Helen R. Valentine, 85, was killed in a San Francisco car accident after the vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck at a Middletown intersection. According to a report in Lake County News, the fatal car collision occurred the morning of May 29, 2010 at the intersection of Highway 29 and Hartmann Road.
Deadly Street Intersection Accident
Valentine was in a vehicle with 85-year-old Angelo Accurso, who was driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla west on Hartmann. He stopped at the stop sign waiting to turn left. Accurso pulled out into the intersection crashing into a 1998 Ford Windstar driven by Vidal Montanez that was heading north on Highway 29 at about 55 mph. Valentine was airlifted to a hospital in Santa Rosa where she died. Accurso was also transported to a hospital with injuries. Montanez was uninjured.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Helen Valentine for their tragic and devastating loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Car Accident Statistics
According to CHP's 2008 traffic accident statistics, there were 12 fatalities and 146 injuries involving car accidents in the unincorporated areas of Lake County. Countywide, 14 people died and 292 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.
Car accidents occur most commonly at street intersections. A number of these collisions occur possibly because motorists fail to stop for a stop sign or a red light, or fail to yield right-of-way to oncoming vehicles.
Fault and Liability
California law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to oncoming vehicles. According to California Vehicle Code section 21800 (a): "The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway." In this particular case, the Dodge was making a left turn.
In this particular case, it is not exactly clear who was at fault. If the driver of the Windstar, Montanez, was at fault, he could be held liable for the accident, wrongful death and serious injuries caused. On the other hand, if Accurso was at fault, then he could be held liable for the fatal injuries caused to Valentine.
Injured victims or their families in such cases would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.
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The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is 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 us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
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Lubbock Lawyer said:
Automobile crash victims can often leave the scene of a collision pain-free, only to experience severe pain a few days later. Emergency room visits help substantiate injury claims; and provide the victims with documented medical records to successful fight and win a client's case. Individuals who have been hurt on the job, in a nursing or healthcare facility, or in a motor vehicle collision should exercise their legal right to pursue monetary compensation for injuries.