Accident Along Elkhorn Boulevard Results in Death of Driver
A fatal T-bone accident occurred in Rio Linda recently when a driver’s vehicle struck another car. The accident happened sometime before 7:00 p.m. on Elkhorn Boulevard, close to 22nd Street, according to officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP). First responders with Sacramento Metro Fire arrived also and performed CPR on one person.
Investigation Underway to Determine Cause of Fatal T-Bone Accident
Resuscitation efforts by fire department medics did not succeed, and the patient could not be saved. The accident is being investigated by authorities to find out how it occurred. No information was released on whether the vehicle that was struck was occupied at the time or parked.
Causes of a T-Bone Accident
Side impact accidents can end up causing some of the most serious injuries. This happens because the sides of a motor vehicle are not designed with strong protection the way the front and rear sections are. Most T-bone accidents occur due to negligence by a driver, and the reasons they happen include:
- Running a red light is one of the main reasons for a T-bone accident. A red light runner stands at a high risk of colliding with a vehicle already in an intersection.
- Distracted driving is the major cause of all types of collisions. A distracted driver who is busy texting or talking on their cell phone may not see a stop sign or red light and continue into the intersection.
- Fatigued driving is more likely to cause a T-bone accident during the late hours of the night. When a driver is too fatigued to be handling a car, they have problems concentrating or may fall asleep.
- Drunk driving is responsible for many collisions, including T-bone accidents. The drunk driver has poor reflexes and judgment and exhibits other problems that make them a danger on the road.
Types of Injuries Caused by a T-Bone Accident
Because this type of accident can cause more serious injuries than many others, the injured person may face extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation to recover. In some cases, the damage caused by a broadside accident may be permanent and result in serious disability. Some of the types of injuries that commonly occur in a side collision include:
- Cervical strain or sprain: Commonly called whiplash, this can be a serious condition in many people who are involved in a traffic accident, even at lower speeds. It can cause neck pain and stiffness, headaches, numbness or tingling in the arms, and other symptoms. Although most cases resolve in a few weeks, others may result in chronic pain and long-lasting complications.
- Spinal cord injuries: Because the impact is on the side of the car, the driver and passengers sitting near the vehicle’s doors may end up suffering a spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries can cause temporary or permanent paralysis, which means that recovery is slower, if at all. The extent of paralysis depends on the location of the injury and can result in paralysis from the waist down or neck down, so the injured person may require full-time care.
- Broken bones: Broken bones in a T-bone accident are often suffered in the hands, forearms, ribs and legs as well as the spine. While simple breaks may heal in under two months, more serious fractures may require surgical repair and need a much longer period to heal.
Rio Linda Wrongful Death Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Rio Linda wrongful death lawyer. Contact me for my free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You can also reach me online.
My legal team and I have assisted many Rio Linda residents in getting the compensation they deserve for wrongful death claims, all types of traffic collisions, and other personal injuries since 1982.
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Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/crash-car-car-crash-accident-1308575/
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