U.S. 50 Accident in Sacramento Involves Collision With Big Rig
A big rig accident with a passenger vehicle resulted in a minor injury in Sacramento recently. The collision occurred near Rosemont around 5:57 a.m. on westbound U.S. 50 at the Watt Avenue off-ramp. According to the accident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the big rig ended up on the shoulder of the road, and the Mercedes involved in the accident was in the center divider. A minor injury was reported in the crash, which is under investigation by the CHP to determine fault.
Highway Accidents With Big Rigs
Being involved in an accident on the highway is always dangerous due to the faster speeds and traffic congestion. When a big rig is involved, serious injuries and fatalities are common because of its much larger size and weight. Some reasons a truck driver or company can be held liable for accident injuries include:
- Blind spots: Because a tractor-trailer or other large truck has blind spots all the way around, the driver has to be cautious when changing lanes. If a vehicle is in the lane the trucker is moving into and the driver doesn’t realize it, a serious traffic collision can occur.
- Underride/override collisions: Most underride collisions are caused when the driver of a passenger vehicle is speeding and passes underneath a big rig. However, a truck driver can also cause an override accident when they can’t stop in time. Speeding by the truck driver is the usual cause.
- Rear-end collisions: Distracted driving by the trucker is the usual cause of a rear-end collision but may include poor maintenance of the vehicle or risky hiring practices.
- Turning wide: Many big vehicles have to edge into the next traffic lane to make a turn, especially if the corner is sharp. If the driver doesn’t have enough experience or isn’t cautious, the big rig can hit another vehicle, experience a rollover or end up swinging into the oncoming traffic.
- Overloaded or misloaded cargo: Cargo in a truck trailer that is overloaded or improperly loaded can shift when the vehicle goes down a steep hill or around a sharp curve. An overloaded truck tends to affect the driver’s ability to control it and causes problems with the tires and brakes, resulting in a blowout or brake failure.
- Company negligence: Companies can be negligent by not maintaining their vehicles and pushing their drivers to make deliveries faster. In cases where company negligence is found to be at fault, they can be held liable for accident injuries.
Investigation of a Big Rig Accident
Our investigators head to the site of the accident right away to collect the evidence needed to support a client’s injury claim. While there, their investigation includes:
- The investigators examine the police report for mistakes and conduct interviews with the witnesses.
- Accident reconstruction is performed, which can indicate which driver was at fault.
- The ELD or logbook is checked to see if the driver was following state and federal regulations with regard to hours on the road and rest breaks.
- Area traffic cameras are examined to see if the big rig accident was captured on tape.
Our injury lawyers use this information in constructing a strong case that supports our client’s claim for damages.
Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. When a negligent driver was the cause of your injuries, you may be able to place a claim for compensation to cover your medical costs and other losses. Contact us for our free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400. We can also be reached at (800) 404-5400 or by sending us a message online.
My team of injury lawyers and I have helped people in Northern California obtain the compensation they deserve following a traffic accident injury since 1982 in all types of car accidents, bicycle, motorcycle and pedestrian claims, and wrongful deaths.
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Photo attribution: Image by Denise McQuillen from Pixabay
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