomes the chief spot of impact. Unfortunately, this means that even some cars with top safety ratings in federal and Insurance Institute accident tests do not provide adequate protection to vehicle occupants.

Considering that in 2009, 70 percent of the 3,163 individuals who were killed in all large truck accidents were occupants of cars or other passenger vehicles, the need for stronger truck underride guard standards cannot be stressed enough.

Vehicle manufacturers have the important duty of designing, creating, and testing vehicles that are free of defects and are capable of keeping occupants safe in a collision, otherwise known as being "crashworthy." There is no denying that individuals who are injured and family members of those killed in auto accidents that were caused due to a lack of vehicle crashworthiness face many challenges. A San Francisco vehicle crashworthiness lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation and help gather and preserve vital evidence relating to the accident so that negligent parties don't walk away unpunished.

Continue reading "Big Rig Underride Guard Failure in Accidents Examined by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety" »

The Oakland Tribune reports that 54-year-old John Jurevich of Turlock was killed in a San Leandro truck accident on the morning of Friday, March 18, 2011. The man apparently hit a tree around 9:20 a.m. while driving southbound on the Highway 238 connector to Interstate 580. After striking the tree, the big-rig jackknifed, causing the vehicle to overturn. As a consequence, the driver was killed. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The California Highway Patrol reports that the cause of the collision is being extensively investigated.

As this accident demonstrates, northern California big-rig jackknife accidents are extremely dangerous. Truck equipment failure, harsh road conditions, and incorrect braking can lead to a jackknife accident. This type of crash occurs when a truck skids, which causes the trailer to push the truck from behind until it faces backwards. When this happens, a big-rig is more susceptible to flipping onto its side. Even when truck drivers are properly wearing their seat belts, serious injury or even death can result when a big-rig overturns.

Trucking companies are responsible for fully training drivers and making sure that they abide by truck rules and regulations. These companies also have the important duty of ensuring that trucks receive frequent and thorough inspections as well as adequate repairs when necessary. If a truck crash occurs and the cause is determined to be the failure to properly maintain or repair a truck, a trucking company or the owner of the truck can be held liable.

Losing a loved one is never easy. This difficult time can be all the more challenging when a loved one's death is caused by an unexpected accident such as a truck crash in Oakland. If you believe that another person's negligence is to blame for your loss, an Oakland big-rig accident lawyer can evaluate the specifics surrounding the collision to determine the best possible course of action in devising a strong case.

Continue reading "54-Year-Old Turlock Man Killed in San Leandro Big-Rig Jackknife Crash" »

A KCRA.com article reports that a Sacramento truck accident involving a gravel rig occurred this morning on March 18, 2011 along the Dillard Road onramp to Highway 99. Officers at the scene of the gravel truck crash stated that the truck driver was driving at a speed too great for the tight corner of the onramp. As a consequence, the load of gravel being transported in the rig shifted, causing the truck to topple. The rig slid onto its left side but the truck driver did not sustain injury. Gravel from the truck was strewn across the median between the ramps headed to Dillard Road.

At the time of the article's release, no other vehicles were reported to have been involved in the truck accident and no one was injured. If the truck driver's speeding had caused another person to suffer injury or death, the truck driver could be held legally responsible for losses and damages.

State and federal rules and regulations outline standards that need to be upheld and followed in relation to truck drivers, large commercial trucks, and trucking companies. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) specifies that truck drivers are required to follow posted speed limits. For instance, if the total trip is on highways with 65 mph speed limits, trips amounting to 600 miles or more will be suspected of having been completed through speed limit violations and may be required to be documented.

Not every truck accident is caused by the truck driver. However, truck driver fatigue, truck company oversight, and hours of service violations continue to be a problem in this county. Another issue with large commercial trucks is the failure to properly maintain or repair truck components. Experienced Sacramento tractor trailer crash attorneys are familiar with the many ways in which a truck driver or trucking company may try to avoid responsibility for an accident their negligence caused. To ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve, consider speaking with a personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled truck accident cases.

Continue reading "Gravel Truck Tips Over on Highway 99 Onramp in Sacramento County Accident" »

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.

Continue reading "Garbage Truck Driver Injured in Interstate 80 Crash " »