A multi-vehicle crash involving three vehicles brought significant disruption to a busy Woodland intersection on the afternoon of Thursday, May 21, 2025. The crash, which occurred at approximately 4:20 p.m. at Highway 113 and County Road 17, resulted in major injuries to those involved and prompted an emergency response to the scene.
First responders, including law enforcement and emergency medical personnel, were dispatched to the intersection to assist the injured and secure the area. The late-afternoon collision occurred at the start of the evening commute, a period when traffic volume on Highway 113 typically increases as drivers travel between Woodland and surrounding communities. The severity of the injuries reported underscores how quickly a routine afternoon can turn devastating when vehicles collide at highway speeds.
What Happened at Highway 113 Multi-Vehicle Crash
The collision involved a gold Toyota Camry, a silver Hyundai Tucson, and a white Toyota Tacoma. According to available information, the three vehicles came together at the intersection of Highway 113 and County Road 17, one of the busier travel corridors in the Woodland area. Emergency responders arrived to find multiple people with major injuries. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances that led to the crash, including speed, right-of-way, and potential driver impairment.
Multi-vehicle collisions at highway intersections are among the most dangerous types of crashes. When vehicles traveling at highway speeds enter an intersection from different directions, the force of impact is often severe enough to cause life-altering injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and internal trauma.
Legal Rights of Injury Victims in California
Under California Civil Code Section 1714, every person has a legal duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid causing harm to others. When a driver fails to meet that standard of care, they may be held liable for the injuries and damages their negligence causes. In a multi-vehicle crash like this one, establishing liability can be complex, as fault may rest with a single driver, be shared among multiple parties, or even involve the roadway itself.
California follows a pure comparative fault system, which means that even if an injured party is found to bear some degree of responsibility for the collision, they may still recover compensation. That recovery is reduced in proportion to their share of fault. This is an important protection for those who may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time through no meaningful fault of their own.
Victims who suffered major injuries in this crash have a limited time to pursue legal action. California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, running from the date of the accident. Acting promptly helps preserve critical evidence, including vehicle data, road conditions, witness statements, and surveillance footage.
Types of Compensation Available After a Major Injury Collision
People injured in serious crashes like this one may be entitled to recover a broad range of damages. Economic damages typically include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and anticipated future care needs. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact the injuries have on the victim’s daily functioning and relationships.
In California, there are two widely used methods for estimating the value of a personal injury claim:
The multiplier method multiplies a victim’s economic damages by a number typically ranging from 1.5 to 5, depending on the severity and permanence of the injuries. A person who suffers a lasting disability following a major collision might see their economic damages multiplied at the higher end of that range, reflecting the profound impact on their quality of life.
The per diem method assigns a daily dollar value to the pain and suffering experienced by the injured party and multiplies that figure by the number of days they are expected to experience those effects. For catastrophic or long-term injuries, this method can produce a substantial damages figure that accurately reflects the ongoing burden of the injuries.
Wrongful Death Considerations
If any victims in this collision do not survive their injuries, their surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60. Eligible claimants typically include a spouse or domestic partner, children, and others who were financially dependent on the deceased. A separate survival action under CCP Section 377.30 may also be brought on behalf of the decedent’s estate to recover damages the victim suffered between the time of the crash and the time of death.
The loss of a family member in a traffic collision creates a profound and lasting impact that extends far beyond the immediate grief. Surviving family members may be entitled to recover damages for the loss of financial support the deceased provided, the loss of household services they contributed, and the loss of companionship, guidance, and care that cannot be replaced.
In cases where the deceased was a primary income earner, the financial consequences for a surviving spouse and children can be severe and long-lasting. California law recognizes the full human cost of these losses, and a wrongful death claim is designed to hold the responsible party accountable while providing the family with a measure of financial stability during an extraordinarily difficult time. Families navigating this process should act as soon as reasonably possible, as gathering evidence and building a strong claim is significantly easier when the investigation begins close to the collision date.
How Catastrophic Injury Settlement Calculators Help Estimate Your Claim’s Value
When a collision results in catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, or permanent disability, determining the full value of a legal claim can be an overwhelming and complex process for victims and their families. A catastrophic injury settlement calculator serves as a practical starting point for understanding the potential range of compensation available by accounting for the many financial and personal losses that flow from a life-altering injury.
These tools typically factor in quantifiable economic losses such as current and projected medical expenses, ongoing rehabilitation and therapy costs, lost wages, and the estimated value of future earning capacity that the injured person may never recover. Beyond the economic figures, a well-constructed calculator also incorporates non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the permanent lifestyle changes the victim must now endure.
While no calculator can replace the analysis of an experienced personal injury attorney who understands the full scope of a victim’s circumstances, these tools help injured people and their families move from uncertainty to a clearer picture of what fair compensation might look like.
For victims of the Highway 113 collision who face extended recovery periods, permanent limitations, or the need for long-term care, understanding these figures early in the process can be critical to making informed decisions about medical treatment, financial planning, and whether to accept an insurance settlement offer. Call us now at +1-866-218-3776 to speak with our experts.
Taking the First Step Toward Justice
“A collision like this one on Highway 113 can upend everything in a matter of seconds, and I know that the people injured that afternoon and their families are now facing a road to recovery that feels overwhelming. My advice is this: focus on getting the medical care you need, document everything related to your injuries and your treatment, and do not accept any settlement offer from an insurance company before speaking with an attorney who can evaluate the true value of your claim. Insurance companies move quickly after serious crashes, and their initial offers rarely reflect the full extent of what an injured person deserves. At GJEL, we have spent more than 40 years making sure that accident victims in California are not left to navigate that process alone, and we are here to help you and your family understand your rights at no upfront cost to you.”- Andy Gillin, GJEL Accident Attorneys
GJEL Accident Attorneys has recovered more than $950 million for injury victims throughout California. Our legal team handles every aspect of the claims process, from gathering and preserving evidence to negotiating with insurance companies and, when necessary, taking cases to trial. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
If you or a loved one was injured in the Highway 113 and County Road 17 collision, contact GJEL today for a free consultation. Contact us today at +1-866-218-3776 or visit our San Francisco office to talk to the experts.
Local Resources for Crash Victims in Yolo County
Accident victims and their families in the Woodland area may find the following resources helpful in the aftermath of a serious collision:
California Highway Patrol Woodland Area. The CHP investigates traffic collisions on state highways in Yolo County. Copies of the official collision report can be requested once the investigation is complete. Website: www.chp.ca.gov Phone: (530) 662-4685
Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, for incidents involving county roads or requiring additional law enforcement assistance. Website: www.yolosheriff.org Phone: (530) 666-8282
Dignity Health Woodland Memorial Hospital is the primary trauma-capable hospital serving the Woodland area and a key resource for crash victims requiring emergency care. Address: 1325 Cottonwood St, Woodland, CA 95695 Phone: (530) 662-3961 Website: www.dignityhealth.org/woodland
UC Davis Medical Center Trauma Services Level I Trauma Center serving Northern California, including Yolo County residents with serious injuries. Address: 2315 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95817 Phone: (916) 734-2011 Website: www.ucdavis.edu/health
Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency provides social services, mental health support, and assistance programs for individuals and families in crisis. Website: www.yolocounty.org/health-human-services Phone: (530) 666-8055
California Department of Insurance Consumer Hotline. For guidance on insurance claim rights and assistance with disputes after a collision. Phone: 1-800-927-4357 Website: www.insurance.ca.gov
