Pedestrian Severely Injured On Interstate 5
A crash along Interstate 5 on April 6 between a motor vehicle and pedestrian left the pedestrian with major injuries. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to those involved in the accident.
Accident Report
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the accident occurred just after 2:50 in the afternoon along the interstate where it connects with State Route 99. When officers with the CHP arrived at the crash site, they discovered that the vehicle had gone off the road. The driver of the vehicle was found to have lost control of the car, which spun out and struck a light pole, shearing it off. The vehicle then ended up on the right side of the road in a ditch.
Pedestrian Struck and Injured
A pedestrian was also found lying in the center divider of the highway with injuries described as major. Emergency personnel was called to the scene to transport the person to a hospital. No information has yet been released on that person’s identity. A SigAlert was issued for northbound I-5 due to the left lane being blocked.
California Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents with motor vehicles are common in California, including in the Sacramento area. Fatalities to pedestrians in Sacramento almost doubled in 2017 over the previous year; however, accidents involving injuries and deaths are not unusual. In 2015, the latest year for statistics provided by the Office of Traffic Safety, there were 228 injuries and fatalities caused by collisions between a walker and a motor vehicle. This represented an increase of 27 percent over the previous year.
Compensation for Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Among the accident types handled by an experienced personal injury lawyer are hit and run collisions with pedestrians, intersection accidents and others. If the pedestrian lost his or her life in the accident, family members may be able to seek compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. However, investigation of a pedestrian accident may be complex, and a lawyer who is seasoned can gather evidence to present a strong case for compensation. This may include not only the police report and witness accounts but accident reconstruction, expert witnesses, and other measures.
Fault in an Accident
California is a comparative fault state, which means that when the pedestrian shares fault for their accident injuries, they may still seek financial compensation to pay medical bills and for time lost at work. As an example, a pedestrian who is found to be 30 percent at fault can still collect 70 percent of damages that are awarded.
Pedestrians Are Vulnerable to Injury
Because of the vulnerability of walkers when struck by a motor vehicle, an accident can result in serious injuries. The severity of an injury depends on where the vehicle struck the pedestrian and the speed at which it was traveling. Higher vehicle speeds cause more serious injuries. Musculoskeletal injuries are common, particularly broken bones. Head injuries such as traumatic brain injury occur, as well as spinal cord damage and chest trauma. In the worse case scenario, a collision can result in the death of the individual.
Sacramento Auto Accident & Pedestrian Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento auto accident attorney. Accidents involving someone walking frequently result in high medical bills, along with other costs. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, I have free, friendly advice to offer for your situation. Just call (916) 921-6400 in Sacramento or (800) 404-5400 outside the area.
For more than 36 years, I’ve helped Sacramento residents and Northern Californians with their personal injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and cases of wrongful death.
You are invited to check out reviews and comments about my work as an injury lawyer on the following review sites:
Go to Settlements and Verdicts for information about past cases and how they were resolved.
I have joined other trial lawyers who have won client verdicts and settlements of at least one million dollars as a member of the Million Dollar Forum.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/car-accident-clash-rome-highway-2165210/
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