Two Rainy-Day Pileups on the 91 Freeway in Yorba Linda Leave Several Hurt

The first crash was reported at 3:22 p.m. on the westbound 91 Freeway near Imperial Highway, according to the CHP, as reported by Patch. It began with three cars and grew to at least 10 vehicles. At 3:47 p.m., a second three-car crash was reported just south of the first, and by 4:11 p.m. a reported 10 vehicles were involved in that crash as well, according to the CHP.

Patch reported that several people were hurt. The CHP’s online incident log describes minor injuries in the first crash, such as a bloody nose and chest pain, and lists the second crash as a no-injury collision. Separately, a driver caught in the second pileup reported a hit-and-run and asked for an ambulance, according to the log. Neither Patch nor the log reported any deaths.

Eyewitnesses said the pavement was still slick from rain, and traffic backed up for almost 11 miles, from Yorba Linda Boulevard and Weir Canyon Road to the Imperial Highway exit, Patch reported. The CHP log also shows that a heavy-duty tow was requested for a four-axle dump truck at the first crash.

The CHP has not said what caused the crashes. This article is based on Patch’s report and the CHP’s online incident log, and it may be updated as the CHP releases more.

Rain does not change the rules of the road. California’s basic speed law bars driving faster than is reasonable or prudent given the weather, visibility, traffic, and road surface (Vehicle Code §22350), and drivers may not follow more closely than is reasonable and prudent given their speed, the traffic, and the condition of the roadway (Vehicle Code §21703).

In a chain reaction, more than one driver’s actions can matter, and the CHP report and any video often help show who answers for which impact. Each responsible driver’s liability insurer may be involved, and a household’s own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can step in if a responsible driver has little insurance or left the scene, as our guide to when your own auto policy pays explains. For how investigators sort out responsibility, see how fault is decided in a California car accident.

Most injury lawsuits in California must be filed within two years (Code of Civil Procedure §335.1). This general overview is not legal advice; who is responsible depends on facts the CHP has not released.

Drivers and passengers hurt in the Yorba Linda pileup can get a free case review from Wilshire Law Firm. Our Orange County car accident lawyers work from the firm’s Orange County office, alongside our Anaheim personal injury attorneys, and handle car accident claims across Orange County.

After a pileup, our team can request the CHP report, look for dash-camera and traffic video, and deal with the several insurers that are often involved. Read what to do after a car accident, check how long you have to file, or meet our attorneys. Earlier this week we covered a wrong-way crash on the 91 Freeway in Riverside.

Sorting out a crash that involved many cars can feel overwhelming. A free conversation with our legal team can help you understand where you stand, and there are no fees unless you get paid.

Contact Wilshire Law Firm today.