Clearlake Area Man Loses Life in Sonoma County Auto Accident
On Wednesday, March 17, 2021, one person passed away after sustaining injuries in a Sonoma County car crash. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office reports that the decedent was a 44-year-old resident of Lake County but are waiting to release his name until they’ve notified his family. California Highway Patrol (CHP) indicated that the accident happened in the morning on a local highway and involved three vehicles. An accident investigation is ongoing.
Crash Details
The crash took place at about 5:20 a.m. on Highway 101 to the north of the Highway 128 off-ramp in Cloverdale. According to CHP, the Lake County man was driving a silver-colored Kia Forte southbound on the highway when, for unknown reasons, he apparently lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the Kia drifted to the edge of the highway and eventually struck a metal guardrail.
The impact caused the Forte to overturn and the car eventually landed on its wheels facing oncoming traffic in northbound lanes. Subsequently, a Kia Optima sideswiped the wrecked vehicle and immediately pulled over to the highway shoulder. Shortly after, CHP reports that a Chrysler 200 crashed into the Forte head-on just as three men were exiting the vehicle. The impact caused the driver to be ejected through a window onto the pavement.
Response
Police and other emergency response personnel arrived at the crash scene shortly after the crash occurred. At the scene, responders discovered the Forte driver with critical injuries and, tragically, declared the man deceased on-site. Both Forte passengers were taken to the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital to be treated for major and moderate injuries respectively. CHP indicated that both men were expected to survive.
According to police, neither the driver of the Optima nor the Chrysler sustained serious injuries. No other individuals were reported to have been involved in this tragic crash.
Investigation
As CHP conducts their accident investigation, officers haven’t released information regarding suspected factors. Frequently, collisions like this one occur due to a number of factors and might involve non-driver causes like damaged roads or malfunctioning car parts. In these situations, thirds-parties may share financial responsibility for the crash.
Furthermore, investigating an accident with a deceased driver is difficult, and police sometimes overlook important evidence. Sadly, without all of the relevant evidence, families might not be able to claim the payments that they deserve after their loved one’s death. Because of this, it is crucial for families to reach out to a Clearlake personal injury lawyer and ask about a private accident investigation. By using their experience, resources, and time, a good attorney can investigate the accident themselves and make sure your family’s interests are represented during the process.
Preserving Evidence After Rollover Accidents
After a rollover crash, it’s important to preserve the involved vehicle so that your attorney can inspect it. This is because many rollover crashes involve roof crush injuries, and, in these cases, the manufacturer of the vehicle can often be held liable through personal injury/wrongful death claims.
For more information about what to do after a fatal crash, you should always seek advice from an experienced lawyer.
Other Blogs by Ed Smith, Clearlake Personal Injury Lawyer
- Highway 29 Crash Fatally Injures Clearlake Resident
- Defining a Personal Injury Lawyer
- Clearlake Collision Leaves One Seriously Hurt
Clearlake Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Clearlake personal injury lawyer. For families that have lost a loved one, wrongful death claims are very important. If a fatal crash affected your family, call us at (800) 404-5400 or (707) 564-1900 for free, friendly advice.
Families in the Clearlake area have trusted our legal help for more than 38 years. To see how our clients have obtained fair compensation, read our list of settlements and verdicts on our website. If you would like a more personal look at our work, see what our valued clients have written about our firm at the following sites:
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