Two teenagers who were critically injured in a Hanford car accident the night of January 25, 2010 have been identified as17-year-old Whitney Madruga and Kenneth Yates, 18. The teens were among five occupants in a Chevy Cavalier, which was rear-ended by an SUV on Highway 198, according to a news report in the Hanford Sentinel. Two others in the Chevy -- 20-year-old Daniel Corral and 18-year-old Lauren Knight – also sustained injuries but they were not life-threatening.

The 17-year-old driver of the GMC Yukon SUV apparently crashed into the Chevy at 70 mph. The driver of the Chevy had slowed down because of an accident that was being cleared ahead. The teen driver of the SUV is likely to face charges, officials say.

I sympathize with the young people who were seriously injured here and their family members. I wish Madruga and Yates, who were the most seriously injured, the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. I hope they did not sustain catastrophic injuries. These victims and their families will certainly be in my prayers.

California Speed Law

California Vehicle Code Section 22350 (Basic Speed Law) states: “No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic and on surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.” Based on this news report, it seems to me that the GMC Yukon was going too fast for the road conditions, especially considering that the traffic ahead was slowing down. If I were a family member of the injured victims I would want to know whether the driver of the SUV was impaired, distracted, inattentive or reckless when he rear-ended the Chevy.

Liability Issues

The injured victims or their families, in this case, would be well-advised to contact a reputed California personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and make sure that the negligent parties are held liable. Victims who have been seriously or catastrophically injured as a result of someone else's negligence can seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of wages and other injury-related expenses.

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.