We want to bring you a story that ended in tragedy the other evening. In a crash that happened just before 7:30 p.m. on the 5 Freeway, a vehicle slammed into the back of an eighteen-wheeler. By the time first responders arrived on scene, they found an SUV engulfed in flames stuck under the truck.
According to witnesses, the SUV was speeding at more than 100 mph before it crashed.
This accident is still under investigation, but it highlights two of the main dangers the Californians encounter on the roadway – speeding and aggressive driving.
At the Compass Law Group, we know that there are many ways in which careless and negligent drivers cause accidents and injuries. If you need a car collision lawyer, you can count on us to work tirelessly when securing the compensation you need for all of your accident-related expenses.
The Reality
There are hundreds of thousands of vehicle accidents in California annually. The report from the latest year shows us that these accidents resulted in nearly 12,000 serious injuries and over 3,300 fatalities.
For Los Angeles County during the same timeframe, there were more than 82,000 people injured (minor and major injuries) or killed in traffic accidents.
We know that vehicle accidents can be scary, especially if there are injuries involved. Even minor injuries can keep us out of work for a few days.
Major injuries can be devastating.
We know that accidents cause both property damage and personal injuries. In both cases, you will be left with major bills that insurance may cover.
But they may not.
There is no guarantee that insurance companies will cover all accident-related expenses, especially if you are forced to miss work while you recover.
Why They Happen
In driver surveys, Californians were asked what they thought the biggest safety issues were on our roadways:
- Speeding/Aggressive Driving – 27.2%
- Drunk Driving – 22.9%
- Texting on Phone – 14.7%
- Talking on Phone – 11.9%
- Other Distracted Behavior – 4%
We know that all of those answers are correct. Alcohol-related crashes are responsible for more than 25 percent of all traffic accident deaths in the state.
How many times have you seen drivers looking down at their phone screens instead of at the road?
What You Can Do
If someone else’s negligent or careless driving has caused you harm on the roadway, it would be wise to seek legal assistance in the aftermath of the incident. We know that insurance companies are not always looking out for your best interests and they may not offer enough money to cover all of your accident-related expenses.
At the Compass Law Group, we will be your advocate. There is no reason you should have to suffer financially because of someone else’s mistake. We want to make sure that you are taken care of.