White SUV Crashes Into Front of Carmichael School of Rock
An SUV crashed into a Carmichael music school on August 11, shortly before 11:00 a.m. making it necessary to evacuate the building. The Carmichael School of Rock is located on Fair Oaks Boulevard near its intersection with Palm Drive. The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District responded to the call of a white SUV crash and sent firefighters to the site and found the vehicle had crashed into the front of the building.
Firefighters Evacuate Music School After SUV Crash
Metro Fire ensured the building was empty after securing the vehicle. The passengers of the SUV were able to leave the vehicle, and reports indicate none were injured or transported to the hospital. A representative of Metro Fire, Capt. Parker Wilbourn, said an investigation by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) into the cause of the SUV crash was ongoing.
Crashing Into a Building
Vehicle-into-building crashes happen more often than most people imagine. There are approximately 20,000 building crashes reported each year, which is roughly 55 crashes daily. They are most common when the vehicle is parked perpendicularly to the building. About 41 percent of all crashes into a building occur as a result of driver confusion.
This typically occurs when a motorist uses the accelerator instead of the brake. Older individuals and drunk drivers are more likely to do this. Even at slow speeds, the crash can cause serious injury to the occupants of the vehicle and patrons/inhabitants of the building. Pedestrians and patrons of the building may also be injured in the SUV crash.
Convenience stores bear the brunt of this problem, with 20 convenience store vehicle-into-building crashes happening daily for a total of 7,300 nationwide annually. One convenience outlet, 7-Eleven, reports that for the period 1991-1995, a total of 1,500 such crashes occurred.
Aside from confusion, the following are common reasons for vehicle-into-building crashes:
- A motorist accelerates too soon.
- The driver is speeding and cannot stop in time to avoid the accident.
- A motorist puts the vehicle into the wrong gear and goes forward when they mean to back out of a parking space.
- The opposite is also true and occurs when a driver backs into the parking space and puts the car in reverse by mistake.
- A driver’s medical emergency occurs.
- Nearby traffic accidents, especially those that occur at high speeds or involve a rollover can send a vehicle into a building.
- Sometimes a vehicle intentionally rams the front of the building.
Injuries in a Vehicle-Into-Building Crash
Some of the common injuries seen in this type of crash are:
- Cervical sprain: This is commonly known as whiplash and is caused by a sudden stop as the vehicle hits the building. This impact causes the upper back and head to whip back and forth, causing neck pain, headache and injury to the muscles of the cervical and thoracic portions of the back. It can take up to 72 hours for symptoms to become apparent.
- Subdural hematoma: This refers to a collection of blood fixed between the dura and the subdural space, which ultimately puts pressure on the brain. The pressure must be surgically relieved, or else a fatal outcome is possible.
- Concussion: When the vehicle enters the building, it may be stopped by an immovable object such as a wall. This can cause the driver’s head to impact the steering wheel and result in a concussion. Most concussions will heal within six months with rest and analgesics. However, some last more than a year and can cause persistent injuries.
Investigating an SUV Crash
At our law firm, we ensure the accident is thoroughly examined to collect evidence by sending our investigators to the accident site. There, they speak to witnesses, obtain video footage of the accident from area surveillance cameras and review the police report for mistakes. Once the data is gathered, it is turned over to our legal team to build a robust case for our client.
Carmichael Car Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Carmichael car accident attorney. Call me for free and friendly advice when you suffer injuries in an SUV crash. I can be reached at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 or online.
I’ve assisted numerous clients in Carmichael and other areas of Northern California in car crashes, pedestrian accidents, wrongful deaths, and other forms of trauma.
I am proud to be a member of the following groups:
Learn more about my practice by clicking the following links:
Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-accident-broken-glass-splatter-337764/
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