Capital City Freeway Crash Death
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. A crash on Interstate 80 in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving left one man dead and others injured. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to the decedent’s family for their loss.
Accident Details
The accident happened a little after 2:30 a.m. Wednesday on the Capital City Freeway in the vicinity of Exposition Boulevard and E Street. According to a representative of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), initially two vehicles collided, ending up in the center of the freeway. Individuals who were involved in the accident left their vehicles. Another vehicle hit several of those people standing in the roadway. A man from Reno was killed, and some of the others were injured. According to authorities, the injured were seriously hurt and were taken to a medical facility. No word has been offered as to what their injuries were.
Investigation Into the Accident
Authorities were on hand to clear the accident site. An investigation was undertaken to determine the cause of the crash. There is no indication at the time of this report as to whether drugs or alcohol was involved.
Highway Crashes
Of the 6.3 million highway crashes in 2015, there were 35,092 fatalities and 2.44 million injured. In both instances, this was a considerable and statistically important increase from the previous year. The composition of those killed has changed significantly over the period 2006 to 2015. The number of both passenger and light truck occupants has decreased, while the number of pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists have increased. Big truck and bus fatalities increased to a minor degree. In fact, the number of people killed outside of the protection of a vehicle has increased by nearly 20 percent over the years.
Driver Behavior and Crash Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over the 12 months from 2014 to 2015, drunk driving fatalities have increased and were responsible for 29 percent of fatalities in 2015 alone. The use of restraints and their influence on fatalities was greatest in nighttime driving in passenger vehicles and light trucks. Driver distraction was a leading cause of highway fatalities overall.
Driver Distraction
Any activity that diverts the driver’s cognitive attention away from the road is considered distracted. In 2015, 3,477 people died and 391,000 were hurt due to distracted driving. Activities such as eating while driving, playing with the radio, searching on GPS and texting all have the same effect. They not only divert the driver’s cognitive attention but also involve manual effort. This combination has been described as especially hazardous. While the number of drivers using handheld phones has decreased due to stringent enforcement efforts, the number of accidents remains nearly constant. Experts believe this is due to the number of drivers who still text. California has a strict ban on swiping a phone display while driving. Penalties are vigorously applied.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. Car accidents are all too common, and when you are involved in one, you need to consult with a legal professional. I am available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide free and friendly advice. You can phone me in the Sacramento area at (916) 921-6400, or call me at (800) 404-5400 nationwide. If contacting me online is easier for you, go here.
I have practiced law for 35 years in California, helping those in the northern part of the state and those who live in Sacramento. I’ve assisted clients with wrongful death claims as well as truck, bicycle, pedestrian and car accidents. In many cases, catastrophic injuries such as brain trauma have taken a tremendous financial toll due to lost wages, medical expenses and rehabilitative care.
I belong to the Million Dollar Advocates, a country-wide group of trial attorneys who have won $1 million settlements and verdicts.
Go to Avvo, Yelp and Google to read reviews and comments about my practice. You can see how I’ve resolved other cases by seeing the settlements and verdicts I’ve won.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/highway-jam-traffic-pkw-autos-1761825/
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