California Injury Lawyer Blog

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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TEHAMA COUNTY - A 64-year-old Corning man tragically died Friday afternoon when his motorcycle was struck from behind on South Avenue in Corning, the Corning Observer reported. The accident occurred west of Mary Avenue at about 4:40 p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2011. According to news accounts, the victim, Gary Jackson, was riding his 2006 Harley Davidson eastbound on South Avenue, behind a BMW driven by Joylynn Aanenson, 51, of Corning. When Aanenson and Jackson slowed for a truck pulling into a driveway, Curtis Guzman, the 18-year-old driver of a Dodge Ram truck behind Jackson did not see the two vehicles slow down. Guzman plowed into the back of Jackson's motorcycle, ejecting him, and then striking the BMW. Gary Jackson died at the scene of the crash. Neither Aanenson or Guzman were hurt.

Cause of the Crash

The cause of the February 25th crash remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. However, if news accounts are accurate, the driver of the Dodge Ram pickup truck is likely responsible for this accident for failing to pay attention to traffic conditions ahead of him. Alcohol or drugs reportedly did not appear to be a factor in the fatal collision. The CHP reported that they would file a report with the Tehama County District Attorney's Office and manslaughter charges against Guzman are pending.

Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Death Liability

While this accident remains under investigation by the CHP, the family members of Gary Jackson would be well-advised to contact a California motorcycle accident lawyer about their legal rights in a wrongful death claim. If Guzman is indeed responsible for this fatal collision, he may be financially liable for the death of the motorcyclist, and the family may be able to recover damages for funeral and burial expenses, lost earnings, and loss of love, care, guidance and companionship. An experienced California wrongful death lawyer can review the accident report and advise the victim's family of their best course of action to protect their legal rights to hold the at-fault driver (and any other responsible parties) accountable for their loss.

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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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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.

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The California Highway Patrol reported a man was killed Tuesday night in a solo vehicle crash in Tehama County. The man, identified as Darrell Ogier, 32, of Red Bluff, was driving his Ford Escort on Pine Creek Road approaching Reeds Creek Road when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a large tree. The accident occurred just after 10 p.m. According to a CHP spokesman, Ogier was travelling north on Pine Creek Road at an unknown speed when his vehicle drifted into southbound lanes. Ogier likely "overcorrected" and turned his vehicle to the right, causing it to go off the road and strike the tree.

Please keep the family of Darrell Ogier in your prayers as they mourn this sudden and unexpected loss. Our sympathy goes out to everyone who knew and loved him.

Based on reports of the incident in the Record Searchlight, the cause of the accident is not clear. The CHP is investigating the cause of the fatal crash, and will determine if alcohol, unsafe speeds or something entirely out of the driver's control caused this accident. While the incident remains under investigation, the family of Darrell Ogier may consider speaking with a California wrongful death attorney to determine their legal rights. If an unsafe road condition, or a vehicle mechanical failure led to this unfortunate crash, the family may have a claim against the agency responsible for maintaining the road, or the manufacturer of the vehicle. An attorney can review the investigative report of the incident, determine if similar crashes have occurred at the same location, and research safety issues of the vehicle involved.

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