Citrus Heights Teen Injured in Rocklin Car Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Citrus Heights car accident lawyer. A Rocklin two-vehicle accident on Friday, April 13, caused injuries to two teenagers and killed the 20-year-old driver, according to a representative of the Rocklin Police force. The accident caused road closures for several hours while authorities investigated the cause of the crash.
I would like to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt sympathy to the families of those who were injured and died in the accident.
Accident Details
The accident occurred before 1:30 in the afternoon in the vicinity of Willowynd and Springview drives. According to reports, a Mitsubishi Eclipse was struck by an SUV. Two teenagers, one from Citrus Heights who is 18, and another from Roseville, age 17, were in the Eclipse. The two teenagers were transported to a hospital and are expected to recover. There is no word at this time as to the nature of their injuries. The driver of the Eclipse, who died in the crash, was identified as Adam Asebedo, a resident of Roseville, according to information supplied by Rocklin Police. The SUV driver was uninjured in the collision.
Incidence of Fatalities
The incidence of motor vehicle accidents in Rocklin, a city 22 miles from Sacramento, increased in recent years. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, the number of injuries and deaths in 2014 totaled 130, while the number expanded in 2015 to 159. The number of accidents due to speeding increased in the city during that time by 54 percent. The number of drunk driving accidents decreased from 15 in 2014 to none in 2015, the last year for which statistics are provided.
Speeding
There is little doubt that speeding results in different types of traffic accidents. Analytics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that speeding caused the death of 10,111 people in 2016. Overall, this represents 27 percent of all deaths due to accidents. While speeding is usually thought of as exceeding the speed limit, driving too fast when roadway conditions are poor is also considered speeding even if the vehicle is traveling at the posted limit. Bad weather, such as conditions that cause slick or icy roads, requires that drivers reduce their speed. Other reasons to drive under the speed limit is when the road is under construction or when foggy conditions exist.
How Speeding Causes Accidents
The connection between speeding and increased traffic accidents and fatalities is due to a number of factors:
- Stopping Distance Increase: The stopping distance is the distance a vehicle will go before it stops. While this is affected by the time it takes a driver to perceive that braking is necessary, it is mainly a calculation based on speed and weight. The faster a vehicle is traveling, the longer it takes to stop.
- Crash Severity: At higher speeds, the severity of a collision increases.
- Loss of Protection: Vehicular equipment used to protect drivers and passengers might not work as well at increased speeds.
- Loss of Control: At higher speeds, a driver has less control over his or her vehicle.
- Pedestrian Accidents: More pedestrians are killed when drivers are speeding. Studies have shown that a vehicle traveling at 20 mph has a 10-percent chance of killing a pedestrian upon impact. At 30 mph, the impact has a 35-percent chance of killing the walker. When the vehicle is traveling 50 mph, up to 90 percent of pedestrians will be killed.
Why Do Drivers Speed?
There are several reasons that drivers speed. These are:
- Roadway traffic: Traffic congestion is one of the leading causes of aggressive driving, and speeding is a reckless behavior that results from this aggressiveness.
- Disregard for other motorists: Drivers who speed have little regard for other travelers.
- Feelings of detachment: Driving gives some motorists a sense of anonymity. This allows them to behave in a manner outside of the constraints of peer pressure.
- Excessive traffic: Aggression and reckless speeding are enhanced when a driver encounters congestion on the roadway.
- Time restraints: As life becomes more hectic, some drivers are behind schedule and race to catch up.
Citrus Heights Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Citrus Heights car accident lawyer. After a car accident, you need the insight a seasoned car accident lawyer can provide. Phone me at (916) 921-6400 anytime. If you are outside the calling area, use (800) 404-5400, my toll-free line.
I’ve assisted residents of Citrus Heights for 36 years when they suffered traumatic brain injury or were involved in many types of serious accidents such as bicycle or motorcycle crashes.
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Because I have won cases of $1 million for clients, I am a member of the Million Dollar Forum of advocates from around the country.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/car-accident-broken-glass-splatter-337764/
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