A car accident in Los Angeles resulted in injuries for five people the morning of August 15, 2010. The Los Angeles Daily News reports that the injury collision involved four vehicles and occurred at the intersection of Vesper Avenue and Burbank Boulevard. Three people sustained severe injuries. Officials are looking into what caused this crash. Read More

A woman sustained injuries in an Orange County car accident after she was struck by a suspected drunk driver in Irvine. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred when the woman was crossing the street near the intersection of Barranca Parkway and Creek Road. The woman was taken to a local hospital, but the extent of her injuries is not known. An investigation is ongoing. Read More

A car accident in Escondido the morning of August 9, 2010 proved fatal for 52-year-old Caroline McElhaney, 10news reports. California Highway Patrol officials said the deadly crash occurred on the 15 Freeway near Ninth Street, when 28-year-old Jackson Redmond, who was driving a 1999 Dodge Ram, attempted to change lanes. However, he ended up rear-ending McElhaney's 2001 Mercedes-Benz as he switched lanes. The Mercedes was then pushed ahead and involved in a collision with two other vehicles whose drivers sustained minor injuries. McElhaney suffered fatal injuries while Redmond was uninjured. Read More

A 21-year-old woman, who sustained major injuries in a bicycle accident in Simi Valley, has been identified as Michelle Bagsby. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, the injury collision occurred near the intersection of Los Angeles and Bridget avenues. Both Bagsby and the driver of the minivan that struck her, 52-year-old Sandra Cunningham, were traveling west on Los Angeles Avenue. Officials say Bagsby was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries while the other driver was uninjured. Officials are looking into what caused the collision. Read More

The chef at a prominent Seaside restaurant was killed in a car accident, which officials say, was caused by a fatigued driver. According to a news report in The Monterey Herald, 58-year-old Ted Consoli was fatally injured the evening of July 30, 2010, when his 2004 BMW Z4 was hit by a Ford SUV on Holman Highway. Read More

A pedestrian accident in San Clemente resulted in severe injuries for a 61-year-old man the night of August 1, 2010. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the man was walking near 700 Avenida Pico when he was struck by a vehicle being operated by a 16-year-old driver. The pedestrian sustained a broken leg and head injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No citations were issued or arrests made pending an official investigation. Read More

One person was killed and two others, all from Los Angeles, were injured in a Fresno car accident after their van crashed on the Interstate 5, the morning of July 27, 2010. According to a news report in The Fresno Bee, the accident, which happened near Coalinga, injured the driver, Jimmy Sanpakit, 68, of Arleta, and another passenger, Kuangrudee Kla-harn, 71, of Van Nuys. Their van was northbound on the freeway, close to Highway 145, when a tread separated from one of the tires. The driver lost control of the vehicle. A 68-year-old male passenger from North Hollywood sustained fatal injuries in this crash. His identity has not yet been released. An investigation is ongoing. Read More

A possible auto product defect may have caused a fatal car accident that claimed the life of a 68-year-old Los Angeles man the morning of July 27, 2010, in Fresno. The Fresno Bee reports that the deadly crash occurred when the a tread separated from one of the tires on the van, in which the deceased victim was a passenger. Two others -- Jimmy Sanpakit, 68, of Arleta, and another passenger, Kuangrudee Kla-harn, 71, of Van Nuys – sustained injuries. Read More

Tonia Marie Evans, 44, was killed in a July 21, 2010 car accident on Highway 101 after another vehicle collided head-on with hers. According to a report in The Willits News, Evans was driving a 1995 Toyota 4Runner south on the highway when a 2001 Subaru driven by 37-year-old Saskia Martin swerved into the southbound lanes into the path of the 4Runner. California Highway Patrol officials said the head-on collision caused the Toyota SUV to roll over. Martin and Tonia Evans' husband, 52-year-old Allen Evans, sustained minor injuries. However, Tonia Evans died at the scene.

Martin told officials that she was in the slow lane of Highway 101 behind a big rig, when she attempted to pass it. Just as she did so, she spotted an abandoned bicycle in her lane and braked. Martin said it was then that she lost control of the Subaru and entered opposing lanes of traffic. CHP officers took the bicycle off freeway lanes. An investigation is ongoing.

The Result of Roadway Debris?

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Tonia Marie Evans for their tragic, heartbreaking and untimely loss. This grieving family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Based on this news report, it appears that this tragic accident may have occurred as a result of someone dropping the bicycle in traffic lanes. The California State Department of Transportation estimates that 140,000 cubic yards of debris is dumped on California's roadways each year. In California, roadway debris has caused 155 traffic accident deaths and numerous catastrophic injuries between 2006 and 2008.

Laws and Liability Issues

California law prohibits anyone from throwing or dumping matter on the highway. California Vehicle Code section 23112 (a) states: "No person shall throw or deposit, nor shall the registered owner or the driver, if such owner is not then present in the vehicle, aid or abet in the throwing or depositing upon any highway any bottle, can, garbage, glass, nail, offal, paper, wire, any substance likely to injure or damage traffic using the highway, or any noisome, nauseous, or offensive matter of any kind."

In such cases where deadly crashes are caused by roadway debris, the person or entities that were responsible for dropping the debris on the roadway can be held liable for the accidents and resulting injuries or deaths. Individuals who are injured in such car accidents would be well-advised to consult with an experienced California personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled roadway debris cases. A skilled car accident lawyer should inform victims and their families how their car insurance policy will apply to such roadway accidents.

Have you ever had a close call on the roadway as a result of debris?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

A bicyclist was injured in a San Diego car accident the morning of July 28, 2010, 10news reports. San Diego County Sheriff's officials said the injury collision occurred at the intersection of Imperial Beach Boulevard and Florence Street. The injured bicyclist was transported to an area hospital. The extent of the bicyclist's injuries is not known. An investigation is ongoing. Read More