Bakersfield, CA – On Friday afternoon, April 19, 2024, as a 68-year-old woman from Bakersfield lost her life in a solo-vehicle crash on Highway 58, according to KBAK.
The California Highway Patrol responded to reports of a crash on Highway 58, east of Weedpatch Highway, around 1:42 PM. Upon arrival, officers found that the driver, operating a Toyota Rav4 westbound on Highway 58, appeared to have experienced a medical emergency, leading to the loss of control of the vehicle.
The Toyota veered off the south road edge of eastbound Highway 58, crashing through a barbed wire perimeter fence and continuing southbound through dirt and grass until coming to rest on the south dirt shoulder of Kimber Avenue.
Unfortunately, the driver’s condition proved fatal, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators are still working to determine the exact medical cause behind the emergency. Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to have been contributing factors.
Liability in Solo-Vehicle Collisions
In some circumstances, investigations can reveal that some portion of the liability for a solo-vehicle collision might fall upon other drivers in the vicinity of the accident or even unsafe roadway structures. Working through the particulars of liability to help victims and their families find proper compensation is one of the many services a personal injury attorney can provide.
Once liability has been established, a personal injury attorney can also negotiate on behalf of the victim with insurance companies, who will always seek to minimize the payout for any claim they cannot deny.
