Two-Vehicle Crash Along Sunrise Boulevard Causes Injuries
Two accident injuries occurred in Citrus Heights recently during a collision caused by a negligent driver. The accident happened on Sunrise Boulevard north of Sayonara Drive when a suspected drunk driver went over the median and crashed into a Toyota Rav4 carrying two people and an infant. Both vehicles sustained major damage, and the Toyota rolled, ending up on its side.
Family Members Injured by Suspected Drunk Driver
According to the accident report by the Citrus Heights Police Department, the three people in the Toyota managed to exit the vehicle and were assessed by first responders with the Sacramento Fire Department. It was reported that the mother suffered major injuries, and the father sustained broken ribs in the collision. The child reportedly had minor injuries. However, all are expected to survive.
Driver Arrested in Citrus Heights Collision
The driver of the other vehicle, a 22-year-old male, was placed under arrest by Citrus Heights police for felony DUI. He was taken to the main jail in Sacramento County to be booked. The accident investigation is ongoing. Sunrise Boulevard’s northbound lanes were shut down to traffic at Sayonara Drive, while the southbound lanes stayed open.
Drunk Driving and Car Accident Injuries
Drunk drivers are responsible for many car accident injuries every year, despite efforts by authorities and educational programs to lower the risk. Every day, nearly 50 people die in collisions caused by a drunk driver. Some of the reasons a driver who has been drinking presents a danger to others sharing the road include:
- Loss of judgment and altered mood
- A decrease in control and reaction time
- Poor muscle coordination
- A decrease in the ability to focus visually
What Can Be Recovered in a Personal Injury Claim
Economic and non-economic damages can be claimed following a personal injury with the help of an experienced lawyer. Some of the areas in which compensation can be recovered include:
- Medical expenses: All of the medical expenses associated with an injury accident caused by negligence can be claimed. This includes ambulance service, hospitalization, surgeries, physicians and specialists and rehabilitation. Tests, medication, and even out of pocket expenses such as traveling to and from the doctor’s office are also covered.
- Lost wages: The monies an injured person would have earned if they had been able to go to work are covered, including bonuses and the value of perks they normally received.
- Noneconomic damages: These are the losses caused by damage to the individual and to the family unit. They can include loss of consortium, emotional trauma, and more.
- Punitive damages: Punitive damages are rarely awarded and are meant to punish the wrongdoer. However, if the injury was caused by an egregious act such as drunk driving, where the motorist knew that he/she was endangering others while behind the wheel of a car, it may be. A personal injury lawyer can explain whether or not punitive damages can be claimed in your case.
Proving Negligence in an Accident
To place a successful claim for compensation following an accident injury, it has to be shown that negligence was the cause. Over the years, my law office has successfully handled many accident injury claims, including those caused by drunk drivers. A charge of drunk driving and conviction is strong evidence that can be used when negotiating on the client’s behalf with the insurance company or presenting a case in court. However, our investigators go the extra mile to provide the strongest evidence possible, including:
- Looking for roadway and traffic surveillance cameras that could have captured the accident on tape
- Interviewing the witnesses to the crash and looking over the police report to ensure its accuracy
- Performing accident reconstruction, which shows how the collision injuries occurred and places fault
- Looking for government negligence such as a malfunctioning traffic light, poor overhead lighting, potholes, and other problems
- Checking the background of the at-fault driver to see if there are previous infractions and accidents
When the evidence has been compiled, our injury attorneys go to work to construct a strong case. This helps ensure that our clients can be reimbursed for their medical expenses, lost time at work, and for the pain and suffering they have endured.
Citrus Heights Car Accident Lawyer
My name is Ed Smith, and I am a Citrus Heights car accident lawyer. Phone me at (916) 921-6400 about your injury accident if you would like my free, friendly advice. I can also be contacted at (800) 404-5400 or by messaging me online.
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We’ve helped injured people from Citrus Heights since 1982 in getting the compensation that they deserve for all types of traffic accidents, traumas such as brain injuries, and wrongful deaths.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/headlamp-accident-auto-blue-broken-2940/
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