Fatal Car Accident on SR-108 in Sonora
Officials reported a fatal car accident on SR-108 in the Sonora area on the afternoon of October 16, 2021. The motor vehicle collision took place on State Route 108 and Mono Way around 5:30 p.m.
Details on the Fatal Car Accident Reported on SR-108 in Sonora
Officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that a 2015 Toyota Tacoma was headed eastbound on Highway 108 just west of Sanguinetti Road. A 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche driven by a 52-year-old Moccasin man was traveling in front of the Toyota, and both vehicles were said to have been involved in a crash. Damage was reported to the right side of the Chevrolet and the left side of the Toyota following this incident.
The impact of the collision reportedly propelled the Chevrolet into the westbound lane and in the direct path of a 2007 Dodge pickup truck driven by a 65-year-old Coulterville man. The Dodge was said to have been towing a trailer at the time of the collision. The Chevrolet driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle after it struck the right side of the trailer and veered off the roadway. The Chevrolet traveled down an embankment, hit a boulder, and came to a rest.
According to CHP traffic officers, the Toyota driver reportedly lost control of the truck and entered the oncoming traffic lane where it was involved in a head-on collision with a 2009 Subaru Forester driven by a 56-year-old Jamestown woman. The Subaru continued off the highway, went down an embankment, and came to a rest on its roof, officials reported.
The Toyota was later struck by a 1994 GMC Suburban driven by a 62-year-old Modesto man who had a juvenile as a passenger. The GMC and the Toyota allegedly both caught fire following this collision. Fortunately, the GMC driver and his minor passenger were able to exit the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames.
The Dodge driver was uninjured in the car accident in Sonora, according to CHP. The Subaru driver, the GMC driver, and the juvenile passenger of the GMC were all transported to Adventist Health Sonora for treatment of minor injuries. The Chevrolet driver also suffered injuries described as minor but was not hospitalized, authorities said. Sadly, the Toyota driver succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Officials have recently identified the decedent as Marcial Sanchez, 60, of Modesto. The cause of the multi-vehicle accident is under investigation by officials, and additional information on the incident has not yet been released.
What to Expect from a Car Accident Case?
A motor vehicle collision may change the lives of those involved in a split second, particularly when traumatic injuries and a loss of life are involved. Injured parties may be left dealing with injuries that may impact their way of living and working, all while dealing with vehicle repairs and mounting medical expenses. Surviving family members, on the other hand, must deal with unexpected expenses and grief simultaneously. A personal injury claim allows injured parties to recover compensation for accident-related losses. Conversely, a wrongful death claim allows survivors to seek justice and financial recovery on behalf of a close relative who passed away in a traffic collision. Both types of claims may be brought forward so long as it can be proven that another party or entity’s negligence caused the incident.
When multiple parties are involved in a car accident, it may make the situation particularly stressful, especially when it has been established that one driver was responsible for the incident. In such situations, the at-fault party may not have enough liability coverage for all involved parties or even none at all. When injured parties or families of decedents are faced with this predicament, they may turn to their insurance plan if they have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).
The uninsured motorist protection may come into play when it has been proven through evidence that the other party did not carry liability coverage at the time of the car wreck. Conversely, UIM coverage may cover accident-related damages when the at-fault party has insufficient insurance limits for resulting losses. Keep in mind that UM and UIM coverage will cover damages up to the limits of the policy. Bringing a claim with your insurer does not necessarily mean they will be on your side throughout the process of recovering fair compensation. The same may be said for cases against automakers in rollover accident cases involving insufficient roof crush resistance, as required to be met in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 216. There may be factors that the insurance company may evaluate to undervalue or deny claims. For information on these and what to expect from a claim, watch this video.
Importance of Speaking with an Attorney After an Accident
When dealing with injuries or the loss of a loved one following a multi-vehicle accident, injured parties and families must endure many hardships all at once. While taking legal action may be the last thing on the minds of those experiencing such situations, taking the leap to discuss the case with an experienced accident attorney right away is crucial.
Unlike the insurer, an injury lawyer will have the best interests of those they represent at heart. Working with an attorney means that you will have peace of mind knowing that your case is in good hands while you focus on being with your family and recovering from the tragic incident. For information on how our law firm can help you and your family, contact us today to arrange a free consultation.
Car Accident Lawyer in Sonora
I’m Ed Smith, a Sonora car accident lawyer. Suffering injuries or losing a close relative in a motor vehicle collision is life-changing for anyone to experience. If the incident was the result of someone else’s negligence, a claim may be brought against the at-fault party for the harm their actions have caused. To learn more about the process and how to move forward in your situation, reach out to our legal team to arrange a meeting at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. We are available anytime to listen to your story, provide answers to any questions you may have, and offer free, friendly case advice.
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Our law firm has decades of experience handling personal injury and wrongful death cases and dealing with difficult insurers. See how we have helped others by visiting our Verdicts and Settlements page to view some of our past case results.
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