The moments after a car accident can be chaotic. Injured people can be confused and in shock. There may be broken glass, smoke and fire. And when this scene occurs on a busy roadway, someone can get hurt after the initial collision is over.
A scene like this led to tragedy recently in Orange County when a woman was killed while she was apparently running away from a car accident. According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident occurred on southbound I-5 near Disneyland Drive when at least one car was involved in a rollover crash. News reports gave few details about this first accident.
Highway Patrol officers said a woman involved in the first accident tried to leave the scene for unknown reasons. She crossed the center divider and tried to run across the northbound lanes of the interstate, where she was struck by another vehicle.
Emergency personnel pronounced the woman dead at the scene. Lanes were closed in both directions of the interstate for hours afterward.
When we discuss personal injury law, we often talk about relatively clear-cut cases. For example, a driver is almost certainly acting negligently when he runs a red light and strikes a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In such a case, the injured pedestrian can hold the driver liable for damages.
Every accident is different, and many cases are not so straightforward. It can be very difficult to sort out issues of negligence and liability in multiple-car accidents or cases where multiple parties acted with negligence. People who have been injured in car accidents can seek out help from an experienced attorney who can explain how the law may apply to the unique circumstances of their accident.
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