California Injury Lawyer Blog

MENDOCINO COUNTY -- According to Mercury News, an 82-year-old Mendocino avid cyclist was severely struck by a pickup truck in Casper on Sunday. This tragic accident happened along Highway 1 when a 1999 Ford F-150 driven by Sterling Bradbury, 18, of Mendocino, veered onto the shoulder of the highway and struck the bicyclist. CHP at the scene stated that alcohol or drugs, or the use of a cell phone were not a factor in the crash. However, following this tragic accident, the bicyclist, David Russell, was airlifted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where he was later died due to his injures.

Cause of the Bicycle Accident on Highway 1

The accident on November 13th remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. However based on the information provided by Mercury News, it is unclear what caused the teen driver to veer onto the shoulder of the freeway. Therefore, police officials investigating this devastating accident will look at factors that include and are not limited to falling asleep while driving, road conditions, vehicle malfunctions, and distracted driving.

Bicycle Accident Wrongful Death Liability

Bicycle accidents can result in serious injuries and/or death to the cyclist involved. There are numerous ways accidents such as this one can occur, such as motorists forcing bicyclists off the road, veering in front of a cyclist's path, or other negligent actions by the driver.

Therefore, while it is not determined by authorities what caused this crash and who is ultimately responsible, the family of the deceased victim would be well-advised to contact a California wrongful death lawyer. One of our understanding and dedicated attorneys at Estey Bomberger, especially Mike Bomberger who is also an avid cyclist, can ensure the family's legal rights are protected, help police in efforts to hold the responsible party financially liable for funeral and burial costs, anticipated and future lifetime earnings and benefits, loss of love, care, affection, and companionship.

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MENDOCINO COUNTY - A 10-year-old Fort Bragg boy very tragically was killed Wednesday afternoon in a horrific crash on Highway 20, about halfway between Ukiah and Fort Bragg, the Ukiah Daily Journal and Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported. The fatal accident was reported on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, just after 2:30 p.m. According to CHP reports, a 16-year-old boy was driving a Honda Accord eastbound on Highway 20, about a mile east of Chamberlin Creek. At the same time, a 38-year-old Fort Bragg man was driving a grey Ford F-150 westbound.

When the teen driver of the Honda attempted a left turn, the driver of the Ford attempted to avoid the collision, but was unable to stop, and struck the right side of the Honda. A 10-year-old boy in the right front passenger seat suffered major injuries and was airlifted to Oakland Children's Hospital. His twin brother, seated in the right back seat, died at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Honda suffered minor injuries and the driver of the pickup truck was not hurt.

According to the CHP, all parties were wearing seatbelts and alcohol or drugs were not believed to be a factor. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Our condolences go out to the family of the young victim and everyone who knew him and loved him. Please keep his family in your prayers during this surely very difficult time.

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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.

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A 41-year-old Lake County woman was killed and four other people were injured Saturday night in a crash on Highway 20, authorities reported. Both the CHP and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection responded to the crash, which happened west of Marina Drive in Mendocino County. The February 6 crash occurred at about 11:15 p.m., and the highway was closed until nearly 2 a.m. Sunday morning.

According to reports in the Ukiah Daily Journal, a 1997 Ford van travelling west collided with a 2004 Chevy Silverado truck travelling east. The Ford was travelling an estimated 60 mph and the Chevy was travelling an estimated 50 mph. The CHP reported that the driver of the Ford, for reasons not known, drifted into eastbound lanes, colliding head-on with the Chevy. The woman driving the Ford, who was identified only as a resident of Lower Lake, died in the crash. Two passengers in the Ford, a 27-year-old Redwood Valley man and a 20-year-old Finley woman both suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Chevy truck, a 45-year-old Williams man, and his 29-year-old passenger, were also injured.

Based on the news reports of the incident, the cause of the accident is not clear. Why did the driver of the Ford drift into eastbound traffic? In the course of their investigation, the CHP will speak to passengers and any witnesses, and determine what caused this crash, and if alcohol was a factor in the collision. While the cause of the head-on accident remains under investigation, both of the passengers in the Ford and the driver and passenger in the Chevy may benefit from a consultation with a California Highway 20 accident lawyer, to determine their rights to compensation for their injuries. The family of the woman killed in this crash may also have a claim for wrongful death, if the crash is deemed not her fault.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office has identified the victim of a fatal crash Wednesday morning on Highway 20 as Paul Brown, 49, of Lakeport. According to reports in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and Lake County News, Brown was the driver and sole occupant of a Dodge Ram pickup truck travelling westbound on Highway 20, at the Russian River Bridge, east of Highway 101 in Redwood Valley. Brown lost control of his vehicle for unknown reasons and collided with a Ford F-550 utility truck at about 6:50 a.m. Brown died of his injuries at the scene shortly after the crash. The driver of the Ford, Edward Turberville, 33, of Santa Rosa, was taken to Ukiah Valley Medical Center and released. Officials reported both vehicles were travelling at about 50 mph when they collided head-on on the Russian River bridge. Both Brown and Turberville were wearing their seatbelts.

Highway 20 runs 211 miles from Highway 1 in Mendocino County to Interstate 80 in Placer County. Parts of Highway 20 are especially dangerous, and there have been numerous fatality and injury accidents on Highway 20 this year. On August 26, a truck driver suffered major injuries in a crash on Highway 20 in Nevada County. One person was killed and ten others were injured on July 4 on Highway 20 in Sutter County. In June, two passengers suffered major injuries in a solo vehicle crash on Highway 20, east of Walker Ridge in Lake County. A 19-year-old woman died in a head-on collision near the same location in Lake County on April 7.

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