Sacramento Box Truck Accident
Sacramento Box Truck Accident – A box truck accident involving a minivan happened recently along Interstate 80 in Sacramento and resulted in injuries. The extent of the injuries is unknown at this time. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Sacramento firefighters, along with paramedics, arrived at the scene to help. The accident will be investigated by the CHP to establish why the collision happened and place responsibility.
Sacramento Box Truck Accident Details
A collision between a box truck and minivan occurred close to West El Camino Avenue in the westbound lanes of I-80 shortly before 2:00 in the afternoon. It was not reported how many individuals were involved.
Defining a Box Truck
Box trucks are large vehicles that are used to deliver such items as furniture and appliances or function as a moving van. They weigh anywhere from 33,000 pounds down to 12,000 pounds. Most box trucks do not require the driver to have a CDL license, and operators need only be 18 years of age and have a valid drivers license. The vehicle’s weight and lack of training required for operators can lead to an accident.
How a Box Truck Accident Can Happen
There are risks associated with delivery-type trucks that can lead to accidents. Some common ones are:
- Rollover accidents: Box trucks usually have a high center of gravity. This predisposes them to a rollover crash, particularly when a driver takes a curve too fast or goes faster than the truck was designed to handle. On a crowded highway or an urban thoroughfare, this can be dangerous for lighter, smaller vehicles in the truck’s vicinity.
- Blind spots: Trucks have more blind spots than a passenger vehicle. Truck drivers need to exert adequate care to ensure that a smaller vehicle is not hidden in a blind spot when changing lanes or making a turn. If this is not done, the stage may be set for a box truck accident.
- Lack of Maintenance: Truck drivers and the company that employs them are obligated to make sure their vehicles are properly maintained. This includes not driving with defective brakes or worn out tires.
- Drowsy driving: Delivery drivers are often made to work unreasonable hours and drive when fatigued. This is dangerous and can lead to accidents.
- Distracted driving: Box truck drivers are often distracted by cell phone calls, texts from friends and managers and the need to check the map for their next delivery. This takes their mind off the road and can cause a box truck accident.
Liability in a Box Truck Accident
Determining liability in a box truck crash may be complex since the vehicles are often used for commercial purposes. This means that not just the driver is responsible for an accident but due to the doctrine of vicarious liability, so is his or her employer. In addition, other drivers may be involved in the accident, and some may share responsibility for it. Since California is a comparative fault state, the other drivers and their insurers may be jostling to prove the accident was also due to the error of others involved in the crash. In order to obtain the maximum compensation you deserve in such a situation, it is essential to have an experienced legal representative who can investigate the crash on your behalf.
Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. Injuries in a box truck accident can be devastating and having a seasoned attorney at your side helps you to obtain compensation for damages suffered in the crash. Call me at (916) 921-6400 locally or (800) 404-5400, outside of the area. You can reach me online too.
I’ve helped numerous residents of Sacramento and others living in Northern California resolve damages associated with traumatic brain injury, pedestrian accidents and all types of car-related injuries.
I am a California member of the Million Dollar Forum, a group of trial attorneys who have won verdicts and settlements of more than $1 million for a client.
If you would like to know more about my practice, please take a look at client and peer reviews and the types of settlements and verdicts I won on the following pages:
Sacramento Box Truck Accident: AutoAccident.com
Photo Attribution: Depositphotos_14120823_l-2015 (2) / Sacramento Box Truck Accident.
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