California Injury Lawyer Blog

SHASTA COUNTY - A pedestrian was very seriously injured when he was hit by a car on Interstate 5 in Redding early Friday morning, KRCRTV.com reported. According to the California Highway Patrol, a 21-year-old Redding man tried to cross the freeway, when he was hit by a 1985 Chevrolet driven by Sandra Polk, 51, of Seattle. The accident occurred on southbound I-5 near Hartnell Avenue at about 1:30 a.m. According to news reports, Polk's Chevrolet was travelling at an estimated 60 mph when the collision occurred. The victim, David Wucco, suffered two broken legs and was taken by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition Friday morning.

Freeway Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Liability

Based on the limited information provided in news accounts, it is unclear whether the driver could have avoided striking the pedestrian. Depending on the unique circumstances of the accident, if negligence of the driver was a factor in this collision, the injured victim may be entitled to compensation in a personal injury claim. While this accident remains under investigation, the injured victim or his family may benefit from speaking to an experienced and knowledgeable northern California pedestrian injury attorney. A skilled personal injury lawyer can review the CHP report and advise the victim of his legal rights and options, and best course of action following this accident.

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WOODLAND - A two-vehicle crash involving a silver Ford Taurus and a Chrysler Town & Country minivan left three people injured Sunday afternoon, the Daily Democrat reported. The accident occurred on the southbound North West Street onramp around 3:58 a.m. when the driver of the Ford swerved into the center divider and then changed directions into oncoming traffic, T-boning the Chrysler minivan.

The driver of the Ford, a Citrus Heights woman, was airlifted to a UC Davis Medical Center via a Calstar helicopter. A man and woman in the minivan, both passengers, and both visiting California from Australia, were taken to the hospital via ambulance. The cause of the June 19th Yolo County car accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Based on the limited details provided in news accounts, it is impossible to determine what happened to cause this crash. Hopefully the investigation by law enforcement will reveal exactly what happened, and who was responsible for this Yolo County Interstate 5 accident.

If the CHP determines that the driver of the Ford caused this accident, she may be liable for the injuries sustained by the occupants of the Chrysler minivan. Following an injury accident such as this one, the injured passengers or their family members would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable northern California highway accident lawyer. An experienced attorney, who has handled personal injury claims arising from Interstate 5 accidents can advise the victims and their families of their legal rights to recover compensation for their injuries, and best course of action to hold the responsible parties fully accountable.

Continue reading "Three People Injured in I-5 Crash in Yolo County " »

COLUSA COUNTY - One person died in a solo-vehicle rollover crash Friday morning on Interstate 5 in Colusa County, the Chico Enterprise Record reported. The accident was reported just north of Hillgate Road, just before 4:30 a.m. According to news reports, the vehicle was travelling northbound on I-5 when it crossed through the center divider and came to rest in the southbound lanes of the freeway. Further details as to the cause of the crash were not available; the California Highway Patrol is investigating the June 17th crash.

Continue reading "Fatality Reported in Interstate 5 Crash in Colusa County " »

SAN CLEMENTE - Ten people suffered injuries ranging from minor to major following a multi-vehicle car accident Wednesday afternoon, the Orange County Register reported. The accident reportedly began in the fast lane of Interstate 5, near Avenida Pico, when the driver of a Dodge rear-ended a Nissan. The impact of the collision sent the Nissan into the No. 2 lane where it collided with a Mercedes-Benz. The 26-year-old male driver of the Nissan and five passengers in the vehicle were taken to Mission Hospital. Two of the occupants suffered moderate injuries, two suffered major injuries, and two suffered minor injuries. Four occupants of the Dodge were taken to UCI Medical Center with minor injuries. The driver of the Mercedes, a 55-year-old Carlsbad man, was apparently not hurt.

Cause of the Interstate 5 Accident

The cause of the June 15th Interstate 5 accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. According to news accounts, investigators believe the driver of the Dodge likely was likely not paying attention when traffic slowed in front of him. While the driver of the Nissan slowed down, the driver of the Dodge did not. Drugs or alcohol are not believed to be a factor.

Car Accident Personal Injury Liability

Accident victims who are injured due to the negligence of another may be entitled to recover compensation for their injuries in a personal injury claim, which may include damages for medical care expenses, lost earnings, as well as compensation for pain and suffering. Following a multi-vehicle car accident such as this June 15th Orange County crash, the injured victims or their family members would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable California freeway accident attorney. A lawyer who understands the unique and sometimes complex insurance issues of Interstate 5 freeway accidents can advise the victims of their legal rights to be compensated for their injuries and best course of action following this accident.

Continue reading "Ten People Injured in Interstate 5 Crash in San Clemente " »

COALINGA - A 26-year-old Westminster man died Friday afternoon when his vehicle drifted off Interstate 5, and down an embankment into the California Aqueduct, the Hanford Sentinel reported. The accident occurred on southbound Interstate 5, north of 25th Avenue, just before 5 p.m. For unknown reasons, the man allowed his 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser across the center median and northbound lanes. His vehicle landed in the aqueduct. The man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 9:30 p.m. Alcohol and drugs did not appear to be a factor. The cause of the fatal May 20th Fresno County crash remains under investigation.

Continue reading "Westminster Man Killed in Crash Into California Aqueduct " »

A man died early Thursday morning in a crash on Interstate 5 near Patterson, the Tracy Press reported.

The Stanislaus County accident occurred around 3:15 a.m. Thursday June 3rd, on southbound I-5, just south of Sperry Road. According to reports, the 68-year-old man driving the truck lost control of the vehicle for unknown reasons.

The vehicle veered off the roadway and the driver, a Tracy man who was not identified, died at the scene. Bee cages and at least 30 beehives were scattered across the highway and thousands of bees escaped.

Cause of the Crash

According to a CHP spokesman, the highway patrol is still looking into the cause of the crash, and whether or not a medical emergency may have sent the truck into the barrier. The agency will also look into other possible factors, such as whether a dangerous road condition or mechanical malfunction in the vehicle caused or contributed to the collision with the concrete barrier.

Continue reading "Tracy Man Killed in Interstate 5 Crash in Patterson " »

Five people, including three children, were killed during a crash in pouring rain on Interstate 5 north of Los Angeles just moments before midnight Sunday night, the California Highway Patrol reported. The Newhall Pass crash, which was reported at 11:55 p.m. Sunday, April 11th , involved several vehicles, including a Nissan Altima a red Mazda pickup truck, and a Chevy Suburban. Authorities believe the chain of events was triggered by the driver of the Mazda pickup truck spinning out into the center divider. The pickup truck overturned, and was then struck by the Nissan Altima. The Altima was then hit by the Chevy Suburban.

Injuries and Fatalities

According to the LA Times, the driver of the pickup truck, John J. Blackburn, 53, of Frazier Park, was killed in the accident. The driver of the Nissan Altima, Francisco Encisco, 25, of Daly City, suffered major injuries. A passenger in the Nissan, Yessica Milan, 27, was hospitalized in critical condition. Three of her children, Xochitl M. Hernandez, 5, Edgar A. Hernandez, 8, and Cynthia J. Hernandez, 9, all of Whittier, were killed, along with her nephew, Luis Villegas, 16, of Oakland. Four people in the Chevy Suburban, including a toddler and an infant, sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Update: The driver of the Suburban, Victor Jarillo, has been arrested for allegedly driving without a license. His passenger was also taken into custody on suspicion of providing false information to law enforcement.

Fault and Liability

Although it was pouring rain at the time of the crash, weather was only a contributing factor, authorities reported. The main cause of the crash was still under investigation. In multi-vehicle accidents, it is possible that more than one party may be at-fault for a crash. It is also possible that mechanical failure in one of the vehicles contributed to this accident. While this crash remains under investigation, the families of the victims involved in this multi-vehicle Interstate 5 accident would be well-advised to speak to a California auto accident attorney who can protect their legal rights and recover compensation for their injuries or the loss of their loved one following this multi-vehicle Interstate 5 accident.

Continue reading "Five People, Including Four Children, Killed in Interstate 5 Crash North of Los Angeles " »

A crash on interstate 5 involving a big rig, a fire truck and as many as 20 other vehicles left at least one person with major injuries and several others with less serious injuries, the CHP reported. The crash occurred during cold, snowy conditions Friday morning at about 11:20 a.m., near the Black Butte exit on Interstate 5, north of Redding. The CHP closed interstate 5 from Shasta Lake to Mount Shasta while the scene was cleaned up and investigated.

Who Is At Fault?

Chain reaction, pileup accidents are common occurrences in poor visibility situations. Especially at highway speeds, wet, snowy, or icy conditions can cause drivers to lose control of their cars when they try to stop suddenly. In multi-vehicle accidents, each driver may share some percentage of fault. Having an attorney on your side can be beneficial because your lawyer can negotiate a lesser degree of fault, and ultimately recover more compensation for your injuries.

Multi-Car Accidents and Insurance Claims

The California injury lawyers at Estey Bomberger have recovered millions for people seriously injured in multi-vehicle, chain reaction and pileup accidents. From experience, we understand the unique legal issues that these cases present, and the tactics insurance companies will use to try and assign fault to other drivers and delay compensation to victims. If you have been injured in this Interstate 5 accident, or any other multi-vehicle highway accident, and would like to discuss your case with a lawyer, call Estey Bomberger at (800)724-3817. All consultations are free, with no obligation.