Hugo Garcia-Espinoza, 22, Guillermo Montanez, 58, and two passengers were injured in a San Francisco car accident when their vehicles collided head-on. According to a news report in The Napa Valley Register, the injury accident occurred on Highway 29 near Robert Louis Stevenson State Park in Mount St. Helena, the afternoon of December 17, 2011. Officials say Garcia-Espinoza drove his Honda Civic into oncoming traffic in an attempt to pass a car and struck a Honda Accord driven by Montanez. Garcia-Espinoza suffered a possible broken femur in the crash. Montanez and his two passengers, a 51-year-old woman and a 6-year-old girl, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. It is unclear if Garcia-Espinoza will be cited for the collision.

I wish all of the injured victims of this Napa County car accident the very best for a complete and speedy recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Napa Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), car accidents in the unincorporated areas of Napa County claimed seven lives and injured 330 people. During that same year, there were 10 fatalities and 680 injuries reported due to car accidents, countywide.

What Caused this Two-Car Collision?

Based on this news report, Garcia-Espinoza caused the head-on crash by entering into oncoming traffic lanes to pass a slower vehicle. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21651 (a): "Whenever a highway has been divided into two or more roadways by means of intermittent barriers or by means of a dividing section of not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings on the roadway, it is unlawful…to drive any vehicle over, upon, or across the dividing section."

Liability Issues

In cases involving negligence or wrongdoing, injured victims can seek compensation for medical bills, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, loss of earnings, and other related damages. Victims in such cases would be well advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the incident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to car accident victims and their families.