Big Truck Rollover Accident
Merced County was the site of a big rig rolled over onto railroad tracks, leaving authorities to stop a scheduled train from passing before a collision could occur. The train was halted before it hit the overturned vehicle.
Accident Details
The accident happened off Highway 99 Southbound in the area of Westside Boulevard at about 11:30 in the morning when a truck left the roadway and overturned onto the tracks, which run parallel to the highway, reported by a California Highway Patrol (CHP) spokesperson. At this time there is no word as to why the crash occurred. The driver was said to have suffered a head laceration and was reportedly taken to a medical facility in Modesto.
Rollovers: The Dynamics
Causation studies show that rollover accidents happen for two main reasons. The most common is when the wheels of the truck hit an external object such as a curb or soft ground that causes a significant change in the lateral force applied to the tires and destabilizes the truck. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that this is responsible for 95 percent of rollovers that involve a single truck. Generally, a big rig is sliding in a sideways direction before the tripping mechanism occurs. This type of rollover accident is referred to as a tripped rollover. About 75 percent of tripped rollovers happen on rural roads.
Steering and Its Effect
As a truck driver leaves the roadway, he or she might try to compensate by oversteering. Since the area along the highway is generally soft dirt, the truck’s wheels dig in and combined with the steering effect, cause a rollover. Another scenario occurs when the area adjacent to the highway is steep. When the incline is significant, the vehicle no longer remains in an upright position and is more likely to overturn. High curbs or barriers along the highway can also pose a threat to a vehicle’s stability. Avoiding panic steering is one way to reduce the number of tripped rollovers. It is best to gradually slow the vehicle, and return to the highway when possible.
Untripped Rollovers
About 5 percent of all rollovers are caused by untripped rollovers. These generally involve improper speed and steering. Such accidents often occur when a big rig attempts to drive around a curve on the roadway or on an entrance or exit ramp at an inappropriate speed.
Tire Pressure and Cargo
It is important for truck drivers to maintain their vehicle, assuring the tires are pressurized appropriately. Poorly maintained tires can allow the friction between the tire and the road to decrease, allowing the vehicle to slip sideways, especially on wet or icy pavement, a certain prelude to rollover accidents.
Electronic Security Control
Beginning in 2012, the Department of Transportation mandated that electronic stability control systems be installed on new models. This is expected to significantly reduce the number of rollover crashes, decreasing the number by an estimated 56 percent. The devices use computer-guided braking and help drivers avoid steering mistakes. Sensors are used to detect both steering and movement.
Injuries in Rollover Crashes
Injuries common with rollover crashes are:
- Crush injury
- Paralysis due to injury of the spinal cord
- Traumatic brain injury
- Loss of limbs
- Fracture
- Wrongful death
Related Articles by Accident Lawyer, Edward A Smith ~
Merced Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced truck accident lawyer. Truck accidents can have horrific consequences, particularly for those in passenger cars. When you have experienced a traumatic injury due to negligence or if a member of the family was killed by negligent acts, you are in need of experienced legal counsel. To reach me, just phone (209) 227-1931 in the area and (800) 404-5400 if you are calling from outside Merced County.
I have worked hard over the past 35 years to obtain the compensation clients need and deserve financial loss due to catastrophic injury or wrongful death.
You might be interested in the results I’ve obtained in other cases and visiting my past settlements and verdicts page will provide that information.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/railroad-tracks-railway-2110022/
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