Check your rearview mirror. Look both ways. Count to five before you pass a stop sign. These bits of common sense are part of a driver’s everyday adventure through California. But even the most cautious driver may be injured or experience trauma at the hands of others on the road.
A chain-reaction accident involving a tractor-trailer put a 30-year-old woman and her three children in the hospital after her sports utility vehicle was hit. The crash occurred in Placerville in El Dorado County, where the 67-year-old trucker was headed northbound on a local road near an elementary school when he collided with another car and lost control of his semi.
The truck then hit the mother’s SUV, causing moderate injuries among all four occupants. The mother and children were transported to a local hospital, while the California Highway Patrol investigated the accident at the scene.
The injuries were not life-threatening, partially thanks to protective equipment in the SUV. “They were all in car seats when it happened, otherwise they wouldn’t be here,” said a bystander who assisted the family out of the vehicle. All adults involved were wearing seatbelts.
The road was closed for four hours while the scene was cleared. Although the investigation is continuing, authorities do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor.
Victims of truck crashes and other motor vehicle accidents may wish to obtain legal representation if they are thinking of claiming financial damages to make up for injuries and lost wages after their collision. An attorney can help review the facts and determine the best way to proceed. It’s important to understand that the insurance companies and trucking companies all have aggressive legal representation. You shouldn’t try to tackle this kind of claim on your own.