Multiple Vehicle Crash on Eastbound Route 50
I’m Sacramento auto accident attorney Ed Smith. Multiple vehicles crashed together on April 23 along a stretch of U.S. 50 eastbound at the Folsom Boulevard on-ramp. Minor injuries were reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in the collision. Traffic collisions are harrowing experiences, and may require immediate medical assistance.
Crash Details
The collision, involving four vehicles, happened at the Folsom Boulevard on-ramp shortly before 5:00 in the afternoon. It included a Subaru WRX, a Buick LaCrosse, Mercedes sedan and Infiniti SUV. According to a spokesman for the CHP, all of the vehicles ended up along the right-hand side of the on-ramp, and two of those vehicles posed a hazard to other traffic. A minor injury was reported in the accident. However, no information has been released on the extent of that injury or the identities of those involved in the crash.
Proving Liability in Multiple Vehicle Accidents
In many accidents, proving liability is clear-cut. In multiple vehicle accidents or accidents between two or more vehicles, determining liability is less obvious. Under these circumstances, some cars may be hit more than once, and vehicles may be forced into each other due to the velocity of the impact. Also, since multiple vehicle accidents occur most often on freeways with a higher speed limit, the crashes can involve serious injuries.
Since drivers and witnesses often have differing viewpoints about why the accident happened, forensic experts are needed to identify liability. Such experts utilize computer apps that use compiled data gathered after the crash to produce a layout of how the incident happened. The data includes the final spot where each vehicle came to rest, damage on the cars and the speed limits of the vehicles determined by black box data.
Drivers Subject to Scrutiny
Drivers in multiple vehicle accidents may be under suspicion for:
- Drunk driving.
- Open containers in the vehicle.
- Aggressive or reckless driving.
- Distracted driving.
- Speeding.
- Tailgating.
How to Evaluate the Accident
In order to prove liability, it is vital to question witnesses who saw the incident happen. Since a witness’s perspective is different from someone involved in a crash, this often adds much needed information. Reviewing the police report will provide some information such as citations that were issued, if arrests were made or if the officer was able to determine what caused the accident. In some cases, speaking with the police officer who was at the scene may add additional needed information. The sooner this data is obtained, the less likely that witness memory will fade, and a police officer may forget valuable information.
Pictures of the Accident Are Crucial
Photos taken at the scene provide information about damage to the vehicles involved and weather conditions. Road defects and marks along the surface such as skid marks can be used to evaluate the accident and can be captured in photos. It is important to take pictures before the crash is cleared, and many items are no longer there.
More Than One Liable Party
In multiple vehicle crashes, more than one person may be liable. This means that several insurance companies will be involved. It also means that each of the injured may have been partially liable for the accident. Since California is a pure comparative negligence state, even if someone is partially at fault, they are still able to be compensated. In such cases, that portion of fault for which they are not responsible can be collected. For instance, if one driver was 40-percent responsible for the accident and another was 60-percent at fault, the driver who was 40-percent responsible can still collect 60-percent of his or her damages.
Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney
I’m Sacramento auto accident attorney Ed Smith. If you have been in a collision with more than one vehicle, you need the help of an experienced attorney. With multiple insurance companies or defendants involved, negotiations or lawsuits will be more complicated. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 anytime to receive friendly and free legal advice. You can reach me online too if this is more convenient for you.
I’ve negotiated settlements and won verdicts that exceeded 1 million dollars for a past client. Because of this, I was inducted into the Million Dollar Advocates, a nationwide group of trial lawyers.
I’ve helped many residents of Northern California, including Sacramento, with cases involving catastrophic injuries from many types of accidents. I’ve also helped clients with wrongful death claims.
When retaining a lawyer, it is important to learn about them and their practice. Learn about mine at:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/car-accident-clash-rome-highway-2165210/
:cd [cs 809] cv