Several people were injured in a San Bernardino truck accident after a tractor-trailer ran through the funeral procession in which they were participating, the Victorville Daily Press reports. With the exception of one seriously injured woman, all others seemed to have sustained minor injuries, officials said. The funeral procession was traveling east on Main Street in Phelan, the afternoon of March 22, 2010, when the driver of the tractor-trailer that was going north on Highway 395 ran through the intersection striking a white SUV directly behind the hearse.

This is a sad story at many levels. The funeral procession was apparently for 24-year-old Tahnee Marie Whiting, who died in a car accident after losing control of her vehicle and crashing into the California Aqueduct in Phelan, earlier this month. I hope and pray that no one sustained serious injuries in this crash and wish all the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 263 fatalities and 8,504 injuries involving car accidents in San Bernardino County.

Fault and Liability

Based on this news report, it is not clear exactly what caused the driver of the tractor-trailer to lose control and crash into the funeral procession. There are several unanswered questions here. Was the big-rig driver distracted? Did the truck have a brake failure because of poor maintenance? Was the driver of the big rig impaired or driving recklessly? I trust investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine exactly what happened here.

The injured victims in this case would be well-advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of this crash and make sure that their rights and best interests are protected. If the big-rig driver is determined to have been at fault in this case, he or she, as well as the trucking company, could be held liable for the accident and injuries caused. Injured victims in this case could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy and other related damages. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.

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.