Rancho Murieta Accident Causes Major Injuries
A head-on crash on November 17 caused major injuries to one person when his vehicle was struck by another near Rancho Murieta. The accident happened along Scott Road, two miles north of the Boys Ranch, a few minutes before 8:00 in the evening, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The collision occurred between a BMW and Toyota 4Runner. It was the wife of the injured man who called in to report the accident. She said her husband was involved and that her son was also in the vehicle. The driver who allegedly caused the collision said that he was traveling north along Scott Road and didn’t know about the curves in the road when the head-on collision occurred. The CHP is charged with investigating the accident to determine how it happened.
Further Information About the Crash
The man who suffered major injuries in the collision was taken to UC Davis Medical Center for evaluation and treatment. The extent of those injuries has not been reported. His son, who was a passenger in the vehicle, suffered minor injuries.
Slowing Down for a Curve
Navigating a curve safely depends largely on speed. Usually, signs or chevron arrows are posted that warn motorists of an upcoming curve. This may not be enough unless it is accompanied by another sign with a lower speed limit. One big problem is that there is often confusing signage or none at all. In some areas, a sign with the normal speed limit is posted several hundred feet in front of the curve, and another inside the curve demands a lower speed limit. Depending on the competence of the driver and the weight of the vehicle, slowing down quickly may not be an option without causing a problem. If the placement of signage and their visibility is faulty, then it is possible an accident can result in major injuries.
How to Drive in a Curve
Drivers should slow down before entering the curve. This gives them time to stabilize their vehicle. Not every vehicle will take a curve at the posted “curve” speed, so it is important to know how your car or SUV handles. In addition, SUVs have a greater propensity for rollovers with subsequent crushed roofs that often result in a fatality. Inclement weather can lead to slippery roads making the vehicle’s grip on the road lower in a curve. It is important to provide ample room between your vehicle and the one in front of you in the event that either driver spins out in the curve.
Liability for Major Injuries on a Curve
Liability in this type of accident can be directed towards the driver who hits another vehicle or the local agency in charge of roads. For instance, the driver is responsible for always driving at a safe speed and focusing on road changes ahead. However, drivers depend on signage/warnings that tell them of upcoming problems. When the local, county or state government fails to provide visible signage and warnings, they can be held at-fault by the injured party. Claims against government agencies have different time limits to file beyond which your claim will not be heard. Your attorney will ensure that all claims and documents are properly filed.
What an Attorney Can Do to Help
Your attorney not only guides your case, he or she also protects your rights. At our firm, we establish negligence by another driver or government agency by interviewing witnesses, looking for defective or absent warning signs and road design, obtain video camera footage if possible and review police reports for inaccuracies. Once this work is completed, our investigators release the data to our legal team, who use it to build a strong case against the at-fault driver.
Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento auto accident attorney. When you suffer major injuries in a car accident, you need an experienced injury attorney at your side. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or at (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to me online.
I’ve helped clients in Rancho Murieta and Sacramento obtain the damages they deserve since 1982 in car accidents, pedestrian injuries, government claims, and wrongful deaths.
If you would like to learn about my practice, please go to the following pages:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/road-highway-desert-asphalt-travel-1030888/
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