Intersection Collision at Hazel and Elm Avenues
An intersection collision involving four vehicles occurred in Orangevale on May 15 that caused injuries. The accident was reported at about 10:39 in the morning at the intersection of Hazel and Elm Avenues, according to the report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The police report stated that the accident may have been precipitated by the driver of a Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup, who ran a red light and struck a Toyota 4Runner.
Further Information About the Intersection Collision
The driver of at least one of the pickups was reported as injured in the collision, and Sacramento Fire Department emergency responders arrived at the scene to assess injuries. One of the pickups had to be towed from the scene. The CHP is investigating to determine how the accident happened and to assign fault.
How Intersection Accidents Happen
Driver negligence is almost always responsible for an accident at an intersection. Following are some of the causes:
- The driver is speeding and can’t stop in time for a red light or drives through it on purpose.
- The motorist is driving distracted by texting or talking on a cell phone. In other cases, the driver is looking at GPS, eating or drinking in the vehicle or just talking with passengers. All of these actions are distractions.
- The driver makes an illegal turn or tries to beat an oncoming car and misjudges the distance.
- While making a turn, the driver decides to change lanes, which causes a sideswipe accident.
- While making a right turn, the driver does not have a clear view of oncoming traffic and causes an intersection collision.
- A driver is fatigued and does not notice that traffic is slowing in the intersection, resulting in a rear-end crash.
- A drunk or drugged driver can cause an intersection collision in a number of ways. This is because someone who is intoxicated has poor reflexes and judgment, cannot judge distances of other vehicles and their vision is affected.
Any of the above examples can lead to an intersection collision, and all of them are due to driver error. When this happens, the injured person can claim damages for the recovery of medical expenses, lost wages and their pain and suffering. An Orangevale personal injury attorney can help.
Investigation of an Intersection Collision
Intersection collisions can be complex since the right of way, traffic signs and signals and other factors may be involved. In addition, in many intersections, traffic is coming from a number of directions at the same time. These are some of the reasons that having an experienced Orangevale personal injury attorney on your side is important to obtain fair compensation. Some of the evidence searched for by our investigators includes:
- The investigators perform accident reconstruction, which can show the positioning of the vehicles and uncover negligent actions that led to the intersection collision.
- They review the police report to ensure its accuracy.
- The investigators interview any witnesses to the intersection accident to see if their accounts agree with the police report and whether the witnesses observed any negligent behavior.
- They search for any traffic surveillance cameras or those at nearby businesses that might have captured the intersection collision on video.
- The investigators look for road damage or lack of maintenance that might have caused an accident. This can include a view of oncoming traffic obscured by overhanging foliage, potholes or fissures in the pavement. It can also include missing stop signs or faulty traffic lights. The government agency in charge of maintenance can be liable for damages.
Our lawyers use the gathered evidence to hold negotiations for the client with the insurance company or prepare a court case.
Orangevale Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Orangevale personal injury lawyer. Call for my free and friendly advice at (916) 921- 6400 or on the toll-free line at (800) 404-5400. An online form is available also.
Look over client reviews and cases handled in the past by my firm at:
I’m a proud member of Million Dollar Advocates and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
I’ve helped Orangevale residents for more than 38 years with traffic crashes, traumatic injuries and wrongful deaths.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/crash-car-car-crash-accident-1308575/
:cd llo [cs 708]