A woman was injured in a Santa Ana car accident after she rear-ended her SUV into a work truck on the 5 Freeway the morning of July 26, 2010. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the dark grey Chevy Trailblazer struck a white Isuzu stake bed truck briefly lifting the truck onto the roof of the SUV. The female driver of the SUV was transported to a local hospital with apparent neck injuries. It is not clear whether the driver of the work truck sustained any injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

I wish the injured victims in this crash the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. I hope there were no major injuries.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 15 deaths and 1,365 injuries involving car accidents in Santa Ana. In Orange County as a whole, 152 people died and 13,414 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this news report it is not quite clear why the driver of the Chevy Trailblazer SUV rear-ended the work truck. Was she under the influence? Was she distracted by something? Was she going too fast given the traffic conditions? Was she negligent in any other way at the time of the collision? I trust officials are looking into these and other factors in order to pinpoint the cause of this accident.

If the driver of the SUV is determined to have been at fault in this collision, she could be held liable for the accident and injuries, if any, caused to the driver of the stake bed truck. Injured victims in such cases could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and physical therapy.

It would be in the best interests of injured victims to seek the counsel of an experienced Santa Ana personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the accident and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also advise victims about how their car insurance policy might apply to an accident involving an at-fault motorist who is uninsured or underinsured. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation to injured victims and their families.

What are some of the safe driving practices you adopt while driving on the freeway?

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.