Ten people were hospitalized with injuries after a San Francisco car accident the morning of November 2, 2009 after a car rear-ended a 12-passenger van carrying adults with special needs. According to a news report in the San Jose Mercury News, the accident occurred on Cottle Road near Santa Teresa Boulevard in San Jose. The van was stopped at a traffic light, when it was rear-ended by a PT Cruiser. The injured adults in the van were transported to trauma centers for possible neck and back injuries. The woman driver of the PT Cruiser also sustained serious injuries and was taken to an area hospital.
My heart goes out to the occupants of the van, who all appear to have sustained serious injuries in this car accident. According to the news report, they were special needs adults who were on their way to a center in Santa Clara for an educational event. I hope and pray that none of these victims sustained major injuries and wish them the very best for a quick and complete recovery.
San Jose Car Accidents
There were reports of 45 deaths and 3,989 injuries involving car accidents in San Jose in 2007, according to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (NHTSA). In Santa Clara County, 88 fatalities and 7,301 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2007.
If the details of this newspaper report are accurate, it seems to me that the driver of the PT Cruiser who slammed into the back of this van was at fault. It’s not clear, however, what caused her to rear-end the van. Was she distracted at the time of the collision? Was there any auto product defect or mechanical malfunction in her vehicle that prevented her from stopping in time? Was she speeding? There is also a possibility that the van driver came to a sudden stop at the intersection causing the woman to slam into the back of the van.
Car Accident Causes and Liability Issues
In any car accident, it is important to analyze all angles in order to determine who was at fault, whether there was any negligence and who should be held liable for the accident and the resulting injuries. If the driver of the PT Cruiser was at fault, then she could be held financially responsible for the injuries caused to the occupants of the van. If the van driver somehow contributed to the accident then he and his employer could be held liable for the injuries to the van’s occupants and the woman who was driving the PT Cruiser. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to advise and guide victims and their families about their legal rights and options in such cases. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys 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.