Two-Vehicle Traffic Accident at the 26th Street Off-Ramp Injures One Person
A traffic accident was reported in Sacramento on July 20 following a two-vehicle crash on westbound U.S. 50. The accident happened around 8:00 in the morning at the 26th Street off-ramp, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Both drivers pulled off to the right-hand side, which helped avoid a traffic snarl during rush hour. Sacramento Fire Department emergency responders assessed at least one person who was injured. The accident is under investigation to determine fault.
A Traffic Accident on an Off-Ramp
Off-ramps are the site of numerous car accidents every day. The primary reason for this phenomenon is the inevitable merging of traffic. Motorists exiting a highway where they traveled at a high speed pass into a stretch of road where other vehicles are traveling at much slower speeds. Many drivers fail to slow down in time to avoid hitting another vehicle, leading to rear-end accidents. Drivers need to be aware of this and begin to slow down as they approach the exit if they can without interfering with the flow of traffic. About 50 percent of all ramp accidents occur when a vehicle is leaving a high-speed freeway.
How Can Drivers Safely Negotiate Off-Ramps?
Because of the many dangers inherent in using an off-ramp, drivers need to be aware of safety tips they can use to avoid a traffic accident:
- Prepare: While this is not always possible, especially when a driver is not familiar with the area, one of the best ways to navigate an off-ramp is to know what lies ahead. For instance, some ramps are outfitted with signal lights or signs that limit the flow of traffic. In others, the off-ramp merges with a multilane road.
- Note the speed limit: As soon as a motorist enters an off-ramp, they should look for the posted speed limit. Drivers should be cognizant of this and check their speedometer. Noting the speed limit on the off-ramp and cautiously looking for sharp turns or curves is helpful to avoid serious injuries.
- Look for the traffic flow ahead: As soon as the driver enters the off-ramp, they need to check the flow of traffic ahead of them. Some ramps are crowded, particularly at certain times of the day, and traveling at the wrong speed can result in a traffic accident.
Poor Ramp Design Can Lead to a Traffic Accident
Poor roadway design can be a precipitating factor in off-ramp traffic collisions. The lack of efficient ramp architecture leading to a crash can be targeted in a claim against the designers or the transportation agency in charge. This type of claim against a government entity has different deadlines for filing, which are shorter than other personal injury claims. Your attorney will ensure that all documents are filed correctly and in a timely manner.
Car Accident Attorney in Sacramento
I am Ed Smith, a car accident attorney in Sacramento. Being injured by a negligent driver can result in lost wages, high medical costs and pain and suffering. Call us for our free and friendly advice if you would like to know if you might be able to file a claim against the at-fault driver for compensation. You can reach us at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. If you prefer, you can message us online.
We are proud to be California members of Million Dollar Advocates and the Top 1 Percent.
My legal team and I have helped many Sacramentans and other Northern Californians to obtain the compensation they deserve in all varieties of traffic accidents, collisions with trucks, wrongful deaths, and more.
The links that follow illustrate how we’ve helped others:
Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-accident-broken-glass-splatter-337764/
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