Investigators believe that speed was the primary factor in a freeway crash that sent three people to the hospital with serious injuries.
One car rear-ended the other, prompting one of the cars to lose control. That car went down a slope before landing upside down in a backyard in El Cajon, CA which is a city in San Diego County, CHP said.
Three people were in the overturned car. All of the occupants were taken to a nearby hospital, and all three are expected to survive.
Speed and Vehicle Collisions
Excessive velocity is a factor in about a third of fatal car crashes in California because speed increases the risk of a wreck and the amount of force in a collision.
Stopping a car is a process. First, the driver must see a hazard ahead of time. Then, the driver must move a foot to the brake pedal. Finally, the driver must apply the brakes and safely stop the car.
This process only requires a fraction of a second, at least in most cases. But in that short time period, at 30mph, vehicles continue traveling for six car lengths before they come to a complete stop. At 60mph, the stopping distance multiplies to 18 car lengths.
Numerous factors, such as vehicle weight and environmental conditions, often cause the stopping distance to multiply even higher.
Additionally, speed multiplies the force in a collision between two objects, according to Newton’s Second Law of Motion. In other words, speed transforms a non-injury parking lot fender-bender into a high-speed serious injury or fatal collision.
Evidence of Excessive Speed
Electronic evidence, such as a vehicle’s Event Data Recorder, is often the most compelling evidence of speed in San Diego County courts.
Most tech-savvy jurors expect a law firm to present electronic evidence. Without it, many believe the case is incomplete. Furthermore, since computers are never biased or incorrect, this evidence is practically bulletproof in court.
A lawyer must act quickly and decisively to reserve this important proof. Insurance companies often “accidentally” destroy wrecked vehicles within 72 hours. Furthermore, California has very strong vehicle information privacy laws. Attorneys usually need court orders to circumvent these laws.
Count on Hard-Working Ozols Law Firm
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in San Diego, contact the Ozols Law Firm. Attorneys connect victims with doctors who focus on injury-related conditions.