Jazmine Alexis Carter, 20, was killed in a San Bernardino car accident after she lost control of her vehicle on Highway 395 and crashed, the Victorville Daily Press reports. Carter was traveling on the highway in a 1992 Toyota the night of June 9, 2010, when it drifted to the dirt shoulder. She then overcorrected and the vehicle swerved across the highway toward the west shoulder. The vehicle struck a drainage ditch and rolled over several times. Carter was ejected from the vehicle. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead. The crash is being investigated by the San Bernardino Sheriff's Major Accident Investigation Team.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jazmine Alexis Carter for their profound loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Car Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were three fatalities and 33 injuries involving car accidents in Adelanto. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 263 people died and 8,504 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Accident Causes

Based on this news report, it is not clear what may have caused the Toyota to drift off the roadway. Investigators believe speed may have been a factor in this crash. But I trust they are also asking other questions. Was there a vehicle defect or malfunction in the Toyota? Was this accident the result of a dangerous roadway condition? Were any other vehicles involved? For example, was Carter run off the roadway by another driver?

Auto Product Liability Issues

The report also states that Carter was ejected from the vehicle during the rollover accident, but it does not say whether she was wearing her seatbelt. If I were a member of Carter's family, I would want to know whether she was ejected and fatally injured because of any seatbelt defects.

In any car accident case where auto product defects are suspected, it would be a good idea to preserve the vehicle in its current condition, intact, so it can be examined by an expert for vehicle defects, malfunctions and other evidence. If the accident or fatal injuries were caused by a defective auto, victims or their families could file a claim against the vehicle manufacturer or the maker of the defective auto product. An experienced California personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims and their families about their legal rights and options in such cases.

Have you come across an accident where you suspected seatbelt failure although the official investigation said otherwise?

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.

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