Family Mourns Teen Killed in Rollover Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a wrongful death lawyer in Sacramento. A New Year’s Eve tragedy took the life of a Sacramento resident who was on his way to a quinceanera celebration. I want to offer my sympathy to the grieving friends and family of the young man who lost his life.
What Happened
The accident occurred on December 31 in Kern County as Fabian Pineda, 19 and the second son of Guadalupe Rivera, traveled from Sacramento down to Baja California for a 15th birthday celebration. He was traveling to the event with another family, riding in the back seat, when the truck’s tire blew and overturned in a rollover accident on the highway. It was not reported whether Pineda died at the scene or later.
Some Vehicles More Prone to Rollover Accidents
Some vehicles have a greater propensity for rollovers. These include, SUVs, pickups and vans.This is because they are narrower and taller with a higher center of gravity. Often the roof of vehicles cannot sustain the impact of the rollover, resulting in fatalities caused by a crushed roof. However, any vehicle can experience a rollover accident. When a death results from a rollover accident due to negligence, the family of the decedent may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit for fair compensation. Following are some of the reasons for a rollover accident.
- Excessive speed is thought to contribute to 40 percent of rollover crashes in vehicular accidents. Almost 75 percent of rollovers occur at speeds in excess of 55 mph.
- Driver error contributes to 90 percent of rollovers even though most accidents of this type happen along straight stretches. Driver error may include distracted driving, which is a major cause of accidents.
- Maintenance such as in the above accident can contribute to a rollover. Properly maintaining a vehicle, including inspecting tires for wear and replacing them when necessary, can help avoid a crash.
- Drunk driving contributes to almost 50 percent of rollover accidents. It indicates that the driver has a blood level of at least 0.08 percent. California has a no-tolerance policy for drivers under the age of 21. Driving with a blood level of 0.01 in this age group is regarded as drunk driving.
- Rollover accidents are much more likely to happen on rural roads than in urban areas. Most rural road rollovers occur in areas where the speed limit is 55 mph, as reported by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Tripped and Untripped Rollovers
There are two basic variety of rollover accidents, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Tripped rollovers account for 95 percent of all rollovers. This type of rollover occurs most frequently when the tires of a vehicle enter the soft soil at the side of the road. It also happens when the vehicle hits an object such as a guardrail. This causes a tripping force to work on the tires, resulting in the rollover. Another cause of a tripped rollover is when an SUV attempts to go down a hill off-road. As a right-hand turn is attempted, excess speed on a steeper than expected slope can also cause a rollover.
Untripped rollovers usually occur when a top-heavy vehicle attempts to turn rapidly, often when trying to avoid a collision. This most commonly happens when the vehicle is moving at a high speed. An example is a pickup carrying a tall, heavy load.
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Wrongful Death Lawyer in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a wrongful death lawyer in Sacramento. Rollovers cause devastating injuries and death. If you or a family member was injured or killed in a rollover accident, you may suddenly be facing high medical bills without the ability to pay. Having an injury lawyer on your side at this time can help you by obtaining the compensation you need from a negligent party. Reach out to me for friendly and free advice by phoning in the Sacramento area and (800) 404-5400 nationwide. You can get in touch with me online too, using our contact page here on AutoAccident.com.
I’ve helped many residents of Sacramento deal with the aftermath of a loved one’s demise from a wrongful death. While their life cannot be measured in dollars and cents, having the ability to carry on financially allows you to deal with grief and loss without worry.
In 35 years, I have won cases for $1 million or more. This is one reason I have been inducted into the forum at milliondollaradvocates.com, a nationwide group for trial lawyers who have won that or more for clients.
When you are looking to hire a personal injury lawyer, you need to know about them and their law practice. Find out about mine by reading my reviews on Avvo, Google and Yelp.
You can also see some of the settlements and verdicts I won by going to this page.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/car-accident-police-2391245/
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