A busy highway can throw many obstacles into a driver’s path without a moment’s notice. With the generally high speed limits allowed on highways, any stopped car or object in the road can appear quickly and leave motorists with little time to brake or steer to safety.
Accidents can happen even when everyone on the road is trying to drive responsibly, but if someone chooses to be reckless behind the wheel, the chances of a collision only increase. Reckless driving can include extreme speed. In one year, the California Highway Patrol saw almost 62,000 people injured due to accidents involving unsafe speeds. 559 people lost their lives in speeding-related accidents.
A careless action taken on the road can send a driver into a devastating impact, and it can also create a chain reaction with frightening consequences.
SUV Falls Off Overpass onto Turlock’s Highway 99
An SUV fell off an overpass Thursday morning and landed on Highway 99 causing two more collisions and at least two injuries. The Turlock Journal reported the accident started on the West Canal Drive overpass around 8 am on August 14, 2020.
Turlock police say the SUV plummeted 20 feet and came to rest in the slow lane of Highway 99 southbound. A tractor-trailer was unable to avoid the SUV and struck the vehicle. A sedan also collided with the SUV. Another separate accident happened in the northbound lanes of Highway 99 during the traffic delays that resulted.
The two occupants of the SUV were transported to the hospital. Investigators say they received a call that the SUV had been seen driving recklessly prior to the accident.
Compensation for Injuries After a Highway Accident
A victim in an accident can be left with little time to cope with injuries and recovery before medical bills begin to come due. At the same time, the victim may be unable to attend work and make money to even help with a small portion of these bills. The injured person may wonder how to hold the driver who caused the crash responsible for his or her actions.
The state of California allows the victim in an accident to file a claim for damages against at-fault drivers and their insurance policies. A victim has up to two years from the date of the accident to file this claim. It is not recommended to wait this long because as months and weeks pass it’ll be harder to collect documents, gather evidence, and locate witnesses to build a strong case.
An experienced Turlock Attorney can help victims organize these details and file a claim to get compensation for the hardships victims experience in the wake of a tragic accident.
In a claim, it’s possible to recover financial restitution for many of the losses an injured person may be facing. These awards for damages may cover medicals bills, rehab and treatment, lost time from work now and in the future. Compensation can also cover permanent disability, pain, and mental anguish.
Contact a Turlock Car Accident Lawyer
After an accident involving a serious injury, speak to an experienced Turlock car accident lawyer such as Martin Gasparian for a free consultation and case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case. He believes that every client should work directly with their lawyer, get honest advice, and personalized attention to detail their case deserves. Contact Maison Law today.