Car and Auto Accidents

Victim of California I-5 Collision Sues Uber

April 13, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

On March 7, Gregory Lopez answered Brenan Brock’s request for a ride on the Uber app. As Lopez drove down I-5 in Orange County around 1 a.m., his 2016 Jeep Compass ran out of gas. Lopez attempted to coast to the right shoulder, but the vehicle came to a full stop in one of the highway lanes. Brock was put in the position of having to get out of the vehicle and help Lopez push the Jeep to the side of the road. Brock, now exposed on the highway, was struck by Jonathan Tavita. Brock suffered such devastating injuries that physicians were forced to amputate both of his legs. Brock filed a lawsuit against Uber, the Uber driver, Uber’s insurance carrier, Hertz, and Tavita in April alleging negligence and negligence infliction of emotional distress.

Uber Crashes

While ridesharing programs like Uber and Lyft are growing in popularity, so are the number of accidents the Uber and Lyft drivers are involved in. Ridesharing drivers are not professional drivers in the sense that they do not have any specific or additional training than what is required to obtain a normal driver’s license. They are just as likely to be careless or reckless behind the wheel as any other driver. It comes as no surprise, then, that many passengers have experienced accidents that caused them injuries like Brock’s.

California Tesla Crash Leads to Federal Investigation

March 30, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

On March 23, a San Mateo resident, Wei Huang, 38, passed away after his Tesla Model X collided with a median on Highway 101. The initial collision caused a three-vehicle crash with a Mazda and Audi. The Tesla sustained a significant amount of damage and the exposed lithium ion battery caught fire. In order to combat the fire, local firefighters used the available water source. They also contacted the Palo Alto-based Tesla, and engineers disassembled a part of the car battery on the interstate. The engine was closely monitored afterward since the batteries can reignite for up to 24 hours after cooling.

Accident Leads to Investigation

Following the fatal crash, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board sent two investigators to review the accident. The NTSB is interested in why the crash occurred, why the battery caught fire, and the procedures used to contain the situation afterward. It is unclear, as of now, whether Tesla’s Autopilot feature was in control of the vehicle at the time or whether Huang was driving.

Fatal Pedestrian-Vehicle Accident in Solana Beach

March 2, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

A woman lost her life on Interstate 5 in Solana Beach after being struck by a vehicle. The incident began when a Hyundai Elantra struck a Lincoln LS from behind on I-5. The LS was then forced across the road and struck a traffic control signal at the intersection of Lomas Santa Fe Drive. The woman driving the Hyundai stopped and left her vehicle. Authorities believe she then fled west. The woman crossed the northbound side of the interstate, climbed over a center divide, and was struck by a Ford Fiesta while crossing the southbound lanes. The woman’s identity was not released, and the authorities are still investigating why she fled the scene on foot.

Pedestrian Accidents in California

Based on a June 2017 report published by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the rate of fatal pedestrian accidents in California increased 11% between 2007 and 2013. In 2007, the pedestrian fatality rate was 1.8 per 100,000 state residents. This rose to 2.0 per 100,000 residents by 2013. However, pedestrian accidents that only caused injuries feel during that time by 13.5%.

Man Causes Fatal Crash in Stolen Vehicle

January 25, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

A man in a stolen truck caused a fatal collision in Antioch, on January 17. Just before 1 p.m., the Contra Costa County Police received reports of a stolen vehicle, a Ford F-250, in Pittsburg, California. A deputy spotted the truck on State Highway 4, and when the driver took the off-ramp at Somersville Road, the deputy activated his emergency lights. Shortly after, the man drove the stolen truck through a red light and hit a Ford F-150, carrying a woman and her two young daughters. The mother was injured and the two young girls, 2 and 4 years old, were killed.

While the driver faces a number of criminal charges, accidents like this also give the surviving family members the right to file civil cases to seek compensation. If you were injured in a serious crash like this, or you lost a loved one to a devastating collision, call our San Francisco personal injury lawyers at Brod Law Firm today.

Legal Options After a Fatal Collision

Fog Leads to Car Accidents Around the Bay Area

January 19, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

San Francisco is well known for its fog – thick droplets of water suspended in air, unable to dissipate or fall as rain because of various temperatures. Yet, despite the number of days the Bay Area deals with fog, it still poses a risk to drivers. On Tuesday, January 16, the dense fog led to a number of auto accidents. By 6:35 a.m. an accident had been reported on westbound I-80, west of the Bay Bridge. Around the same time, there was an overturned vehicle on westbound CA-4, east of Sycamore Avenue. These were followed by accidents on southbound I-880 in Oakland, southbound I-680 in Pleasanton, southbound US-101 in San Francisco, and westbound I-580 in Tracy. Injuries were reported in many of these accidents.

While fog always increases the risk of a traffic accident, drivers should alter their driving behavior to mitigate this risk as much as possible. Drivers who are careful and alert can avoid crashes.

If you were in an accident caused by another driver during a heavy fog in the Bay Area, contact us at Brod Law Firm right away. Fog does not excuse careless or reckless driving. We will help you fight for the compensation you deserve due to the other driver’s negligence.

Multiple Fatal Wrong-Way Crashes in California

January 12, 2018 | Gregory J. Brod

California roads saw multiple deadly wrong-way crashes in the beginning of the new year. On Sunday, January 7, around 12:30 am, California Highway Patrol (CHP) learned of a wrong-way crash on I-5 near Woodland. A 2013 Chevrolet with only a driver inside collided with a Dodge carrying five family members. All six individuals involved in the crashed died at the scene. They leave behind numerous family members.

Second Head-on Crash on I-5

On the same Sunday, another wrong-way collision occurred on a different portion of I-5 in Redding. A 29-year-old man was driving a 2012 Honda Accord on his way to residency interviews to become a physician when he was struck by a 28-year-old woman driving a Chevy Impala the wrong way.

SpaceX Rocket Appears to Cause Car Crash

December 29, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

On December 22, SpaceX launched its 18th and final rocket for 2017, known as Falcon 9. The unusual sight in the sky, which many people did not expect, caused curiosity and confusion. In Southern California, it caused drivers on I-10 to slow down and become distracted. Dashboard camera footage shows a white Toyota Corolla being rear-ended by a minivan, which then pushes the Corolla into a Toyota Rav4 SUV. The Corolla and Rav4 spin out of their lane and onto the shoulder of the highway.

While the rocket is a rare sight, driver distraction is not. People become distracted behind the wheel all the time, unfortunately, leading to many accidents, injuries, and fatalities. If you were in a car accident in California and you believe it was caused by the other driver’s distraction or inattention, contact a San Francisco car accident lawyer from Brod Law Firm today. Our experienced attorneys can help you through the insurance claim process, or if necessary, a personal injury lawsuit.

Types of Distracted Driving

DUI Crash on Bay Bridge Kills Tollbooth Operator

December 8, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

Around 5 a.m. on Saturday, December 2, Daniel Berk, 32, collided with a Bay Bridge tollbooth while driving a rented box truck. Berk was seriously injured and remains hospitalized in Oakland. The passenger of the truck and the drivers and passengers of five other vehicles were treated and released from the hospital.

The tollbooth operator, Si Si Han, 46, was killed in the crash. Han had worked as a tollbooth operator for almost a decade. She leaves behind her husband and a 10-year-old daughter.

Authorities determined that Berk was intoxicated at the time of the accident. He appears to have been driving between production jobs as the rented truck contained lighting and sound equipment.

San Pablo Hit-and-Run Crash Kills Four, Injures Six

December 1, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

On Saturday, November 25, four individuals were killed in a hit-and-run accident on I-80 in San Pablo, California. The collision was sizable, involving five vehicles and blocking all westbound lanes off I-80. The four individuals killed were a family from Napa Valley and included Daryl Horn, an active community member. The only Horn family member to survive the accident was Daryl’s eldest son. In addition to the four individuals killed in the crash, six others were injured.

The accident took place when Fred Lowe, 47, hit the Horn family’s Nissan sedan, which flipped over and crashed into oncoming traffic. Lowe was arrested later that night when he was involved in a second crash. Authorities reported that Lowe was intoxicated at the time and was driving on a suspended license due to a previous DUI. Lowe has been charged with four counts of felony hit and run, a felony DUI, and driving on a suspended license.

The Criminal and Civil Aspects of the Accident

Lane Splitting May Not be Negligent in California

September 29, 2017 | Gregory J. Brod

If you were part of an auto accident while riding your motorcycle, you likely have to deal with a contributory negligence claim during your personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit. Due to negative stereotypes regarding motorcycle riders and an insurer’s constant fight to protect its bottom line, the insurer or other driver may allege that you were partially at fault for the accident. They may even claim that you were more responsible for the accident than the other driver. This is particularly common if there was any evidence that you were lane splitting. However, in California, lane splitting is legal and therefore, not inherently negligent.

If you were in accident while lane splitting, contact our experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyers from Brod Law Firm at (800) 427-7020.

California Law on Lane Splitting