Elkhorn Boulevard Intersection Collision Injures Five
A major injury accident in Rio Linda on August 15 caused injuries to five people. According to the accident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the collision occurred between a Chevy Tahoe SUV and a black van around 2:16 in the afternoon at the intersection of West Elkhorn Boulevard at Blacktop Road. Both vehicles ended up on the railroad tracks belonging to the Union Pacific, which halted operations on that line until the site was cleared.
Five of the people involved in the collision were taken to UC Davis Medical Center by First Responders with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, one of them with critical injuries. Fire personnel had to extricate one of the people involved in the accident from their vehicle. The CHP reported that both vehicles sustained significant front-end damage. At 3:18 p.m., police removed the cars, and the site was cleared. Union Pacific personnel were notified that they could then resume normal operations.
Two-Vehicle Collisions in a Major Injury Accident
Road accidents of all kinds happen in California every day. Despite laws that regulate how you drive, driver error is a significant cause of crashes. Not every major injury accident is the fault of a motorist. Some are caused by government agencies in charge of road maintenance and construction. In addition, many motorists are underinsured or uninsured. For an injured party, this can cause problems without the advice of an experienced attorney. Let’s take a look at the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents:
- Distracted drivers: This is the most common cause of traffic accidents in Northern California beyond that caused by drunk driving and speeding. Distraction results from various reasons such as texting, talking to passengers, eating, and playing with the radio or climate control.
- Inebriated driving: Drunk driving takes the life of 10,000 individuals every year. This fatality rate is due to the driver’s lack of coordination and judgment. Behavior such as running a red light, changing lanes recklessly, and tailgating are all examples of drunk driving.
- Speeding: This behavior frequently leads to a catastrophic major injury accident. A speeding driver loses control of their vehicle and can cause a fatal collision. In addition, the faster a car goes, the longer it takes to stop. On crowded highways, this can be a contributing factor in a fatal crash.
- Inclement weather: Many accidents happen in bad weather. Even a tiny amount of rain, especially in drought-stricken areas, can result in hydroplaning that takes the driver by surprise and makes it harder to control their vehicle. Many times, the lack of proper maintenance, such as gripless tires or malfunctioning brakes, is a problem. However, on many occasions, auto defects occur that make handling treacherous roads impossible.
Steps You Should Take After a Major Injury Accident
Take the following steps after a traffic accident;
- Don’t leave the scene of the accident. It is illegal and you can be charged criminally.
- Call the police or 911 if there are injuries.
- If safe and possible, move your vehicle to the side of the road. Use flares if you have them to alert other drivers.
- Obtain immediate medical care or be seen by a doctor as soon as possible after the crash.
- Obtain contact information from other drivers and witnesses.
- Obtain the name and badge number of the law enforcement officer who arrives at the scene.
- Ask for a copy of their report, or find out where you can get it.
- Call your lawyer.
Rio Linda Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Rio Linda car accident lawyer. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice when you are in a traffic accident. You can also reach me online.
I’ve helped Rio Linda residents since 1982 obtain the compensation they deserve in all varieties of car accidents, wrongful death cases, and other traumatic events.
I am pleased to be a member of the following organizations:
Learn more about my practice at the following pages:
Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-accident-clash-rome-highway-2165210/
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