California Injury Lawyer Blog

MARIN COUNTY - A 20-year-old Petaluma woman tragically died early Tuesday morning in a car accident on Highway 101, the Press Democrat reported. At about 1 a.m., Kimberly Augusto, 20, was driving her 2000 Nissan Altima on Highway 101 about .6 miles from San Antonio Road when her vehicle reportedly drifted out of her lane. She tried to correct her car but it struck the metal guardrail on the east side of the northbound lanes. Her vehicle came to rest in the center of the highway and was subsequently struck by a 2008 Ford F-350 van driven northbound on Highway 101 by Raymond Freeman, 46, of Venice Florida. Freeman tried to brake, but was unable to avoid colliding with Augusto's vehicle. The Ford struck the Altima's driver's side, pushing it into the center divider and the metal guardrail. The CHP determined the force of the collision killed Augusto. Freeman was not hurt. Three passengers in his van reported minor injuries. Alcohol was not suspected to be a factor.

Northern California Car Accident Wrongful Death Liability

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances of this collision and will determine if the driver of the van could have done anything to avoid the collision. While this accident remains under investigation, the family of Kimberly Augusto may benefit from speaking with an experienced and knowledgeable northern California wrongful death lawyer. A personal injury attorney who has represented numerous victims of highway accidents can advise the family of the victim of their legal rights and options following this accident, and best course of action to protect their rights. If negligence of the other driver is determined to be a factor in the fatal collision, the family may choose to pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver and any other responsible parties.

Continue reading "Petaluma Woman Killed in Highway 101 Crash in Marin County " »

CRESCENT CITY - A 68-year-old Crescent City man tragically died early Thursday morning, about five hours after he was struck by a car Wednesday night while crossing Highway 101 just south of city limits, the Times-Standard reported. According to the CHP, the victim, Charles M. Fraser, 68, was crossing the street in a motorized wheelchair when he was struck by a 2004 Toyota Prius driven by Ernest Leonard, 71, of Cresent City. The accident occurred around 7:15 p.m. on February 9, 2011 on US Highway 101, near the Shangri-La Trailer Park. Fraser was taken to Sutter Coast Highway, where he died shortly after midnight. The cause of the fatal Del Norte County accident remains under investigation by the CHP.

Continue reading "Wheelchair Bound Pedestrian Struck and Killed in Del Norte County " »

A bicycle accident on Highway 101 in Sonoma County left a 50-year-old Petaluma man with serious injuries, the Petaluma Argus Courier reported. The accident occurred on northbound Highway 101, south of Kastania Road, at 7:24 a.m. on Friday.

According to news reports, the cyclist, whose name was not released, was riding northbound on the right shoulder of Highway 101 (in an area where cyclists are permitted) when a GMC van going about 60 mph veered off the road and onto the right shoulder and struck him. The cyclist, who was unconscious at the scene of the accident, was rushed by ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

The driver of the Chevy van, Nicolay Pokornyy, 63, of Walnut Creek, reportedly told investigators that he was trying to determine where his exit was when he struck the cyclist.

Cause of the Accident

If news reports of this incident are correct, the bicyclist had no way of avoiding this collision. It appears that the driver of this Chevy van violated the right of way of the cyclist by not paying attention to where he was going and allowing his vehicle to enter the bike lane.

Continue reading "Petaluma Cyclist Struck by Van, Seriously Injured on Highway 101 " »

A 44-year-old Laytonville woman died Wednesday night in a head-on collision on Highway 101, north of its juncture with Highway 271 in Humboldt County, authorities reported. T

he July 21st accident occurred at about 9:30 p.m., and involved a northbound Subaru Forester and a southbound Toyota 4Runner.

According to news reports in the Ukiah Daily Journal and Times-Standard, Saskia Martin, 37, of Benbow, was driving a Subaru Forester northbound on Highway 101, behind a slow moving big rig truck.

When Martin attempted to pass the truck, she saw a bicycle lying in the lane directly in front of her, which caused her to slam the brakes and swerve into the southbound lane.

Martin lost control of the Subaru and the vehicle spun into the path of a southbound Toyota 4-Runner driven by Tonia Evans, 44, of Laytonville. The Subaru and the 4-Runner collided, resulting in the SUV rolling several times. Tonia Evans died of her injuries at the scene of the crash. Her husband and passenger, Allen Evans, 52, was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Martin complained of pain to her neck and left arm.

This horrific accident is absolutely heartbreaking. Our condolences go out to the family of Tonia Evans and everyone who knew and loved her. Please keep her family in your prayers during this surely very difficult time.

Cause of the Crash

If news reports are accurate, it appears that this crash was caused by an unsafe maneuver made by the driver of the Subaru Forester, resulting in her northbound vehicle entering southbound lanes into the path of the 4Runner. The Times-Standard reported that the CHP continues to investigate whether drugs and alcohol played a role in the crash. Authorities recovered the apparently abandoned bicycle from the crash scene.

Continue reading "Laytonville Woman Killed, Two Injured in Hwy 101 Head-On Collision Near Piercy " »

A 25-year-old Newark man died following a three-vehicle accident Friday afternoon in San Mateo, the California Highway Patrol reported. The accident was reported at 1:20 p.m. on northbound Highway 101, just north of State Route 92.

According to reports by the CBS News, the victim, identified by San Mateo County coroner's officials as Eduardo Gutierrez, was driving a 1995 Infiniti northbound on the freeway, when for unknown reasons, he lost control of his vehicle and struck a 2010 Toyota and a 2006 Ford, and then crashed into a sound wall. Gutierrez died at the scene of the crash. It was not clear whether anyone else was injured in the accident.

The CHP is investigating the cause of the Highway 101 accident. Based upon the limited reports of the incident, it is impossible to determine how the crash occurred or who was at fault. While this fatal accident remains under investigation, the family of Eduardo Gutierrez may benefit from speaking with a California wrongful death lawyer about their legal rights. If another party's negligence, a defect in the vehicle, or defect in the roadway caused or contributed to this accident, the family may be entitled to compensation in a wrongful death claim.

Continue reading "Newark Man Killed in Hwy 101 Accident in San Mateo" »

The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal rollover accident that killed two people on the Ridgewood Grade Tuesday night, the Ukiah Daily Journal Reported. The solo vehicle accident, which involved a 2000 Jeep Wrangler, occurred at 11:15 p.m. on Highway 101 south of Willits in Mendocino County.

Both occupants were ejected from the vehicle as it overturned and died at the scene of the February 23 crash. The victims were identified as Alfred Dean Ligon, 27, and Rhonda Lee Taylor, 48, both of Willits. Because both victims were ejected and there were no witnesses to the crash, investigators did not immediately determine who was driving. The cause of the accident is under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office at (707)467-4040.

Our sympathy goes out to everyone who knew and loved both victims, as they are seeking answers and grieving the sudden, unexpected loss of their loved ones. We hope that the investigation yields answers to why this Highway 101 crash occurred. Did something cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, or did something malfunction with the jeep? Or did the driver simply become distracted and lose control of the vehicle? Was alcohol a factor in the crash? Although the cause of the crash is still not known, the families of both victims would be well advised to consult with a California SUV rollover attorney for a consultation and more information about their legal rights.

Continue reading "Two Willits Residents Killed in Rollover Crash on Highway 101 " »

The California Highway Patrol is investigating a multi-vehicle pileup accident on southbound Highway 101 at the Gaviota curve Friday morning in Santa Barbara County. Santa Barbara County Fire reported six people were taken to the hospital following the collision, which involved nine cars, and four people suffered minor injuries. The accident occurred shortly after 7 a.m., about a quarter mile past the rest stop. Traffic on the southbound lanes of 101 was backed up for at least a mile, the Lompoc Record reported.

Pileup accidents may have numerous liable parties, which usually result in complex insurance claims. Poor visibility due to rain or fog and unsafe driving for weather conditions often contribute to multiple car accidents. In Gaviota, coastal fog is common in the mornings, and usually clears up by midday. Debris on the highway or a stalled vehicle may also cause an accident.

Continue reading "Six People Injured in Nine Car Pileup on Highway 101 Near Gaviota " »