Multiple Vehicles Struck on I-80 by Possible Drunk Driver
A multiple-vehicle crash that occurred in North Sacramento on January 7 is suspected to have been caused by drunk driving. The collision happened around 3:00 p.m. along I-80 westbound near Reed Avenue, according to the report issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The accident involved a Sacramento resident, age 33, who was heading west on the highway in an Acura RDX where his vehicle collided with a Toyota Prius.
Suspected Drunk Driver Arrested
The driver of the Prius was an Elk Grove man, age 42. Because the Prius was shoved forward and pushed right by the impact of the collision, it crashed with a CHP Tahoe. The Acura then stopped in the westbound lanes of I-80 where it was hit by a woman, age 20, in an Acura TL. The driver of the Acura RDX was arrested by officers for suspected DUI. Information about injuries suffered in the multiple-vehicle crash was not released.
Drunk Driving and Traffic Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 28 people are killed every day in accidents that involve drunk driving. Despite educational efforts that try to prevent people from driving while intoxicated and an increased police presence, drunk drivers remain a major problem in California. Some of the reasons a drunk driver is a menace behind the wheel of a car and can cause an accident resulting in serious injuries or fatalities include:
- Even a small amount of alcohol (0.02) in someone’s system well below the legal level of drunk driving (0.08) is enough to affect a driver’s visual functions and the ability to multitask.
- A BAC level of 0.05 means that the driver is less able to track with their eyes, coordination is reduced and problems steering occurs.
- At 0.08, the driver is legally drunk and has trouble concentrating, controlling their speed and problems processing information.
- At 0.10, the driver’s control of the vehicle and reaction time is greatly reduced, and they have problems braking appropriately and staying in their lane.
- With a BAC level of 0.15, the driver has lost their sense of balance, may vomit, show substantially reduced muscle control and serious declines in hearing and vision.
Recovering Evidence in Support of an Injury Claim
A conviction for drunk driving provides compelling evidence that can be used by an injured party who is filing a compensation claim for their injuries. In addition, the injury attorney collects evidence to support the client’s claim, such as:
- The investigators perform accident reconstruction, which shows how the vehicles were positioned before the collision, when it happened and afterward. Accident reconstruction evidence is used by the civil court and insurance companies when determining fault.
- The accident report filed by the police is checked to ensure its accuracy because errors could prevent the client from filing for compensation in the drunk driving case.
- Any witnesses to the collision are interviewed. In some instances, a witness may have captured the accident as it happened on a cell phone.
- Traffic cameras in the area are located to see if the accident was caught on tape. If it was, that video record can be subpoenaed to support the case.
Once the evidence is gathered, our lawyers go to work to build a case that strongly supports our client’s compensation claim.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. Drunk drivers cause many serious injuries and fatalities every year. If an intoxicated driver caused your injuries, you may be able to place a claim to recover compensation. Contact us for our free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. An online form to message us is available as well.
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Our team of injury lawyers and I have been helping Northern Californians get the compensation they deserve in all kinds of traffic collisions and wrongful deaths since 1982.
Photo attribution: Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay
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