Accident on I-5 Reportedly Caused by Swerving Pickup
A pickup truck accident involving a semi was reported in the Pocket area of Sacramento on September 4, resulting in minor injuries. The accident happened along southbound I-5 just south of the Seamas Avenue on-ramp around 8:34 a.m. According to the incident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), a Ford F-150 pickup swerved to avoid hitting a sedan and struck the semi, blocking three lanes of traffic.
Fuel Leak Delays Reopening of Highway
The big rig experienced a ruptured saddle tank, which caused a fire with about 10 gallons of diesel flowing onto the ground. Police called for help to offload the rest of the diesel from the gas tank before the vehicle could be removed. No information was provided on whether charges were placed against the driver in the pickup truck accident. The accident is being investigated to determine what caused the collision.
Driver Error in Truck Accidents
While many of these accidents are due to factors beyond the control of either driver such as weather or road conditions, there are some common causes of truck and passenger car collisions that drivers should be aware of.
- One of the most common causes of a passenger car and truck accident is speeding. According to the NHTSA, 31 percent of large truck drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the accident. Speeding is especially dangerous when combined with other factors, such as fatigue or distracted driving. Drivers who are speeding are more likely to lose control of their vehicles, and they may not have time to react to hazards in the road.
- Another common cause of truck and passenger car accidents is following too closely. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), tailgating is one of the most common causes of large truck accidents.
Drivers Need to Give Truckers Enough Room
Tailgating can be especially dangerous because trucks need more time and distance to stop than passenger cars. When a truck driver is following too closely, they may not have time to stop if the car in front of them brakes suddenly. This can lead to a rear-end collision, which can be serious or even fatal.
Drivers should also be aware of the dangers of blind spots. All vehicles have blind spots, but trucks have larger ones due to their size. When changing lanes, it’s essential to check your mirrors and look over your shoulder to ensure there isn’t a car in your blind spot.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
After a collision, the first thing you should do is call 911 and obtain medical help if injuries occur. Once everyone is safe, exchange insurance information with the other driver and take pictures of the accident scene. If you can, get the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident. This can be helpful if there is a dispute over who is at fault for the accident. Finally, if you suffered an injury due to a negligent driver, contact an injury lawyer such as those at AutoAccident.com for the help you need to recover compensation.
Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury attorney. Accidents can occur for a variety of reasons and leave people suffering serious injuries. If the accident was someone else’s fault, you might want to find out about placing a personal injury claim to recover damages. You can reach us at (916) 921-6400 for free, and compassionate advice from one of our injury attorneys. We can also be reached either at (800) 404-5400 or by sending us an online message.
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Photo attribution: Image by falco from Pixabay
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