Elderly Woman Killed in Brentwood Car Accident
An elderly woman is dead after a serious car accident at a dangerous Brentwood intersection.
About the Accident
On 23 July, a car accident killed a 95-year-old woman and injured three other people. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), a red Cadillac sedan traveling southbound on Highway 4 near Vasco Road broadsided a white Hyundai sedan traveling from Marsh Creek Road to Vasco Road.
The white Hyundai then spun out of control and came to rest against a nearby telephone pole. Meanwhile, the red Cadillac spun into the other lane, striking a black Honda sedan traveling in the opposite direction.
Emergency Response
The East Contra Costa Fire Department and several ambulance companies responded to the accident within minutes. Upon arrival, they began extrication efforts to extract the 95-year-old woman from the Hyundai sedan.
All other persons involved were able to exit the vehicles on their own, whereas the driver of the Hyundai required assistance. A helicopter transported the elderly woman after she was extracted.
Ambulances transported the driver of the Hyundai and the Cadillac driver and a passenger to a hospital with minor injuries. The Honda driver did not require medical assistance.
Cause of the Accident
The official cause of the accident is still under investigation as the CHP work to determine which driver was responsible. The CHP does not believe that drugs or alcohol played a role.
At a basic level, the accident may have been caused by one driver’s failure to yield. The layout of the accident indicates that at least the Cadillac or the Hyundai failed to yield at the intersection of Vasco Road and Marsh Creek Road. This then caused the two cars to collide, sending one of the vehicles into another vehicle.
About Failure to Yield
Failure to yield is an important concept in auto accident law because it is a common cause of many accidents. It refers to a driver’s failure to observe the “right-of-way.”
Failure to observe right-of-way can include not stopping at a stop sign or red light. It may also include failing to yield to the opposite lane when turning left on a green light. Speeding through a yellow light in an intersection may also be considered a failure to yield.
In this case, it appears that one or both of the drivers failed to observe the traffic signals. This put both vehicles in the intersection and on a literal collision course.
Failure to yield is often considered negligent. Therefore, a driver that fails to observe the right-of-way is often the one liable for damages in a car accident.
Speed as a Factor
Speed is often a factor in accidents where one driver fails to yield to another driver. In some cases, when one driver fails to yield, the other driver is unable to avoid the accident due to excessive speed. This can also be considered negligence as all drivers have a legal duty to observe the law and make all efforts to avoid accidents.
Brentwood Car Accident Attorney
I am Ed Smith and I am a Brentwood car accident lawyer. If you, or a loved one, are involved in a car accident where one driver fails to yield, please call me at (925) 428-5220 for free and friendly advice. You may also call toll free at (800) 404-5400.
I have practiced personal injury law for 35 years. My team of injury lawyers are similarly experienced and standing by to help.
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Image Source: W. Robert Howell at Wikimedia Commons
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