Three People Injured in Crash Caused by Wrong-Way Driver
Three injuries were reported in a crash caused by a wrong-way driver in Sacramento on November 30. The collision occurred along Interstate 5 at the interchange in Natomas around 1:30 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) incident report. The wrong-way driver who caused the accident was suspected of being under the influence and placed under arrest. Charges pending against the driver were not detailed.
Details About the Accident
The accident occurred when a motorist in a BMW entered southbound I-5 going the wrong way, causing a fiery head-on crash with a big rig. The driver of the big rig swerved toward the center divider and the sedan ended up on the shoulder on the right-hand side. Three people were reported as injured in the collision, including the wrong-way driver, who was transported to a hospital with major injuries.
Massive Fire and Fuel Spill Closes Highway for Hours
The crash and resulting fire caused a fuel leak from the big rig in addition to the fire. The sedan was fully engulfed, and the truck and trailer burned to the ground, including the tires. The accident initially blocked all lanes of traffic, and drivers were diverted to I-80. An alert was issued to local motorcyclists that the roads in the area would be slick from the clean-up after the accident. The roadway was reopened around 7:47 a.m.
Accidents Caused by a Wrong-Way Driver
Accident injuries and fatalities due to a wrong-way driver are usually caused by someone who is drunk or has been using drugs. Because of the effects these substances have on the body, the driver has trouble focusing, slowed reflexes, and may weave in and out of the lane and slow down and speed up. Unfortunately, because their judgment is impaired, a drunk driver often goes into a freeway ramp in the wrong direction.
Entering a Freeway Using the Wrong Ramp
By entering the off-ramp instead of the on-ramp, the driver ends up in the fast lane upon entering the highway, which the drunk driver thinks is the slow lane. Head-on collisions commonly occur this way, leaving innocent parties with severe injuries. Those who were injured can place a claim for compensation to recover damages with the help of an injury lawyer.
How an Injury Attorney Can Help
In order to place a claim to recover compensation following an injury accident, it must be proven that the other person/persons involved were negligent. It is an injury lawyer’s job to collect the evidence needed to point toward that negligence. In that way, their client can place a claim and recover the damages they deserve. Among other areas, our investigators:
- Examine the police report for mistakes
- Perform accident reconstruction, which shows the positioning of the vehicles, how the collision occurred, and points toward which driver was at fault
- Interview all witnesses to the accident, one of which may have captured the collision on their cell phone as it happened
- Check area traffic surveillance cameras to see if the accident was caught on film
Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, and I’m a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. Drunk drivers cause many accident injuries each year, and when this happens, the injured party may wish to find out about placing a claim for damages. Call for our free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400. You can also reach us online or by calling (800) 404-5400.
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Our injury lawyers have successfully assisted many people over the years in obtaining fair compensation for wrongful deaths, all types of traffic collisions, and other cases. By taking advantage of our free, no-obligation consultation, you can have your questions answered, your case reviewed, and find out about options to recover damages.
Photo attribution: Image by Carlos Lincoln from Pixabay
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