San Francisco Car Accident Kills Driver
California Highway Patrol officials are saying that debris on Highway 280 may have caused a San Francisco car accident, which killed a 58-year-old driver the morning of December 8, 2009. A CBS news report states that the driver who was traveling in a 1996 Toyota Tacoma struck a beanbag chair on the roadway, which caused his vehicle to stall. The driver was struck by a 2006 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck when he got out of his vehicle. Officials said the other driver struck this man in an attempt to avoid more debris in the same area. CHP officials are looking for anyone who saw the vehicle responsible for dropping the debris on the highway.
This is no doubt a tragic accident. I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of this car accident victim. They will be in my prayers.
San Francisco Car Accidents
There were 51 deaths and 3,632 injuries involving car accidents in the city of San Francisco in 2007, according to CHP's traffic accident statistics. Also, over the last two years, debris on the roadway was responsible for 155 fatal California car accidents. The California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) estimates that 140,000 cubic yards of debris is dumped on California’s roadways each year.
Liability Issues in Roadway Debris Cases
In California, motorists can be fined for dropping anything other than live bird feathers or water from their vehicles onto a roadway. In addition to fines, they can be held civilly and criminally responsible for injuries or fatalities that occur as a consequence of debris being dropped on our roadways.
If you or a loved one has been injured by roadway debris, you could be compensated by the negligent party and/or through the uninsured/underinsured provision of your car insurance policy. A knowledgeable San Francisco personal injury attorney will be able to advise victims or their families about their legal rights and options in such roadway debris cases.
We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.
