A car accident can change your life in an instant, leaving you hurt, emotionally scarred, and unsure who was really at fault while the bills accumulate. Learning about the common causes of car accidents in Fresno can help you understand what happened and which details deserve a closer look. When another driver’s poor choices caused your crash, those details often make the key difference in your claim.
You should not have to piece all of this together on your own. A dedicated car accident attorney can weigh another driver’s conduct against state traffic laws and gather the evidence while you focus on healing. Dunnion Law has stood up for injured people in California for over 50 years, and our family-run firm works to keep insurance companies from taking advantage of people when they are most vulnerable.
Traveling at higher speeds gives you less time to properly react to your surroundings. When a driver is going too fast, a moment of stopped traffic ahead can turn into a serious crash. Speeding frequently contributes to car collisions on Fresno roads. It is not only about breaking the posted limit, because a driver can be going too fast for the rain or the road even while staying under it.
California Vehicle Code § 22350 states that a driver must never travel faster than is reasonable and prudent for the conditions, such as weather and traffic conditions. Each driver’s speed often becomes a central question in these cases, since it shows whether the driver had time and room to stop before impact.
It only takes a glance away from the road to miss a red light or a slowing car. Distraction is another common cause of car collisions in Fresno, whether it comes from a phone or something else inside the vehicle.
Cal. Veh. Code § 23123.5 limits handheld phone use behind the wheel. When we suspect a driver was distracted, witness accounts and electronic records can help show what was really happening in the seconds before the crash.
In stop-and-go traffic, you have to keep adjusting how far back you drive. Following too closely is one of the most common contributing factors in Fresno rear-end car crashes, along with not reacting when traffic slows without warning.
Cal. Veh. Code § 21703 requires drivers to leave a safe gap based on speed and road conditions. Even so, every rear-end crash is different. The damage to each vehicle and the marks on the road can help show how the cars were moving and whether there was enough space between them.
Intersections require drivers to watch signals and everyone moving through at once. Running a light is a common cause of car crashes at Fresno intersections, and so is turning or crossing without yielding the right of way.
The truth is not always clear from the drivers’ competing stories. Traffic cameras or nearby surveillance video can often show what happened, and preserving that evidence quickly can greatly strengthen the record we use to prove who was responsible.
Understanding the common causes of car accidents in Fresno is only the start. You must gather evidence showing how another driver’s choices caused your crash and your injuries. Your recovery matters more than any pressure you feel to rush.
Since 1975, Dunnion Law has helped injured people across the state understand their options and stand up to the insurance companies. Contact us to talk through your crash and whether a personal injury claim is right for you.
