Accident on Bethel Island Road Causes Major Injury
A head-on collision near Oakley occurred on April 11 that resulted in two injuries. The crash occurred on Bethel Island Road close to Dutch Slough Road around 8:43 in the evening. Firefighters with the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District arrived to discover one individual trapped inside a vehicle, one with major injuries and another patient with minor trauma.
One Patient Helicoptered Out for Medical Attention
An additional AMR unit was called to the scene as well as a medical helicopter to transport at least one of the patients to a hospital. The accident is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to determine how the head-on collision occurred.
Dangers of a Head-On Collision
There are several dangers linked to a head-on collision that often cause critical injuries. These are:
- Rollover: A head-on collision often causes at least one of the vehicles to roll over. This is because the impact of the collision interferes with the centrifugal force of the vehicle, making it unstable and prone to rollover. A rollover crash can cause serious injuries due to roof crush. In this situation, the infrastructure is unable to support the weight of the vehicle as it crushes down on the occupants. Severe head and neck injuries are often recorded. When a rollover occurs, it is important to retain the vehicle as evidence, so our engineers can examine it for defects, which might have contributed to the injuries.
- Ejection: In many instances, occupants of a vehicle are ejected due to a head-on collision, either through the doors or the windshield. This is due to the enormous impact as two vehicles collide. The force of the impact is a combination of the speed and weight of both vehicles.
- Motor crushes in on occupants: The force of impact can also push the motor into the front passenger compartment. This is a common cause of entrapment, requiring fire department personnel to extricate them. It also is responsible for severe injuries to the lower extremities, including the need for amputation.
Injuries in a Head-On Collision
The following are the most frequent injuries in a head-on collision:
- Brain injuries: One of the most severe injuries that can occur, a brain injury is often responsible for long-term disability. The injured party may no longer be able to work at the same job or to work at all. In some cases, lifelong care is needed, whether at home or in an institution.
- Lower extremity injury: When the lower extremities are trapped or crushed due to a head-on collision, the injured party may suffer debilitating damage. In some cases, the legs are so damaged that an amputation may be necessary. In others, after medical and surgical intervention, long-term rehabilitation therapy is required.
- Chest and abdominal injury: Being trapped or suffering a significant impact to the chest and abdominal region can result in a host of physical trauma. Both areas enclose vital organs that cannot continue to function properly if they are heavily damaged.
Investigating a Head-On Collision
It is necessary to gather evidence if a personal injury claim is to be successful. Our investigators do just that. They are sent to the scene of the accident to determine liability using crash reconstruction techniques and obtain video footage of the head-on collision. They also interview witnesses and review police reports for inaccuracies. Once all this data is accumulated, it is given to our legal team to build a strong case for our client.
Oakley Personal Injury Attorney
I am Ed Smith, an Oakley personal injury lawyer. After an accident, you need the legal insight an injury attorney can provide. Call me at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also contact me online if that is more convenient for you.
I’ve helped numerous residents of Oakley and the surrounding area when they are injured due to traffic accidents, other trauma, or experience a wrongful death in the family.
Please take the time to review the following links, which provide information about my law firm:
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Attributed photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/auto-accident-vehicle-insurance-3734396/
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