State Routes are notorious for being accident prone as they are the types of roads that run from residential areas to city centers with the intended purpose of allowing people to get to work easily. They are often congested especially in rush hours.
Drivers often get impatient and when merging into traffic take risks that cause accidents and serious injuries to those involved.
Fortunately, in California when someone is injured it might be possible to file a personal injury claim against the driver who caused the accident. This means your medical costs may be paid and compensation for loss in wages as well while you are recovering.
However, it’s important to talk to a personal injury lawyer before you begin the claim process.
SR 57 in California
State Route 57 (SR-57) is usually called the Orange Freeway for the majority of its length. It is a state highway that runs in north to south state in the Greater Los Angeles Area.
It links the interchange of SR 22 and Interstate 5 (I-5), not far from downtown Orange, which is commonly referred to as the Orange Crush, to the Glendora Curve interchange with I-210 and SR 210. The highway also connects the Los Angeles Basin with the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley.
What to Do If Hit While Merging On SR 57
If a driver collided with your vehicle while merging on SR-57 and as a result you were injured and your vehicle suffered damage as well you will need to provide as much evidence as you can which can’t be disputed if you wish to get maximum compensation.
California has a pure comparative negligence rule in place which means if you were partially to blame for the accident you may still be eligible to receive some compensation. A calculation will be made taking into consideration a percentage value of how much you are to blame.
You have to read the police officer’s report of the accident before you decide if you are likely to be eligible for compensation from the other driver. Your own personal injury attorney will compile as much evidence as possible to support your compensation claim.
Evidence to Gather If Hit While Merging On SR 57
When an accident takes place and it was totally unexpected you may not know what to do immediately. However, if you know it’s not your fault you want to be sure that you don’t have to pay your own medical bills or cover the wages lost while you recover.
This means you need to collect as much evidence as possible that will support a personal injury claim levied at the at-fault driver. The sorts of useful evidence include:
- photographs taken at the scene of the accident;
- contact details of reliable witnesses;
- damage to the vehicle;
- all bills relating to your injury;
- evidence of any lost earnings;
- your medical report showing the treatment you have received and still require;
- the police report of the accident.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
You can’t always expect a favorable outcome to your personal injury claim unless you have a personal injury attorney working on your behalf to get the compensation you deserve. An experienced attorney will have dealt with many claims like yours before and should be able to provide an early opinion about the chances of a claim.
