San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Blog

Four of the eight people who died Saturday night when a truck plowed into a crowed at the California 200 off-road race were from San Diego County, authorities have reported. Spectators Brian Wolfin, 27, of Escondido, Anthony Sanchez, 23, of Escondido, Aaron Farkas, 25, of Escondido, and Michael James Dickinson, 34 of Spring Valley, were all killed Saturday night when a modified Ford Ranger driven by another San Diego County man, Brett M. Sloppy, 28, of San Marcos, went into a crowd shortly after the start of the California 200.

On Monday, the federal government launched a probe of the August 14, 2010 accident, which occurred on federal land. Video of the event showed spectators were standing as close as 5 feet from the race course and were not separated by fences or barriers.

Mojave Desert Race Accident Raises Liability Questions

As more details are coming to light about the off-road race crash that killed eight people in San Bernardino Saturday night, questions of who is to blame are also arising. Did spectators put themselves in danger by getting too close to the action? Or did the promoters of the event not follow proper procedures to protect the huge crowd they invited? Was the federal government negligent in allowing such an event to occur without requiring law enforcement present? Who was responsible for the safety of this event, and what needs to be done going forward so that nothing like this ever happens again?

Protecting the Rights of Injured Victims

This tragedy that shockingly killed eight people and seriously injured a dozen more raises a number of complex liability issues. Who is liable for the deaths and injuries of the victims? While this accident remains under investigation, relatives of the victims who were killed would likely benefit from contacting an experienced and knowledgeable wrongful death lawyer. Contacting a skilled attorney soon after an accident such as this one is absolutely critical to preserving your rights to compensation for serious personal injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one. A lawyer who has successfully represented injured bystanders at sporting events can guide the victims and their families in handling communications with insurance companies and other officials, so that their rights are protected.