The Sacramento Fire Department reported that a 6 car accident in Natomas on Thursday, June 13, left three people injured and one in critical condition.
The accident happened around 7:00 p.m. near Gateway Park and North Market boulevards
The injured parties were all taken to local hospitals, while one was listed in critical condition as of Thursday night. As of Friday morning, there were no new updates on the condition of the accident victims.
The Sacramento Fire Department and Sacramento Police Department interviewed witnesses in an effort to find the cause of the accident. According to reports, multiple cars were stopped at a red light at a main intersection when a car came along and crashed into them.
What causes rear-end accidents?
Distracted driving is probably the most well-known cause of rear end accidents. When most people think of distracted driving they think of breaking some traffic law. Such as driving while intoxicated, talking on the phone, or texting while driving. But there doesn’t necessarily have to be a traffic law being violated for there to be distracted driving.
Any time that a driver doesn’t have their full focus on the road, can be considered distracted driving. This includes talking to other passengers, applying makeup, eating changing the radio or hear/AC, and reaching for something in the front or back of the car. If a driver takes their eyes off the road at 45 mph, every second they keep their eyes from the road is 66 feet. As the speeds go up, this distance increases and reaction time falls rapidly.
Some other causes of rear end accidents are: failure to maintain a proper distance, heavy traffic, poor weather, and fatigue. It is always important to not only follow traffic laws, but to make sure that all distractions are kept of your way to the best of your ability while driving.
What are some common injuries from rear end accidents?
The most common type of injury in a rear end accident is a neck injury. This is due to the quick whiplash effect of the neck moving forward and then backward. Many times, this type of injury doesn’t show up right away due to the shock of the accident. Also, neck injuries are soft-tissue injuries that won’t show up in an x-ray.
Fractures to the hands and feet, spinal cord, ribs, and skull are also common in rear end accidents. This is especially true if the difference between the speeds of the cars is high.
Head injuries are another common injury in this type of accident. Symptoms from these can be headaches, dizziness, loss of memory, trouble with speech, and even mood swings.
It is extremely important if you’ve been in a rear end accident that you seek medical care right away. Even if you don’t feel like you’re injured, documenting the accident and seeking medical treatment are critical to any car accident or motorcycle accident insurance injury claim.
If you have questions about a rear end accident and would like to discuss your options, we are here to help. We offer case evaluations at cost. Simply give us a call at (916) 619-5452 or fill out our form online.
