State routes like SR 22 don’t have the same number of lanes as the major interstate highways do so they are prone to congestion at busy times of the day. This causes frustration amongst busy drivers who can’t see any way out of the gridlock.
A driver who is in a hurry and has to merge in with the traffic on SR 22 may sometimes make a wrong decision and merge at the wrong time and cause an accident. When this happens there is a high chance that those involved in the accident are seriously injured.
If you have been the victim of a merging accident you may be able to seek personal injury compensation from the driver who caused the accident. You should discuss the accident with a personal injury lawyer before taking the matter into your own hands.
SR 22 in California
SR 22 came into existence in 1934, when roads were allocated numbers. It can be found in the state of California and is an east to west highway in the southern part of Los Angeles County and the northern part of Orange County.
It runs from Long Beach to Orange through Garden Grove. From Long Beach to Orange, it’s called the Garden Grove Freeway. It is one of two main East to West routes in use in Orange County.
What to Do If Hit While Merging On SR 22
If a driver hit your car when attempting to merge into traffic on SR 22 and you were badly injured and in the process your car was damaged, you might be eligible for personal injury compensation.
Because California has a pure comparative negligence rule, this typically means you may be able to get compensation even if there is some evidence you were partly to blame.
However, if you can prove the other driver caused your injuries a calculation for compensation will be made and once finalized with the at-fault driver’s insurer that is what you will receive.
Your personal injury attorney is there to ensure you get the payment that covers the full cost of hospital treatment and any loss in wages you experience while you recover. You will also need to present your claim no more than 2 years from the date of the accident. This is called the statute of limitations.
Evidence to Gather If Hit While Merging On SR 22
No personal injury claim will be settled unless adequate evidence has been provided to the at fault driver’s insurer. The sort of evidence that’s necessary includes:
- witness’s accounts of the accident;
- medical reports confirming your injuries;
- photographic evidence of the crash scene;
- police reports;
- vehicle damage report;
- receipts for medical treatment so far.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
It can be intimidating taking on insurers, especially when you have to ensure you get your claim in before the statute of limitations of 2 years has expired. A personal injury attorney knows how stressful the process can be but he or she will work tirelessly on your behalf until the compensation payment is in your hands.
