Types of Accidents in San Jose

Highway 17 has been called one of California’s most dangerous roads, and ABC7 reports: “Crashes on Highway 17 between San Jose and Santa Cruz have hit a 10 year high.” Technology has become a major player in the effort to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents in California. Collision avoidance systems have become more readily available, and have significantly reduced the number and severity of car accidents. A study by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety found that forward collision warning and automatic braking systems reduced rear-end collisions by 50 percent and having only a forward collision warning system reduced them by 27 percent. Despite these technological advances, a total of 37,133 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2017. Car accidents will commonly result in injuries that are serious enough to consider legal representation. Insurance companies pay their adjusters to keep corporate profits high by keeping settlement payouts low. At Golden State Lawyers, our lawyers use proven negotiating skills to obtain the best possible financial recovery for injuries our clients suffer due to another driver’s negligence.

Crash Types

Being aware of the varied types of motor vehicle accidents may help drivers avoid potential injuries. Speed is usually a factor in a full head-on impact. When two 4,000 pound vehicles careening toward each other at 60 miles per hour collide, bad things happen.

Head-On Collisions

Some of the common causes of head-on collisions include:

Impaired driving
Fatigue
Limited visibility due to weather
Distracted driving
Driving the wrong way
Unlawful passing
Making an illegal turn

Catastrophic injuries such as back, neck, traumatic brain injury or death are the most common consequences of a head-on collision. Other possible injuries are:

Crush injuries to the torso
Facial fractures
Facial burns
Paralysis

Side Impact/T-Bone/Broadside Collisions

Side-impact or “T-bone” collisions can be devastating. The automobile industry’s addition of side-impact airbags started an important safety trend, and today the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates between 700-1000 lives could be saved every year if side impact airbags were on every car on the road. Side impact collisions are most common at intersections, and highly possible when:

A driver ignores a stop sign or fails to yield
Someone runs a red light
Turns across traffic lanes
Turns into oncoming traffic

Additionally, distracted driving, the use of hand-held electronic devices, bad weather, aggressive driving, impaired driving, and mechanical failure can lead to a T-bone accident.

Rear End Accidents

Rear end collisions are common and account for about 30 percent of all roadway accidents. Although severe injuries are less likely with a rear-end accident, whiplash and neck injuries are common, and this type of collision is responsible for a domino effect of pileups on our roadways leaving many drivers with property damage and injury. Some of the most common causes of rear-end accidents are:

Distracted driving
Driving too fast for traffic or roadway conditions
Tailgating
Faulty brakes

A vehicle traveling 55 miles an hour should maintain six (6) car lengths between it and the car in front to avoid a collision. In almost all cases, the second car in a rear end accident will be found negligent.

Single Vehicle Accidents and Rollovers

Rollover accidents can be horrific, and they have a high fatality rate. Any vehicle can roll over under the right conditions, but due to a higher center of gravity, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans are far more susceptible to rolling over in a single car crash, especially when making a sharp turn at a high rate of speed. Almost 40 percent of fatal rollover accidents were directly related to high-speed driving, and nearly 85 percent are the result of single-vehicle crashes. In addition to speeding, impaired and distracted driving are some of the more common culprits in this type of roadway accident. When a vehicle drifts onto a soft shoulder or moves from a paved surface onto gravel, it is often a natural reflex to turn the steering wheel quickly in an effort to correct the problem. This action will frequently initiate a rollover, as will hitting a guardrail, or swerving to avoid hitting an animal or pothole in the road. San Jose is not immune to this type of tragedy. In June 2019, KPIX channel 5 reported: “1 Killed, 3 Seriously Hurt In San Jose Rollover Crash” on I-280 at the northbound off-The teamp to 10th street Improperly maintained infrastructures, such as poor roadway design or potholes are significant when it comes to personal injury claims against local government agencies’ failure to maintain safe driving conditions. Speak with a member of the legal team at Golden State Lawyers if you believe you or a family member have been injured in a rollover accident. We are happy to discuss the legal options that available to you. Some of the most serious injuries caused by a rollover are:

Traumatic brain injury
Back and neck injury
Crush fractures
Internal organ damage

You Have Legal Options

California’s roadways are congested and can be extremely dangerous. Innocent survivors of any type of motor vehicle accident—and the families of those who did not survive a crash—should not have to bear the financial burden of lost wages, medical expenses and property damage, or the emotional burden of stress, anxiety, and depression that are common following an automobile accident. Persons who are injured in car accidents are legally entitled to file suit against all negligent parties involved in the accident. The steps involved in pursuing compensation are complex, and the process can often be time-consuming and confusing, but compensation may possible if pursued correcntly. Attorney Robert Bohn, Jr. has decades of experience helping residents of San Jose and surrounding areas recover financially from the injuries associated with roadway accidents. For a free case review, call us today at (408) 279-4222 or write to us online. We look forward to helping you.