Accident on Laguna Boulevard On-Ramp Kills Driver in Single-Vehicle Crash
A deadly accident happened on an Elk Grove on-ramp where the driver’s vehicle left the road during the early morning hours. The accident report released by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said that the crash occurred on the Laguna Boulevard on-ramp toward Interstate 5 at about 5:30 a.m. The vehicle in question reportedly exited the on-ramp, rolled several times and came to a stop on the driver’s side, killing the individual inside.
Single-Vehicle Accident Being Investigated to Determine Cause
An officer at the scene said evidence existed that the accident may have involved drunk driving, and the individual inside was not wearing seat restraints at the time the collision occurred. The CHP is investigating the fatal on-ramp accident to discover how it happened. The name of the driver who died has not yet been released pending notification of the family by the County Coroner’s Office.
Causes of On-Ramp Accidents
An on-ramp accident is one of the most common types of collisions on a highway. Some of their causes include:
- Speeding: A motorist who is speeding on an on-ramp can end up either causing an accident involving other vehicles or go off the road.
- Ramp design: A ramp that is poorly designed with narrow lanes or sharp curves can cause an on-ramp accident. In these cases, the government entity in charge of the design may be liable for injuries or fatalities.
- Distracted driving: A distracted driver may be texting, talking on their cell phone, or performing another action that takes their eyes, hands, and focus off the road ahead. It only takes a few seconds for a vehicle to travel a long distance and can cause an on-ramp accident that involves other vehicles.
- Changing lanes on an on-ramp: Drivers mostly try to plan ahead, so they are in the correct lane on a highway ramp because it’s dangerous to try and make a change. However, those who aren’t paying attention or aren’t familiar with the area may attempt switching lanes, which can lead to a sideswipe or rear-end accident.
- Drunk driving: Inebriated drivers cause many accident injuries and fatalities on highway ramps. Head-on collisions are often caused by a drunk driver when they enter a ramp going in the wrong direction.
- Defective auto parts: A sudden blowout, brake failure, a locked steering wheel, or other mechanical problems rob a driver of the ability to steer their vehicle. When a defect was the cause, the injured party may file an auto product liability claim to recover damages.
Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
When a loved one’s demise was caused by a negligent driver or other entity, the family may want to find out about filing a wrongful death claim, which may recover:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of financial support in the future by the decedent
- Loss of consortium, moral support, and affection
- Loss of guidance, nurturing, and training of the children
- Loss of inheritance
- Loss of household services such as childcare, lawn care, and other duties performed by the deceased
- In an intentional or egregious accident, the family may ask for punitive damages, which are often higher than the compensation amount, and in addition to it.
Elk Grove Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Elk Grove wrongful death lawyer. Every day, lives are lost due to a negligent driver or other entity. When negligence was the cause, the family may want to find out about placing a wrongful death claim. Contact us for our free and friendly advice at (916) 694-0002 or (800) 404-5400. You can also reach us online.
Helpful information about our law firm can be found at the links that follow:
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My legal team and I have helped many people in Elk Grove get the compensation they deserve since 1982 for all varieties of traffic accidents, government claims, auto product liability lawsuits, and wrongful deaths.
Photo attribution: Photo by David Tomaseti on Unsplash
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