Serious Traffic Crash in Berkeley Results in Major Injury

Accident on I-80 Occurs Near the University Avenue Off-Ramp

A serious traffic crash in Berkeley on April 15 left at least one individual with major injuries. The crash, according to the incident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), happened around 1:39 a.m. along westbound I-80 near the off-ramp for University Avenue. It occurred when a Ford F-350 carrying an attenuator in its bed crashed into another vehicle. 

Medics Transport One Person to Hospital After Serious Traffic Crash

Paramedics with the Berkeley Fire Department arrived at the crash scene to assess injuries. A minimum of one person suffered major injuries and was transported to a hospital for further medical treatment and evaluation. An investigation is in progress to determine the cause of the collision.

Reasons for a Serious Traffic Crash

Although there are many reasons for an accident to happen, some of the most common are listed below:

  • Speeding: This behavior leads to a traffic accident because the driver might find it difficult to control their vehicle. It stands to reason that a vehicle moving at a higher speed must travel a longer distance in order to stop. When traveling at highway speeds and encountering a slowdown in traffic, the outcome is usually negative.
  • Drunk driving: A motorist who drives while inebriated is a danger on the highway. All too often, they are unable to properly judge distance and location. At night, this lack of judgment makes it all the more difficult for the driver to stay in their lane, particularly when they are unfamiliar with the roadway.
  • Distracted driving: This behavior is quickly becoming the number one cause of a serious traffic crash. A driver who operates a motor vehicle while they are focused on something other than the road is setting the stage for an accident. Texting, which is the primary type of distraction, requires the driver to take their eyes off the road for a minimum of five seconds. In this amount of time moving at highway speeds, the vehicle will travel the distance of an average football field without someone in control. 
  • Fatigue: All too often, drivers operate a motor vehicle while fatigued. This places them and everyone else on the road in danger. Studies show that driving fatigued is comparable to motoring with a BAC level of 0.08 percent, the legal limit.

Investigating a Serious Traffic Crash

An experienced law firm knows that investigating the accident is critical in supporting a client’s compensation claim. At our firm, we dispatch an investigative team to the scene of the accident to determine who was at fault. To accomplish this, they do the following tasks:

  • The investigators interview witnesses to the serious traffic crash, who can provide pertinent information. 
  • The investigators obtain video footage of the crash from traffic surveillance cameras as well as those at nearby businesses. 
  • We also look for roadway maintenance issues such as overgrown foliage or potholes that may have contributed to the crash.
  • The investigators review the police report for inaccuracies. This is important because the report is widely used during insurance negotiations and in civil court.
  • They also perform accident reconstruction at the site to determine the placement of vehicles before, during and after the accident and to unearth liability.

After all the data is accumulated, our investigative team releases it to our attorneys, who use it to build a robust case for our client.

Berkeley Car Accident Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a Berkeley car accident lawyer. When you are involved in a highway accident, you need the insight an experienced lawyer can provide. Call me at (510) 631-0200 or use my toll-free line at (800) 404-5400 to obtain free and friendly advice or contact me online

I’ve helped numerous Berkeley residents obtain the compensation they deserve in all types of car accidents, wrongful death cases, and other traumatic incidents since 1982.

Please take this opportunity to learn more about my practice by reviewing the links below:

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Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-accident-broken-glass-splatter-337764/

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