Highway 17 is a notoriously dangerous, curving four-lane road with two lanes going each direction between San Jose and Santa Cruz. The fast-moving traffic is typically mixed: cars, trucks and other types of vehicles share the road, jockeying and vying for front position.
Commuters trying to get quickly from point A to point B along Highway 17 must share the road with heavy duty tractor trailers, delivery trucks, other utility vehicles and tourists heading for the beach and/or the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusement park — often including people unfamiliar with the road. There are few pullover areas on the right side of the road. During the rainy season, puddles can accumulate easily in some areas and this hazardous road can become even more dangerous.
Drivers speed, change lanes suddenly and are forced to navigate blind curves at full speed. Despite the law enforcement efforts of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), risks abound on Highway 17, even for conscientious drivers. (A YouTube poster's video graphically illustrates the challenges of driving on Highway 17.)
Reach Out to a San Jose Truck Accident Attorney
If you were injured, or if a family member was killed in a crash on Highway 17, you are perhaps all too familiar with these Highway 17 scenarios. If you have suffered a catastrophic injury or a serious injury in a traffic accident, it is especially important to enlist the assistance of a personal injury lawyer sooner rather than later. Contact the Law Office of John J. Garvey, III, to schedule a free initial consultation.
The longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to reconstruct the accident and determine the true cause of an accident on Highway 17, such as the following:
- Truck driver fatigue
- Inattentive driving by truckers or drivers of cars
- Defective tires, brakes, steering mechanisms or accelerator pedals
- Excessive speed
- Traffic violations, such as illegal lane changes or passing without signaling
An experienced car accident lawyer is well equipped to help you fight for the compensation that you need after suffering a brain injury, a broken bone or a spinal cord injury in a car crash on Highway 17. Was your accident caused by a road defect, such as poor drainage? Talk to an attorney to learn how that fact may impact your case.
Contact Us When You Need a Car Accident Lawyer for the San Francisco Bay Area
Contact an experienced car accident lawyer in San Jose at the Law Office of John J. Garvey, III, and learn how we can help after any type of city or mountain road auto accident.
