[08-18-2022] Shasta County, CA – Fatal Head-On Crash Killed One Person Near Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

According to the California Highway Patrol, one person died after a head-on collision involving an SUV and a semi-truck on Highway 299 west of Redding on Thursday afternoon, August 18, 2022.

The accident happened around 12:30 p.m. west of Redding, on Highway 299.

According to the Record Searchlight News, the Ford Explorer crossed the road’s centerline and collided head-on with the big rig, killing the driver. The trucker was also injured, but his injuries are unknown.

The collision caused a fuel leak on the tractor-trailer, which sparked a vegetation fire that grew to 35 acres by 5 p.m.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Kennedy Fire had grown to 35 acres as of 5 p.m.

According to the California Department of Transportation, one-way traffic controls are in place. On the stretch of highway between “Old Shasta” and the Whiskeytown Visitor’s Center, traffic is moving, with a pilot car leading each way.

The accident is to be further investigated.

Head-On Collision Statistics

The collision force in a head-on collision is increased by the speed and weight of both vehicles involved. Head-on collisions produce a significant amount of energy. There are approximately 123,000 head-on collisions annually in the United States, accounting for only 2.0% of all crashes but 10.1% of fatalities.

Injuries in this type of crash are more likely to be fatal. Because the injuries can be severe, victims of a head-on collision are more likely to suffer permanent brain damage, amputations, or disabilities.

A permanent injury can quickly result in financial losses of millions of dollars. For example, if you cannot return to work, you are entitled to compensation for all wages earned between the time of the accident and your expected retirement. This package includes bonuses, commissions, overtime, and raises. Employee benefits also include employer contributions to health insurance premiums or retirement accounts.

If you can return to work, but only in a limited capacity, you will earn less than before the accident. You are entitled to compensation for the difference between what you earned before the accident and what you can earn due to your injuries.

Permanent injuries necessitate ongoing medical attention. Victims frequently spend years visiting specialists, seeking second opinions and consultations, and following up with their primary care provider. They will almost certainly require medications and assistive devices (such as a wheelchair or walker). They may also require many years of rehabilitative services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, pain management, or chiropractic care.

In addition, your injuries may necessitate permanent changes to your home or vehicle. All of these expenses can quickly mount up. A lifetime of medical care is not cheap, which is why many permanent injury claims settle for astronomical sums.

Shasta County Head-On Crash Lawyers

Head-on collisions can result in severe injuries. However, not all victims will survive a head-on collision. Following a fatal head-on collision, surviving family members have the right to sue the negligent driver for wrongful death.

The survivors of a wrongful death suit sue the person responsible for the untimely death and the financial losses they caused. These losses may include funeral and burial expenses and all wages lost between the time of the accident and the victim’s expected retirement.

Surviving spouses in California can also sue for loss of consortium. The term “loss of consortium” refers to the emotional losses resulting from the untimely death of a spouse. It addresses the pain of losing affection, comfort, love, and even sexual relationships.

These are very real and painful losses that a surviving spouse must bear following the unexpected death of a husband or wife in a head-on collision. Juries understand these losses because they can imagine how they would feel if they lost a spouse.

In some ways, California’s loss of consortium laws is less equitable than other states. Other states, for example, allow children to sue for loss of consortium due to the loss of a parent’s guidance and love. Loss of consortium claims in California is only available to surviving spouses.

Other states, on the other hand, limit the amount of money that can be claimed for the loss of consortium and other “non-economic” losses. Non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases are limited in California but not in other types of wrongful death cases. This means that there is no limit to the amount of non-economic damages that can be awarded in a wrongful death case involving a head-on collision.

If you have been injured in a head-on collision, you have legal rights that must be protected. Our Shasta County experienced head-on accident lawyers at Arash Law have decades of experience and have collected over 200 million dollars for clients across the state.

We fight hard to protect our clients’ legal rights so they can focus on recovering from their injuries. Call (888) 488-1391 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.