Six people were hurt in a two-vehicle collison Sunday afternoon on the Silverado Trail. A Toyota RAV4 collided with a limousine carrying people from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hollywood and Phoenix.
CHP Officer Jaret Paulson said that witness reports and the initial investigation indicate that Polly Thatcher, 54, of Calistoga, was northbound on the Silverado Trail, just north of Madrone Knoll. At about 3:30 p.m., the Toyota entered the oncoming lane, possibly to make a left turn.
An oncoming limo being driven by Limer Maldonado, 57, of Los Angeles, was unable to avoid a collision with the Toyota. Of the seven people in the limo, five were injured, according to the report in The Napa Valley Register. Thatcher was also injured in the crash and was taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center. Three of the injured people in the limo were taken to the same hospital, and one was taken to St. Helena Hospital. The fifth person sought medical treatment on their own.
We would like to wish all the people injured in this unfortunate accident a full and speedy recovery from their injuries.
A follow-up investigation is often necessary to get all the relevant details in a two-vehicle crash. Sometimes the CHP traffic collision report will help determine who was at fault based on witness statements and the physical evidence at the scene of the collision. However, further investigation, including accident reconstruction, is sometimes necessary to get to the bottom of which driver was entirely or mostly at fault
Injured victims of car accidents always have to deal with a number of issues following each car crash. It is very important to find medical attention immediately. You always have to get documentation of your treatment and prognosis as soon as you can. Seek follow-up attention to eliminate the risk of subtle injuries that go unnoticed. Talk to your insurer as required, but don’t discuss potential accident causes. Consult with your lawyer first. Do not talk to any other insurance companies, and do not settle out of court without legal advice.
Anyone seriously injured in an Napa Valley auto accident has a number of serious issues to deal with after a collision like this. First, the legal responsibility for the collision must be determined. Sometimes that requires investigation beyond what is contained in the police report. Second, the medical bills must be paid. Even if there is health insurance to pay for the bills initially, the health insurance company will likely seek reimbursement from any liability insurance recovery. That means that the health insurance company will be competing for money that otherwise would go to the injured victim. Third, when there are multiple people injured in a crash, they will often be competing for a proportional share of a limited amount of insurance money. Lastly, insurance companies will do whatever they can to avoid paying fair compensation for not only medical bills, but lost income and pain and suffering as well.
Because of these and many other issues, injury victims an involved in a injury accident like this are strongly urged to consult with an experienced California Personal Injury Attorney who will make sure that your rights are protected and that you are dealt with fairly.
