Interstate 80 Sees Traffic Slowdown After Chain-Reaction Collision
A chain-reaction collision occurred in Sacramento on August 23 along I-80 that interfered with rush hour traffic and caused one injury. The crash occurred just before 8:00 in the morning along eastbound I-80 just west of the Raley Boulevard off-ramp, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The police report said that the driver of a Kia Forte lost control of their car and struck the concrete divider.
Other Vehicles Crash Into Original Accident
This precipitated the additional crash involving four other vehicles. An SUV involved in the crash ended up blocking the slow lane with a broken axle. An additional accident reported east of the crash site at Dry Creek blocked three lanes. The accident is being investigated to determine the cause.
Fault in a Chain Reaction Collision
A chain reaction collision occurs when a vehicle causes an accident, and other motorists coming up behind strike each other in a series of rear-end crashes. Although the first driver is probably at fault for beginning the series of collisions, others involved in it may also bear some of the responsibility. After all, drivers are supposed to keep a safe distance between their vehicles and others to avoid a crash in an emergency situation. Some of the ways a chain reaction collision can be caused by negligence include:
- Distracted driving can contribute to an accident involving vehicles in the same lane. A driver who is texting, chatting on their phone, reaching for their drink in a cup holder or other activities that take their eyes off the roadway cannot react in time to stop.
- A speeding driver would find it difficult to slow down to avoid an accident in the same lane up ahead.
- Tailgating, just like speeding, makes it hard for a driver to stop and avoid a collision up ahead.
- Fatigued driving means the motorist has slowed reflexes and isn’t as observant as someone who is alert.
- Drunk drivers or those who have used drugs are similar in their reactions in a vehicle to those who are fatigued. Their judgment and reflexes are impaired, and decision-making ability slowed, so they may be slow in reacting to an accident in front of them.
Seeking Advice After a Traffic Accident Injury
Injuries suffered in a chain reaction collision can be serious and require hospitalization and lost time at work that isn’t reimbursed as well as the pain and suffering. However, if the injuries were because of a negligent driver, the injured party may be able to recover those losses with the help of an injury attorney. The injury lawyers at AutoAccident.com handled many traffic accident claims successfully over the years, obtaining fair compensation for our clients.
Investigation of a Traffic Accident
To prepare a strong case that supports our client’s compensation claim, an injury lawyer investigates the crash to collect evidence. Our investigators:
- Examine the police report for errors because mistakes can affect the client’s claim.
- Perform accident reconstruction, which illustrates how the chain reaction collision occurred and can point toward those at fault.
- Interview the witnesses.
- Look at video footage from nearby traffic surveillance cameras that might have captured the accident on film.
Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento
I am Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. Contact us at (916) 921-6400 for our free and friendly advice if you were injured by a negligent driver and want to find out whether you can file a claim for compensation. We can also be reached at (800) 404-5400 or by sending us a message online.
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Since 1982, we’ve helped people in Northern California get the compensation they deserve in all varieties of traffic accidents, government claims, wrongful deaths, and other types of cases.
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Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-accident-clash-rome-highway-2165210/
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