Sacramento Traffic Collision on Highway 99
A Sacramento traffic collision that occurred on southbound State Route 99 resulted in major injuries on January 3 at 6:32 a.m. The crash occurred just north of the Sutterville Road exit ramp. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the traffic collision involved two vehicles described as a silver Hyundai and dark-colored Mercedes sedan. The initial accident blocked the number one lane, and the vehicles ended up in the center divide. A third car crashed into the debris and also was in the center divide. The third vehicle was described by authorities as a black and white Smart car that sustained a tire blowout. Authorities noted that they were unable to make contact with the occupant of the Smart car. The Hyundai was said to have significant front-end damage. The Mercedes sustained moderate damage according to reports. The injured individual was transported by emergency responders to U.C. Davis Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment.
Highway Traffic Collisions
In 2018, approximately 40,000 people were killed on highways, according to the National Safety Council. The number of fatalities is approximately 1 percent lower than that of 2017. This slight decrease is thought to be the result of the implementation of safety devices in newer vehicles. However, the number of vehicles with such devices is still too few to make an impact on accident statistics. The emergence of a trend of significant deaths on the highway is thought to be related to distracted, reckless, and impaired driving.
Chief Types of Car Accidents
There are a variety of different types of traffic collisions that occur on the highway. Some of the most common are:
- Merging: When cars merge, there is a potential for accidents. This is especially true on highways when they are traveling at a high speed. Another issue here is that some drivers fail to check if another vehicle is coming up alongside them.
- Multiple vehicle collisions: When vehicles are traveling at highway speeds, the chance of a multiple-vehicle traffic collision is high. Such accidents have the potential to cause serious injuries. This is due to the fact that a vehicle may receive multiple impacts. When this happens, safety devices may be of little assistance once they deploy.
- Rear-end accidents: This type of accident is usually due to driver error. Frequently, drivers are following a lead vehicle too closely or are distracted and do not see traffic slowing ahead.
- Broadside accidents: When one vehicle hits the side of another, it is called a broadside or T-bone collision. This type of traffic collision is common and dangerous. The side of a vehicle has little ability to absorb the impact and few if any, safety devices.
- Head-on crashes: Head-on crashes are extremely dangerous. This is because the impact is a combination of the weight and speed of two vehicles. Frontal impact collisions are often the result of drunk driving.
How an Attorney Can Help
Proof of negligence is a vital part of an accident investigation. At our firm, our investigators are dispatched to the accident site as quickly as possible. There, they search for details into how the traffic collision happened by using accident reconstruction techniques. They also obtain videos of the accident from surveillance cameras on traffic lights and nearby businesses. Our investigators review police reports carefully since errors or misstatements are used by insurance companies to deny a claim. Once the evidence is accumulated, it is turned over to our legal team, who uses it to construct a strong case for our client.
Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. If you are looking for legal insight, call (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. If it is more convenient for you, you can reach me online.
I’ve helped numerous clients achieve the compensation they deserve in all varieties of car accidents, wrongful deaths, and traumatic injuries.
I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. To learn more about these organizations, just click on the links provided.
It is important to learn more about a lawyer before retaining him or her. Go to the following links to learn about my practice.
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