California Injury Lawyer Blog

GRASS VALLEY - A 39-year-old Grass Valley man tragically died Friday night as he tried to cross Nevada City Highway, the Union reported. According to news reports, on the evening of April 6th, the victim, Brian Allen Hobgood, was hit by a 1999 Dodge truck driven by a 19-year-old Penn Valley man. The fatal accident happened at about 9 p.m. in the 1900 block of the highway.

Cause of the Fatal Pedestrian Accident

The Grass Valley Police Department is continuing to investigate the cause of the fatal collision, including whether the victim may have consumed alcohol prior to being struck. Based on the limited information provided by KCRA and the Union, it is unclear how fast the truck was travelling at the time of the collision, and whether the driver could have done anything to prevent striking the pedestrian. Hopefully, the investigation will reveal exactly what happened, and why.

Applicable California Vehicle Code Laws

Based on this article, it appears that the victim was outside of a marked crosswalk when the collision occurred. California Vehicle Code Section 21954 outlines the protection and right-of-way crosswalks provide pedestrians. The section also states, "The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon a roadway."

Possible Wrongful Death Liability Issues

If the driver of the truck is determined to be at fault, or to have contributed to the accident, he could possibly be held liable for the victim's wrongful death. A knowledgeable and caring California wrongful death attorney can also help the victim's family determine if a dangerous road condition may have been a factor in the incident. If that was the case, the city or county agency responsible for the maintenance of the Nevada City Highway could be liable. Following any accident where the cause is unclear, victims' families are well-advised to speak with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer who can determine if further investigation or legal action is advisable.

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Four people were injured in a head-on collision on Highway 89 Wednesday night in Nevada County, the Sierra Sun reported. The accident was reported south of Rampart at about 5 p.m. According to news reports, A 1998 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck heading north collided with a 2002 Acura MDX SUV headed south. The impact sent the Acura down a nearby embankment where it struck a cyclist. The three occupants of the Acura, a 42-year-old woman, a 66-year-old woman and a 6-year-old girl, all from Tahoe City, suffered major injuries in the crash. The 34-year-old driver of the Chevrolet truck, a Squaw Valley resident, suffered major injuries. The cyclist, a man from Salt Lake City, suffered minor injuries.

Cause of the Highway 89 Crash

The Sierra Sun reported that the driver of the pickup truck, who was taken to Tahoe Forest Hospital, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. It is not clear if he was driving on the wrong-side of the road or how exactly the collision occurred.

Drunk Driving Accidents and Personal Injury Liability

In this particular Highway 89 crash, it is determined that the driver of the northbound Chevy pickup truck caused the head-on collision, he or she may be liable for the injuries of the three occupants of the Acura and the cyclist. When accidents are caused by a drunk driver, in addition to criminal charges for driving under the influence, the driver may be liable for the victims' medical treatment expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. The victims' family would be well-advised to consult with an experienced northern California personal injury lawyer, who has successfully represented victims of accidents caused by drunk drivers.

Protecting the Rights of DUI Accident Victims

At Estey Bomberger, we believe accidents caused by drunk drivers are 100% preventable. The decision to drink and drive is both reckless and negligent, and drivers who drive under the influence should be held accountable for their actions. For more information about what you can do to stop drinking and driving in your community, visit our website stop-drunk-driving.com.

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A crash near Lake Tahoe involving a 2002 Acura and a 2004 Volvo on Highway 89 Sunday evening left a 19-year-old St. Louis woman dead, the California Highway Patrol reported. The Easter Sunday crash occurred at about 6:30 p.m. April 4, on Highway 89 south of Alpine Meadows Road in Nevada County. According to reports in the Sierra Sun, the victim, Wenjie Li, 19, was a passenger in the Acura, which was travelling northbound on Highway 89.The driver of the Acura, Shang Gao, 20, of Reno, apparently lost control of the vehicle in snowy conditions and broadsided the southbound 2004 Volvo, driven by a Redwood City woman in her 40's. Li was taken by ambulance to Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, where she died of her injuries. Both Gao and the driver of the Volvo suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The Sacramento Bee reported that Li was a St. Louis university student visiting the Tahoe area with her boyfriend. Our condolences go out to her family and everyone who knew and loved her. Please keep her family in your prayers.

What Caused this Accident?

Based on the limited reports of the accident, it is not clear what caused Gao to lose control of his vehicle and collide with the Volvo. Authorities will investigate to see if Gao was not driving safely in light of weather conditions, or if he was under the influence of alcohol. It is also possible that something malfunctioned with the vehicle or one of its tires blew out, causing him to lose control. While this accident remains under investigation, the family of Wenjie Li and the woman driving the Volvo would be well-advised to speak to a California personal injury attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can help the victims protect their legal rights and understand who was at fault for the accident, and explain the family's options in a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

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Four people were injured, including one critically, in an intersection crash on Highway 20 in Penn Valley Wednesday, police reported. The crash occurred at Highway 20 and Rough and Ready Highway at about 7:45 a.m. March 31. According to reports in The Union, a newly licensed teenage driver in a Chevrolet pickup truck was trying to turn onto Rough and Ready Highway from the eastbound lane of Highway 20. She drove against a red light into the path of a westbound Toyota Corolla driven by a 56-year-old Colfax woman, Deborah Miller. The two vehicles collided almost head-on. It was not clear how fast the Corolla was travelling.

Miller suffered major injuries in the crash, including multiple compound bone fractures in her arm and elbow. She was flown by CHP helicopter to Sutter Roseville Medical Center. The teenage driver and two other teenage passengers were taken to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital. All four people involved in the crash were fortunately wearing their seat belts.

A CHP officer said that the initial evidence pointed toward the teenage driver being at fault, but that no citations were issued and that the crash remained under investigation. If the teen is at fault in this March 31st Highway 20 accident, as it seems, the family of Deborah Miller should contact a California personal injury attorney as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer can help the woman protect her rights and ensure she is fairly and fully compensated for her serious injuries. In a free consultation, an attorney will be able to explain the liability issues and advise the family of their best course of action with the insurance company.

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