Eleven people were injured in a car accident in Santa Rosa the night of July 30, 2010 after a car went through the front of a restaurant. According to a news report in The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, the Ohana Hawaiian BBQ restaurant had at least 20 people inside at the time, when a 65-year-old driver slammed his car through the glass front. Nine were transported to area hospitals with minor to moderate injuries. The victims ranged in age from 7 to 45 years old.

My heart goes out to the injured victims of this car accident. It is indeed fortunate that no one sustained major injuries in this crash. I wish them all the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), eight fatalities and 764 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in Santa Rosa. In Sonoma County as a whole, 36 people died and 1,988 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.

What Caused this Crash?

Based on this news report, there are several unanswered questions here. Why did the driver lose control of his vehicle? Was the driver intoxicated? Was he distracted or otherwise negligent at the time of the collision? Was there some type of mechanical problem with the vehicle that caused it to go out of control? Did the driver have some type of medical condition that caused him to lose control of the vehicle? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine what occurred here or why.

Fault and Liability

If the driver in this case is determined to have been at fault, then, he could be held liable for the injuries caused to the victims. In such cases, injured victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy or other related damages.

Victims would be well-advised to seek the counsel of an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the incident and make sure that the negligent parties are held accountable for their actions. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to explain to victims about how they can get compensation from the uninsured/underinsured motorist clause of their car insurance policy, if the at-fault driver lacks proper motor vehicle insurance coverage. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.

What are some of the biggest challenges faced by crash victims in the aftermath of a car accident?

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.