Interstate Route 57 Freeway Accidents
State Route 57 is a north-south state highway in the Greater Los Angeles area. It covers more than 25 miles from downtown Orange up to the I-210 in Glendora. SR-57 is commonly referred to as the Orange Freeway, and the interchange where it connects with Interstate 5 is known as the Orange Crush. Where it connects to the I-210 at its north end is known as the Glendora Curve interchange.
The Orange Freeway is important because it connects eastern Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire to Orange County. According to a California Department of Transportation Route Concept Report, State Route 57 has between 174,000 and 234,000 vehicles in terms of daily traffic. In June 1992, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes were added to help relieve the congestion in the freeway's eight lanes of traffic. The Department of Transportation reports that during peak periods, the general-purpose lanes experience congestion and the carpool lanes typically operate at near capacity.
A Bustling Freeway
There are a number of reasons why State Route 57 is so busy. It connects Orange County and Los Angeles County while traveling through the cities of Orange, Anaheim, Placentia, Fullerton and Brea. This route serves major centers in those cities including Disneyland, the Anaheim Convention Center, The Honda Center, California State University Fullerton, the Brea Mall, Fullerton College and the Main Place Shopping Center. These sites and more are reasons why the freeway is often congested, even during the evenings and weekends.
Common Accident Causes
There are a number of reasons why collisions occur on The Orange Freeway. Some accidents result directly from roadway conditions. Large potholes, for example, can cause a motorist to lose control and crash into another vehicle or the center median. Other collisions may occur as a result of driver negligence. Speeding, distracted, fatigued, drunk and otherwise careless motorists may be held accountable for the damages they cause.
Victims of Interstate Route 57 accidents often suffer serious injuries that negatively affect their quality of life. Serious injuries commonly suffered in Orange Freeway accidents include:
- Head injuries: Anyone who is experiencing symptoms such as nausea, confusion, headaches, memory issues, fatigue or a loss of consciousness should be treated and diagnosed immediately. Traumatic brain injuries commonly occur in freeway accidents and the resulting symptoms can be devastating.
- Spinal cord injuries: Some of the most severe high-speed collisions result in trauma to the back and neck strong enough to cause damage to the spinal cord. Victims of spinal cord trauma may suffer from weakness, numbness, partial paralysis or complete paralysis.
- Broken bones: Even low-speed collisions in congested traffic can result in bone fractures. Drivers may suffer a fractured a fractured skull if their head strikes the steering wheel or the windshield. Occupants can have their legs or arms crushed in a collision as well. Victims of rear-end collisions often suffer fractured and cracked ribs and arms.
- Lacerations: Many freeway crashes result in broken glass and crushed metal. It is easy for occupants to suffer severe laceration injuries that require medical treatment right away.
- Burn injuries: Some Interstate Route 57 collisions result in car fires. Victims of burn injuries may suffer first-, second- or third-degree burns depending upon how long they are in their vehicle before exiting safely.
Contacting an Experienced Injury Lawyer
The experienced Orange County accident lawyers at our law firm can help victims of Orange County and Los Angeles accidents get the compensation they need and rightfully deserve. Depending on the cause of the crash, compensation may be available for medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning potential, pain and suffering and other related damages. If you have been injured in a 57 Freeway crash, please contact us to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.
