Common Causes of Fresno Car Accidents
Car accidents are caused by several factors, namely driver negligence. However, there is also the potential for a party aside from a driver to be negligent. As an example, if the city or county failed to maintain the condition of its roadways ultimately causing the auto accident, the city of Fresno can be found partially or fully liable for a motor vehicle accident.
These car accidents have led to a number of road traffic accidents in Fresno, CA, resulting in 45 fatal accidents (of which included 14 DUI cases) and involving 96 people. Other common causes of local car accidents include:
- Speeding – Driving at a rate of speed faster than the posted speed limit
- Drunk or drugged driving – Operating a motor vehicle while inebriated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Distracted driving – Using a phone, eating, drinking, or doing anything that disengages focus from driving
- Recklessness – Driving too close to other vehicles or too fast for the traffic or weather conditions
Determining Liability in Personal Injury Accidents
One or several drivers might be found liable for an auto accident. Our Fresno car accident lawyers are here to review your case and determine the at-fault party or parties. Then, negligence in causing these types of car accidents must be proven. Negligence is a term used by car accident lawyers. It refers to the failure of providing due care to others, and in doing so, causes unintentional harm. If this duty of care is not upheld, car accidents take place and the owed duty of care is breached.
If our Fresno car accident attorney can prove such causation exists, the stage is set to obtain damages. Auto accident victims should also be aware that defendants can claim comparative negligence. This means that the court can assert a percentage of liability for the automobile accident to the victim.
Personal injury claims are complex. However, even if you were partially at fault for the auto accident, you can still obtain financial compensation with the help of an experienced car accident attorney. Contact our local law firm in Fresno, CA, if you require assistance determining who was liable for your auto accident. Our law office, Central Valley Accident Lawyers, can answer your questions and address any concerns you may have.
Common Injuries in Car Accidents
Car accidents have the potential to cause a variety of different car accident injuries, ranging from minor injuries to serious injuries or even death. Various factors will affect the severity of injuries, like the physics of the impact, the speed each vehicle was traveling, if a seatbelt was used, and the functionality of airbags. Some of the most common car accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries – Also known as TBI, these brain injuries compromise cognitive and motor functions, ultimately reducing the victim’s quality of life
- Spinal injuries – Damage to vertebrae in the spine that can lead to paralysis
- Internal organ damage – Damaged organs resulting from the force of impact
- Fractures – Broken bones resulting from the collision of vehicles, contact with the steering wheel and/or airbags
- Scarring – There is the potential for severe and lasting scarring resulting from the sheer force of the accident’s physical impact
What to Do After a Fresno Car Accident
If you are involved in a local car accident, it’s important to remain calm and focus on the following steps. Be proactive by taking pictures of the car accident scene, the overall car wreck, the damage to your vehicle, and your personal injuries.
Then, call the Highway Patrol, so a formal police report can be created by a local officer. This police report will fully document the accident scene and is needed by your car accident attorneys in Fresno, CA. Also, request emergency medical personnel for assistance with injuries.
Take down the names, auto insurance information, and vehicle information from other drivers as well as eyewitnesses. Above all, it is imperative that you connect with a Fresno car accident attorney for legal assistance. Insurance adjusters will contact you after the accident, and sharing too much information with them can hurt your car accident claim. If that happens, you can be found at fault and your compensation can be reduced.
