Backup on Highway 99 Due to Truck Accident
A three-vehicle jackknifed truck accident closed Highway 99 on November 10 at about 4:00 in the afternoon. Caltrans reported the accident occurred on Highway 99 South in the area of Elk Grove north of Dillard Road and near Eschinger Road. According to authorities, multiple crashes happened on this stretch of Highway 99.
Highway Closure and Backup
The southbound lanes were closed from the area of the truck accident, and traffic was stalled for miles. The closure included the area slightly north of Elk Grove Boulevard to south of Twin Cities Boulevard. The Cosumnes Fire Department tweeted that motorists should avoid the site by using alternative routes. There was a detour at Grantline Road.
Jackknifed Truck Accident
A jackknife accident occurs when an articulated truck (one with a cab and trailer) folds inward. The trailer swings either left or right and comes back in on itself at a 90-degree angle, resembling a pocket knife. This type of truck accident can end in injury to the trucker as well as motorists in the vicinity.
Reasons for Jackknife Accidents
There are causative factors that lead to a jackknife truck accident. They are:
- Sudden braking: The trucker may need to stop quickly and applies the brakes forcefully. This maneuver is dangerous in a truck, and it can cause the vehicle to jackknife. Because of the weight, a truck requires time to come to a standstill and a greater distance. When an accident happens on a crowded highway, the trucker may not have space or time to stop before hitting another vehicle.
- Trucker inexperience: Truckers who are not trained or experienced often find themselves in situations that they cannot handle. For instance, if the truck is going downhill, it stands to reason that the cab will move at a slower speed than the trailer due to the latter’s higher weight propelling it downward. An experienced trucker will use the trailer brakes to slow it down, preventing a jackknife accident.
- Driver error: Hitting the wrong set of brakes (trucks have three) can make the vehicle difficult to control and cause a truck crash. Sometimes, wheels will lock, and this is a prerequisite for a truck accident.
- Speeding around a curve: This reckless behavior can lead to a jackknife truck accident.
- Wet or icy roads: Poor road conditions often play a part in a jackknife accident. Ice and rain are threats to passenger vehicles. They are more of a threat to a truck that weighs 80,000 pounds. Truckers need to be aware of the potential for an accident in inclement weather and proceed with caution.
- Brake malfunction: Clearly, brakes are important for a truck. If the brakes are not maintained or are defective, an accident can occur. If the brakes are faulty, it is possible to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer. In addition, the trucking company can be held liable for lack of brake maintenance.
- Poorly loaded trailers: It is crucial to load a trailer carefully so as not to shift the balance. Truckers may load the truck themselves or depend on a third-party loader. The at-fault party can be held liable for a truck accident.
- Trucker fatigue: In an effort to keep up with schedules that do not allow for much rest, truckers can be too tired to drive. Fatigue is a significant cause of traffic accidents.
- Distraction: Being on the road for long hours can be monotonous, and truckers often succumb to texting or talking on the phone to alleviate the boredom. By taking their focus off the road, they are setting themselves up for an accident.
Investigating a Truck Accident
It is vital to show that the defendant is liable for accident injuries to obtain the compensation a client deserves. For this reason, we send our investigators to the scene of an accident. They scour the site for reasons the crash occurred and interview witnesses. The investigators also check trucker’s logs to see if they were forced to drive without adequate rest and maintenance records to determine if trucks were well-maintained. Our investigators also review police records and obtain video proof of liability from various sources. Once the evidence is gathered, it is given to our Sacramento car accident attorneys, who use it to build a robust case.
Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, and I am a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. Reach out to me if you or yours have been injured in a truck accident for my free and friendly advice. You can call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400, or use our contact us form online.
I have helped numerous Sacramentans in cases ranging from car accidents to pedestrian injuries and wrongful deaths among others.
Learn more about my practice on the following pages:
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Photo Attribution: https://www.pexels.com/photo/accident-action-auto-automobile-220996/
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