One person was killed, while five others were injured following a two-vehicle head-on collision in South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday afternoon, July 5, 2023.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the incident occurred on Pioneer Trail, south of Fair Meadow Trail, at around 5:30 p.m.
Two vehicles, a Subaru Impreza and a 2018 Tesla Model 3, were traveling 45-55 mph from opposite directions when they collided head-on for reasons yet unknown, pending an investigation.
The Subaru driver was rushed to Barton Memorial Hospital, where he later died. The Tesla driver was also brought to Barton Memorial Hospital with suspected severe injuries, while his four passengers were taken to UC Davis Medical Center with moderate to major injuries.
No information was released regarding the identities of the people involved.
Dedicated Car Accident Lawyers in South Lake Tahoe, CA
Compensation may be available to the families of victims who died or suffered serious injuries due to another driver’s negligence. A personal injury lawyer should be consulted in the event of an unintentional car accident.
Your free consultation will be conducted by a personal injury lawyer from our legal team, who will review your case, explain the next steps, and discuss any reasons why your settlement may be impacted.
Our relentless El Dorado County car accident lawyers specializing in head-on collisions at Arash Law, led by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., have the recognition and vast experience to advocate for accident victims, with awarded compensation totaling $750 Million.
Contact (888) 488-1391 or complete the “Do I Have a Case?” form on our website to schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers.
What to Do After a Car Accident
Whether you are the injured or the family of the killed victim, it is essential to realize that your words and actions starting at the accident site can substantially affect the outcome of your claim or lawsuit. Consider the following recommendations to maximize the value of your injury claim:
- Stay calm and remain at the scene to ensure safety. You should check yourself for injuries before helping others.
- Get to a safe location and wait for the authorities. Pull over any vehicles that cannot move to the side of the road. To prevent further collisions, activate your hazard lights.
- Call 911 to report your collision. Call the police unless the collision was minimal, no one was hurt, and no property was damaged. The police can investigate by speaking with prospective witnesses and gathering evidence.
- Exchange information with all parties involved. Document everything, from your injuries to the weather, road conditions, and the vehicle that hit you.
- Do not admit fault to the police. Give the police officer an honest account of events.
- Seek medical attention. See a specialist or your primary care physician as soon as possible. Receiving immediate medical care can lessen the severity of injuries.
- Report it to your insurance company. Insurance companies in California have different deadlines for reporting accidents.
- Contact insurance adjusters. You can talk to a claims adjuster but only share the necessary information with them. You should consult a lawyer before accepting a settlement offer or providing a recorded statement to an insurance company.
- Create a file. Gather and file all paperwork related to the incident, such as the police report, medical bills, details about the other driver, and plans for treating any injuries, in a case file.
- Seek immediate legal counsel from an experienced California car accident lawyer.
Fatal Two-Vehicle Accident Statistics
Auto accidents are the leading cause of fatalities and injuries in the United States. Automobile accidents cause almost two million deaths and ten million injuries each year.
Traffic fatalities increased by 8.3% in 2020, according to the National Safety Council. Approximately 46,980 people were killed in vehicle accidents in 2021. United States car accidents claimed 39,107 lives in 2019. The number was 42,338 in 2020.
In 2020, there were 3,847 traffic deaths in California. One-car accidents caused 59 percent of all fatalities. A total of 1,600 fatalities were caused by multiple-vehicle collisions (41%).
It was found that 72% of collisions involved two vehicles, 71% of injuries were caused by collisions, and 77% were caused by collisions involving two vehicles. A total of 8,000 people died and were injured in angle collisions in 2020.