Roadway Departure Accident Along Grant Line Road
A roadway departure accident in Rancho Cordova resulted in the injury of at least one person on January 14, 2019. The accident occurred at about 4:30 in the afternoon along Grant Line Road just north of Raymer Way between the drivers of a Nissan Sentra and Honda Civic. Both of the vehicles were reported as having gone off the side of the road. According to the report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), one of the cars had crossed over the centerline and struck the other vehicle in the southbound lane. Sacramento Fire Department personnel arrived at the scene, and an ambulance was summoned. No information was released on the identity or condition of the injured person. The accident will be investigated by the CHP to determine the cause.
Rural Road Accidents
While country roads carry much less traffic than roadways in urban areas, they account for more than half of fatalities in motor vehicle collisions. Some of these are roadway departure accidents. According to the Federal Highway Administration, even though the number of traffic fatalities along rural roads has been reduced, they are still 2.4 times higher than in urban areas. Environmental issues such as weather and road defects, along with driver error, cause the majority of these crashes.
Causes of a Roadway Departure Accident
In rural areas, two-lane roads are common, and most do not have protective guardrails or barriers between traffic going in different directions. In addition, along two-lane roads, in order to pass slower moving vehicles, a driver must cross into the opposing traffic lane, often at higher speeds. This can result in a head-on collision, which commonly causes severe head injuries, broken bones, and abdominal and chest trauma. Vehicles entering from side roads are at risk of collisions with faster moving cars already on the highway. Side road entrances also put motorists on the highway at risk. These collisions are often severe, causing serious injuries and fatalities.
Environmental Factors and Driver Error
Road conditions can lead to a roadway departure accident when lines are not clearly marked, lanes are narrow, and maintenance problems exist. Driver error that can cause a roadway departure accident includes:
- Speeding kills and is a major cause of traffic collisions. Speed limits are calculated to keep drivers and others safe on the roadways. By driving above the speed limit, a motorist is more likely to lose control of the vehicle. In addition, it increases the stopping distance needed.
- Drunk driving killed nearly 30 people a day in 2017. Drinking and driving adversely affects coordination, judgment, and even visual acuity, so getting behind the wheel of a car after consuming alcohol is a bad idea.
- Drugged driving, whether from the use of illicit drugs or prescription medicines, endangers the driver, passengers in their vehicle and others on the road. Some drugs make a driver reckless or aggressive while others impair judgment and cause drowsiness.
- Distracted driving such as texting or talking on a cell phone is a major cause of distracted driving.
Help From an Experienced Lawyer
When you or someone you care about has been injured by a negligent driver, an experienced injury lawyer can help. By reviewing accident records and witness accounts, while conducting their own investigation, the lawyer can handle dealing with the insurance company or build a case to present in civil court.
Rancho Cordova Auto Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Rancho Cordova car accident lawyer. Injuries in a motor vehicle accident can result in lost wages, major medical bills and other costs. If the crash happened because another driver was negligent, fair compensation may be recovered to pay for those expenses, along with the suffering and pain. Please give me a call at (916) 921-6400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach me at (800) 404-5400 long-distance or through my online contact form, which is located on my website, AutoAccident.com.
I belong to the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, which is awarded only to lawyers who demonstrate a high standard in the legal profession. I also belong to the Million Dollar Advocates, which is open for membership only to trial lawyers who have won more than $1 million for a client.
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Over my 37 year career as an injury lawyer, it has been my privilege and honor to have helped many residents of Rancho Cordova, as well as other Northern Californians, in obtaining fair compensation in all types of motor vehicle accidents, in wrongful death cases and traumas such as brain injuries.
Photo Attribution: Depositphotos_127716862_l-2015
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