In many California car accident cases, the causes of the accident are readily apparent. It may be that a drunk driver crossed over the median into oncoming traffic, causing a head-on collision. Or a truck driver tried to push his physical limits by driving more hours per day than the federal requirement allows, falling asleep behind the wheel.
Other accidents, however, present many unanswered questions that require an in-depth investigation to uncover the true facts. While a police-led investigation is a good start, often law enforcement lawyers are trying to answer different questions. For example, law enforcement is typically looking for evidence of criminal misconduct. If the investigation reveals that there was no wrongdoing, an investigation is often concluded without a determination as to what the real cause of the accident was.
Investigations in personal injury cases, however, require a deeper analysis as to why the accident occurred. Accidents can be caused by a number of factors, including negligent drivers, poorly maintained roadways, and defective vehicles. Each of these causes may result in a different party being responsible for the victim’s injuries, so it is important for an attorney to determine what caused an accident.
Recent Investigation Shed Light on 2016 Fatal CCC Van Accident
Back in 2016, three members of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) were killed when the van in which they were riding was broadsided by a semi-truck traveling at about 50 miles per hour. At the time of the accident, it was quickly determined that the driver of the van, a 20-year-old CCC member, was clearly at fault.
Indeed, the evidence released to the public indicated that he rolled through a stop sign without coming to a complete stop or looking in both directions prior to entering the intersection. The CCC seemed to absolve itself of responsibility, framing the story as one in which a single person’s bad decision resulted in the tragic accident. However, according to a recent news report, the unreleased facts told a different story.
Evidently, evidence that was unreleased at the time shows that the driver of the van had been known as an unsafe driver by members of the CCC, with a history of goofing off and being reckless while behind the wheel. Additionally, the van involved in the accident did not have functioning seat belts in 11 of the 15 seats (two of the three people who were killed were not wearing seat belts). Finally, CCC paperwork indicated that, despite the problems with the seat belts, the vehicle passed the safety checklist on 25 separate days prior to the accident.
The above discussion goes to show that an initial investigation is only half of the story. Anyone who has recently been involved in a California accident should reach out to a dedicated California personal injury attorney to discuss their case.
Have You Been Injured in a California Car Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a car accident, and you believe it to have been the fault of another party, you should consult with the dedicated Southern California personal injury attorneys at Sharifi Firm. At Sharifi Firm, we represent victims in all types of California car accident cases, and we can work with a dedicated team of investigators to get to the bottom of what caused your accident. We offer free consultations to accident victims to discuss their case and explain how we can be of help. Call 866-422-7222 to schedule your free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Study Finds that Hit-and-Run Accidents in California Are on the Rise, Southern California Injury Lawyer Blog, May 4, 2018
Court Discusses How Insurance Coverage Comes into Play When Calculating Damages in a California Personal Injury Lawsuit, Southern California Injury Lawyer Blog, May 19, 2018