Highway 4 Pittsburg Crash
I’m Ed Smith, a Pittsburg car accident lawyer. A Pittsburg car accident and fire caused a shutdown of Highway 4 on May 3, 2017. Although no one was seriously injured in the accident, it once again shows the dangers of Highway 4 through Pittsburg.
About the Pittsburg Car Accident
On 3 May, a silver Toyota Solara and a gold Toyota Camry collided on westbound Highway 4 in Pittsburg. Both cars were travelling westbound when they crashed near the Loveridge Road offramp. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the East Contra Costa Fire Department both responded to the car accident.
Upon arrival, the Toyota Camry was fully engulfed in flames. The Fire Department extinguished the flames and no one was transported to a hospital. The CHP closed several lanes of Highway 4 for a little more than half an hour while emergency crews responded to the accident.
Cause of the Collision
The CHP has not released an official cause of the accident and initial witness reports may provide conflicting causes of the accident. Our experience as Pittsburg car accident lawyers provide insight on potential accident causes.
Highway 4 is notorious for high speeds that cause many of the accidents along the highway. Additionally, the lines on the highway are often unclear. During our time as Pittsburg personal injury attorneys, we have seen many accidents caused by a combination of speed and poor lane markings.
The timing of the accident, though, also provides a clue of a potential cause: the accident occurred around 6:45 p.m. At that time of day, the sun is directly in the eyes of westbound travellers. Therefore, the sun likely played a role in the accident.
Injuries Sustained in the Highway 4 Pittsburg Crash
No one reported injuries at the time of accident. However, based on the severity of the crash, several involved persons likely sustained at least minor to moderate injuries. Our experience as Pittsburg personal injury lawyers teaches us that people in both cars likely sustained facial abrasions from the deployment of the airbags. Victims also likely sustained substantial bruising along their chests from the pull of the seat belt. The rapid stopping in the collision may produce symptoms associated with cervical sprain more commonly known as whiplash.
Cause of the Fire
Again, authorities have not released any reports on the accident, so the official cause of the Camry fire is unknown. Common causes of car fires include fuel leakage and frayed wiring. Car fires after collisions are more likely in vehicles with a poor maintenance record.
Estimated Costs of the Auto Accident
At least one of the cars involved in the collision is likely a total loss by insurance companies. Unfortunately, even for the repairable Solara, insurance is unlikely to cover the full cost of repairs or treatment for full extent of injuries sustained in the accident. Insurance also does not address work days missed due to lack of transportation. This is where a personal injury law firm can help.
How a Personal Injury Law Firm Can Help
A personal injury law firm can help you by determining the liable parties and ensuring you receive enough funds to cover all of the costs of an accident. We utilize investigative techniques to determine fault and obtain full medical reports to determine the true damages from the accident.
Pittsburg Car Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Pittsburg car accident lawyer. If you, or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please call me at (925) 428-5220 for free, friendly advice. You may also call toll free at (800) 404-5400.
I have practiced in personal injury and wrongful death law exclusively for more than three decades.
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I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a group of top-ranking US trial lawyers with multiple million dollar case settlements and verdicts.
Please view my Past Verdicts and Settlements.
Image Attribution: Wikimedia Commons
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