One Person Dead After Intersection Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Madera car accident lawyer. An accident at Madera Ranchos on July 14 caused the death of a driver and an arrest of the man who caused the crash.
What Happened
The collision happened late in the evening near Avenue 15 and Road 36 when a man driving an Infiniti SUV, described as dark in color, went through a traffic stop sign without stopping and collided with another vehicle waiting at an intersection. The individual who was in the other vehicle died at the scene of the accident. No information has been released on the person’s identity as of the time of this report.
SUV Driver Arrested
The driver who caused the accident was arrested for DUI while influenced by a drug. After being taken to a hospital for medical treatment, he was once again taken into police custody and faces charges related to the accident and death of the other person.
Drugged and Drunk Driving
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, there were 10 million people who reported themselves as having driven a motor vehicle while on drugs or under the influence of alcohol in 2014. By drugs, this not only means illicit drugs but also includes prescription drugs that could impair driving. While drunk driving is the major culprit in accidents involving impaired driving, marijuana consumption is the biggest reason for drugged driving. In a survey of fatal accidents in 2010, prescription drug use was found to be a factor in 47 percent of the crashes, with painkillers being the number one culprit.
The main cause of all types of traffic accidents is driver error. Following are some of the reasons.
- Distracted driving is a major cause of accidents. This includes texting or talking on a cell phone, eating while driving, accessing GPS or talking with passengers in the vehicle.
- Speeding is another major cause of accidents. The seriousness of injuries incurred may be related to the speed at which a vehicle is moving. The higher the speed, the worse the injuries incurred.
- Drunk or drugged driving impairs the thought processes of a driver, clouds thinking, causing poor decision making and slows a driver’s reaction time.
- Disobeying other traffic laws such as ignoring red lights or stop signs, making illegal turns and driving recklessly contribute to motor vehicle accidents.
- Tailgating causes accidents because a driver does not have enough room to stop if the car in front suddenly slows down or stops.
- Poor vehicle maintenance, while it may be due to a manufacturer defect or poor maintenance by a mechanic, can also be due to driver error. Not replacing worn or bald tires, not keeping tires inflated properly and driving with worn brakes can cause an accident.
- Driving at night can be dangerous for some, particularly if a driver has poor night vision.
How an Attorney Helps in a Personal Injury Case
A personal injury lawyer helps someone injured by an accident in multiple ways. First of all, an attorney will work with the insurance company to ensure that an injured person receives fair compensation. In many cases, an insurance company will make a low offer to settle the damages. Once the insurance release papers are signed, an injured person cannot go back and have the monetary compensation adjusted.
If an insurance company refuses to fairly and adequately compensate an injured person, a personal injury lawyer can take the victim’s case to court to be decided by a judge or jury. This lawyer accumulates all necessary evidence such as police reports, witness accounts and takes depositions. This attorney also determines a victim’s expenses, calculates the damages and is experienced in arguing why this amount is appropriate. A good personal injury lawyer has expert witnesses, reconstruction experts and the financial resources necessary to build a strong case.
Attorney Ed Smith
Madera Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Madera car accident lawyer. When a family member or you yourself have suffered an injury because of a negligent driver, call me at (559) 377-7676. I offer friendly advice for you that is free. If you prefer, you can use my toll-free number at (800) 404-5400.
I can be found as belonging to the Million Dollar Forum. This group is composed of trial lawyers, including in California, who have obtained settlements/verdicts for their clients of $1 million or over.
You are welcome to browse the reviews and comments made by former clients at Yelp, Avvo and Google. More information on prior cases can be found at Verdicts and Settlements.
I am owner/founder of autoaccident.com, which is one of the leading California websites for information about traumatic injuries and wrongful deaths.
Photo Attribution: Car_Accident_in_Colorado_Springs_by_David_Shankbone.jpg
:cd bw [cs 791] cv