California Injury Blog
A woman suffered major injuries and is still in a serious condition after a freeway crash on New Year’s Eve. Elizabeth Roberts, 55, of Lake Elsinore was severely injured in a wrong-way crash on the 215 Freeway in Menifee on Dec. 31. Her partner tells The Press-Enterprise that her “whole body broke” in this horrific crash. Roberts remains hospitalized. As of Jan. 9, she had undergone five surgeries to treat 10 significant injuries, some of which were “life-altering,” according to long-term partner Nicole Apodaca.
Life-changing Injuries
Apodaca said Roberts’ ankle, fingers, and back were broken. Some fingers were nearly severed and had to be stitched back together. Her ribs also broke and punctured her lungs. Pins are holding parts of her body together. The driver who struck her with a stolen truck, according to officials, still remains at large.
The major injury collision occurred early morning on Dec. 31. Police in Hemet were chasing a pickup truck, which had been reported stolen in Ridgecrest. Officers stopped pursuing the driver when he drove down an embankment from a side road and entered the northbound 215 headed south near Scott Road. The driver shut off the headlights and abandoned the pickup even as it was still moving. Less than 100 feet later, the pickup truck slammed into the work van being driven by Elizabeth Roberts.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Roberts, her partner, and their 7-year-old daughter. Despite the fact that she may have a long road, we wish her the very best for as complete a recovery as possible.
Compensation for Victims
This story is an illustration of the devastating impact a car crash can have on not just the individual, but also his or her family. In this case, the victim has clearly suffered major injuries that could leave her with potentially lifelong disabilities. This is tragically common in car accidents, which routinely cause catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, internal organ damage, and limb amputations.
In cases where drivers leave the scene of a crash, victims are left with mounting medical expenses with no one to hold accountable. In such cases, victims and their families would greatly benefit from the counsel and guidance of an experienced Riverside County car accident lawyer who can advise them about various avenues of compensation that could help them secure much-needed compensation for medical expenses, lost income, cost of continued treatment and loss of earning capacity.
A knowledgeable car accident lawyer can also advise victims about how their own auto insurance policy may be able to compensate them in cases where the at-fault driver hasn’t been identified, or in cases where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Source: https://www.sbsun.com/2021/01/12/lake-elsinore-womans-whole-body-broke-in-wrong-way-215-freeway-collision/