Five People Injured in South Sacramento Accident
An intersection accident in South Sacramento on December 24, 2019, caused injury to five people. According to a Sacramento Fire Department spokesperson, the crash occurred at the crossroads of Franklin Boulevard and 25th Avenue. Rescue personnel with the fire department arrived on the scene to assess the injuries, which were described later as minor. Traffic along Franklin Boulevard was backed up due to the intersection accident as the area was cleared, and an investigation into how the crash happened and who was at fault proceeded.
Intersection Accidents
According to the Federal Highway Administration, there are 2.5 million accidents in intersections annually. This accounts for 50 percent of all serious collisions and 20 percent of fatal ones. Reasons for an intersection accident are varied, however, approximately 165,000 are due to a driver running a red light. In all, 96 percent of all intersection collisions are due to driver error. Common examples are:
- A driver who makes a right or left turn without a clear view of oncoming traffic may lead to an accident.
- Speeding is a major factor in intersection crashes.
- Drivers who disregard traffic rules, such as running a red light, cause many intersection mishaps.
- Aggressive driving leads to some collisions.
- Distracted driving, such as texting, causes a driver to be unaware of other motorists.
- Some drivers fail to yield to oncoming traffic or to look for other vehicles or pedestrians.
- Failure to correctly estimate the speed or distance of an oncoming vehicle can lead to an intersection accident. This lack of judgment is common with drunk drivers.
Behaviors Associated With an Intersection Accident
Some examples of aggressive driver behavior associated with an intersection accident are:
- Tailgating other vehicles
- Changing lanes erratically
- Merging or passing illegally
- Changing speed erratically
- Not adhering to traffic signals and signs
- Making illegal turns
Running a Red Light or Stop Sign
One of the major causes of an intersection accident occurs when a driver runs a red light. In 2017 alone, approximately 890 people died due to a red-light runner. Technically, a driver must not only stop at a red light, but they should also come to a complete halt at a traffic sign. Under California Vehicle Code sections 21450 to 21468, the vehicle must come to a complete stop before hitting the marked line or prior to entering the crosswalk. After stopping and yielding the right of way to other motorists and pedestrians, the driver may turn right or left as designated by signage at the intersection. Not all intersections permit such turns.
Liability in an Intersection Accident
Negligence is a major cause of intersection accidents. Drivers who fail to abide by the rules and take reasonable care to ensure the safety of others are at fault for most collisions. It is mandatory that motorists pay attention to what is happening around them. In intersections, it can be a life-saving maneuver. One common excuse given by a driver is that they did not see the other vehicle, a pedestrian, or a cyclist. Usually, this occurs because the negligent motorist is not paying attention.
How an Attorney Can Help
It is important to document an intersection accident to prove negligence. Some ways our firm’s investigators do this are:
- Obtain CC-TV footage from traffic surveillance lights and nearby businesses
- Review police reports for errors
- Collect witness statements
- Obtain personal videos and photos of the accident
- Obtain vehicle black box records to indicate speed and whether the driver stopped
- Check cell phone records to see if the unit was in use at the time of the crash
- Check vehicle tires and brakes to see if proper maintenance was performed
- Obtain drug and alcohol tests
- Collect citations against the negligent driver at the scene
Once the evidence is collected, our investigators release the data to our lawyers who use it to build a strong case for our client.
South Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a South Sacramento car accident lawyer. Being involved in an intersection accident is a frightening experience. Also, injury symptoms may be delayed and not be apparent until days later. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to me online.
I’ve helped clients in South Sacramento for more than 37 years obtain the compensation they deserve in all types of car crashes, wrongful death cases, and other types of trauma.
I am a proud member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Please go to the following pages to learn more about my practice:
Photo Attribution: Depositphotos_65724685_l-2015
:cd llo [cs 778]