Gerber Road Collision Occurs Between Sedan and Pickup
A head-on crash in Sacramento on April 21 caused injuries after two vehicles collided. The incident report filed by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said that the crash occurred in the Florin area along westbound Gerber Road at Reese Road around 4:00 in the afternoon. It involved a Toyota Camry and a GMC pickup. Paramedics with the Sacramento Fire Department were summoned to the scene after a call was made for medical assistance. No additional information about injuries was provided.
Accident Being Investigated to Determine Fault
Tow trucks had to remove the vehicles, both of which sustained major front-end damage. An investigation is ongoing by investigators with the CHP to find out how the accident happened. When the investigation has been completed, fault will be assigned to the negligent driver.
Frontal Impact Crashes
While the number of head-on crashes accounts for only 2 percent of accidents, the number of fatalities is more than 10 percent of all deaths in traffic collisions, according to the Insurance Information Institute. This is due to the impact created when two vehicles hit one another head-on. The force of impact is the momentum of each vehicle times their speed, making the collision catastrophic. Frontal impact crashes occur more often in rural areas.
Reasons for Head-On Crashes
The primary reason for a frontal crash is driver error. Oftentimes, on a two-lane road, a driver will enter the opposing lane to pass without being certain the way is clear. In other instances, such as at a crossroads, the driver making a left-hand turn at the intersection may strike another vehicle passing through.
However, driver error is not the only reason for a head-on crash. In some cases, defective brakes can make it impossible for a driver to stop in time to avoid a collision. In others, a steering defect or a blown tire may cause the driver to lose control of their vehicle and crash into one in the opposing lane.
Drunk Driving as the Cause of a Frontal Collision
Drunk drivers are often the cause of a frontal collision due to the effect of drinking on their cognitive abilities. They often become confused and veer into an adjacent lane or enter the exit ramp of a freeway.
Fatigued Driving and Head-On Accidents
Fatigued driving is similar in its effects on roadway safety to intoxication. Studies have shown that driving fatigued is just as bad as having a 0.08 BAC level. Even a five-second lapse in concentration can cause the driver to enter an opposing lane and cause a head-on crash.
Investigation of a Frontal Impact Collision
At our firm, we understand the importance of evidence in concluding a case successfully. To this end, we send our investigative team to the accident site to gather the information we need. Once they arrive, they speak to witnesses about the accident, obtain video footage from surveillance cameras from nearby businesses and review the police report for mistakes.
They also perform accident reconstruction techniques to determine liability by vehicle placement during the crash. Once all this data is accumulated, they release it to our legal team, who use it to construct a strong case against the at-fault party.
Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento
My name is Ed Smith, and I am a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. When a negligent motorist was the reason for the accident, the injured party may file a claim for damages to recover the cost of their medical expenses, time lost at work, and for their pain and suffering. If you would like free and friendly advice about the possibility of filing a claim and to find out what your options are, please call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. I can be reached online also.
It is a true honor for me to have been chosen as a member of the following groups:
Additional information about my law firm and how we’ve helped others are found at the links that follow:
Since 1982, we’ve successfully handled all kinds of traffic collisions, traumas, and wrongful death claims.
Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/headlamp-accident-auto-blue-broken-2940/
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