Carlis Brown, 74, sustained major injuries in a car accident in the Redding area after his vehicle collided with a van, the morning of May 8, 2010. California Highway Patrol officials are looking for the driver of a pickup truck who they say caused the collision between the two other vehicles by weaving in and out of traffic, making unsafe lane changes and driving recklessly. Brown was westbound on Highway 299 in his 1977 Lincoln Continental when he struck an eastbound van driven by 54-year-old Robert Cahill, who suffered moderate injuries. Witnesses told CHP officials that a white Toyota Tundra pickup heading east caused the accident, but left the scene. Officials are trying to verify eyewitness accounts and determine who or what caused this crash.

I sympathize with the injured victims in this case for what they are going through at this time. I hope and pray that neither one of them sustained any catastrophic injuries. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 10 fatalities and 550 injuries involving car accidents in Redding, California. In Shasta County as a whole, 20 people died and 956 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Whose Fault Was this Accident?

Based on this news report, it appears that there may have been a pickup truck or some other vehicle involved in this car accident. Witnesses told CHP officials that the Tundra was behind Cahill's eastbound van when it pulled into the westbound lane to pass the van and other vehicles. While doing so, the truck appears to have forced Brown, who was westbound, to swerve in order to avoid a head-on collision. The pickup then swerved back into the eastbound lane, but not before causing Brown to lose control of his car and collide with Cahill's van.

Liability Issues

If this account is accurate, then the driver of the Toyota Tundra can face criminal felony hit-and-run charges for leaving the scene of an accident. California law requires drivers involved in a car accident to stop and remain at the scene of the accident. This is true even if his or her vehicle did not physically collide with another vehicle. In this particular case, if the driver of the Toyota pickup caused the crash, he or she should have remained at the scene. This is known as a non-contact hit-and-run collision.

Injured victims in such cases would be well-advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the car accident and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also advise victims about how their car insurance policy applies to a hit-and-run collision or in an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.

Do you have uninsured motorist coverage as part of your auto insurance policy?

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.