Stephen Reikes Among Five People Injured In Sierraville Head-On Collision Along Highway 89
SIERRAVILLE, CALIFORNIA (August 15, 2022) – A man identified as Stephen Reikes was one of five people injured in a Sierraville head-on car accident on Highway 89.
Sierra County officials are saying that the collision took place around 5:30 p.m. on Friday. An 18-year-old man was driving a GMC Sierra truck when he fell asleep and went into opposing lanes of traffic.
That truck eventually collided with a Chevy Silverado driven by Stephen Reikes. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the people who sustained injuries.
Stephen Reikes and five other people were taken to the Renown Medical Center in order to receive treatment. Both directions of Highway 89 were closed for an hour for an investigation to take place.
Liability In Head-On Car Accidents
Head-on collisions are among the most dangerous types of accidents that a person can be involved in. They account for only around 2% of all collisions but over 11% of all traffic fatalities. Fatigue, in particular, is one of the leading causes of car accidents. The CDC estimates that staying awake for only 18 hours reduces a person’s ability to drive safely equal to driving with a BAC of 0.05%. There are many other factors that could potentially contribute to a car accident.
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Poor road conditions
- Prescription drug use
All drivers have a legal obligation to scan the road ahead of them and take reasonable steps to prevent collisions. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21651, it is a crime to drive on the wrong side of the road. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any person that is involve in a collision after crossing into opposing lanes of traffic.
If a pickup truck driver caused an accident, their employer could potentially be liable. A large number of pickup trucks are used for commercial purposes. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those companies were working within the course and scope of their job duties. There are a number of steps that accident victims should take after any collision.
- The police should be called to investigate the scene.
- All medical records related to the accident should be kept.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- An experienced personal injury attorney should be consulted.
Any person that is injured in a car accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Many accident victims are not aware of the full extent of their injuries for several weeks or months after a crash. A personal injury attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Head On Car Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to Stephen Reikes and all of the people injured in this crash. It is our sincere hope that everyone is able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. This was a preventable collision that should have never taken place.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligence of another driver? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
