After a series of California car crashes, including one fatal automobile accident on I-80, the California Highway Patrol is issuing a warning about the hidden dangers on the roadway.

If you or a loved one has been involved in any type of car accident or truck accident, it’s important to seek the advice of an experienced Sacramento personal injury attorney right away. Many times it may be possible to recover compensation for your injuries. In the event of a fatality, the surviving family members may be entitled to lost wages and other damages.

Several factors may lead to any one accident. Here, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) believes that icy conditions on the roadway are to blame, noting that although daytime conditions have been dry, it has been warm enough to melt the snow that then become “black ice” as the temperature drop. These conditions can make travel through the Sierra’s treacherous.

Although certain weather conditions are unavoidable – the fact that dangerous wintry weather may occur is predictable. Sometimes, the failure to take actions or implement safety feature or install adequate signage can be a form of negligence called “roadway negligence.” For example, if a state, municipality or other governmental body responsible for designing a roadway is aware of particular dangers associated with a stretch of road and fails to properly maintain the road free of debris, keep the road in good repair, warn of potential dangers or take other actions to make the roadway safe for passage, individuals harmed as the result of a condition on that roadway may be able to file a claim for personal injury and receive compensation for their harm.

Further, even if another condition on their vehicle – such as faulty brakes, worn tires or driver error – also contribute to a California roadway accident, it is still possible to recover damages. California is a “comparative negligence” state. This means that each party whose fault plays a role in an accident pays damages based on their degree of fault. Even if the driver injured is partly at fault, he or she may recover damages. The amount would simply be reduced by the degree the individual is responsible for the accident.

Because each party – and even the roadway conditions – must be evaluated to determine each and every factor that leads to an accident, it’s important to contact a top Sacramento car accident lawyer right away to begin an investigation into any car crash and ensure you receive all the compensation you deserve.

For more information or if you have suffered injuries in a Sacramento car crash, contact a top Sacramento accident lawyer and personal injury lawyer at Sette Law Office for an immediate consultation.