A man who sustained fatal injuries in a San Bernardino car accident the morning of October 25, 2009 has been indentified as 37-year-old Robert K. Hamilton Jr. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, Hamilton and Rick Batiste, 32, were traveling north on Jonathan Street in Adelanto, California, when their Chevrolet Monte Carlo went out of control, rolled onto its top, catching fire. Batiste managed to escape, but Hamilton could not and was trapped and killed in the burning vehicle.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Robert Hamilton. I offer my deepest sympathies to them for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. They will be in my prayers.

Rollover Car Accident Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are 10,000 fatal rollover accidents in the United States each year. That constitutes 25 percent of all traffic accident deaths in the country. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 308 deaths and 9,920 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2007, according to the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.

This news report does not clearly state how or why this fatal rollover crash occurred or what caused the Monte Carlo to go out of control. Was there a vehicle defect or a mechanical malfunction in the car that caused this tragic car accident? There is no mention in the article that Hamilton was driving recklessly or negligently. The article does not state that Hamilton was falling asleep at the wheel or that alcohol was a factor. In any auto product liability case, it is important to preserve the crashed vehicle, unaltered, so it can be carefully examined for product defects, malfunctions and other evidence.

Auto Product Liability Attorneys

If this accident was caused by an auto product defect, the auto manufacturer or the maker of the defective product could be held responsible for the accident and fatal injuries. In such cases, families of deceased car accident victims may be able to file wrongful death claims against the auto product manufacturer and seek compensation to cover medical/funeral expenses, loss of wages and related damages. An experienced California personal injury lawyer who has a successful track record dealing with auto products liability cases will be able to advise victims and their families about their legal rights and options and obtain fair compensation for their injuries and loss.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.