California Injury Lawyer Blog

We are learning more details about the fatal July 22nd Greyhound bus crash on Highway 99 near Fresno. The multi-vehicle collision involved a Greyhound bus with 47 people on board, and a Chevy Blazer SUV. The bus had left Los Angeles en route to Sacramento around 6 p.m. Wednesday. After making a stop in Fresno, the bus crashed at 2:14 a.m., when the driver swerved to avoid an overturned minivan and struck a concrete center divider near the McKinley Avenue offramp before colliding with the Chevy Blazer.

Six people died in the crash, including the driver of the bus, James Jewett, 57, of Sacramento, and three occupants of the Chevy Blazer, Stephenie Cordoba, 20, and Vanessa Gonzalez, 19, both of Fresno, and Sylvia Lopez Garay, 18, of Dinuba. The two other victims were passengers on the overturned bus, Epifania Solis, 60, of Madera and Thomas Ponce, 79, of Mexico. At least three people were hospitalized with very serious injuries.

Continue reading "Victims of Central Valley Greyhound Bus Crash Identified" »

At least six people died early Thursday morning when a Greyhound bus carrying 47 people from Los Angeles to Sacramento crashed on Highway 99 in the Central Valley, authorities reported. Dozens more were injured in the crash, which occurred at about 2 a.m., when the driver of the Greyhound swerved to avoid an overturned minivan and struck the concrete divider, and then another vehicle before colliding with a tree.

Anyone seeking information about friends or family on the bus may call Greyhound's information line at (800)972-4583.

Bus Accidents and Common Carrier Duty of Care

Bus drivers and bus companies are held to a higher duty of care than drivers of passenger vehicles, because the Federal government has created strict regulations in regard to the liability owed to passengers injured when using a common carrier. The guidelines to determine whether or not a carrier is a common carrier are set forth in the California Book of Standard Civil Jury Instructions. The determining factors include whether the carrier maintains a regular place of business for the purpose of transporting passengers or property, whether the carrier advertises its services to the general public, and whether it charges fees for its services.

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Liability

While this Fresno Greyhound bus accident is under investigation, the family members of the victims would be well-advised to contact a California personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to protect their rights in a personal injury or wrongful death claim. The lawyers at Estey Bomberger have recovered millions for bus accident victims in California, and offer a free, no-obligation consultation to help you understand and protect your legal rights.

Continue reading "Six Killed, 34 Injured in Greyhound Bus Crash in Fresno " »

Two children were taken to Enloe Medical Center following a crash Wednesday afternoon on Highway 99E at South Avenue, near Corning. According to news reports in the Red Bluff Daily News, at about 12:15 p.m., Marcos Rendon, 20, of Corning, made a left turn from Highway 99E onto South Avenue, directly into the path of a southbound vehicle driven by Mark Fowler, 49 of Paradise. Fowler swerved, but was unable to avoid the collision. The impact sent Fowler's vehicle into a third vehicle driven by Angelita Melendrez, 33, of Orland, who was turning from South Avenue onto Hwy 99E. A 9-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl in Melendrez's vehicle were taken to Enloe Medical Center.

Cause of the Highway 99 Crash

The cause of the Tehama County crash still remains under investigation. However, if news reports are accurate, the 20-year-old man turning onto Corning Avenue may have caused this crash by failing to yield to the right-of-way of Mark Fowler's vehicle.

Continue reading "Two Children Injured in Highway 99E Crash Near Corning " »

A 21-year-old man tragically died and two others were seriously hurt early Thursday following a head-on collision caused by a suspected drunk driver, the Manteca Bulletin reported. The San Joaquin County crash occurred shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday July 1st , south of Yosemite Avenue. According to news reports, the CHP received calls from motorists shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday who had seen a Ford Explorer travelling southbound in the northbound lanes of the freeway, near French Camp road. Officers were dispatched to the area, but unfortunately, before they could head the driver off the road, a head-on collision occurred.

The SUV, a 1996 blue Ford Explorer, was driven by Tiffany Holmes, 35, of Stockton. Holmes collided head on with a 1997 Honda Accord travelling in the northbound lanes of Highway 99 in Manteca. The female driver and male passenger, both 21, were taken to regional trauma centers, where the man later died. The 3-year-old girl in their vehicle was airlifted to U.C. Davis Medical Center. The man and woman in the Honda were wearing seat belts, and the 3-year-old girl was properly restrained. Holmes suffered two broken legs, but is expected to survive. The CHP reported she is being charged with vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence causing injury.

Cause of the Highway 99 Crash

If news reports are accurate, the driver of the Ford Explorer is at fault for this collision, although the California Highway Patrol is still investigating the incident. Drunk driving accidents are especially heartbreaking because they are 100% preventable. Our condolences go out to the family members of the young couple and the young girl, whose lives are forever changed as a result of this accident. Please keep their families and in your prayers.

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Liability

In addition to criminal charges for drunken driving causing injury and death, the suspected drunken driver may also be held financially responsible for the injuries and death resulting from this collision. While this July 1st Highway 99 accident remains under investigation, the family members of the victims would be well-advised to talk to a California personal injury attorney about their legal rights and holding the at-fault driver responsible for her actions in a personal injury or wrongful death claim. An attorney who has successfully represented victims of drunk-driving wrong-way collisions can help the victims understand and protect their legal rights, and obtain the maximum compensation they may be entitled to following this accident.

Continue reading "One Killed, Three Hurt in Suspected DUI Wrong-Way Crash on Highway 99 " »

A 22-year-old Madera man died in an accident on Highway 99 near Adams Avenue, the CHP reported. The fatal Fresno County crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. Friday, May 21st. According to California Highway Patrol reports, a red mustang driven by Jonathon Moreno rear-ended a tractor trailer near Fowler. Moreno died at the scene. The driver of the big rig, who was not identified, was not hurt.

Investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol were a factor in the fatal accident, KMPH News said. This Hwy 99 accident is absolutely devastating and our sympathy goes out to the family of Jonathan Moreno and everyone who knew and loved this young man. Please keep his family in your prayers.

Truck Accident Liability Issues

This accident, the cause of which is still under investigation, raises a number of questions. Rear-end collisions involving semi-trucks and passenger vehicles have very unique legal issues, due to federal laws governing big-rig trailer bumpers. One of the issues in this accident is whether the semi-truck involved in this accident have an underride protection bar (also known as a rear-impact guard or DOT bumper), and did it meet federal Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements? The purpose of this standard, most recently amended in 2006, is to "reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries occurring when light duty vehicles impact the rear of trailers and semitrailers with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kg (approximately 10,000 pounds) or more." It is estimated that there are hundreds of tractor-trailer trucks on the road that do not meet safety regulations.

Rear-Impact Protection Underride Laws

Because trailers on big rig trucks often sit much higher than a passenger car, a dangerous situation known as "underride" may occur when a passenger vehicle rear-ends a tractor trailer. Rear guards, intended to prevent passenger compartment intrusion (PCI), were initially mandated in 1953, and were first known as ICC bumpers (Interstate Commerce Commission). The ICC was abolished in 1995, and the functions of the agency were transferred to the Surface Transportation Board, and then to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an administration within the Department of Transportation. The laws that govern rear-impact protection on tractor-trailer trucks can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations §571.224 Standard No. 224.

Continue reading "22-Year-Old Madera Man Killed in Highway 99 Crash with Big-Rig" »

Authorities are investigating the cause of a crash that injured four people in Tehama County Thursday afternoon. The head-on collision occurred around 2:35 p.m. on Highway 99E, near Ninth Avenue, and involved a northbound Honda Civic driven by Steve Capps, 32, of Red Bluff, and a southbound Toyota Tacoma driven by Heidi Harmon, 31, of Roseville.

Although the cause of the Los Molinos area crash is under investigation, authorities believe that Capps' vehicle drifted into southbound lanes, causing the collision. The impact caused the Toyota Tacoma to overturn and come to rest on its side on the west side of the Highway. Capps suffered serious injuries and was flown to Enloe Medical Center in Chico. Harmon and her two minor daughters were taken by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Red Bluff. A Pomeranian puppy in the Tacoma thought to be missing after the crash was found by an investigator in a nearby orchard.

Personal Injury Liability and Fault Issues

If the news reports in the Red Bluff Daily News and Corning Observer are accurate, the driver of the northbound Honda Civic likely caused this crash by allowing his vehicle to drift into southbound traffic. Why this happened is not clear, and authorities will investigate whether he was under the influence of alcohol, or if he was distracted, fell asleep, or experienced a mechanical problem with his vehicle, such as a tire blowout.

While this crash remains under investigation, the family of the victims hurt in the Toyota Tacoma would be well-advised to speak to a California personal injury attorney about their legal rights following this Highway 99 head-on collision. An attorney can explain their legal rights to compensation for their injuries related to this accident, including all medical care expenses, any lost earnings or wages, and pain and suffering.

Continue reading "Four Injured in Head On Crash on Highway 99E " »

A Plumas County woman died Monday afternoon in a head-on crash on Highway 99 in Sutter County, the California Highway Patrol reported. The victim, Martha Lynn Shower, 53, of Greenville was killed instantly when a northbound 1996 Ford 2x semitruck big rig crossed the center line and collided with her southbound Volkswagen Passat.

The April 19th Yuba City accident occurred at 3:12 p.m. on Highway 99 (Sawtelle Avenue) north of Hutchinson Road, according to the Appeal Democrat. Shower's husband and another passenger in the Passat were both hurt in the collision. At least one of them suffered possibly life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to Sutter Roseville Medical Center. The driver of the big rig, Mario Prado, 37, of Orangevale, and his nine-year-old daughter who was with him were both not injured.

The Appeal Democrat reported that Prado told investigators a heading and air conditioning van cut him off and he swerved to avoid hitting the van, and then lost control of the big rig and collided with Shower's VW Pasaat. Skid marks on the highway showed the path of the truck. Investigators did not suspect drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash. Any witnesses to the crash are asked to contact the California Highway Patrol's Yuba-Sutter office at (530) 674-5141.

This horrific accident is not the first Hwy 99 head-on collision involving a fatality this year. A 68-year-old Gridley woman was killed February 14 in a head-on crash in Live Oak on Hwy 99.

Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Liability

The cause of the Sutter County head-on collision is still under investigation. However, if the reports of the crash are accurate, Martha Shower was not at fault for this collision on Highway 99. Whether or not the big rig driver was driving negligently, or if a third vehicle was actually involved is still under investigation.

The families of the victims in the Passat may benefit from speaking with a California highway accident lawyer familiar with the unique legal issues of head-on collisions and personal injury and wrongful death claims involving semi-trucks. Drivers of commercial vehicles are subject to specific Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations that may be relevant in this case. An experienced and skilled lawyer will be able to advise the victims and their families of their legal rights and what types of damages they may be entitled to in a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

Continue reading "One Killed, Two Injured in Highway 99 Head-on Crash in Sutter County " »

A 68-year-old Gridley woman was killed Sunday afternoon in a head-on collision on Highway 99. The accident was reported at 1:19 p.m. Sunday afternoon near the northern city limit of Live Oak in Sutter County. According to CHP reports, Myrtle Harmon, 68, was driving a silver 2005 Ford Focus southbound on Hwy 99 at about 55 mph, and Juanita Maldonado, 53, was driving a 2004 Honda Civic northbound on Hwy 99 at speeds between 40 and 45 mph. For unknown reasons, Maldonado drifted off to the right side of the road, overcorrected, and swerved across the center divider line into the path of Harmon's Ford Focus. Harmon reportedly swerved and braked, but was unable to avoid the collision. The Ford Focus spun out onto a dirt shoulder off the westbound side of the road. The Honda flipped into the air and landed on its side.

Harmon died at the scene of the crash. Maldonado and her 11-year-old grandson were taken by ambulance to Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville. Maldonado's 15-year-old granddaughter was flown by helicopter to Enloe Medical Center in Chico with serious injuries. According to the CHP, all four people were wearing seat belts. The cause of the crash is under investigation and alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the collision.

Continue reading "One Killed, Three Injured in Hwy 99 Crash in Live Oak " »

A 21-year-old Turlock woman died early Sunday in a crash on Highway 99 in Fresno. According to CHP reports, the accident happened at about 2:45 a.m., on Highway 99 at Clinton Avenue. The victim was one of five occupants in a car driven by Christine Naranjo, 23, of Delhi. Naranjo's vehicle was travelling northbound in the slow lane. For unknown reasons, the driver lost control, crossed into the other lanes and struck the center divider, coming to rest in the fast lane.

What happened following the collision with the center divider was not completely clear. According to reports in the Fresno Bee, officers believe Naranjo and another passenger got out of the vehicle. The car, with three other passengers in the rear seat, was then struck by another northbound vehicle, driven by Carlos Munoz, of Watsonville. The three passengers in the rear seat then got out of the vehicle.

Next, officers believe Naranjo's vehicle and one of her passengers, Guadalupe Regalado, 21, were struck by a northbound tractor-trailer. Regalado, of Turlock, died at the scene of the crash. Two other passengers suffered major injuries, and another passenger suffered minor injuries. All were taken by ambulance to Community Regional Center in Fresno. Munoz and his passenger were not hurt. Naranjo and the 53-year-old driver of the big-rig truck were also not injured in the accident.

Continue reading "Passenger Killed in Highway 99 Accident Involving Tractor-Trailer in Fresno " »

One person was killed and five others were injured in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 99 early Monday morning, the California Highway Patrol reported. The crash, which occurred shortly before 1 a.m., involved a Acura MDX SUV and a four-door Chrysler Cirrus. According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash occurred on Highway 99, just north of Mack Road, and south of the Stockton Boulevard off ramp.

The Chrysler Cirrus, driven by Victor Mendoza, 37, of Sacramento, went off the right side of the road, over corrected and struck the center median. The vehicle ended up pointing southwest in the northbound lane of traffic. A passenger in the Cirrus got out, but Mendoza remained in the car. The Acura MDX, driven by a 33-year-old Lincoln woman, then struck the Chrysler, on the driver's side door. Mendoza died in the crash, and the passenger, who was not identified, was unharmed. The driver and four passengers in the Acura were taken to local hospitals.

The cause of this accident is currently under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Based upon initial reports, the cause of the accident is not clear. It is not known what caused the initial crash where the Chrysler Cirrus went off the road and struck the median, or what caused the driver of the Acura to strike the Chrysler. The CHP will investigate whether negligent driving, speeding, or drinking and driving were factors for both drivers in the fatal crash. It is also possible that a roadway defect or vehicle failure were contributing causes of the collision. While this crash is under investigation, both the family of Victor Mendoza and the family in the Acura would be well-advised to consult with an experienced Sacramento personal injury attorney.

Continue reading "One Person Killed, Five Injured in Crash on Highway 99 " »

The CHP is investigating a solo-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Merced County, that left a 17-year-old Atwater girl hospitalized with major injuries. The accident occurred just before 1:30 p.m. on southbound Highway 99, south of R Street. The victim, Maricza Cruz, was a passenger and one of three occupants in a red 1995 Honda Civic hatchback. The driver, an 18-year-old Atwater man, lost control of the Honda in wet conditions. The vehicle spun onto the right shoulder and overturned down an embankment, coming to rest on its wheels.

Merced firefighters extricated Cruz from the vehicle. The other passenger, who was not wearing her seat belt, and the driver both received minor injuries. The CHP does not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident. Maricza Cruz suffered major injuries and was hospitalized following the crash. We wish her the best and hope that she makes a full and complete recovery quickly.

Who Caused this Highway 99 Accident?

The family of Maricza Cruz would likely benefit from talking to an experienced Highway 99 accident lawyer, who will make sure that Cruz is properly and fully compensated for her injuries. In solo vehicle accidents, the driver of the vehicle may be responsible, in which case Cruz would be entitled to compensation from the driver's insurance policy. It is also possible that a defective road condition or even mechanical failure caused the crash.

Continue reading "Atwater Teen Critically Injured in Highway 99 Crash " »