Two people were injured in a car accident after their vehicle rear-ended a large truck that was making a left turn off Richvale Highway near Highway 99. According to a news report in the Oroville Mercury Register, the collision occurred the morning of August 10, 2010, when the driver of a big rig going east on Richvale Highway attempted a left turn onto Erickson Road. A Toyota Camry, driven by Charles Padilla, then rear-ended the truck. California Highway Patrol officials said Padilla, for some reason, failed to slow down and rear-ended the big rig. Padilla and his passenger, Tiffany Lee Padilla, were transported to an area hospital with major injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

I hope Charles and Tiffany Padilla have not sustained catastrophic injuries in this car crash. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Car Accident Statistics

According to CHP's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 26 fatalities and 401 injuries involving car accidents in the unincorporated areas of Butte County. Also, countywide, 30 people died and 761 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it is not exactly clear why Padilla failed to stop in time to avoid the collision. CHP officials say they do not know how fast Padilla was going at the time, but that the Camry entered "a locked-wheel skid about 60 feet from the point of impact." There are several questions at this point. Was there a vehicle defect or mechanical malfunction in the Camry, which may have caused or contributed to this accident?

Was Padilla impaired, distracted or speeding at the time? Was this accident the truck driver's fault? Did the truck driver make a sudden left turn? Did he fail to use the turning lights to warn other motorists? I trust officials are looking at these and other factors in order to determine what happened here and why.

If this accident was the truck driver's fault, then, he and his employer could be held liable for the major injuries caused to Padilla and his passenger. In such cases, injured victims could seek compensation to cover medical costs, loss of wages and other related damages. If this accident was caused by an auto product defect, the vehicle manufacturer could also be held liable. An experienced California personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims in such cases about their legal rights and options.

In your opinion, what are the best ways to avoid rear-end collisions?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.