Sacramento Car Versus Tree Crash
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury attorney in Sacramento. A car crashed against a tree near UC Davis on Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento late at night on April 5 and took the life of a middle-aged man.
What Happened?
The man, driving a Cadillac sedan, was driving in a westward direction down Stockton Boulevard near the university around midnight when the driver lost control of the vehicle. It exited the road and slammed into a tree, killing him instantly. The impact was violent enough that a large amount of bark from the tree was torn off. Authorities said the car was traveling at such a high speed at the time of the crash that the vehicle was split into several pieces.
Aftermath of the Accident
A bystander who witnessed the accident said the vehicle was in flames, and he saw emergency responders remove the man from the burning vehicle. The area surrounding the accident was closed off, and police remained on the scene until about 3:30 a.m. while cleanup crews removed debris from the crash site. Authorities could not tell whether alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash or whether the man was using a seat belt.
Causes of Single-Vehicle Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that speeding was one of the major reasons for motor vehicle collisions in 2015 and resulted in 9,557 deaths that year. As a leading factor in aggressive driving, speeding caused 19 percent of the fatal motor-vehicle accidents in 2014 and 27 percent in 2015. Statistics for road types shows that in 2015, 30-percent of road accidents attributed to driving too fast happened on freeways and interstates, 24 percent on other types of major roads and 32 percent on minor roads.
Rate of speed is also a big factor in the rate of fatalities. According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers who were going at or above 55 mph at the time of an accident accounted for 48 percent of traffic fatalities where speed was deemed a contributing cause of the crash.
Auto Product Liability
In some cases, defective automobile parts or products can cause vehicular accidents. For example, an engine may stall or an accelerator may become stuck in the down position, making it impossible to stop. In such cases, serious injuries or death may result.
In California, an accident caused by a defective auto part or product can fall under California’s strict liability rule. This means you are not required to prove negligence. Instead, you must prove that the product was defective and that the defect caused your injuries. In the case where the driver was killed due to a defect, his or her family may file a lawsuit against the manufacturer or the retailer.
A Personal Injury Attorney Who Works for You
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury attorney. I have helped families who have lost a loved one in an accident secure the compensation they need and deserve. Contact me at (916) 921-6400 to discuss your case and receive friendly and free advice with no obligation. Call (800) 404-5400 toll free.
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Sacramento Car Versus Tree Crash – Source: http://fox40.com/2017/04/05/authorities-investigate-deadly-crash-after-driver-hits-tree/
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