Stone House Road and Escuela Drive Site of Two-Vehicle Collision
A two-vehicle collision resulted in injury on August 28, 2020, shortly before noon. It occurred on Stone House Road and Escuela Drive in Rancho Murieta, according to a report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). One of the cars in the two-vehicle collision was described as a Tesla, which overturned onto its side in a ditch.
Additional Details of the Two-Vehicle Collision
Reports from the accident scene said that a tire flew off one of the vehicles and was presenting a traffic hazard. The other vehicle was described as smoking after the crash. Two tow trucks were called to the scene to help clear the vehicles from the intersection.
There has been no elaboration as to the nature of the injuries by paramedics called to the accident site. The CHP is charged with conducting an investigation into the two-vehicle accident.
Overturned Vehicle
Vehicles overturn when they “trip” on the soft dirt on the shoulder of the road. Approximately 95 percent of all rollovers are due to this tripping mechanism. It usually occurs when the vehicle leaves the roadway and slides sideways as its tires dig into the soft soil. As the tripping force is applied to the tires, it causes the vehicle to overturn.
Another cause of a rollover occurs when the adjacent area is steeply sloped. If the slope is too steep, it will be harder to keep the vehicle on its wheels.
The Danger in Overturned Vehicle Accidents
Rollovers are one of the most violent and dangerous accidents. This is due to several factors:
- Ejection: The ejection of an occupant from an overturned vehicle often causes a fatality. Even if the person survives, the chance of traumatic brain damage or internal injuries is high.
- Roof crush: This causes numerous head and neck injuries and deaths. Roof crush injuries kill approximately 600 people every year and injure another 900. In 1973, manufacturers were ordered to test a sample of each model vehicle for roof strength. The standard was that the roof had to be able to withstand 1.5 times the vehicle’s weight up to 5,000 pounds. In 2009, this rule was revised, and vehicles that weighed 6,000 pounds or less were expected to withstand up to three times the vehicle’s weight. The test applied the weight to both sides of the roof. The goal was that the roof could not bend enough to touch the head of a medium-sized driver. Heavier vehicles, once exempt, were also expected to withstand 1.5 times the vehicle’s weight.
How the Roof Crush Test Fails Motorists
There are three ways that the roof crush test fails to protect motorists:
- The pressure plate used to test the roof needs to be angled forward, simulating an actual rollover accident.
- Safety belts are not able to keep occupants in their seats as they are pulled toward the roof in a rollover.
- The forces used to test the roof are inadequate. To simulate the pressure that is applied to the roof in an actual rollover, test forces should equal at least four times the vehicle’s weight.
Investigating a Two-Vehicle Collision
Our law firm sends an investigative team to the accident site as soon as possible to gather evidence. This is a crucial aspect of any personal injury case, and without it, the claim will be unable to proceed.
Once they arrive at the crash site, they interview witnesses, examine the area for accident details, and obtain video footage of the two-vehicle collision. Our investigators also review the police report for inaccuracies and use accident reconstruction techniques to determine liability. We examine the car for roof integrity, which makes it important to preserve the vehicle after a crash.
Once the evidence is gathered, it is presented to our legal team, who uses it to construct a strong case for our client.
Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento
I am Ed Smith, an experienced car accident lawyer in Sacramento. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. We also provide a convenient online form.
I have helped numerous Sacramentans and residents of Rancho Murieta obtain the compensation they deserve in vehicular accidents, wrongful deaths, and other types of trauma.
I am proud to belong to the following groups, along with many other organizations:
Learn more about my law firm by visiting the pages listed below:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/accident-crash-tree-auto-pkw-2161956/
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