Diablo Drive Intersection Accident Injures One Person
On December 13, a Sacramento intersection crash that caused an injury occurred in a two-vehicle collision. The accident was reported at the intersection of Diablo Drive and Elkhorn Boulevard around 7:43 in the morning between a Toyota Prius and a Mazda. One vehicle was blocking traffic.
Injury Reported in Intersection Crash
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), one individual stated that he had suffered a neck injury, so Sacramento Fire Department first responders were called to the scene to examine the patient. It was not reported whether that person was treated at the scene or taken to a hospital for additional evaluation. The intersection crash is being investigated by the CHP to find out why it happened and to assign fault to the negligent driver.
Intersection Dangers
While intersections are necessary for the proper flow of traffic and road functionality, they are also the site of many critical and fatal accidents. Around 50 percent of serious accidents happen at intersections, with 20 percent of them being fatal collisions. Overall, 165,000 intersection crashes occur each year due to red-light runners with approximately 700-800 fatalities.
Common Causes of an Intersection Crash
Intersection accidents can be caused due to a number of factors. The most common are listed below:
- Distracted driving: By focusing on things other than the road, motorists cause many accidents. For example, they often fail to see vehicles that may have stopped or entered the intersection or not notice a traffic signal change.
- Speeding: This contributes to many intersection accidents. It happens when vehicles try to speed up to avoid stopping. This negligent behavior is often caused by a driver who disregards the safety of others to reach his or her destination quicker. In addition, speeding makes it harder for the motorist to avoid a potential accident, such as a pedestrian crossing the road or bicycle rider.
- Poor design: Visibility is a vital safety feature of a well-designed intersection. However, some intersections are not designed in a way that accommodates this. In addition, some intersections have poorly designated lanes. Both of these factors tend to lead to intersection accidents. In this case, both the city and the construction company that built the road can be included in a lawsuit.
- Driver fatigue: Experts have shown that driving while tired is as dangerous as driving drunk. This is important at an intersection where a slowed reaction time in an area of busy traffic can result in an accident injury.
- Defective vehicles: Defective vehicles can contribute to an intersection crash. An example of this is when defective brakes or tires interfere with a motorist stopping in time to avoid an accident.
- Drunk driving: As with fatigued drivers, an impaired motorist has a reduced reaction time. At intersections, this ability is critical to avoid an accident and make proper safety decisions.
Liability in an Intersection Accident
In an intersection, liability is measured according to traffic laws so that the driver who has the right of way is usually not at fault. This means that knowing the laws that govern intersection traffic is a must. However, knowing the laws and practicing them correctly are two different things. Our injury attorneys make every effort to determine fault in an intersection crash so that our clients can obtain the compensation that they deserve.
Investigating an Intersection Crash
At our firm, we send our investigators to the site quickly. They interview witnesses, obtain video footage of the accident from camera sources, and review police reports for mistakes. Our investigators perform accident reconstruction techniques that determine liability.
Once this information is accumulated, our investigators release it to our legal team, who use it as a basis of building a strong case for our client.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
My name is Ed Smith, and I’m a Sacramento car accident lawyer. Call me for free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 if a negligent driver caused your injuries. You can also reach me at (800) 404-5400 or by sending me a message online.
For the past 38+ years, my law office has helped countless Sacramentans obtain the compensation they deserve following a traffic accident or wrongful death as well as other personal injuries.
I’m a proud member of:
Find out more information about my law office below:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/headlamp-accident-auto-blue-broken-2940/
:cd llo [cs 734]