Elk Grove Fatal Accident
Elk Grove Fatal Accident. An Elk Grove fatal accident occurred September 24 on Highway 99 at about 6:00 in the evening, resulting in the death of a teenager and injuries to other occupants. Three of the injured parties were identified as young children. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the accident was a chain reaction crash involving five vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna and a 4Runner. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to the family and friends of the deceased in this time of sorrow.
Accident Details
The CHP reported that the Elk Grove fatal accident near Grant Line Road happened when the 4Runner hit the rear of the Sienna that was stopped in traffic, forcing it into two other vehicles ahead of it. A fifth vehicle hit the back of the 4Runner. The deceased 16-year-old was a passenger in the Sienna as she and her family were returning to Merced. Three other young children and an additional two individuals were occupants of the van. The three children and the other two occupants were injured and transported to a hospital. The person in the 4Runner, a resident of Fresno, was also injured, but the injuries were described as minor. Southbound Highway 99 was closed to traffic for several hours.
Rear End Collisions in an Elk Grove Fatal Accident
Rear end collisions make up roughly 40 percent of the six million accidents that happen annually in this country or one every eight seconds. Driver error is the most common cause of a rear end accident. Some of the most common examples are:
- Distracted drivers: Distracted drivers are one of the major reasons rear end accidents happen. Paying attention to other distracting activities rather than the road often causes a driver to not realize that the car ahead has stopped or slowed. This can and does lead to fatal accidents.
- Tailgating: Drivers who are too close to the vehicle in front of them are another major reason rear end collisions occur. It is important to leave enough space between your vehicle and the one in front to stop in time. Most safety instructors urge that drivers obey the three-second rule. This means that you can count to three between your vehicle and the car ahead.
- Fatigued driving: Drowsy driving is responsible for many accidents. Drivers often get behind the wheel when they have not obtained enough sleep. This leads to the driver closing their eyes long enough to cause an Elk Grove fatal accident.
- Drunk driving: Impaired driving due to alcohol causes over 10,000 fatal accidents each year. Alcohol interferes with the ability of a driver to operate his or her vehicle safely.
Liability in a Rear End Accident
Generally, the driver in the rear is considered to be at fault. However, in some cases, the lead driver is at least partly responsible for the accident. For example, let’s say that the lead driver has faulty brake lights, giving the driver to the rear the impression that the vehicle is not slowing down or stopped in traffic. This would cause the rear driver to proceed at a constant speed. While this may be considered a shared liability situation due to the doctrine of comparative fault operational in California, the driver to the rear is still required to leave enough space between vehicles to avert sudden changes in traffic.
Elk Grove Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Elk Grove wrongful death lawyer. When a member of your family is killed in an accident by a negligent driver, you have the right to be compensated for your loss. While this will not take away your grief and sense of emotional loss, it will avoid monetary injury. Call me at (916) 694-0002 in Elk Grove and (800) 404-5400 outside the area for compassionate, free and friendly advice. I can be reached online also.
I’ve helped sevearal residents of Elk Grove, and those throughout Northern California, obtain the financial compensation they deserve in car accidents, motorcycle crashes, and traumatic brain injury cases.
I am a long-time member of the Million Dollar Advocates, a forum of trial lawyers who have won more than $1 million for a client.
If you are thinking about retaining a lawyer, learn more about their practice. You can review former client comments as well as how I resolved prior cases on the following pages:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/funeral-adios-bye-memory-death-2511124/
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