Accident at 65th Street Intersection May Have Been DUI and Speed-Related
An intersection crash happened in Sacramento recently that killed one man and critically injured another person. According to a news report by the Sacramento Police Department, the two-vehicle crash occurred at the 65th Street intersection with Fruitridge Road around 4:00 in the afternoon. When officers arrived at the two-vehicle crash scene, they discovered a Ford SUV and Toyota Corolla had collided. The Ford had overturned as a result of the crash impact.
First Responders Transport Two Patients
First responders with the Sacramento Fire Department arrived to assess injuries and transported two patients from the Corolla to a hospital, where one died later. The deceased man was identified as Santiago Diaz of Sacramento, age 30. The other patient was reported to be critical but remains in stable condition.
Driver Placed Under Arrest
The SUV driver, identified as a man, age 62, suffered minor injuries in the accident and appeared to be intoxicated, according to police. He was placed under arrest by officers for suspicion of DUI and manslaughter. Police reported that speed appeared to contribute to the accident.
Intersection Accidents
Intersections are dangerous for a number of reasons. These include faulty intersection design, comingling of motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists and driver behavior. Of the serious accidents that occur every year, approximately 40 percent happen at intersections. Of these, around 20 percent result in fatalities.
How Faulty Maintenance Can Lead to Accidents
It is necessary to ensure that traffic signals, timers in pedestrian crosswalks, and lighting are working properly and placed where they are easily seen. Lane demarcations must also be regularly maintained so that drivers are clear about the proper path they must follow. If problems in any of these areas cause a collision, a claim may be brought against the appropriate government entity for damages.
Rollover Accident in Intersection
Rollover accidents cause many critical injuries in an intersection crash. This is due to the violent nature of a rollover accident combined with roof crush injuries. Occupants of the vehicle are often thrown about, especially when they don’t wear seat belts, and some may be ejected from the car. Drivers can also be ejected due to seat belt defects.
Roof crush is due to poor manufacture of the vehicle’s infrastructure, making it unable to support the car or truck’s weight. Manufacturers are obligated to ensure that the roof infrastructure must be able to support 2.5 to three times the weight of the vehicle. If the manufacturer takes shortcuts, the weight of the vehicle comes crashing down on the occupants inside, causing life-threatening injuries.
Losing a Loved One in an Accident
Families who lose a loved one in an accident because of someone else’s negligence may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages. This covers the cost of the funeral and burial expenses, as well as lost income, personal loss, and helps the family achieve justice for their deceased loved one. Over the years, my law office has successfully handled many wrongful death cases, bringing closure and easing the financial stress families face during a time of grief and loss.
Investigating an Intersection Accident
As you can see, many elements must be covered when investigating an intersection accident. Our investigators arrive at the scene and evaluate it in terms of the safety of the intersection. They speak to witnesses and business owners in the area who might have seen faulty equipment that has caused intersection crashes in the past. They also look at police reports for errors and obtain footage from surveillance and security cameras on traffic lights and local businesses.
Since roof crush is recognized as capable of causing traumatic injuries, our investigators must examine the vehicle for manufacturer deficiencies or other defects. That is why it is important to retain the vehicle after the crash.
We also use accident reconstruction techniques to help determine liability. These computerized and pictorial models can show the vehicles’ positions before and after the crash. Once the information has been accumulated, it is handed over to our injury attorneys, who use it to build a strong wrongful death or injury case against the at-fault party.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
My name is Ed Smith, and I am a Sacramento car accident lawyer. If your loved one was lost or harmed by a negligent driver, I have free, friendly advice to offer you when you call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. I can be reached online too.
I’m honored to be a member of:
Since 1982, my law firm has helped many Sacramentans obtain the compensation they deserve in wrongful death cases, all types of car accidents, and traumas such as brain injuries.
Find out more about my law firm below:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/candle-light-candlelight-flame-2038736/
:cd llo [cs 813]