Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY - A 26-year-old Hesperia man tragically died Monday afternoon in a three-vehicle collision on Highway 18 (Palmdale Road) in Phelan, the Press-Enterprise and multiple other news outlets reported. According to reports by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner, the victim, Daniel Crihfield, was travelling eastbound on State Route 18 in a 1991 Ford Ranger. He attempted to pass a Toyota Tacoma Pickup truck that was ahead of him stopped to make a left turn on Mescalero Road.

The Ford struck the rear of the Toyota, and the impact caused the Ford to rotate and come to rest in the westbound lanes of Highway 18. The disabled Ford was then struck by a GMC Trailblazer travelling at an estimated 55 mph. Crihfield was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and a 9-year-old girl in the Chevy Trailblazer suffered minor to moderate injuries and were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center.

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Liability

The cause of the accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. According to the Victorville Daily Press, alcohol was not believed to be a contributing factor. Based on the limited information provided in news accounts, the exact cause of the accident is not clear and it is impossible to speculate who is at fault. While this accident remains under investigation, the family members of the victims of this accident would be well-advised to contact an experienced and knowledgeable San Bernardino car accident lawyer. An attorney who understands the complex legal issues of multi-vehicle car accidents can advise the victims and their families of their legal rights to pursue a personal injury or wrongful death claim against whoever is determined to be responsible.

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SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY - A fiery head-on collision in the high desert tragically killed a 34-year-old Phelan man and a 49-year-old Wrightwood woman. According to the Press-Enterprise the Phelan man was driving a black 2002 Honda Accord, and the Wrightwood woman was driving a blue 1998 Chevy Silverado pickup truck. The two vehicles collided around 1:38 a.m. on Phelan Road, just east of Shasta Road, in the Baldy Mesa area west of Hesperia.

Earlier this year, a suspected drunk driving head-on collision on Phelan Road left two people with major injuries. That Phelan Road accident on March 10th occurred near Monte Vista Road, about 4.4 miles from this collision near Shasta Road.

Cause of the Fatal Phelan Road Crash

The Victorville Daily Press reported that the driver of the Honda Accord, who was driving westbound, veered into oncoming traffic and struck the Chevrolet pickup truck head-on. At this point there are simply more questions than answers as to why this accident happened. Both vehicles were estimated to be driving at about 60 mph when the collision occurred. The cause of this June 22nd accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Anyone with information is asked to call the CHP office at (760) 245-6511.

Head-on Collision Wrongful Death Liability

When a fatal accident is determined to be caused by the negligence of another, the family of the deceased victim may be entitled to recover damages in a wrongful death claim. Compensation may include funeral and burial expenses, lost earnings and benefits, and loss of love, care, affection, guidance and companionship. In situations such as this one, an experienced California wrongful death attorney can advise the victim's family of their legal rights and best course of action if they desire to pursue a claim. As a general rule, it is advisable to contact an attorney as soon as possible following an accident, while evidence and witness recollections are most easily obtained.

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PHELAN - A suspected DUI crash Thursday night left two people with serious injuries, the Victorville Daily Press reported. The San Bernardino County accident was reported at about 8 p.m. on Phelan Road, west of Monte Vista Road. According to reports, Suzy Ko, 43, of Victorville, was travelling east on Phelan Road when she allowed her vehicle to drift into oncoming traffic. She struck another vehicle driven by a 24-year-old woman. The 24-year-old woman and her 15-year-old passenger were both seriously injured and had to be flown to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Suzy Ko was arrested and booked in the Victor Valley County Jail.

Cause of the Phelan Road Crash

The California Highway Patrol is the agency investigating this head-on collision. If news accounts of the March 10th incident are accurate, Suzy Ko is likely responsible for this collision, because she allowed her vehicle to drift into westbound traffic and strike another vehicle head-on. However, the official cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

DUI Accident Personal Injury Liability

Injured victims of drunk driving accidents may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries. The drunk driver may be liable for damages including medical care and treatment expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages. Following a suspected drunk driving head-on collision such as this March 10th crash on Phelan Road, the injured victims or their family members would be well-advised to speak with a San Bernardino County DUI accident victim lawyer. An attorney experienced with the unique legal issues of drunk driving accidents can help the two injured victims protect their legal rights and recover the maximum financial compensation they are entitled to receive for their injuries.

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An innocent driver died Friday afternoon after a head-on collision caused by a suspected drunk driver in San Bernardino County, authorities reported. The Phelan crash happened after a woman led a California Highway Patrol officer on a five mile pursuit at speeds of up to 100 mph on Hwy 138, near the Cajon Pass. According to reports in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, the pursuit began when a CHP officer noticed a gray Toyota Corolla cross a double yellow line into oncoming traffic. The officer tried to pull over the woman, and she slowed down and began to pull off the road, but then accelerated and began weaving in and out of traffic. After about five miles, the driver of the Corolla again crossed the center line on the 138 freeway and struck a Chevrolet Camaro head-on. The collision occurred east of Sayle Road in Phelan, the Orange County Register reported.

The driver of the Camaro, a 46-year-old Santa Ana man, was killed instantly. The speeding driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, Zimmie Lynn Burnath, was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton with major injuries.

Vehicular Pursuit Accidents

The California Highway Patrol defines a vehicular pursuit as, "An event involving one or more law enforcement officers attempting to apprehend a suspect operating a motor vehicle while the suspect is attempting to avoid arrest (or detention) by using high speed driving or other evasive tactics, such as driving off a highway, turning suddenly, or driving in a legal manner but willfully failing to yield to the officer's signal to stop."

About 360 people die each year in accidents involving a pursuit or chase by law enforcement. More than half of victims of police-chase involved fatalities are innocent victims, and not the fleeing suspect. All law enforcement agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, have polices in place that govern how pursuits are handled, and when a pursuit should be discontinued if there is a risk of injury to the public.

High-Speed Pursuits and Wrongful Death Liability

If the news reports are correct, the driver of the Corolla was driving irresponsibly and recklessly and caused this crash. However, in any situtation where an innocent person is killed during a law enforcement pursuit, there is always the question of whether the accident could have been prevented by law enforcement, and was the chase really worth the risk of other people's lives? Would there have been a fatality if the CHP did not chase this vehicle?

According to an article last week in USA Today, about 35% of all police chases end in crashes. Fatality accidents involving CHP, police, or sheriff pursuits have unique legal issues. Police pursuits are dangerous, but in some cases, allowing police chase suspects at high speeds is even more dangerous, as we saw in this April 23rd crash in Phelan.

While this accident is under investigation, the family of the victim would be well advised to speak with a California wrongful death lawyer. An attorney familiar with the pursuit policies of the law enforcement agency involved in a crash can help the family determine their legal rights in a possible wrongful death claim.

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