A 33-year-old man, a 3-year-old child and a 9-month-old child were killed in a car crash that took place on Highway 91 in California at 1 a.m. on July 9. Authorities say the man's Jeep was struck by a gas tanker that had been rear-ended by another vehicle. The Jeep then went over a central median and flipped over.

A BMV then collided with the Jeep, but the driver of the BMW was uninjured. There was no indication of whether bad road conditions caused the crash or if drunk or impaired driving was the cause of the initial collision. There was also no mention of what happened to the driver who crashed into the tanker or anyone inside of the tanker.

If distracted or drunk drivers cause a crash that results in severe injury or death, they may be held financially liable for their actions. As a general rule, a driver is responsible for damages if he or she was acting in a negligent manner and caused the accident. Injured victims may be able to pursue compensation for their medical bills and lost wages. The family members of those who die may be able to pursue legal action for the wrongful death of a loved one.

Compensation may be available for lost wages and future earnings as well as loss of consortium and loss of companionship. An attorney may be able to review a case to determine the best way to try to resolve it in the family's favor. In some cases, it may be possible to pursue a settlement outside of court, which may resolve the case faster and allow the family to gain some closure in the matter.