Woman Suffers Major Injuries in Stockton Accident
A woman suffered major injuries in a Stockton accident on October 22. The crash between two vehicles occurred near French Camp Road on Interstate 5 southbound at about 6:50 in the morning. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the Stockton accident involved two vehicles. They were said to be a Hyundai Santa Fe and an undescribed second vehicle. At the time of this report, authorities have not said why or how the Stockton accident occurred, although an active investigation is ongoing. One person involved in the crash suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation and treatment. There is no word whether alcohol or drugs were suspected.
Why Do Most Motor Vehicle Accidents Happen?
In 2016, approximately 37,461 Americans died in 6 million car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This translates into approximately 102 people per day in 34,436 accidents. The majority of deaths occur in people aged 15-45. In addition to the fatalities, about three million individuals are injured, with two million suffering permanent disability. Some of the reasons this is happening involve:
- Distracted driving: Operating a motor vehicle while distracted is rapidly overcoming drunk driving as the leading cause of accidents. This is a natural outgrowth of the connected world we live in. Taking cell phone calls or texting is a major distraction. Listening to music and playing with the controls is another common cause. The human mind is not made to do several things at one time and do them well. The moment a motorist takes his or her focus off the road, their abilities as a driver suffer. A moving vehicle traveling at highway speeds will cover 320 feet in four seconds. When the driver is distracted, the likelihood of a fatal crash is increased.
- Impaired driving: The incidence of drunk driving has not decreased significantly despite campaigns against it in this country. About 10,000 people are killed in accidents involving a drunk driver every year. Today, the use of drugs is of concern, and the number of drug-impaired drivers is increasing. This does not involve only illegal drugs such as cocaine but also many prescription and over the counter medications.
- Red light accidents: Intersections are the location of a high number of accidents due to their complexity and potential for driving error. A number one cause involves those drivers who fail to stop for a red light. Whether due to impatience, drunkenness, or recklessness, running a red light is the reason for many collisions.
- Speeding: Driving fast is one of the reasons many accidents result in serious injuries. The impact of a collision is far greater when the driver is speeding. This is another reason so many highway accidents lead to fatalities. The speed limit on highways is far greater than it is on other thoroughfares. In addition, speeding is an integral part of losing control. A driver who loses control of their vehicle on a high traffic highway can cause a chain reaction accident with many injuries and deaths.
- Inclement weather: It is impossible to eliminate bad weather driving conditions. However, it is possible for drivers to take that into account when driving on a highway. State laws warn drivers to adapt their speed to the weather situation, so even moving at the speed limit may be too fast in inclement weather.
- Reckless driving: The hardest lesson many drivers have to learn is that they are not alone on the road. This is especially true of younger and inexperienced drivers.
What a Lawyer Can Do for You
Your attorney is your advocate when you have been in a Stockton accident. Even if you are in the hospital, your lawyer is actively fighting for your rights. At our firm, we believe that no one should pay physical or financial dues for someone else’s negligence. We send our investigative team to the scene of the accident as soon as we are on board. Our investigators look for evidence of fault on the part of the negligent driver. We do this by examining the scene for clues as to why the accident happened and interview witnesses who saw it occur. We also check police reports for errors and obtain video footage of the crash if possible. Once all information is documented, we release it to our legal team, who use it to build a strong case for our client.
Stockton Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton car accident lawyer. Being involved in a Stockton accident can be a harrowing experience. I can help. Just call me at (209) 227-1931 or at (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach me online.
I’ve helped many people in Stockton in all types of car accidents, brain injury trauma, and wrongful deaths.
I am a proud member of the following organizations:
Learn more about my practice on the following pages:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-accident-broken-glass-splatter-337764/
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