Oceanside Highway 5 Accidents

Traffic accidents and fatalities occur more often than Southern California residents may expect, and our Oceanside car accident lawyers have seen that many of these crashes occur on Highway 5 as it travels through Oceanside. It is well known that I-5 is a heavily used highway throughout North County that begins down at the border of Mexico, and runs to the northernmost parts of the state. Large trucks rely on the highway to transport goods, while it is also a primary route for commuters as well as travelers within the state of California. In San Diego, the I-5 intersects with several state routes, including SR 78 and the SR 76 expressway in North County. Oceanside Highway 5 accidents are prevalent.

A car or motorcycle accident on the freeway in Oceanside can involve many different factors, but most accidents happen because someone is operating a vehicle negligently, whether it’s inattentiveness, aggressive driving, or driving under the influence. In many cases, another driver’s failure to act, or careless actions, is what causes a serious crash on Highway 5.

When Oceanside Highway 5 accidents occur, it is important that the injured party consult a qualified accident attorney in Oceanside to determine whether there is a case, and, if so, to pursue that case zealously. Lawyer Randy Walton has been doing just that for North County residents for 20 years, and has helped many of them obtain the compensation they deserve.

For anyone involved in an I-5 car accident in or around Oceanside, it is important to understand that drivers on the 5 and throughout the North County region have a duty to exercise care so that they do not cause a car accident. When a driver does not live up to this duty, he or she may be considered negligent. Under California law, negligence is defined as “the failure to use reasonable care to prevent harm to oneself or to others.” What happens when a driver is determined to be negligent? She or he can be responsible for damages caused by the accident.

To reiterate, drivers owe a basic duty of care to others on the highways in California. If drivers fail to exercise such care, they can be held liable in a personal injury accident lawsuit but usually require the assistance of a lawyer.

Given that I-5 is a major north-south highway in California, it typically sees a lot of traffic traveling at high speeds. Although pedestrians cannot walk along a highway or freeway and cannot bicycle on these roads under California law, it is nonetheless important to be aware of pedestrians in the event of breakdown. In such a case, a pedestrian may need to get out of his or her car to deal with a flat tire, or to walk to a short distance to seek assistance.

Common Oceanside Highway 5 accidents include but are not limited to:

• Large truck accidents
• Multi-car accidents
• Head-on vehicle collisions
• Rear-end collisions
• Wrong-way accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• DUI accidents

According to the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the following are among the most common causes of crashes on the I-5 in Oceanside, California and throughout the country:

• Impaired or intoxicated driving;
• Aggressive driving;
• Drowsy driving;
• Distracted driving;
• Auto defects, including defective tires, brakes, and other auto parts;
• Dangerous premises, including potholes and other highway maladies; and
• Inclement weather.

Most causes of motor vehicle collisions on highways result from another party’s reckless or careless behavior. In many car accident cases in Oceanside, a driver’s negligence is to blame for the collision. It also may be possible, however, to file a claim against additional parties. For instance, in a truck accident case arising from a crash on Highway 5 in Oceanside, the injury victim may be able to sue the trucking company, the truck owner, or the truck loader. An auto accident lawyer can help you to determine the best course of action.

Were you injured in an accident on Highway 5 in Oceanside? An experienced highway accident lawyer can assist with your claim. Contact the Walton Law Firm to get started on your case today.