Three People Injured When Two Vehicles Collide
An injury accident east of Redding on October 16 was reported in a collision between two vehicles in Shasta County. The crash happened around 2:00 a.m. along eastbound Highway 44. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) incident report said three people suffered injuries in the collision. However, no more specifics were provided. The CHP traffic crash unit is conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash and fault.
Highway Collision Dangers of an Injury Accident
Frequently, serious injuries arise in accidents that occur along highways, especially during nighttime hours. Drivers are going at highway speeds, which increases the risk of more traumatic injuries, and motorists may be distracted or fatigued. A personal injury lawyer may be able to help an injured person recover all of their medical costs, lost wages and compensation for pain and suffering if a negligent driver was the cause.
Highway Speeds in an Injury Accident
Drivers often exceed 55 mph on urban California highways. However, motorists may also be tempted to go faster late at night because fewer vehicles are on the road and police presence isn’t as strong. Unfortunately, this increase in speed means the driver is less likely to be able to control their vehicle in an emergency situation, and the impact in a crash will be greater.
Distracted or Fatigued Driving
Drivers can easily be fatigued during late-night hours. Some may look for distractions in an attempt to keep themselves alert rather than pull over and walk around their vehicle or take a short nap to refresh themselves. However, chatting on a cell phone, texting or changing a radio station takes the motorist’s attention away from the road and can cause an injury accident.
Proof to Support a Personal Injury Claim
Evidence that shows the at-fault party was responsible for the accident injuries is needed to support the injured person’s compensation claim. An accident attorney is experienced in determining fault and gathering evidence to support their client’s claim. Evidence may be gathered in the following ways:
- The accident scene is scoured to collect any evidence, including photographing the vehicles and the location of the damage on them. The investigators also look for tire tracks showing whether the at-fault driver tried to avoid the collision.
- Accident reconstruction can show how the collision occurred.
- The report filed by the police who responded to the injury accident is reviewed for information and to ensure it is error-free. Errors could interfere with an injured person’s ability to file a personal injury claim.
- Interviews are conducted with any witnesses to the accident. They can not only provide statements that corroborate how the collision happened, but one might have captured the crash on their cell phone.
This video by attorney Ed Smith discusses the qualities you should look for in a lawyer after suffering an injury in an accident caused by a negligent driver:
Redding Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Redding personal injury attorney. Medical expenses and other damages can be high after an accident caused by another vehicle. Call (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 to speak with one of our accident attorneys about your case for free and friendly advice. If you would like to contact us online, you may also do so.
Check our Verdicts and Settlements and Yelp and Google reviews to see some examples of cases we have handled in the past. Dedicated to recovering fair compensation for our clients, our injury lawyers belong to Top One Percent and Million Dollar Advocates.
Photo attribution: Image by Valter Cirillo from Pixabay
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