On Monday, November 9, 2021, at roughly 10:50 pm, a man was killed in a car crash. He was driving southbound on Highway 99 through Butte County. On Wright Ave., close to Gridley, the driver lost control of his vehicle. His Chrysler 300 spun wildly out of control, turning him counterclockwise into the northbound lane. An oncoming semi, unable to react, crashed into the Chrysler. The truck driver walked away from the accident unscathed.
The accident shut traffic down for the next six hours, from 11:00 pm that night to 5:00 am the next morning. Police have not released the names of those involved.
The Dangers of California Highways
Recent studies have concluded that California has the second highest instances of fatal crashes, just behind Texas. Roughly 39% of these incidents happen on highways or interstates. These figures represent 160 wrecks, totaling 172 deaths. Of the 15 most dangerous California highways, there is an average of 1.48 crashes per mile. The entire highway network has only 0.15 wrecks per mile. Five of the most dangerous highways are located in Northern California. State Highway 99, where the recent death occurred, is the eighth most dangerous highway in the state.
Catastrophic Injuries on the Highway
The most dangerous wrecks often result in a catastrophic injury. Normally, these injuries refer to damage to the brain or spine. This can result in paralysis and a loss of cognitive function.
Legally, catastrophic injuries also include any permanent disability that greatly impacts your life. For example, imagine a sound engineer who loses their hearing after a severe impact. Anything that affects your career or overall quality of life qualifies as a catastrophic injury.
Catastrophic injuries also include fatal injuries. Fatal injuries, those that kill the injured, are not always instant. Someone could receive treatment and even be sent home, only to pass later from their damage.
Catastrophic injuries are expensive. For instance, someone who suffers a spinal injury could spend over one million dollars in their first year of treatment. As time passes, expenses gradually lower, but they could still be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Sometimes, the only reasonable course of action for seeking compensation is a personal injury lawsuit. Insurance companies know how much they stand to lose in a catastrophic injury case, and they will try to settle out of court. Someone injured that badly has no way of predicting the long-term costs, and taking this settlement could leave them in a financial bind.
If someone you love was killed in a car accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. These are personal injury suits where the injured party does not survive. Such a sudden loss leaves surviving loved ones in a financial and emotional bind, and they can seek justice in court.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact our firm today. We can offer you a free consultation, so call us at (530) 413-0245 or contact us online.