Accident on I-80 Between a 7-11 Truck and Passenger Vehicle
A semi crash with a motor vehicle occurred in Sacramento on December 9 on a busy freeway. The collision occurred shortly after 1:00 in the afternoon on eastbound Interstate 80 just west of the Norwood Avenue exit ramp. For reasons that are yet unknown by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), a 7-11 semi collided with a Honda, which caused the passenger vehicle to spin out and strike the center divider.
Semi Crash Interferes With Traffic on I-80
The driver of the semi stopped further up on the right-hand side of the road. Traffic became congested in the area because of the collision. Injuries in the accident were not reported. The CHP is conducting an investigation into the accident to determine its cause and to assign blame.
Dangers of an Accident With a Big Rig
An accident involving a semi is among the most dangerous for those driving smaller vehicles. In addition to the much larger size and weight of a semi, they are subject to underride/override collisions, dangerous rollovers that can involve other vehicles, and jackknifing. An injury attorney has the ability to not only investigate the accident but to ensure that clients obtain the compensation they deserve. At our firm, this is job one.
Top 10 Causes of a Big Rig Accident With a Passenger Vehicle
In order to understand why a big rig is so dangerous on the road, we analyze traffic collisions involving semis to determine who was at fault. The top 10 causes are:
- Speed: Generally, big trucks are hard to control, even for the most experienced trucker. As the speed increases, the ability to control a semi becomes more precarious. In approximately 25 percent of all big rig/passenger vehicle accidents, a major factor was found to be speed.
- Illegal drug use: While truck drivers rarely use alcohol due to regulations that would affect their ability to work, that is not necessarily the case for illegal or prescription drugs. Less than 10 percent of all crashes involve such drug use.
- Blind-spot monitoring: During training, truck drivers learn to carefully monitor their blind spots. However, for many, this is not incorporated into their day-to-day driving. About 15 percent of all semi crash accidents result from a driver who fails to monitor his/her blind spots.
- Over the counter medicine: It is not only prescription or illegal drugs that contribute to big rig accidents. About 10 percent of all truckers admit to taking over the counter drugs that might affect their ability to operate the rig properly.
- Lack of signal use: Truckers need to signal when they are making a right or left-hand turn. Right-hand turns often involve the trucker navigating into the adjacent lane. When the trucker does not ensure that other drivers are aware of this maneuver, an accident can happen.
- Fatigue: Truckers are expected to work for long hours without rest by some companies. This goes against federal standards that maintain that a trucker must rest at certain intervals. In this case, not only the trucker but his or her employer could be held liable for the semi crash.
- Driving distracted: Distracted driving is a problem for both vehicle drivers and truckers. However, when you’re operating an 80,000-pound vehicle, the consequences of doing this are much worse.
- Driving aggressively: Passenger vehicle drivers are not the only ones who exhibit road rage. The same happens with truck drivers and can have disastrous results.
- Inexperienced drivers: Drivers with little experience are more likely to be involved in a semi crash.
- Avoiding an accident in time: Besides being alert for traffic changes, truckers must also understand how to take evasive action. Because of their vehicle’s size, it is not so easy for them, so they are trained to think one step ahead to avoid a semi crash.
Investigating a Semi Crash
Our firm is experienced in investigating a semi crash, taking many factors into consideration. Some are ensuring that truckers use approved standard procedures to maintain safety, checking their logs and making sure the truck’s lights and signals are appropriate. We send our investigators to the semi crash site to do this as well as obtain video footage of the accident.
Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer
My name is Ed Smith, and I’m a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. If you were injured in a semi crash accident, you need the insight that an experienced lawyer can provide. Call me at (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice or at (800) 404-5400. You can reach me online also.
I’ve helped Sacramentans since 1982 receive the compensation they deserve not only in truck accidents but also in wrongful deaths and all types of car accidents.
I’m proud of being a member of the following organizations:
Find out more about my practice at:
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