At least one person was injured in a car accident in Anaheim that involved three vehicles. According to The Orange County Register, the injury crash occurred the afternoon of July 18, 2012 on the 91 Freeway at the Imperial Highway on-ramp. California Highway Patrol officials said the collision involved a red Jeep Liberty with four occupants, a Hyundai Sonata with a solo female driver and an Acura RSX-S with a solo male driver. One of the vehicles overturned and at least one person was transported to a nearby hospital. Officials are still investigating the cause of this accident.
My heart goes out to the injured victim of this car accident. I wish this individual the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. I sincerely hope none of the others were injured in this collision.
Car Collision Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 23 fatalities and 1,970 injuries occurred involving Anaheim car accidents in 2009. During the same year, Orange County car crashes caused 141 fatalities and injured 13,373 people.
Potential Accident Causes
Based on this news account, it is unclear as to how or why this three-car collision occurred at the on-ramp. There are several unanswered questions here. Was this a rear-end crash? Did one of the vehicles make an unsafe lane change? Did speed play a part in this collision?
California Vehicle Code Section 22350 (Basic Speed Law) states: “No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic and on surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.”
Also, California Vehicle Code Section 21658 (a) states that whenever a roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction the vehicle “shall be driven as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.”
Fault and Liability
The at-fault motorist here can be held liable for the resulting injuries and damages. Injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages. In a car accident that involves multiple vehicles and/or victims, it would be in a victims’ best interests not to rush into settlements or speak with insurance adjusters until he or she has spoken to a knowledgeable injury lawyer.
The investigation into such incidents can become lengthy and complex and should definitely be handled by a skilled car accident lawyer. Victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Anaheim personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of the crash and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.