Jackson Road and Marietta Parkway Site of Head-On Collision
A head-on collision occurred in Rancho Murieta on June 8 between a dark-colored Silverado pickup hauling a fifth wheel and a black Volkswagen sedan. The accident was reported as occurring at about 1:42 p.m. on eastbound Jackson Road and Marietta Parkway. The 25-foot super-duty fifth wheel was reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) as blocking the roadway. A Sigalert was issued due to the traffic backup on both eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 16. One individual was evaluated and treated at the accident site for what were described as minor injuries. The CHP is in charge of the investigation, which is ongoing. There is no report that alcohol or drugs were involved in the head-on collision.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions between two vehicles are devastating accidents. They often result in serious injuries or fatalities. The reason for this is because the impact of the weight and speed of both vehicles is involved. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, a head-on collision has a fatality rate of 58 percent. Rural areas have more frontal head-on collisions. Approximately 13 percent of all deaths in rural areas are head-on collisions. This may be due to a lower police presence in rural areas or a higher number of two-lane roads without a divider.
Why Does a Head-On Collision Happen?
The primary reason a head-on collision occurs is that one of the drivers has veered over into the opposing lane and is traveling in the wrong direction. This happens when the wrong-way driver is operating the vehicle while inebriated, on drugs or driving distracted. Other causes are fatigued driving or passing on a hill or when another vehicle is approaching in the opposing lane.
Confusion Can Cause a Head-On Collision
Sometimes, an older individual or an inexperienced driver may enter into the wrong lane due to confusion. However, the confusion may not always be driver error. The design of the road can also lead to confusion concerning travel lanes. When this latter situation presents itself, the injured parties can file a lawsuit against the government agency in charge of road design as well as the contractor used to build the road.
Not All Lawsuits Have the Same Time Limits
For the most part, all personal injury claims have a two-year time limit to file in California. This is called the statute of limitations. A claim against a government agency is different. Let’s say the agency in charge of building roads in a city was negligent since it did not use the best design to avoid confusion when drivers entered or exited the road. The drivers may mistake an entrance for an exit and vice versa because of the road.
When the injured party files a claim against the city agency, they have six months from the time of the accident to file an administrative claim. The city has 45 days to respond. If the government agency does not respond to the claim within that time, the claimant has two years in which to file. However, if the city does respond and denies the claim, the injured party has six months to file a lawsuit.
If the lawsuit is not filed in the allotted time, the claim will not be processed. Your personal injury lawyer will make sure that all documents are filed in a timely fashion.
How Our Firm Investigates a Head-On Collision
The investigative team at AutoAccident.com is dispatched as soon as possible after the accident to find evidence of fault. They interview witnesses to the accident and obtain video footage of the head-on collision from traffic surveillance cameras. No stone is left unturned as they review police reports for inaccuracies and use accident reconstruction techniques to determine liability. Once the evidence is compiled, it is given to our lawyers who use it to build a robust case for our client.
Rancho Murieta Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Rancho Murieta personal injury attorney. You have the right to obtain the compensation you deserve when you are injured by another’s negligence. I am available to provide free and friendly advice. Just call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You can also reach out to me online.
I’ve helped numerous Sacramentans over the past 38 years in all types of car accidents, wrongful deaths and other traumatic injuries.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-accident-broken-glass-splatter-337764/
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