Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

A New Year's Day crash in Havasu Lake tragically took the life of a 37-year-old male resident of Havasu Lake, the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office reported. The January 1st accident, which is under investigation by the CHP, occurred on Havasu Lake Road, about .4 miles north of Jack Bale Road, at 3:34 a.m.. The victim, Alejandro John, 37, was a front-seat passenger in a 1999 Toyota 4Runner SUV travelling northbound on Havasu Lake Road. For reasons not known, the driver, who wasn't identified, lost control of the vehicle, which left the roadway and struck a tree. John died of his injuries at the scene of the crash at 4:11 a.m. It was not clear from the news reports whether the driver or anyone else was injured.

Cause of the Havasu Lake Crash

Based on the limited information provided in news reports, it is unclear what happened to cause this fatal accident. At this point - there are only questions. Was the driver of the Toyota drunk, distracted, or speeding? Did he or she fall asleep at the wheel? Was it raining at the time of the accident? Did a defect in the vehicle, such as a tire blowout, cause this accident? Was John wearing a seatbelt? Hopefully, the investigation by law enforcement will reveal what happened, and who was responsible.

Passenger Deaths and Wrongful Death Liability

The sudden loss of a loved one in any accident is devastating, and understandably leaves family members with grief, anguish, and sadness. Along with the emotional pain of a loss, family members are often left with financial hardship from funeral and burial expenses, and loss of income and benefits the victim contributed to his family. When accidents are caused by the negligence of another - either the driver, the manufacturer of the vehicle, or even possibly the agency responsible for maintaining the roadway - the family may be able to recover compensation for their loss in a wrongful death claim. After an accident such as this one, the family may benefit from talking to a California wrongful death lawyer about the SUV rollover crash, and their rights to pursue financial compensation for their loss from whoever is determined to be responsible for this fatal accident.