Two Dump Trucks Involved in Antelope Accident
An Antelope dump truck accident on June 29 occurred at the intersection of Elkhorn Boulevard and Sprig Drive at around 1:47 in the afternoon. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the accident involved two dump trucks. Metro Fire was called in to evaluate the situation. Police reports indicate that one of the dump trucks hit the other. Some bystanders said that the Antelope dump truck accident involved a rear-end collision. The collision occurred just before the intersection, and because of the size and damage to the vehicles, westbound traffic on Elkhorn Boulevard was restricted to one lane. Tow trucks were called to the scene to remove the trucks. No injuries have been reported at this time.
Effects of a Dump Truck Rear End Collison
An Antelope dump truck accident can have disastrous effects, particularly for passenger vehicles. This includes those passenger vehicles near the accident site or those directly involved in the collision. Because of their size and weight, when a dump truck hits a smaller vehicle, the occupants of that car or light truck are at great peril for head and spinal cord injury. For example, if a dump truck rear-ends a passenger vehicle, it is likely the occupants will suffer severe cervical sprain and strain. Such injuries may not resolve for several months or considerably longer.
If the passenger vehicle that was struck by behind has occupants sitting in the rear seat, the force of the impact can cause traumatic injuries or deaths. The impact can cause the rear of the smaller vehicle to be crushed and the occupants killed.
Dump Truck Accident Facts
Dump trucks carry loose materials such as gravel, sand and concrete. There are different types of dump trucks. They differ by the weight of materials they can haul, and some can haul up to 26 tons. Most dump trucks use a hydraulic lift that can tilt the carrier portion forward and release the cargo. Since Antelope dump trucks are higher than passenger vehicles, when there is an accident, the smaller car will pass underneath the truck. For the most part, the driver of the dump truck is not injured unless it rolls over, the driver is not wearing a seat belt or the large vehicle careens down an embankment.
Blind Spots in Dump Trucks
The blind spots found in an Antelope dump truck are larger than other types of trucks. This means that both the dump truck driver and other motorists need to keep this in mind especially when a passenger vehicle is passing.
Turning Over
A dump truck’s center of gravity is high, and this, combined with lower weight on the bottom, makes it likely the truck will tip over. If this happens when passenger vehicles are nearby, a fatality is possible. There are also instances of defective mechanical issues that cause the truck to deposit its load ahead of time. If the heavy load is dropped on a passenger vehicle or a motorcycle, the weight of the material will cause disabling injuries or deaths. There are also side dump trucks that empty their cargo from the side. If a failed mechanism causes side dumping prematurely, occupants in a vehicle in the next lane may also be seriously injured or killed.
Pedestrians and Dump Trucks
Drivers of trucks of this magnitude and height have difficulty seeing bicyclists and pedestrians nearby. This is also true of workers at a worksite. Experience is important, and companies that hire inexperienced drivers can be held liable for injuries.
Investigating an Antelope Dump Truck Accident
Dump truck accidents can involve huge payouts to an injured party or to a family whose loved one was killed. Because of this, the insurance company will send a team to the accident site to avoid this responsibility. That is one reason our investigative team will be there too. We examine all aspects of the incident and use accident reconstruction to see why the crash happened. Our investigators look for mechanical defects and determine the level of experience held by the at-fault driver. We review police reports for mistakes, and if the accident is near other businesses or an intersection, we obtain video footage of the crash in real-time.
Antelope Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Antelope truck accident lawyer. Injuries caused by an accident with a dump truck can be catastrophic. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. You can also reach out to me online.
I’ve helped Antelope residents for the past 38 years obtain fain compensation in wrongful deaths, motorcycle accidents and traumatic brain injuries.
I am a proud member of the following organizations:
Learn more about my practice on the following pages:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/dump-truck-machine-heavy-vehicle-3080177/
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