James Martin, 67, was killed in a San Bernardino car accident after he lost control of his vehicle while driving on the Interstate 40 in Newberry Springs. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, Martin's vehicle left the roadway and then overturned, the morning of July 6, 2010. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of James Martin for their tremendous loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Rollover Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 10,000 people die in rollover accidents each year. That number accounts for about 25 percent of all traffic accident fatalities annually, according to the federal agency's statistics. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 263 people died and 8,504 were injured as a result of car accidents in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS).

What Caused this Crash

Based on this news report, it is not clear how or why Martin lost control of his vehicle. There are more questions than answers here. What type of a vehicle was he driving? Was this accident a result of driver error? Was there a malfunction or a vehicle defect that caused him to lose control? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway, which caused or contributed to the rollover crash? Were there other vehicles involved? For example, was Martin run off the roadway by another vehicle? I trust investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine exactly what occurred here and why.

Auto Products Liability Issues

I would also be interested to find out whether Martin's fatal injuries were caused by any auto product defects. For example, was he ejected from the vehicle? Was there a seatbelt defect or seat restraint system failure? Did his seatback collapse? In any such case, it is important to preserve the vehicle in its current condition so it can be carefully examined by an expert for product defects, vehicle design defects, mechanical malfunctions and other evidence. Families of deceased victims in such cases would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all facets of the incident and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.

What are some tips or suggestions you would offer drivers in terms of preventing accidents?

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is 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 us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

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