Weaverville Man Dies During Highway 299 Crash
On Saturday, September 12, 2020, a man from Weaverville sadly lost his life as the result of a car accident on Highway 299. Trinity County Sheriff’s Department officials have since identified the decedent as 59-year-old David Knight. California Highway Patrol (CHP) indicated that Knight was the only individual involved in the accident, which took place near the small community of Big Bar and happened in the very early morning.
Crash Information
According to police, the incident occurred at around 4:30 a.m. on the westbound side of SR-299 close to Corral Bottom Road. Knight was driving a Ford F-650 when, for reasons that are currently not known, his vehicle drifted to the left, eventually crossing over the median and driving off the northern edge of the highway. At this time, the vehicle was reportedly driving at an unknown speed.
After driving off-road, the truck collided with a very steep rock face, causing the truck to overturn. According to reports, the Ford came to a rest on its wheels.
Response
After the incident was reported to CHP, a team of emergency officials was dispatched to the area. Upon arriving, medical responders discovered that Knight was seriously hurt. Tragically, Knight was declared deceased at the scene.
Investigation
CHP officers have reported that they are actively conducting an accident investigation but have not yet mentioned any likely crash factors. While the incident involved only a single truck, multiple factors could have been involved, including causes outside of motorist control. Common non-driver auto accident factors include dangerous vehicle parts, hazardous roads, and more.
Investigating a fatal accident can be a difficult job for police, especially if they are not able to interview survivors. In these cases, it’s critical to hire an experienced lawyer who can commit their resources and skill toward investigating the crash and uncovering evidence of negligence.
Rollovers and Liability
Rollover accidents have a disproportionately high rate of deadly injuries. The NHTSA reports that rollovers are involved in around five times as many fatal accidents as they are in crashes overall. This is largely because of weak or poorly designed vehicle roofs. In rollovers, these can lead to fatal “roof crush injuries.”
In cases that involve roof crush injuries, the auto manufacturer responsible for putting the vehicle on the market is often considered at-fault. As with a negligent driver, family members and dependents of decedents can attempt to hold these companies financially responsible for their damages. To make sure your lawyer is able to determine whether or not a weak vehicle roof was involved in the accident, it is critical to preserve the wreckage as evidence.
How Do I Find a Lawyer?
If you would like to learn more about how you can easily find an experienced, trustworthy lawyer in your area, take a moment to watch this informative video from my firm:
Other Blogs by Ed A. Smith, Redding Wrongful Death Lawyer
- Drunk Driving Crash Severely Hurts one in Redding
- What are Redding Wrongful Death Lawyers?
- Airplane Crashes in Redding, Kills Two
Redding Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Redding wrongful death lawyer. A fatal car crash can be devastating for families. If your loved one died in a crash, get in touch with me at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 so that I can give you free, friendly advice.
I’ve worked with people who live in the Redding area on wrongful death cases for more than 38 years. You can learn about me and my work by visiting my website and browsing through the trial verdicts and settlements I’ve won. Additionally, these websites include reviews from my past clients:
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