Intersection Accident in Sacramento Causes Injury
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. An intersection accident on Thursday night in Sacramento caused serious injury to one person. The crash is currently under investigation as to cause.
What Happened
The Thursday night crash occurred slightly before 8:00 p.m. on October 4 on Walnut Avenue and Auburn Boulevard. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), one person suffered what was described as potentially major injuries. At the time of this report, no information was provided as to the nature of the injuries or whether alcohol and drugs were involved.
Broadside Accidents
Intersection accidents are often referred to as broadside accidents. Such two-vehicle collisions are ones where the front of one vehicle hits the side of another, forming a T-bone appearance. The damage and injury that results from a broadside accident is related to the speed the vehicles are traveling and where the broad-sided vehicle is struck. The type of vehicle, including its weight and size, are important. The presence of crumple zones and safety devices are also important factor in such crashes to avoid catastrophic injuries such a blunt chest trauma.
Crumple Zones
Crumple zones, invented in 1937 and put into use in the 1950s by Mercedes-Benz, are designed to absorb the energy of a collision rather than transferring it to the vehicle’s occupants. The driver and occupants are protected by the safety of the cabin. Initially built for the front of a vehicle in the 1990s, crumple zones were expanded to provide protection for the sides by Volvo. The presence of crumple zones in broadside accidents helps prevent more serious injuries. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performed a test on a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu to show how crumple zones protect vehicle occupants.
Side Impact Air Bags
Side-impact airbags protect passengers by providing restraint and cushioning to prevent injury. Both side-torso and side-curtain airbags are available, protecting the torso and the head and neck regions of the occupant. An airbag inflates rapidly when the accident occurs and deflates afterward.
Standards for Side Impact Protection
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, new standards for side impact protection involve technologies to protect both the head and chest. This is an upgrade to the regulations found in FMVSS No. 214.
The Danger of Side-Impact Collisions
A side-impact collision can ultimately involve multiple vehicles. The “hit” vehicle may spin around and hit other vehicles or roll over. This causes a greater potential for injury in two ways. One, more people will be involved in subsequent crashes, and two, the driver of the vehicle that is hit will only have side-impact protection for the initial crash since once the airbag is deployed, its protection is lost. This means that injuries such as spinal cord injuries or brain trauma can result.
Ways to Prevent Broadside Accidents
- Know the rules of the road.
- Be careful not to misjudge the speed of other vehicles. If you have doubts about it, wait for the car or truck to pass.
- Watch out for stop signs that are not immediately visible, either due to the sun or overhanging tree branches. It the sign is hidden, you can report this to the city or county agency in charge of removing such overgrowth. If it is on private property, the city will notify the owner. If you were injured due to such a problem, your experienced intersection accident lawyer might be able to prove that the city or owner of the tree was partly responsible for your injuries.
- Make sure you look twice to see if another vehicle suddenly approaches.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. When you are involved in an intersection accident or if someone you love is killed in one, you need friendly and free advice about what should be done next. I am available to do just that. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.
My staff and I work hard to help Sacramento and Northern Californians deal with the financial strain a traumatic accident or wrongful death can cause. To get an idea of how we resolved other cases, take a look at the settlements and verdicts page on my website, AutoAccident.com, which I own and founded.
Choosing an accident lawyer, particularly when you are hurt or grieving, can be complex. Look at my Avvo, Yelp and Google pages to get an idea about my practice and how other attorneys and clients perceive it.
I am a California member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/street-road-corner-intersection-2628973/
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