Traveling through Orange and Los Angeles County, the SR-39 is a state highway that spans 50 miles, allowing travelers and commuters to get to the major points of interest such as amusement parks, beaches, golf courses, and more.
Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer After a Car Crash? Call Ehline Law, Today
At its south end, starting at Huntington Beach, the SR-39 has major junctions at Westminster, Buena Park, and La Habra. There is also a stretch of SR-39 from Whittier that is not officially designated by Caltrans, but as soon as it enters the San Bernardino Freeway, it transitions into the adopted SR-39 once again. Parts of the SR-39 that connect to the SR-2 remain closed to public traffic due to rockslides throughout the year.
Recent Car Accidents on the SR-39
Ogden Canyon Crash
On June 11, 2021, a Subaru tried overtaking a vehicle but went right into oncoming traffic, colliding with a Ford F350 pulling a horse trailer. The accident became a multi-vehicle collision when the Subaru collided with the F350 and then bounced back into the vehicle it was trying to overtake in the first place.
The accident left one driver and a horse dead, while all the other victims suffered minor car accident injuries. The SR-39 remained closed for almost four hours following the motor vehicle accident before authorities cleared the route and re-opened it for traversing.
The Monte Cristo Incident
On October 4, 2020, after failing to make a turn on the SR-39, a motorcyclist crashed near the Monte Cristo mountain range. Local people stopped to assist the motorcyclist and get him to help since the 60-year-old was lying consciously on the ground. Emergency medical services arrived at the scene of the accident, but the motorcyclist had gone into cardiac arrest. Trying their best to resuscitate the motorcyclist, emergency services were unable to revive him, and the motorcyclist died on the spot.
Grim Los Angeles Statistics
The SR-39 passes through Orange and Los Angeles County, some of the most populated areas in the region. Both counties play an important role in the economy of California, helping connect people, goods, and services. However, with so many vehicles on the road, distracted driving can take over, causing motor vehicle accidents that lead to common car accident injuries for victims or even death.
In 2016, Los Angeles had 7% more accidents than the previous year, pushing the tally up to 55,360 car traffic accidents. What’s shocking is that the number of deaths increased exponentially when compared to the increase in accidents.
A total of around 260 people died in LA due to traffic accidents, a 43% increase from the previous year. Los Angeles is seeing more traffic accidents each year than the United States, and the accidents are getting more deadly.
Distracted Driving and Overspeeding Are the Leading Causes
In the United States, distracted driving is the leading cause of car accidents in the country however, on state highways like the SR-39, accidents occur due to overspeeding and distracted driving.
Impact of Speed in an Accident
The minimum 70 mph speed limit on the highway is enough to cause deadly accidents on impact. Crash energy increases exponentially as vehicle speed increases, resulting in a fatal car accident. Anyone distracted behind the wheel while driving at such high-speed limits is a big threat to themselves and those around them.
What Should You Do After Getting into a Car Crash on the SR-39?
Car accidents are financially draining for a car accident victim due to the cost of medical bills, therapy, surgeries, and more. If you were not at fault, then it’s not fair that you should shoulder the burden of the accident and file for car accident claims. The first few minutes after a car accident are the most important as what you do during that time will impact the outcome of the car accident claim.
If you get into an accident on the SR-39, make sure that you are safe before you call 911 or the California Highway Patrol. Let the authorities know what happened so that they can come down and file a police report. Contact your insurance company and bring the accident to their attention.
Try to get the other driver’s license details, personal information, and insurance details. Also, make sure that you take pictures of the accident site and the vehicles for later use. If there are any witnesses around, get their contact information.
Once you’ve got all these details, you need to head to the hospital to check your injuries. If you don’t have any obvious injuries, visit the medical center for a quick examination anyways. Sometimes injuries take time to surface, and you must diagnose your injuries before they turn complicated.
You now need to file a car accident claim against the negligent party, so get in touch with our qualified car accident attorneys.
How Can Our Car Accident Lawyer Help You?
Ehline Law is a personal injury law firm that can help you with your car accident case. A car wreck in California requires you to prove the other party is at fault to get the compensation you need.
Our car accident attorneys are experts in proving the four important elements of a personal injury case:
- The defendant had a duty of care.
- The defendant breached the duty of care.
- The plaintiff got injured.
- The accident caused damages to the plaintiff.
Our car accident attorney can help investigate the accident scene and gather evidence to support your claims. Our car accident lawyers will also negotiate with the insurers on your behalf and get you the maximum compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages.
If you got into a car accident due to someone else’s fault, contact us at (213) 596-9642 and get a free consultation. It can get difficult for car accident victims to see the light at the end of all the darkness. However, our attorneys have helped more than 3,000 victims successfully. Let our attorneys help you with your car wreck while you recover from this ordeal. Contact us now for more information on how we can help.
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