California Injury Lawyer Blog

SUTTER COUNTY -- A multi-vehicle collision on Highway 99 in Pleasant Grove left a woman seriously injured Wednesday, The Sacramento Bee reported. According to the CHP, a driver of a pickup traveling southbound on Highway 99 at about 3:30 p.m. misjudged the distance of an oncoming vehicle when the he or she was making a left turn to eastbound Sankey Road.

The oncoming vehicle that was driven by a Yuba City woman had little time to react and avoid the truck. After the collision, the woman in the van, sustained major injuries and was airlifted to the hospital. Two other people in the van were also hurt, but suffered moderate injuries. The driver of the pickup truck had minor injuries and declined medical treatment.

Cause of the Car Crash on Highway 99

Based on the information provided by The Sacramento Bee, it appears the driver of the pickup truck may be at fault for making an unsafe left turn. However, the California Highway Patrol will investigate this terrible incident thoroughly and cautiously to determine whether or not there were other factors that could have caused this collision.

Car Accident Personal Injury Liability

Left-turn accidents usually occur because the driver does not see another automobile, pedestrian, motorcyclist, and/or bicyclist. In some cases, misjudging the distance of the oncoming car, road conditions, and vehicle malfunctions may also be the cause. But, regardless of why the left-turn collision occurs, accidents such as these can cause serious injuries and/or death.

Therefore, while the investigation of this November 9th car accident on Highway 99 is ongoing, the victim or the family of the victim would be well-advised to speak to a skilled Northern California car accident attorney. A lawyer who has the knowledge and the experience in handling incidents such as this one, can advise the victim of her legal rights in a personal injury claim, and decide the best course of action to be fully compensated for medical care expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages relating to this horrible car accident.

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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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FRESNO COUNTY--A monthlong trial ended today when a Fresno County jury awarded $7.2m to the family of the Highway 99 big rig accident victim.

On April 2009, John Haen, who was the volunteer driver for the Sierra Pines Church bus, was in the process of refueling the bus after it had run out of gas when two big rigs collided and slid into the nearby bus and Haen.

One of the children onboard was Haen's nephew, Bodie Young, who was awarded $514,000 for pain and suffering related to depression and post traumatic stress disorder that he has suffered from witnessing his uncle's death.

Jurors awarded Haen's wife Sheryll Haen, herself a victim of the 1976 Chowchilla school bus kidnapping, $6.7 million for pain and suffering and loss of love and financial support as a result of the death of her husband.

During the trial, jurors heard testimony about how the particular nature of this accident exacerbated the pain and suffering for Sheryll Haen who had recently overcome, with the help of her late husband, a lifelong fear of buses as a result of the childhood kidnapping.
Although the attorneys for defendants Logos Group Inc. and Triple E Produce considered the Chowchilla kidnapping irrelevant to the current case, Judge Donald Black allowed the testimony.

All the parties did agree that the verdict was a fair settlement.

Truck Accident Personal Injury Liability
In cases that are complicated by factors external to the accident itself, as well as truck accidents that involve multiple defendants, a victim or their family will greatly benefit from working with an experienced truck accident attorney. The attorneys at Estey Bomberger are happy to help provide a free consultation to review your case and discuss factors that will determine what is a fair settlement for you.

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MORADA - The driver of a black Chevrolet Tahoe suffered serious injuries Monday morning when his vehicle struck the center divider on southbound Highway 99 near the Morada exit, the Lodi News-Sentinel reported. The accident occurred around 10 a.m. on Monday, June 6, 2011. The driver of the SUV, described only as a man in his mid-40s, was taken to the hospital by ambulance with serious injuries. Drugs and alcohol were not believed to be a factor in the crash. The CHP reported the driver was believed to have been going the speed limit. The cause of the San Joaquin County crash remains under investigation.

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RED BLUFF -- A 6-year-old Red Bluff girl suffered major injuries in a four-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in Tehama County, the Record-Searchlight reported. The accident was reported at 12:45 p.m. on April 2, 2011, on Highway 99E just south of Patterson Road. The young girl was a passenger in a 1999 Subuaru driven northbound on Highway 99E by Jerod Gilbert, 24, of Red Bluff. When Gilbert slowed the vehicle to make a left turn onto Patterson road, he was rear-ended by a 1999 Ford driven by Pablo Vasquez, 31, of Gerber. The impact of the rear-end collision caused Gilbert's vehicle to spin into southbound traffic where it was struck by a car driven by John Koga, 19, of Palo Cedro. A 29-year-old Paradise woman, Kristen Horst, was able to avoid the collision, but lost control of her 2010 Subaru and ended up in a grassy field.

Jerod Gilbert, Pablo Vasquez, and Kristen Horst were reportedly not injured in the crash. John Koga suffered minor injuries, as did a passenger in Gilbert's Subaru, Rikki Ramey, 25. A six-year-old girl in Gilbert's Subaru was critically injured and taken to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, and later transferred to UC Davis Medical Center.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating this incident. Based on the news reports, it appears the driver of the Ford who rear-ended Gilbert's vehicle may be responsible for this collision. The CHP surely will look at the speed of all vehicles, possible negligence such as texting and driving or driving under the influence in determining what happened, and who was responsible.

If the driver of the Ford is determined to be at fault here, he may be liable for the injuries the little girl in the Subaru suffered. When negligence or reckless driving cause accidents that result in serious injury to a child, the parents of the victim would be well-advised to seek a consultation with a knowledgeable California car accident lawyer. A skilled attorney can help the family protect their legal rights to hold the negligent parties fully accountable for medical expenses and pain and suffering the family endured as a result of this accident.

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WILLOWS - A head-on collision Tuesday night killed three people in Glenn County, the Contra Costa Times and Willows Journal reported. The accident occurred on Highway 99W, north of the intersection with County Road 39. According to news reports, at about 9:35 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, Erik Ortega, 26, of Orland, was driving a 1991 Ford Taurus southbound on the highway when he reportedly allowed his vehicle to drift into northbound lanes. The Ford collided head-on with a 2007 Hyundai Elantra driven by Melissa M. Ellithorp, 20, of Willows. Both Ortega and Ellithorp were killed in the crash. A passenger in Ellithorp's Hyundai, Nicolina Joann Milani, 19, of Glenn, also died. A second passenger in the Hyundai, Emily D Ellithorp, 31, of Willows, sustained major injuries and was taken to Enloe Medical Center in Chico.

Cause of the Glenn County Crash

The April 5th head-on collision remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. If news accounts of the incident are accurate, it is likely that Melissa Ellithorp could have done nothing to avoid this collision. It is unclear why Ortega allowed his southbound vehicle to drift into northbound lanes. Was he distracted? Did he fall asleep at the wheel? Was he driving under the influence? Did something malfunction mechanically? Hopefully, the investigation by law enforcement will reveal exactly what happened, and why.

Car Accident Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Liability

While this car accident remains under investigation, the family members of the three occupants of the Hyundai would be well-advised to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable California car accident lawyer. An attorney who has handled hundreds of personal injury and wrongful death cases arising from head-on collisions similar to this one can closely monitor the official investigation and advise the victims' families of their best course of action to protect their rights. If necessary, an independent investigator can be dispatched to the scene to independently determined what happened and why. If negligence of the driver or someone else caused or contributed to this crash, the victims' families may be able to recover compensation for their loss against whoever was ultimately responsible.

Continue reading "Three Killed in Head-on Crash in Glenn County " »

ELK GROVE - A rollover crash Saturday night in Elk Grove left one person dead and six others injured, the Sacramento Bee reported. According to news reports, the accident occurred on northbound Highway 99 near Sheldon Road at 7:22 p.m., when a vehicle entering the freeway lost control and struck a Dodge minivan carrying seven people. The driver of the minivan was ejected from the vehicle and killed. The other six occupants of the vehicle suffered injuries ranging from minor to moderate.

Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Liability

The cause of the January 29th car accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol; it is not clear why the driver of the other vehicle lost control and struck the minivan. After a fatal accident such as this one where the cause is unclear, the family members of the victims of this accident would be well-advised to speak with a Sacramento car accident lawyer, while authorities are still looking at all possible causes. If negligence of the other driver was the cause of the crash, the family members of the victim may be entitled to recover damages for their injuries or loss in a wrongful death claim. A skilled and knowledgeable lawyer can help the victims understand and protect their legal rights following this horrific Elk Grove car accident.

Continue reading "One Killed, Six Injured in Minivan Rollover in Elk Grove " »

STOCKTON - A 51-year-old Stockton man tragically was killed Thursday when his 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee went off the road and struck a tree, the Lodi News-Sentinel reported. At about 8:18 a.m. on Thursday, January 27, Kevin Gormly, 51, was driving southbound on Highway 99 near Morada Lane when his vehicle left the road. The CHP does not believe drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash. The cause of the fatal San Joaquin County car accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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