Work Zone Accident Between Two Big Trucks
I’m Ed Smith, a Marysville-Yuba City truck accident lawyer. A collision between two big rigs on California State Route 70 on September 26 caused a backup of traffic near Marysville for 1½ hours. According to an information officer with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), road work that required a merging of lanes may have contributed to the crash.
What Happened
According to the CHP, a Kenworth hauling logs struck a Peterbilt near the off-ramp for Beale Road heading southbound just before 1:30 in the afternoon. The logging truck lost its load, which created a hazard for traffic. However, the logs lost in the collision were strapped together and were not individual logs. The driver of the Peterbilt, a 53-year-old Yuba City resident, had apparently slowed, but the driver of the other big rig could not stop in time to avoid a collision. The CHP information officer reported that neither drugs nor alcohol was suspected as having contributed to the crash. The road traffic was diverted until the accident investigation was completed and debris cleared.
Road Work Area Accidents
According to the Federal Highway Administration, the incidence of vehicle crashes in work zones increased by 7.8 percent in 2015 over the previous year for a total of 96,626 accidents. In other words, there was a crash in a work zone each 5.4 minutes. Statistics for 2014 showed the reasons for crash fatalities in work zone areas. Twenty-five percent of the fatalities had alcohol use as a contributing factor. An equal percentage of those who died in accidents in work zones were not wearing seat belts. Speeding was cited as a factor in 28 percent of the fatal crashes.
Commercial Truck Crashes Are Common
The sight of commercial trucks traveling up and down the roadways in California is common. They are used to transport food products and other goods in a cost-effective way to the cities and towns in the state. In 2011, California showed over 5,600,000 registered commercial trucks in the state. Crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that in 2014, there were 111,000 injuries and 3,903 fatalities caused by crashes with big trucks. Forty-five percent of those collisions that resulted in fatalities were head-on crashes. However, common varieties of accidents also included rear-end collisions and collisions on the left side of the vehicle with right-side collisions being the rarest.
Common Reasons for Accidents Caused by Commercial Trucks
- Distracted driving: Texting, talking on a phone, accessing log books and GPS are common reasons for distracted driving.
- Lack of proper maintenance: Commercial trucks must be inspected by the driver before each run. However, failure to adequately inspect a truck by either the truck driver or company employing that driver can lead to problems, the most common being the brakes.
- Equipment failure: This type of problem is more common with adverse weather conditions when freezing and thawing of hoses or lines can cause deterioration and lead to equipment failure.
- Fatigue: Long-haul drivers put in long hours that can lead to fatigue or even falling asleep at the wheel.
- Speeding: Speeding by a truck driver in a big rig can be particularly dangerous because of the size and weight of the vehicle. This is especially true when the vehicle is going around a curve where slowing the vehicle is necessary to avoid jackknifing or part of the vehicle crossing into another lane.
- Improper training: Poorly trained drivers may not have the education or experience to avoid jackknifing or rollovers.
- Carelessely loaded or improperly loaded truck: Either of these instances can lead to a blowout or lead to the vehicle losing its load on the roadway. When this happens, lost cargo can strike other vehicles, causing serious injuries or deaths.
- Road construction: Because it is difficult for a big truck to maneuver through road construction areas and slow down quickly or stop when necessary, work zones are a particular hazard.
Related Articles by Marysville-Yuba City Truck Accident Lawyer Ed Smith ~
Marysville-Yuba City Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Marysville-Yuba City truck accident lawyer. As in the above accident, big trucks and road construction can lead to hazards that increase the risk of an accident. If you or your loved ones have been hurt because of negligence by a trucker, call me at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for friendly, free advice. My help is only a call away.
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