A 38-year-old Pine Valley woman and a 7-year-old boy both died in a tragic crash on Interstate 8 in Alpine on Friday, authorities reported. The April 16th accident occurred on westbound Interstate 8, west of Tavern Road, at about 5 p.m. Although there were apparently no witnesses to the crash, evidence showed that the vehicle, a 2004 Land Rover sport utility vehicle, swerved left and overturned numerous times in the dirt and brush. Investigators were not sure how fast the SUV was travelling when the accident occurred.
The San Diego Medical Examiner identified the driver as Jennifer Foster. The name of the young boy killed in the crash was not released. Both victims died at the scene of the crash. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the accident. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact the CHP at (619) 401-2000.
Land Rover Rollover Accidents
Sport utility vehicles have a number of safety issues that can cause a rollover or result in catastrophic injury or death in the event of a rollover accident. Land Rover sport utility vehicles specifically have a higher center of gravity that may make them susceptible to a rollover. Land Rover has paid out millions to victims and their families injured or killed in rollover crashes. In May 2009, a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge ordered Jaguar Land Rover to pay $21.1 million to a California man who was paralyzed after a Land Rover rollover accident on the 118 Freeway in 2003 (see the March 28, 2009 LA Times article).
SUV Rollover Accidents and Liability Issues
Based on the news reports of this Interstate 8 accident, it is not clear why the accident happened. Did something in the roadway cause the driver to lose control of the SUV, or did something malfunction with the Land Rover? While the cause of the accident is still under investigation, the family of the victims may benefit from speaking with an experienced SUV rollover accident lawyer. If a defect in the roadway or a defect in the vehicle caused this accident and the two fatalities, the family may be entitled to damages in a wrongful death claim. An attorney can explain the unique legal issues of rollover accidents and explain the family's legal options and best course of action going forward in a possible product liability claim.
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