Riverside Rollover Car Accident Claims Life of Teenager
Dec 29
Defective Auto Products, Defective Products, Personal Injury 1 Comment
Geovanni Maciel, 18, was killed in a Riverside car accident after he lost control of his Honda Accord and crashed, The Press Enterprise reports. Maciel was driving a Honda Accord west on Lincoln Street in Lake Elsinore, early morning December 27, 2009, when it went out of control, struck several trees and rolled over numerous times. Maciel was ejected from the Honda and pinned under the vehicle. He was transported to an area hospital where he died a few hours after the car crash.
I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Geovanni Maciel for their devastating loss. My heart goes out to the family and friends of this young man. Please keep them in your prayers.
Deadly Rollover Accidents
Rollover accidents can be deadly and this accident is proof. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,000 people die each year in the United States as a result of rollover accidents. That number accounts for 25 percent of all traffic accident fatalities in the country. In Riverside County, 279 fatalities and 9,925 injuries were reported in 2007 involving car accidents, according to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS).
What Caused this Fatal Car Accident?
This news report leaves a number of questions unanswered. Why did Maciel lose control of the Honda? Was there a vehicle defect or mechanical malfunction in the car? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway? The article does not mention whether speed or fatigue played a role in this crash. We also do not know whether Maciel was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. If he was, why was he ejected? Was there a seatbelt defect or seat restraint system failure when the crash occurred?
Auto Product Liability Issues
In any car accident where auto product defects are suspected, the vehicle must be preserved in its current crashed condition, unaltered, so it can be carefully examined by an expert for product defects, malfunctions and other evidence. A reputed California personal injury lawyer who has a successful track record with auto products liability cases will be able to help Maciel’s family and determine if someone else’s negligence caused or contributed to the accident. The best personal injury law firms will offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
Jan 02, 2010 @ 12:55:47
During adverse conditions it will often be noticed that it is the rear of a vehicle that loses traction first.
What the average person and some experts are not aware of is that there can be as high as 950 pounds or more weight on the front axle of their vehicle than the back. So a car that feels like a limousine on the front holds like a golf cart on the back
A 3000lb car with a weight ratio of 65% front weight and 35% rear weight will weigh 1950lb on the front and 1050 on the rear. After you use 10 gallon of fuel from the rear tank one of the front wheels has as much traction as both rear combined.
If you analyze single vehicle accidents you will find most of them had better tires on the front than the back or a very large weight difference. In fact the worst balanced cars have 4 times as many fatalities as cars designed with better balance. How are you going to tell how fast is too fast under these conditions when it is possible for a balanced car to handle fine on a slippery surface at 50 mph and an unbalanced car to lose control at 20 mph and both to feel the same to the drivers.
There are some good videos on the Internet showing how important the rear tires of a vehicle are. Also the Society of Automotive Engineers paper 2002-01-0553 shows any decrease of tread depth from new of the rear tires can contribute to an accident.