Brittany Franklin, 18, and Suzanne Wallahan, 43, were both injured in a head-on car accident in Lake County the morning of August 17, 2010. According to a report in The Lake County News, Franklin was driving a 2008 Chevrolet north on Highway 29, when she let the vehicle drift to the right and off the roadway. Franklin then turned her car left, overcorrected, and entered the southbound lanes where she collided with a 2004 Nissan truck driven by Wallahan. The Nissan was pushed to the right and went down the embankment of the highway. There is no word yet on the extent of the women's injuries, but they were both airlifted to a nearby hospital. An investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers are with both women injured in this car accident. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep these victims and their families in your prayers.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 12 deaths and 247 injuries involving car accidents in the unincorporated areas of Lake County. Also, countywide, 14 people died and 293 sustained personal injuries as a result of car accidents during the same year.

What Caused this Crash

Based on this news report, it is not quite clear what caused Franklin to lose control of her vehicle. Was she under the influence at the time? Was she distracted or speeding? Was she negligent in any other way? Was she driving recklessly? According to California Vehicle Code section 21651 (a) "whenever a highway has been divided into two or more roadways by means of intermittent barriers or by means of a dividing section of not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings on the roadway, it is unlawful to drive any vehicle over, upon, or across the dividing section."

If Franklin is determined to have been at fault for this head-on collision, she could be held liable for the injuries and damages caused to Wallahan. In such cases, injured victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, physical therapy, pain and suffering, and other related damages. The best California personal injury lawyers will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive claim evaluation to injured victims and their families.

What defensive driving methods do you adopt in order to prevent car accidents?

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.