An unsafe lane change may have caused a fatal car accident in Fresno County, which claimed the life of a 50-year-old Fremont woman. The Fresno Bee reports that the fatal car crash occurred the evening of May 7, 2010 on the 5 Freeway in Huron, when 22-year-old Mary Dagle made an unsafe lane change and pulled ahead of a 1997 BMW driven by Victoria Alexander. The BMW hit the rear of Dagle's Dodge sending it into the opposing southbound lanes of the freeway. The Dodge then collided head-on with a 2010 Nissan. The driver of the Nissan was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Dagle and Alexander suffered minor injuries.

My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved the deceased victim. My thoughts and prayers go out to her grieving family members.

Fresno Car Accidents

There were no deaths, but five injuries that involved car accidents in Huron in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, there were 127 deaths and 3,233 injuries as a result of car accidents in Fresno County during the same year.

Fault and Liability Issues

If the details of this news report are accurate, it appears that Dagle may have been at fault for making that unsafe lane change and triggering the chain reaction car accident. It is not clear whether distraction or inattention caused her to make an unsafe lane change. If Dagle is found to have caused this crash, then she could be held liable both, for the woman's wrongful death and for injuries caused to Alexander.

If I were a member of the deceased victim's family, I would also want to find out why the victim was ejected from the vehicle. Did that happen because of a defective seatbelt?

If that was the case, the auto maker or the manufacturer of the defective seatbelt can also be held liable for the woman's wrongful death. In such cases victims and their families would be well-advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who has also successfully handled seatbelt defect cases and other auto product liability cases.

Have you ever been a victim of a car accident where a driver made an unsafe lane change? What do you think is the most common reason why people make unsafe lane changes?

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.