Last Tuesday, one of the most famous golf player suffered serious injuries when his car crash near Los Angeles.
Tiger Woods was driving in Rancho Palos Verdes and just shortly after 7 a.m. his vehicle crossed over the central reservation area and across two lanes, hit a curb and a tree, before landing on its side in the bushes. And although there were no other vehicles involved, Tiger Woods sustained many serious injuries.
Tiger Woods Car Crash Injuries
When the rescue crew reached Woods, he was conscious and lucid, but he still needed to be extracted from his vehicle with a pry bar and an axe. He was then taken to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he had to undergo leg surgery.
According to his social-media account update, Woods suffered injuries on his right leg- he suffered open fractures to his fibula and tibia, as well as ankle bone damage and muscle trauma. During the procedure, the bones of his legs were stabilized by the combination of rod, screws, and pins, in hopes of relieving the pressure on the muscle and soft tissue.
This suggests that Tiger Woods was at great risk of suffering ”compartment syndrome”, something that often happens in car accidents where the pressure is so great it cuts off the blood flow.
The Cause of the Crash
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said that this section of the road was known as a dangerous spot. In January alone, 13 car accidents occurred on this downhill winding road. However, the real cause of Woods’ accident was not determent and it is still unclear if he was in fact speeding.
Experts have examined the accident and conducted a car accident analysis and they have reached a similar conclusion. They all stated that the golfer most likely fell asleep at the wheel or suffered a medical condition that made him unconscious until the car went off-road.
“To me, this is like a classic case of falling asleep behind the wheel, because the road curves and his vehicle goes straight,” said one of the experts, Jonathan Cherney.
The officials said that the weather did not play any part in the accident. Despite the experts’ accident analysis, the crash is still under investigation.
Legal Consequences
Although Woods’ crash is still under investigation, Villanueva stated that since the crash was in fact an accident, the county will not raise any criminal charges against Woods.
In a Facebook Live chat last Wednesday, the county Sheriff said “We don’t contemplate any charges whatsoever in this crash, This remains an accident. An accident is not a crime. They do happen, unfortunately.” After seeing the crash site, Villanueva also said that Woods surviving the accident was ”nothing short of miracle”.
Less Traffic, More Fatal Accidents
Not that long ago, NTHSA released preliminary data showing accident fatality rate increasing despite the lower volume of traffic. The deserted state of the U.S. roads made other drivers drive more recklessly.
The fatality rate in the first 6 months of 2020 rose from 1.06 %( 2019) to 1.25%, making this the highest traffic fatality rate in the last decade. NTHSA urged all drivers not to take any unnecessary risks while behind the wheel.
“Now is the time to reverse 2020’s terrible trend. The men and women at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are asking every one of our Nation’s drivers to stop taking unnecessary risks on the road. Let’s remember our safe driving practices—you may end up saving a life today.”
Legal Details of a Single-Vehicle Accident
A single-vehicle accident doesn’t always have to be caused by the drivers’ negligence or reckless driving.
There are instances where a single-vehicle accident may occur when the driver tries to avoid a collision with another vehicle. But even if the real accident is avoided, if you end up hitting an obstacle while trying to prevent a potentially fatal accident, you can still take legal actions against the driver that caused your crash.
Many different things can cause a single-car accident, such as:
-drivers own negligence
-another driver’s negligence
-defective brakes or tires
-mechanic negligence
-bad weather
-bad roads
If you get injured in a single-vehicle accident caused by any of these reasons, you should talk to a car accident attorney who will help you seek compensation for your injuries.
