Accident on Watt Avenue Involves Semi and Passenger Vehicle
A truck crash with a passenger vehicle left one person in critical condition in North Highlands on February 20. The accident happened during the morning hours along Watt Avenue and Interstate 80 westbound when a vehicle collided with the front-left side of a tractor-trailer. According to a spokesperson for the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, medics transported one person to the hospital in serious condition. The fire department warned motorists to be patient and alert if driving in that area. The accident is being investigated by authorities to determine what caused it.
Fault Determination Can Be Difficult in a Truck Crash
It is common for large commercial trucks to be involved in accidents that result in severe injuries. Due to federal and state regulations governing large commercial vehicles, gathering evidence for injury claims can be more challenging.
It is also possible that the driver is an independent contractor or employed by a trucking company, which may also be responsible. If you’ve been hurt in a truck crash, you should seek the help of a personal injury lawyer.
Accidents Involving Big Trucks That Are Caused by Negligence
Due to their much greater weight and size compared to passenger vehicles, big rigs handle differently, need a longer braking distance, and are hard to maneuver. Below are some examples of how semis can collide with smaller vehicles:
- Insufficient training: With its 13-18 gears, air brakes, and bad visibility, driving a big rig is much harder than driving a regular truck. In order to fill the shortage of truckers, some companies hire improperly trained drivers, which may result in accidents.
- Service hours: The hours of service that a big rig driver is permitted to drive and the rest breaks that must be taken according to federal and state regulations are sometimes ignored by the driver or company that employs them. It is possible to check if those hours were violated using the electronic logging device, which records those hours and breaks.
- Override/underride accidents: These are collisions caused by trucks stopping suddenly or speeding and going over the top of another vehicle. They also involve a car that strikes the truck from behind, slipping underneath.
- Unsafely Loaded Cargo: Overloading or carelessly loading cargo inside a trailer pulled by a truck can result in a rollover collision and damage to other vehicles.
- Blind spots: Other drivers may not realize driving near blind spots is dangerous, which is why this is a major problem for truckers. There are a lot of blind spots on big rigs all around, especially on the trailer sides, so when a smaller vehicle speeds up, slows down, or switches lanes suddenly, it can result in a truck crash.
- Jackknife: A trailer that is being towed by a truck will jackknife if the cab of the truck moves more slowly than the trailer being pulled. It often occurs when going down steep hills or rounding sharp curves on slick roads. It is possible for the trailer to hit other vehicles due to how it swings out to the side.
What We Do for Our Clients After a Truck Crash
With years of experience serving people in Northern California, we have helped many injured clients and families who lost loved ones receive compensation. To ensure our clients get the compensation they deserve, we carefully examine the evidence to determine who is liable. We offer a free, no-obligation claim review, and as always, the client owes us nothing until the case has been won.
North Highlands Truck Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a North Highlands truck accident lawyer. When a negligent truck driver causes your accident injuries, you are welcome to call us to find out if you can file a claim to recover compensation. For free and friendly advice, call us at (916) 921-6400. We can also be reached at (800) 404-5400 or by sending us an online message.
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Photo attribution: Image by Denise McQuillen from Pixabay
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