David Bartlett, 42, was killed in a Ventura car accident after he lost control of his pickup truck and crashed, the morning of February 15, 2012. According to a news report in The Ventura County Star, the fatal car accident occurred on Highway 126 in Ventura near Victoria Avenue. California Highway Patrol officials say Bartlett’s pickup truck drifted to the right and went off the highway, striking a large eucalyptus tree. The pickup then hit a chain-link fence and ended up in an avocado orchard. Bartlett was wearing a seatbelt. He died at the scene. Officials are still investigating the cause of this fatal crash.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of David Bartlett for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Ventura Car Accident Statistics

According to CHP’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), four fatalities and 416 injuries occurred as a result of Ventura car accidents. Countywide, car accidents claimed 57 lives and injured 3,421 people, during the same year.

What Caused This Crash?

Based on this news report, it is unclear as to why Bartlett lost control of his vehicle. There are several questions here. Was there an auto defect or mechanical malfunction in the vehicle, which may have caused or contributed to the accident? Did a dangerous roadway condition cause the vehicle to go out of control? Were any other vehicles involved in this collision? For example, did Bartlett’s pickup truck get cut off or clipped by another vehicle? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

Liability Issues

In such cases where the cause of the crash is unclear, it is important that the vehicle be preserved intact so an expert can thoroughly examine it for defects, malfunctions and other evidence. If an auto defect caused the accident, then the automaker or the manufacturer of the defective product can be held liable. If a dangerous roadway caused the accident, then, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against a public entity must be properly filed within 180 days of the incident. Victims’ families would be well advised to contact an experienced Ventura personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.