A 58-year-old driver was killed in a San Francisco car accident caused by a beanbag chair on the roadway. According to a CBS news report, the driver ran over the chair in the fast lane on Highway 280 the morning of December 8, 2009. The collision apparently stalled the 1996 Toyota Tacoma that came to a stop between the fast lane and the number two lane. The driver then, got out of the truck. Moments later, a 41-year-old man in a 2006 Toyota Tacoma hit the stopped truck and its driver, while trying to avoid more debris in the same area. California Highway Patrol officials said alcohol was not a factor in this fatal car accident. Authorities are looking for witnesses who may have seen the vehicle responsible for spilling the debris on the roadway.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this man who was tragically killed in this car accident. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

Car Accidents Caused by Roadway Debris

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 51 fatalities and 3,632 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in San Francisco. The California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) estimates that 140,000 cubic yards of debris is dumped on California’s roadways each year. Highway debris has caused 155 fatal California car accidents in the last two years.

California law prohibits anyone from throwing or dumping matter on the highway. California Vehicle Code section 23112 (a) states: "No person shall throw or deposit, nor shall the registered owner or the driver, if such owner is not then present in the vehicle, aid or abet in the throwing or depositing upon any highway any bottle, can, garbage, glass, nail, offal, paper, wire, any substance likely to injure or damage traffic using the highway, or any noisome, nauseous, or offensive matter of any kind."

Compensation in Roadway Debris Cases

In addition to fines, motorists who drop debris on the highway can be held civilly and criminally responsible for accidents and injuries caused by the debris. A person injured in a car accident caused by highway debris could be compensated for their injuries not only from the negligent party who dropped the debris on the roadway, but also from the uninsured/underinsured provision of their car insurance policy.

If the responsible party is never identified or found, the uninsured motorist provision of a car insurance policy may compensate the injured victim or the family of a deceased victim. A knowledgeable San Francisco personal injury attorney will also be able to tell victims or their families how their car insurance policy applies to a roadway debris accident. The family of this deceased victim would be well-advised to contact a reputed injury attorney, who will help them receive fair compensation for their tragic loss.

We are 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 a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

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