Seven Suffer Injuries in SUV Rollover Accident
Seven people were injured in a rollover accident on the Highway 101 the afternoon of December 31, 2009. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, the accident occurred when the 23-year-old driver of the SUV, Kyle Homad, lost control of the vehicle and crashed. California Highway Patrol officials said a tanker truck traveling in the same direction tried to make an unsafe lane change, pushing another driver into the same lane as the SUV. It was then that Homad lost control and crashed. The driver of the other car stopped, but the big rig did not.
It is indeed fortunate that none of the victims sustained critical or life-threatening injuries in this car accident. The people in the SUV were apparently on their way to a swim meet. The SUV's occupants were all wearing their seatbelts, which was probably what saved their lives. I wish the injured victims well and hope they recover quickly and completely from their injuries.
Non-Contact Hit-and-Run
According to California Vehicle Code section 20001: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident." In this case, if the news report is accurate, it seems to me that what happened was a non-contact hit-and-run. This means that the big rig did not actually strike the SUV or even the other car for that matter. However, it caused the accident by attempting to make an unsafe lane change.
Liability Issues
It appears to me, based on this report, that the driver of the big rig was at fault here for the attempted unsafe lane change and causing the other driver to swerve. If officials determine that the big rig driver was at fault, the truck driver and his employer could be held responsible for the accident and resulting injuries. The victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the crash and make sure the negligent parties are held accountable.
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.
