A high-speed crash in Carmichael put three people, including a seven-year-old girl, into the hospital, according to recent reports. The California Highway Patrol reports that the car was weaving in and out of traffic at a very high rate of speed before hitting two power poles, a tree, a brick wall and a house. The crash occurred near El Camino Avenue and El Tonas Way.
The three people inside the car, a 21-year-old male driver, the young girl and another person, were trapped and had to be extracted using the Jaws of Life. Both the driver and young child suffered major injuries. Authorities do not believe drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.
Speed Kills: The Role of High Speeds in Crashes
The role of high speed in fatal crashes is more complex than it first appears. While excessive speed is involved in as many as one-third of fatal crashes, as evidenced by statistics, drivers traveling under the speed limit are also more likely than those traveling near the median speed of traffic to be involved in serious crashes. In other words, it is not certain that high speed directly causes crashes.
What is certain is that high-speed crashes are more likely to be fatal than crashes in which both drivers are traveling relatively slowly. This is simply a function of physics: objects traveling at high speeds carry greater force than those traveling at slower speeds. Because of this greater force, high-speed crashes often result in much greater damage to the vehicles and much more risk to the passengers and drivers. Further, pedestrians or bicyclists who are hit by speeding cars stand a much lower chance of surviving their injuries than those hit by slow-moving vehicles.
What If I Am Injured in a High-Speed Crash?
If you have been the victim of a high-speed crash, it is important that you take action to protect yourself. Insurance companies and others may not stand up for you and in fact may try to deny you the payment of compensation such as medical bills and sums for pain and suffering. A dedicated attorney like those at Ashley Injury Lawyers in Roseville will protect your rights and help you recover money to pay your expenses. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how you may be able to recover damages for your injuries.
