Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY - A 50-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl were both tragically killed Sunday night in an SUV rollover crash in Mountain Pass on Interstate 15, the San Bernardino Sun reported. The July 17th accident was reported at 10:18 p.m. on northbound I-15, north of Yates Well Road, west of Nipton, CA and south of Primm, NV. Paramedics found a silver 1999 Isuzu Rodeo had overturned into a ditch. The Sun reported two people died at the scene and the driver and two other passengers were taken to University Hospital in Las Vegas. The fast lane of I-15 was closed for five hours while CHP officers conducted an investigation.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner identified the victims as Patricia Vargas, 50, of Las Vegas, and Maria Lopez, 11, of Mexico. According to the press release, both victims were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from the vehicle when it overturned after the tread on one of the vehicle's tires separated, causing the driver to lose control.

Interstate 15 Rollover Accidents

Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County has been the location of dozens of serious injury or fatal vehicle rollover accidents over the years. Just last month, two Nevada woman were killed in an Interstate 15 rollover accident near Baker. In May, a 37-year-old Los Angeles man died in a SUV rollover crash in the Cajon Pass. In November 2010, a 61-year-old Las Vegas woman died in a vehicle rollover on I-15 near Zzyzx Road. In July 2010, an Oro Grande man died in a Ford Explorer rollover crash on northbound I-15 in the Cajon pass. And in March 2010, a Rancho Cucamonga couple was killed in a Ford Explorer rollover on southbound I-15. These accidents are just a few of the accidents that happen on a weekly basis on I-15 throughout the county of San Bernardino.

Vehicle Accident Wrongful Death Liability

Every car accident has unique causes and resulting liability issues. Depending on the exact circumstances of how an accident occurs, if negligence was a cause or factor, victims and their families may be entitled to compensation in a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Following a fatal rollover accident where the cause is unclear, victims' families would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable California SUV rollover accident attorney. A skilled lawyer can review the accident report, and if appropriate, arrange to have the vehicle and/or accident location inspected for dangerous conditions, flaws or defects. Many SUV rollover accidents are the result of manufacturing or design defects in the vehicles themselves, in which case the manufacturer of the vehicle may be liable victims' deaths resulting from a fatal accident.

Continue reading "Woman and Child Killed in Interstate 15 Crash Near Nevada State Line " »

THOUSAND PALMS - Six people were hospitalized following a minivan rollover crash Thursday morning on westbound Interstate 10, near Cook Street, KPSP Local 2 News reported. The accident, involving a 2002 Mercury van registered to the Coachella Valley Unified School District, occurred around 8:49 a.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2011. According to the CHP, six people were injured in the crash. Two people suffered critical injuries, two people suffered moderate injuries, and two people suffered minor injuries. The occupants included a high school student, parent and staff of Coachella Valley Unified, and were part of a caravan of vehicles headed to Ontario International Airport, where the group would fly to Sacramento and then visit California State University Chico.

Due to the accident, the trip was cancelled, and the 23 students scheduled to visit the university would not get to go.

Cause of the Interstate 10 Rollover Crash

KPSP News reported that the driver of the vehicle following the van reported seeing a tire blowout before the driver lost control of the vehicle and the fan overturned. Tire blowouts can be attributed to many causes, including deferred maintenance of aging, worn tires, cargo overloading, underinflation, roadway hazards (such as potholes and debris), excessive speed, and manufacturing defects. Additionally, defective tire repairs can allow moisture to penetrate the tires and rust the steel belts. This could lead to rusting and increase the likelihood of tire failure. The CHP will likely have the tire inspected to determine if the crash was caused by a defect in the tire.

Rollover Accident Personal Injury Liability

The family members of the victims of this accident would be well-advised to speak with a knowledgeable California personal injury attorney while this March 24th accident remains under investigation. Because the van involved in the crash was owned by the school district, the CVUSD may be liable for the injured victim's medical care expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. If the accident was caused by a defect in the tire, the tire manufacturer could be liable. An accident attorney who has successfully handled claims against numerous Southern California school districts and tire manufacturers can advise the injured victims of their legal rights and best course of action to protect them. In the interest of preserving evidence and witness recollections, it is advisable to speak with an attorney as soon as possible following a rollover accident such as this one.

Continue reading "Critical Injuries Reported in School Van Rollover on Interstate 10 " »

The Press-Enterprise has reported a tire blowout is likely to blame for a fatal solo-vehicle accident over the weekend on Interstate 15. The accident occurred on southbound Interstate 15, north of Baseline Road, at about 5:15 p.m. Sunday, September 19, 2010. According to news reports, Vannity Joy Lewis, 18, of Fontana was a passenger in a 1997 Volkswagen Jetta travelling southbound on Interstate 15. One of the rear tires on the vehicle blew out, causing the driver to lose control of the car.

The Jetta overturned multiple times, and Lewis was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene of the crash. The driver and one other passenger suffered major injuries. Two other passengers suffered moderate injuries.

Cause of the Interstate 15 Crash

The California Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the cause of the accident. If news reports in the Press-Enterprise and Fontana Herald News are accurate, this accident was likely caused by a tire blowout, a common vehicle malfunction that can lead to a serious car accident. Tire blowouts can occur for a number of reasons, which may be attributable to the driver or vehicle owner, or the manufacturer of the tire or vehicle.

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Liability

Car accidents caused by tire blowouts have unique and often complex legal issues. After an accident caused by a suspected tire blowout, injured victims and family members of deceased victims would be well-advised to consult with a southern California car accident lawyer who can arrange to have the vehicle and damaged tire inspected as soon as possible for a possible tire defect. Determining the exact cause of a blowout is very important in determining why an accident occurred and who is ultimately responsible. If negligence (either on the part of the driver, the manufacturer of the tire or vehicle, the company that installed the tire, or agency responsible for maintaining the roadway or any other party) was a factor in the tire blowout, an experienced lawyer can help the victims and their families pursue compensation in a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

Continue reading "Tire Blowout Blamed for Fatal I-15 Rollover Accident " »

Four people were hurt in a SUV rollover accident Tuesday afternoon in Barstow, the Desert Dispatch reported. The solo-vehicle accident, which involved a Jeep Grand Cherokee, occurred near the intersection of CA State Route 58 and Interstate 15. According to the CHP, the tread separated on one of the rear tires on the Jeep, causing the driver of the vehicle to lose control and veer off the freeway. Two of the occupants in the vehicle suffered major injuries and were airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center; two others with less serious injuries were taken by ambulance to Barstow Hospital. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the San Bernardino SUV rollover accident.

Tire Blowouts and SUV Rollovers on I-15

On March 21st of this year, a San Bernardino woman who was a passenger in a 1995 Jeep died in a solo-vehicle rollover accident on Interstate 15 in San Bernardino caused by a tire blowout. This July 3rd Jeep rollover accident, and the one earlier this year in March, are both examples of the serious consequences of tire blowouts at highway speeds. There have been a number of other serious injury and fatal vehicle rollovers on I-15 this year involving pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Tire blowouts have a number of causes, including underinflation, overinflation, overloading, negligent maintenance, road debris, negligent installation and structural defects.

Potential Personal Injury Liability

In any accident where a defect in a vehicle is a potential contributing factor to a collision, the vehicle must be preserved for inspection and testing. The vehicle itself is valuable evidence that can establish what happened in an accident. In situations such as this one, the family members of the injured victims would be well-advised to contact a California SUV rollover accident lawyer about this accident and whether a defect in the tire caused this accident. If the accident was caused by a tire defect, the injured victims may be entitled to compensation for their injuries from the manufacturer of the tire or the vehicle. A Barstow personal injury lawyer who has successfully represented victims of SUV rollovers can help the injured victims protect their rights and recover the maximum compensation they may be entitled to for their injuries.

Continue reading "Major Injuries in Jeep Grand Cherokee Rollover Near Barstow " »

A Bloomington woman died Monday morning in a solo vehicle rollover accident on Interstate 15 in Victorville, the San Bernardino Press Enterprise reported. The July 5th accident was reported at 7:51 a.m. on northbound I-15, north of Bear Valley Road in Victorville. The San Bernardino County Coroner identified the victim as Gloria Lynn Hooker, 57, of Bloomington.

According to the Victorville Daily Press, Hooker was a passenger in a 1999 Ford F250 Superduty pickup truck driven by Jerry Wayne Hooker, 55. The vehicle was in the fast lane when one of the tires rapidly lost pressure. As the driver attempted to pull over in the center divider, the tire shredded, causing the pickup truck to overturn multiple times. Both the driver and the passenger remained in the vehicle and had to be extricated by emergency personnel. Jerry Wayne Hooker was flown to Antelope Valley Hospital with moderate injuries. Gloria Lynn Hooker died at the scene.

Tire Blowouts and Rollover Accidents

The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the cause of the accident. If news reports are accurate, the rapid deflation and blowout of the tire caused the driver of the vehicle to lose control, and the vehicle to overturn. This was not the first I-15 rollover fatality attributed to a tire blowout this year. A 46-year-old San Bernardino woman died in March in a Jeep rollover accident on I-15 attributed to a tire blowout.

At freeway speeds, it can be very difficult to regain control of a vehicle in a rollover situation. Tires are a critical element of vehicle safety. When tires blow out, or rapidly deflate, the consequences are often deadly. Tire blowouts can be caused by aged tires, excessively worn tires, road hazards, underinflation, overinflation, overloading, and defects in design and manufacturing. Every year, dozens of tire manufacturers recall tires for defects that put motorists at risks. Tire blowouts can also result when tires are not installed properly.

Wrongful Death Liability and Compensation

If the tire blowout resulted from a tire manufacturing defect or negligence in installation, the family members of the victim of this accident may be entitled to compensation for their loss in a wrongful death claim. While this crash is under investigation, the family members of the victims of this crash may benefit from speaking to an attorney about the cause of this crash and potential liability issues. An experienced lawyer who has handled many tire blowout accident cases can arrange to have the tire and vehicle inspected, and advise the victims of their potential legal rights, options, and responsibilities following this accident.

Continue reading "Bloomington Woman Killed, Man Injured in Interstate 15 Rollover Crash " »

Five people were injured in a rollover crash on Interstate 10 Wednesday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol reported. The injury accident was reported at 4:23 p.m. on Interstate 10 at Frontage Road, east of the Cactus City Rest Area in Chuckwalla. According to KPSP Local 2 News, the vehicle rollover was triggered by a tire blowout on the freeway. Firefighers extricated five people from the car. One person suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a hospital. Two others suffered moderate injuries and two others suffered minor injuries.

Tire Blowouts and Accidents

By definition, tire blowouts are a rapid loss of air pressure in a tire, usually caused by a tire bursting or falling apart. With advances in tire technology, blowouts are less common than they were several decades ago, but these events still occur. Blowouts can occur for a number of reasons ranging from debris in the road, under inflation of a tire, or a small puncture that allows a tire to slowly deflate until it fails. In some cases, blowouts occur because of defects in the manufacturing of the tire. In any event, tire blowouts often cause loss of control of a vehicle, which can result in a rollover.

Continue reading "Five Injured After Tire Blowout Causes Rollover Crash on Interstate 10 " »