Big Rig Rollover Closes Lanes of I-80 Due to Roadway Debris
I’m Ed Smith, an Antioch truck accident lawyer. A big rig crashed along I-80 at San Pablo on September 1, causing a SigAlert to be called while the cleanup process was underway. According to a representative of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), no injuries were suffered as a result of the accident.
What Happened
A report of an accident came into the CHP around 5:00 in the morning where a big rig had run into a highway overpass and overturned in the road. Debris was spread out onto two lanes of traffic, which necessitated the closure of westbound I-80 for several hours. There were no additional vehicles involved in the crash.
Why Big Trucks Overturn
An analysis made by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that speed contributed to 45 percent of rollovers of big trucks. The study points out the speed, in it self, was not necessarily excessively over the speed limit, but that exceeding a certain speed for a combination of a particular truck and the road it was traveling on was sufficient to cause a rollover. The three biggest reasons for the rollover of a big truck were speed, inability to control the vehicle and inattention.
Incidence of Fatalities Associated With Big Truck Accidents
In 2015, 3,852 individuals died as the result of a crash involving a big truck as reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. While 16 percent were occupants of the truck, 69 percent were in motor vehicles and the remaining 15 percent were either motorcyclists, bicyclists or pedestrians.
Most Common Times for Truck Accidents
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration indicates that most truck accidents resulting in fatalities (73 percent) happen during the week between the hours of 6:00 in the morning and 5:59 in the afternoon. Accidents that occur during the weekend are more likely to happen at night in 60 percent of the cases. Urban locations are also less likely to be the setting for truck accidents (36 percent) than rural locations that show an incidence of 64 percent.
Rollover Accidents on Curves
Curves, particularly on and off ramps, are the most common place for rollovers to occur. One aspect of rollovers on curves is the speed of the truck. Speed limits on ramps are sometimes higher than safety would demand given the massiveness of a truck. In fact, some experts have said that posting lower speed limits for trucks on ramps would be advisable.
Other Factors in Rollovers
There are many factors involved in rollovers in addition to speed and driving on a curve. Misjudgment by a driver is an important factor in a rollover. This usually involves selecting the wrong speed by the driver. The influence of the characteristics of the cargo cannot be underestimated. When loads are overly heavy, set too high or not fastened correctly, the effect of rollover is increased.
According to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study, brake problems combined with speed miscalculation to safely navigate a curve, stop at an intersection or enter a steep downgrade were responsible for rollover accidents. In all instances, the driver experienced braking issues prior to encountering a problem with slowing or stopping the vehicle before a rollover was initiated. This places responsibility on the driver who could have adjusted the speed for the lack of brake efficiency. However, if faulty brakes were a causative factor in a rollover, the owner of the trucking company shares liability since ensuring mechanical functionality of brakes should be a priority. In addition, driver should check the vehicle’s brakes before each trip.
Antioch Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Antioch truck accident lawyer. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a negligent truck driver or company, please phone me at (925) 428-5220 for my friendly, free advice. For long-distance calls, please use (800) 404-5400.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/accident-truck-bridge-vehicle-1771946/
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