Car Accident Near Thousand Oaks Starts Brush Fire
I’m Ed Smith, a Thousand Oaks car accident lawyer. An accident along State Route 118 in Simi Valley on July 15 started a fire on a hill nearby. Firemen from Los Angeles and Ventura County arrived to battle the blaze, along with helicopters making water drops, in an attempt to contain it.
What Happened
Just before 9:00 in the evening near the Rocky Peak and Kuehner Drive exits along Highway 118, a driver struck a guardrail, throwing his vehicle 200 feet down the hillside, according to a representative of the California Highway Patrol. One person in the vehicle was reported as injured and transported to a near by hospital for medical treatment. There was no information on whether there were additional individuals in the vehicle or what the victim’s condition was.
The fire spread to encompass around two acres and was contained at about 10:30 that evening. Lanes heading west on the highway were closed by Caltrans, so the firefighters could battle the blaze.
Single Vehicle Accident
Single vehicle accidents are ones where there are no other vehicles involved. Such accidents are common and oftentimes involve driver error. Accident types include rollovers, collisions with debris in the road such as rocks, colliding with an animal or run off the road crashes. These accidents are usually ascribed to driver error, and the occupants of the vehicle are the only ones hurt in the accident.
Run Off the Road Accidents
This type of crash is one where the vehicle leaves the road. There are multiple reasons why this happens and includes losing control of one’s vehicle due to speeding, inadequately judging a curve or trying to avoid debris in the road. Statistics show that run off the road crashes account for about 30 percent of fatal crashes, particularly when the vehicle hits a fixed object. However, this type of accident comprises roughly 15 percent of all crashes. Fatalities increase when the existence of a clear zone is absent.
Roadway Clear Zones
It is important for roadways to have a clear zone that is free of obstacles such as utility poles or slopes. Tests done at the General Motors Proving Grounds show that most drivers can assume control of their vehicle within 30 feet.
Guidance for construction of clear zones shows that when a flat area exists adjacent to the road, particularly in rural areas, fewer crashes result. The clear zone is modified to account for road curvature, the speed on the roadway, the volume of vehicles and the slope of the road. The clear zone should be wider on roadways where speed and volume is high and when the road is on the outside part of a curve.
Prevention of Run Off the Road Crashes
One way to do this is to remove hazards from the shoulder of the road. Such objects include utility poles, trees and rocks. While guardrails can represent a hazard, there are times they are preferred to other immovable hazards.
Attorney Ed Smith
Thousand Oaks Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Thousand Oaks car accident lawyer. When you or a family member has suffered an injury because of a car accident, feel free to phone me at (805) 372-0200. My advice is friendly, and the consultation is free. If you prefer, use my toll-free line at (800) 404-5400.
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I am both founder and owner of autoaccident.com, and I am proud to have spent 35 years upholding the rights of those with personal injuries and wrongful death claims in the state of California, including in Thousand Oaks and throughout all Ventura County.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/wildfire-fire-flames-hot-burning-1160857/
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