Off Ramp Accident Between a Sedan and Semi Truck in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. A May 29 accident between a sedan and semi along Interstate 5 was reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). It is unknown at this time whether any injuries resulted from the crash or which driver was at fault.
Accident Details
The collision occurred along southbound I-5 at the Richards Boulevard off-ramp in South Sacramento. According to the CHP, the sedan crashed into the center divider and ended up in the middle lane. No further information was provided on the accident. However, the accident is being investigated by authorities as to cause and to place fault.
Why Do Trucks Have Problems on Exit Ramps?
One of the chief reasons that trucks have problems on exit ramps is due to their size and weight. If a truck enters the exit area too fast, there is a high likelihood the big rig could jackknife or rollover due to the curved shape of the off ramp. The damage is not limited to the truck alone. Other vehicles can be damaged too. Speeding is a culprit in the large majority of trucking accidents since the truck may enter the exit ramp at a higher than appropriate speed and be unable to slow down to navigate the ramp.
Other Reasons Ramp Accidents Happen
There are several reasons this occurs:
- The truck may change lanes when it needs to turn either left or right.
- Distracted truck drivers may cause an accident.
- Other vehicles may be in the areas where a trucker has little if any ability to see them.
- Unfamiliarity with the area might be a precursor to crashes.
- The ramp itself may not be well designed, leaving vehicles little room or neglecting to note the proper speed limit despite curves.
Truck Accident Injuries
Trucks, due to their large size, inflict injuries on occupants of passenger vehicles. At least 75 percent of all injuries in an accident between a truck and a passenger vehicle are to the occupants of the smaller, lighter cars. On an off-ramp, with a close proximity between vehicles, a rollover or other accident can be devastating. Some common injuries are:
- Neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Blunt internal injuries
- Chest trauma
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations and contusions
- Wrongful death
Liability for Trucking Accidents
The liability for trucking accidents is mixed. On some occasions, it is the driver of a smaller vehicle who does not give the truck enough room or tries to cut in front of a big rig not realizing that the trucker will be unable to stop. In other instances, the trucker takes advantage of his or her position in a large vehicle and drives aggressively. An experienced lawyer is able to use forensic experts to determine the cause of the accident.
Sacramento Truck Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. A collision with a large commercial truck can result in severe injuries or the death of a loved one. If you have been injured in an accident with a big rig or someone you care about has, I have friendly, free advice to offer you. Give me a call at (916) 921-6400 locally, or you can use my toll-free line at (800) 404-5400.
I am honored to have worked as a personal injury lawyer in the Sacramento area for more than 36 years. During this period, I have helped many people who have suffered injuries through someone else’s negligence in a wide range of cases, including wrongful death and all types of car accidents.
Take a quick look at Verdicts & Settlements to discover some of our earlier cases and how they were resolved.
I’m a Million Dollar Forum member. This represents trial lawyers who have garnered one million dollars in either settlements or verdicts on behalf of former clients.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/highway-jam-traffic-pkw-autos-1761825/
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