Los Angeles Injury Lawyer News Report: Lake County Driver 3 Car Crash

July 18, 2013

Ellis Law Corporation

News

A Lakeport woman was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence after she caused a three-car accident on Highway 101 south of Willits, according to the California Highway Patrol.Shannon R. Walton, 30, was driving a 1996 Chevrolet Suburban north on the highway, near the CalFire station, when she rear-ended a car that was slowing with traffic in front of her to pass a crash blocking the southbound lane. The impact pushed the rear-ended car into the car in front of it, the CHP reported.The CHP was on the scene directing traffic for the prior crash when Walton, who reportedly didn’t see traffic slowing and stopping in front of her, hit the rear of a 2008 Honda CRV driven by Jamie R. Bailey, 37, of Willits. The Honda, in turn, hit the rear of a 2001 Buick Century in front of it, driven by Steven G. Burns, 52, of Redwood Valley, the CHP reported.

The occupants of all three vehicles wore seat belts. Burns’ passenger, Renae Blake, 45, also of Redwood Valley, was taken to Ukiah Valley Medical Center with minor injuries. No one else was injured, according to the CHP, and Walton was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU ARE APART OF 3 CAR CRASH

Specifically with chain-reaction crashes that involve multiple vehicles, determining who is at fault can be difficult and require an in-depth investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the crash.

  • Did a distracted driver stop short because he or she was texting rather than paying attention to the road?
  • Were any of the drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol?
  • Did weather conditions create poor visibility that made it impossible to see cars or trucks parked or slowed on the road?
  • Was a car or truck poorly maintained with non-functioning brake lights?

Is an accident reconstructionist needed to determine fault or responsibility?

Chances are, yes, the scene will need to be analyzed and the crash recreated to determine who was at fault and who should pay for any resulting injuries. The sooner this investigation begins, the better as the crash expert will need to review:

  • Skid marks or debris on the road
  • Placement or location of the vehicles after the crash
  • Witness statements or testimony as to what went wrong leading up to the multi-car crash

We have the resources to hire the best accident reconstructionists in the country to work on your case and have a track record of obtaining substantial results in car wreck cases.

Who is responsible for the injuries and property damage caused by the crash?

In a multi-car crash, there may be one or two at-fault drivers but eight or nine injured people or damaged vehicles. Typically, an individual insurance policy will have dollar limits, or maximum coverage amounts, that may or may not be enough to cover the full extent of damage or injury caused in a multi-car crash. Possible sources of recovery for your injuries include:

  • The at-fault driver’s insurance
  • The at-fault driver’s employer’s insurance, if applicable
  • Your own insurance if the at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured

Georgia Multi-Vehicle Car Accident Attorneys 

Multi-vehicle crashes can present unique issues of liability and funds for those who are injured. At Ellis Law our exceptional trial attorneys have nationwide experience handling these types of complex motor vehicle accident cases and achieving successful results on behalf of injured clients. If you or a loved one was injured in a chain-reaction crash, contact a personal injury attorney at our firm today for a free consultation.