Intersection Crash Near Thai Restaurant in Downtown Sacramento
An intersection crash in downtown Sacramento at 12th and I streets resulted in hospitalization for three people on October 13. The injuries were not considered to be life-threatening. While the investigation into why the accident happened is ongoing, what we do know is this collision between an Uber vehicle and an SUV caused one of the vehicles to flip over on its roof. The intersection crash happened at a crossroad plagued by a flurry of such accidents in the last months. The owner of the Thai restaurant on one corner of the intersection spoke frankly about the situation, saying that at least he was not open for business when this latest crash occurred.
Three Intersection Crashes
The recent intersection crash joined two others at the same crossroads. One of the others happened on September 22 when a vehicle crashed into the Bangkok @ 12 Thai restaurant. The restaurant was also hit on March 31. The owner of the restaurant, Teerayut Phupong, said the problem was due to the timing of the traffic lights at the intersection. According to Phupong, the lights switch from green to red in a short time frame, causing accidents. He said the intersection crashes occurred on the weekend when there was lighter traffic flow. This leads to people speeding through the intersection and trying to beat the light as it changes from green to red. The owner of the restaurant worries that it might happen again and has rearranged the tables inside to keep customers safe.
Sacramento Addresses the Problem
After the September 22 crash, the city tried to remedy the problem with a few adjustments, according to David Edrosolan, a Sacramento traffic engineer. For instance, they increased the time it took for the lights to change and lengthened the time the light would be red. The city also put in raised pavement markers, making drivers slow down in the area. Trees were trimmed too in an effort to increase driver visibility. The City of Sacramento also applied for a grant from Caltrans to study high traffic flow areas such as the Thai restaurant intersection.
Who Is Liable for Damages?
In this type of situation, there are several entities who are liable for damages. The drivers may be considered responsible for the accidents if they drove in a reckless fashion, causing the intersection crash. Overall, such crashes account for more than 40 percent of all accidents. This translates into nearly two million intersection crashes each year. Some of the main reasons are running a red light, distracted driving, missing a stop sign, and lack of patience. When this results in an intersection crash, the driver will be obligated to pay for damages.
But what happens when the intersection design, signage, or traffic lights are faulty? This switches the blame from the driver to the governmental agency responsible for road maintenance and design. A civil claim can be made against the governmental agency. However, it is important to remember that the time limit to file is different in such cases. For instance, the claim must be filed with the government authority within six months. After that, the agency has 45 days to respond. If the agency feels the claim is valid, they will settle. If not, your claim will be denied. After the denial is issued, you have six months to file a lawsuit. However, if the government agency does not respond, the claimant has two years to file a lawsuit. Your attorney will ensure that all documents are filed on time.
What an Attorney Can Do for You
An attorney works to make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve. At our firm, we dispatch our investigative team to the accident site as quickly as possible. They gather evidence that negligence was the cause of the intersection crash. Our protocol involves interviewing witnesses and local business owners, obtaining video footage from traffic surveillance cameras and nearby businesses. We also review the police report of the accident for mistakes. If the traffic lights are in question, we will check the time it takes for the light to change and measure it against standards commonly used. Once we have accumulated the information, we release it to our legal team to use in building a strong case against the at-fault party.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. After an accident, it is beneficial to seek the help an experienced lawyer can offer. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or at (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to me online.
I’ve helped residents of Sacramento since 1982 in all types of car accidents, rollovers, traumatic brain injuries and wrongful deaths.
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