Spanning 563 kilometers, Interstate 8 is a highway connecting lower California with Central Arizona. The freeway starts at the west end with San Deigo, California, and ends at the I-10 freeway at Casa Grande in Arizona. The I-8 is an important link between the states seeing millions of residents traveling each year on the highway, but not all of them make it to their destinations. Highways and freeways have become home to distracted, drunk, and reckless driving, all leading causes of car accidents in the United States.
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Recent Accidents on the Interstate 8
There are chances of an accident on the stretch of highway more than 540 kilometers, and here we will look at some of the recent car accidents on the I-8.
Suspected DUI Accident
In September 2021, the I-8 witnessed a fatal car crash where a suspected drunk driver in a BMW crashed into another driver in a Honda Accord. A head-on collision left the other driver in the silver Accord with serious injuries.
When the law enforcement authorities arrived at the accident scene, it was too late to resuscitate the driver, who died at the accident site.
“Chain Reaction” Accident
The east end of the I-8 along the I-10 witnessed a terrible truck accident in October 2021. The commercial truck driver proceeded to cross the intersection with oncoming traffic and collided with two other commercial trucks.
The truck then swerved into two passenger cars and eventually caught fire, causing two deaths and eight injuries. The injured individuals faced severe injuries and needed a helicopter to transport them to a specialized medical center for immediate medical treatment.
Besides these devastating accidents, many accidents get unreported or are minor accidents. The I-8 is a long stretch of highway, and drivers must exert extreme caution at all times while on the road to ensure the safety of themselves and others around them.
Why Are There Accidents on the I-8?
With more than 350 miles of highway providing a route to millions of travelers and commuters each year, the I-8 is one of the busiest highways in the United States.
With decades of experience representing personal injury victims, our law firm has provided legal representation to clients involved in accidents on the I-8 due to:
Although not so congested as the other interstate highways, there are some stretches of road that see a lot of congestion throughout peak hours. Even with a congested road, the accidents occur at slow speeds causing whiplash injuries to passengers or serious injuries to motorcyclists.
What to Do After an Accident on an I-8?
You may start to panic or stay in a state of shock after getting into an accident, but you must compose yourself and remain calm and responsible. There are other drivers on the I-8, and you must also ensure their safety, so move your vehicle to a safe spot and turn on the emergency flashers. Once done, here are some important steps you should follow after an accident.
Contact the California Highway Patrol
You must contact the relevant law enforcement authority on the interstate to come to the accident site and write a report. This is important as the police report will help when you file for claims. Make sure you also take pictures of the accident site and the vehicles from all angles as you would need that to prove your damages.
Take as Much Information as Possible
You need to take down as much information as possible, and in the case of a car accident, make sure that you talk to witnesses nearby. If some pedestrians in Los Angeles or people stop after witnessing an accident, note down their contact details. Get the insurance details of the negligent driver, their driver’s license details, and their contact number.
Head to the Hospital
Some injuries occur a few hours after an accident, while other internal injuries are not evident during the time of an accident. Make sure that you head to the hospital for a quick medical examination even if you are feeling fine.
Another reason why we recommend heading to the medical center immediately after an accident is because of the medical reports and medical bills. These documents are important for car accident victims to support their personal injury cases. After a medical examination, you must get in touch with a personal injury attorney to help you file claims.
Why Do You Need an Experienced Car Accident Attorney?
In the state of California, the comparative negligence law kicks in when an accident occurs. After an accident, if you are not at fault, you will try to report the issue to the negligent driver’s insurance company. Oftentimes, an insurance company will assign an agent to your claims. Still, unfortunately, insurance agents resort to unfair practices such as delaying payments, giving lowball offers, or even prolonging the claims process.
Having our experienced personal injury attorneys representing your case gives it enough firepower for the insurers to take the case more seriously. Most of the time, an insurer would reconsider its delaying strategies once it comes to know that the car accident victim has an experienced personal injury lawyer for legal representation.
Our car accident attorneys have the right experience to negotiate with the insurers on fair compensation. However, if there is no mutual agreement, then our car accident lawyers are not afraid to take matters to court.
Whether it is an injury or a wrongful death case, Ehline Law is one of California’s leading personal injury law firms, providing legal services to more than 15 locations, including San Diego County, Los Angeles County, and more.
If you got into a car accident that was not your fault, contact us at (213) 596-9642 for a free consultation and legal advice on your personal injury. In California, you have two years to file personal injury claims for your car accident case, so hurry up and contact us now for more information on how we can help!
Other California Freeway and Interstate Accidents
