Accident on State Route 99 Involves Five Vehicles
A multiple-vehicle accident caused a traffic backup in Sacramento on October 17 at around 12:20 p.m., which blocked all but one of the lanes. According to a report by Caltrans District 3, the crash occurred along northbound State Route 99 just north of the 12th Avenue off-ramp. Traffic was reported as backed up all the way to 47th Avenue.
Investigation Underway to Determine Cause of Multiple-Vehicle Accident
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the accident involved up to five vehicles, including a van and several pickups. The lanes were cleared shortly after 1:00 p.m. A minor injury was reported in the multiple-vehicle accident. The incident is under investigation by the CHP to determine its cause and to assign fault.
Causes of a Multiple-Vehicle Accident
Because of the high speeds and congestion of traffic along highways, accidents are common, including those involving multiple vehicles. Since these accidents usually cause the traffic to back up, it can create problems for police and emergency responders to reach the site. Some of the most common causes of a multiple-vehicle accident are:
- Tailgating is a major cause of a multiple-vehicle accident. Since a driver who is tailgating doesn’t have enough time or space to stop if the vehicle in front slows suddenly, it can end up causing a rear-end collision. In any crash, vehicles may be pushed out of their lane and involve other passenger cars.
- Speeding is a reason for many accidents on both highways and surface streets. Speed limits are calculated to keep drivers safe. Those who go above the speed limit are more likely to lose control of their car and require a much longer stopping distance to avoid a collision.
- Distracted driving is a major cause of a multiple-vehicle accident. Since a driver cannot text or talk on a cell phone for even a few seconds and concentrate on the surrounding traffic at the same time, it can cause a multiple-vehicle crash.
- Drunk driving causes many accidents every year. A drunk driver weaves in and out of their traffic lane, cannot judge the distance from other vehicles, and slows down and speeds up. Although other motorists may realize that another driver is impaired by their actions, they may not be able to get out of the way before an accident occurs.
- Reckless driving leads to many collisions on both highways and surface streets. Drivers who cut in and out of traffic, fail to yield to other vehicles, race or pass unsafely can cause a multiple-vehicle accident.
Investigation of a Multiple-Vehicle Accident
Accidents, where the injured party wants to file a claim for compensation from the at-fault person or entity, have to be investigated. This is done to collect the evidence that supports the client’s claim. It can include:
- The investigators review the police report for errors and talk to the witnesses.
- They perform accident reconstruction to demonstrate how the collision occurred, which often indicates which driver was negligent and caused the crash.
- Area traffic surveillance cameras are sought that might have captured the crash on tape.
Our injury lawyers take over once the evidence is compiled to use it in building a strong case that supports our client’s compensation claim.
Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. Multiple-vehicle collisions can be complex, and an injury attorney can find out who was at fault so you can collect the compensation you deserve. Give us a call at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for our free and friendly advice. An online contact form is available if you prefer to get in touch with us that way.
My legal team and I have helped Sacramentans to get fair compensation in all kinds of traffic collisions and wrongful deaths since 1982.
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Information about our law firm and how we’ve assisted others in getting the compensation they deserve can be found below:
Photo attribution: Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
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