Intersection Accident Causes Injuries in Citrus Heights
A single-vehicle crash occurred in Citrus Heights when a driver hit a utility pole on October 24, 2020. The Citrus Heights Police, who were summoned to the accident scene, said that the single-vehicle crash happened at the intersection of Auburn Boulevard and Van Maren Lane at about 7:45 in the morning hours. The police report confirmed that the vehicle was traveling the wrong way in the traffic lanes before its impact with the pole.
Additional Details of the Single-Vehicle Crash
The driver was found dead in the vehicle. Two other people, described as a man and a woman, were injured in the crash. Rescuers transported the other two individuals to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said that upon investigation, it appears that drugs and or alcohol played a role in the accident. Traffic was blocked from the intersection while police investigated the single-vehicle crash, and debris was cleared from the road. The roadways were opened to traffic about five hours after the accident, at approximately 1 p.m.
Single-Vehicle Accidents
Single-vehicle accidents are common in California and can follow situations such as a run-off-road accidents, debris-laden roads, loss of vehicle control, rollovers, and others. Since there is a single vehicle involved in the crash, generally, the responsibility to avoid the accident lies with the driver.
Negligence in a Single-Vehicle Crash
The cause of single-vehicle accidents is usually driver error such as driving while intoxicated, speeding, distracted driving, and operating a motor vehicle while fatigued. However, in some cases, the crash may be due to other types of negligence.
These include negligence due to a government agency’s failure to ensure proper road drainage, that shoulders are maintained and wide enough to handle vehicles, and that curves are constructed to prevent accidents. Inclement weather may play a big part in a single-vehicle crash, and drivers must accommodate changes.
Road Defects
Defects in the road are also an issue in single-vehicle accidents, and legal investigators need to get a handle on road conditions from the start. Furthermore, signs or obstacles left in the roadway may cause such an accident. If a proper investigation leads to the person or entity who placed the obstacle in the road, they can be held liable for the accident.
Product Liability and Defective Auto Parts
Defective auto parts can lead to a single-vehicle crash, such as problems with brakes and steering. In such cases, the manufacturer may be held liable for the accident.
Hit-and-Run Drivers May Be Involved
In some cases, another vehicle may impact the car and then flee the scene. It is crucial to see if anyone saw the hit-and-run driver or if a video caught it on tape, especially if the driver was killed and cannot speak for themselves. Given that many hit-and-run crashes occur in California, this is a strong possibility that needs to be investigated by an injury lawyer.
Investigating a Single-Vehicle Crash
As you can see, examining the accident site is important in a single-vehicle crash. Our law firm sends an investigative team to the accident scene to determine what caused the accident. Here is a look at the protocol we follow:
- We examine the site for road marks that can indicate whether the vehicle tried to stop before impact. If they are absent, it might suggest that the driver was sleeping at the wheel or was intoxicated. Road marks may also show if another vehicle was involved before it fled the crash site.
- Accident reconstruction techniques are also used to determine liability.
- We obtain videos of the crash from traffic surveillance cameras or other sources to see the incident in real-time.
- Brakes and steering apparatuses are examined to see if a defect was present and may have led to the accident.
Citrus Heights Car Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Citrus Heights car accident lawyer. If you would like to hear my free and friendly advice, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You can also reach me online.
I’ve assisted numerous clients in obtaining compensation for all types of car accidents, wrongful deaths, motorcycle crashes, and other traumatic injuries.
Learn more about my practice on the following pages:
I am proud to say I belong to the organizations listed below:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-accident-broken-glass-splatter-337764/
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