California Injury Lawyer Blog

GRIDLEY - A 31-year-old Paradise man suffered a broken leg, broken wrist, and numerous other injuries Thursday afternoon when a vehicle collided with his motorcycle on Highway 99, the Oroville Mercury Register reported. The Butte County accident was reported at about 12:30 p.m. on July 14th near Township Road. According to news reports, the accident occurred when a 31-year-old Yuba City woman pulled her 2002 Ford Taurus into the path of his motorcycle. The victim, John Lewis Woods III, was airlifted to to Enloe Medical Center in Chico. Alcohol or drugs were not suspected to play a role in the crash

Motorcycle Accident Personal Injury Liability

The CHP is continuing to investigate the cause of this accident. However, if news reports are accurate, the motorcyclist likely could have done nothing to avoid the collision. While this accident remains under investigation, the injured victim or his family would be well-advised to speak with an experienced northern California motorcycle accident lawyer who can help the victim protect his legal rights. If the negligence of the Ford driver caused this crash, an experienced personal injury attorney who understands the hazards motorcyclist face on California highways can help the injured victim the recover maximum compensation for his medical care expenses, lost earnings or wages, and pain and suffering.

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BUTTE COUNTY - A man in his 50's died Friday when the pickup truck he was a passenger in overturned on Highway 99, the Sacramento Bee reported. The fatal accident was reported near Gridley on southbound Highway 99 near Ord Ranch Road at about 2:20 p.m. According to witness reports, the driver veered off the highway and overcorrected, causing the pickup truck to overturn and land upside down in a ditch. The driver of the truck was taken to the hospital by family members who arrived at the accident scene before emergency responders. The passenger had to be extricated and was taken to Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital, where he died of his injuries. The CHP is investigating the fatal July 8th crash. Neither the driver or the passenger were immediately identified.

What Caused this Accident?

Based on the limited information provided in news accounts, the cause of this accident is unclear. Vehicle rollover accidents can have numerous causes, including tire blowouts, vehicle defects, dangerous road conditions, unsafe passing maneuvers, speeding, falling asleep at the wheel, and driving under the influence. Hopefully, the investigation by the CHP will reveal exactly what happened, and why.

Car Accident Passenger Wrongful Death Liability

Depending on the circumstances of this rollover accident, if negligence was a factor, the family members of the passenger may pursue a wrongful death claim against the party or parties responsible for their loved one's death. Following any fatal accident where the cause is unclear, the family members of the victim would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable northern California wrongful death attorney. A lawyer who understands the complex issues of vehicle rollover accidents can help the victim's family understand their legal rights, and advise them of their best course of action handling communications with the insurance company, should they wish to pursue a wrongful death claim.

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OROVILLE - Three Oroville residents very tragically died following a crash Saturday on Highway 70, just slightly west of the Butte-Plumas County Line, the Enterprise Record reported. The victims, a 35-year-old man, a 16-year-old boy, and a 9-year-old boy were reportedly passengers in a 2001 Pontiac Firebird headed westbound on Highway 70. The driver attempted to pass a motor home and lost control of the vehicle, which went off the roadway into the nearby Feather River. Witnesses saw all three victims exit the vehicle after it ended up in the river, and all three attempted to make it to shore. The child and driver were rescued and given CPR at the scene. The child was later pronounced dead at Feather River Hospital; the driver was later pronounced dead at Oroville Medical Center. The body of the 16-year-old was not recovered until 3 p.m. on Sunday. The cause of the June 5th Butte County accident remains under investigation.

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CHICO - A Caltrans worker and another man were hospitalized following an accident Monday afternoon in Chico, CBS 12 Action News reported. According to news accounts, Jesse Ferguson of Oroville was reportedly driving his Chevy Tahoe on the shoulder of the freeway when his truck rear-ended a Caltrans vehicle doing weed abatement. Fergus an the driver of the Cal Trans truck, Terrance Done Jr., were both taken by ambulance to Enloe Medical Center. It is unknown why Ferguson was driving his truck on the shoulder of Highway 99. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

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A Butte County woman was killed Thursday evening after being struck by a Ford Ranger pickup truck on Skyway Road in Paradise. The pedestrian accident occurred near Jewell Road at about 7 p.m. According to reports in the Paradise Post, the victim, Elizabeth Chamberlin, 51, of Paradise was attempting to cross the road in heavy commuter traffic when she was struck.

Paradise police believe the driver of the Ford Ranger, Michael Slade, could not see the victim until it was too late to avoid striking her, partially due to weather conditions and darkness. Chamberlin was transported to Feather River Hospital in Paradise where she died of her injuries. Although there were no indications at the time, toxicology tests are pending to determine if Slade was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Anyone with additional information about the Skyway accident is asked to contact the Paradise Police Department at (530)872-6241.

Please keep the family of Elizabeth Chamberlin in your prayers as they must face her sudden and unexpected loss. Our deepest sympathy goes out to everyone who knew her and was close to her.

About 5,000 people are killed in pedestrian accidents each year in the United States. Many factors can influence a pedestrian accident, including negligence or carelessness of the driver, negligence of the pedestrian, and even road conditions like missing or incorrect signs or lack of illumination. While this tragic accident remains under investigation by the Paradise Police, the family of Elizabeth Chamberlin may benefit from consulting with an experienced California pedestrian accident attorney about their legal rights under California wrongful death law. An attorney can investigate the cause of the accident, review evidence and data regarding previous incidents at the same location, and determine whether or not the family may be entitled to compensation for their loss.

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