Single-Vehicle Accident on Highway 29 Results in Major Injuries
Major injuries were suffered by a Napa driver on December 6 when he lost control of his car. The accident was reported by Napa Police Department Cpl. Dominick DeGuilio, as occurring around 3:45 in the afternoon along Highway 29. The motorist, who was driving a Ford Escape, was going south on the roadway when his vehicle went out of the southbound lanes and hit a concrete divider near Butler Bridge and flipped over.
Driver Transported to Hospital With Major Injuries
An ambulance transported the injured driver to Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center. The roadway remained shut down for over an hour while the accident scene was cleared and an investigation was conducted by authorities to determine its cause. Motorists were provided with a detour from the Highway 12 and 121 intersection.
Causes of an Out-of-Control Vehicle
A motorist can lose control of their vehicle for many reasons, including driver error. However, there are problems outside of driver error that can lead to an accident causing serious injuries. When this happens, the injured driver may be able to place a claim to recover compensation. Some of the ways an outside influence can lead to a single-vehicle accident are:
- Auto defects: When a vehicle’s brakes go out, a tire blowout occurs, the steering wheel locks or the motor just dies, an accident can result that causes major injuries. If a defective part was the cause of the collision, the injured party may be able to place a product liability claim against the manufacturer and others in the production line. This is one of the reasons it is important to retain a vehicle following a collision and not let it be destroyed. The vehicle can be examined for auto defects, and the company can be held liable. Negligence does not have to be proven in an auto product liability claim, only that the part was not altered and was used as intended.
- Lack of proper roadway maintenance. All roadways are under the care and supervision of a government entity. When maintenance is poor, it can lead to an accident resulting in major injuries. From potholes to spilled oil or gravel, bad overhead lighting, and overgrown shrubs and trees at intersections, any of these problems can cause a single-vehicle accident. The government entity in charge of maintenance may be held liable for accident injuries, but the timeline in which to file is short. Using an injury lawyer to help negotiate your settlement and ensure the paperwork is filed in a timely manner can make a big difference.
- Hit-and-run driver: A hit-and-run driver can strike another vehicle, forcing it off the roadway, which can result in injuries. If the fleeing driver can be located, their insurance company can be held responsible for those injuries. If they don’t carry insurance or it has lapsed, then a claim can be placed against the negligent driver in civil court.
An injury lawyer can conduct an investigation into the cause of your accident to determine if an outside force caused it. If it did, you can hold the negligent party responsible for the cost of your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Personal Injury Attorney in Napa
I’m Ed Smith, a Napa personal injury attorney. Collisions can occur for many reasons, and they aren’t always the fault of the driver. If you believe an outside influence caused your accident injuries, contact us for free and friendly advice at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400. You can reach us online also.
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Information on how we have helped others obtain the compensation they deserve following an accident injury can be found in the links that follow:
Since 1982, my team of injury attorneys and I have assisted many people in obtaining fair compensation in all types of car accidents, bicycle and motorcycle injuries, wrongful deaths, and other cases.
Photo attribution: Image by Valter Cirillo from Pixabay
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