California Injury Blog
Five people were injured — two of them seriously — in a San Francisco car accident after two vehicles collided head-on in West Marin County. According to a news report in the San Jose Mercury News, the most seriously injured victims were Barbara Graves, 63 and Catherine Ward-Seitz, 42. The injury car crash occurred November 21, 2009, when a Lexus driven by 60-year-old John Smithyman traveling north on Highway 1 crossed over double yellow lines and hit an Audi going south.
Graves, a passenger in the Audi, sustained a spinal fracture while Ward-Seitz, one of three passengers in the Lexus, suffered broken ribs. The driver of the Audi, 62-year-old Craig Rosser, was left with a swollen nose and swollen fingers. John Smithyman and a 22-year-old passenger, Austin Smithyman, were taken to a local hospital with moderate injuries. Owen Smithyman, 24, sustained a sprained neck.
Victims Left with Critical Injuries
My heart goes out to all the injured victims, especially Barbara Graves, who seems to have suffered major, possibly catastrophic injuries, as a result of someone else’s error or negligence. I wish her and the other injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.
There were 11 car accidents and 1,072 personal injuries reported in Marin County as a result of car accidents in 2007, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS).
California Car Accident Liability Issues
Based on this newspaper report, it appears that the driver of the Lexus, John Smithyman, for an unknown reason crossed over double yellow lines and struck the other car head-on. It is not clear what caused him to do so. California law prohibits motorists from passing other vehicles by crossing solid and continuous double yellow lines. California Vehicle Code Section 21460 states: “When double parallel solid lines are in place, no person driving a vehicle shall drive to the left thereof, except as permitted in this section.”
It seems to me that John Smithyman, the driver of the Lexus was responsible for this accident and could be held liable for the damages and injuries caused to Graves and Rosser. Injured victims in such cases could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and continued treatment and care, especially if the injuries leave victims disabled for the rest of their lives.
Graves or her family would be well-advised to consult with a California catastrophic injury lawyer who can better explain their legal rights and options in this case. A skilled car accident lawyer will carefully explore and analyze all aspects of the car accident and liability issues involved. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free, comprehensive and confidential consultation to injury 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.