Accident on I-80 Causes Injury to at Least One Person
A two-vehicle crash involving a box truck and sedan occurred in West Sacramento on January 4, where an injury was reported. The collision occurred around 3:14 in the afternoon along eastbound I-80 at U.S. 50. The accident report issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said that one of the parties involved in the collision had a complaint of back pain following the accident. At least one of the vehicles had to be towed from the scene of the two-vehicle crash. Investigators are determining how the collision occurred and assigning fault to the negligent driver.
Box Truck Accidents
Box trucks are a common site around West Sacramento. Because of their much larger size and weight, as well as the difficulty in handling them, being involved in a two-vehicle crash with one isn’t that uncommon. Large companies such as Amazon and UPS utilize box trucks, and they can be rented to private individuals at U-Haul and Ryder. Some of the causes of negligence by a box truck driver that can lead to an accident are:
- Speeding: This can be a problem with drivers for large companies because they have a heavy schedule of deliveries, which can cause them to speed.
- Unfamiliarity with driving a box truck: An inexperienced driver may not realize that handling a box truck is much different than a passenger vehicle, has big blind spots, and takes longer to come to a stop when braking.
- Distracted driving: A driver who is looking at their schedule of deliveries or at directions to their destination on GPS can end up causing a two-vehicle crash.
- Improper loading: A box truck that is improperly loaded can experience a rollover if the weight shifts or the driver makes a sharp turn, resulting in a two-vehicle crash.
- Rear-end crashes: Because a loaded box truck needs a longer stopping distance, being involved in a rear-end collision can occur if the driver doesn’t apply the brakes in time.
Insurance Coverage for Box Trucks
Large commercial companies generally carry big insurance policies in the event one of their vehicles causes an accident, which amounts to $1 million or more in liability coverage. Individuals who rent a box truck often carry a policy to cover any accident when they are driving, however, these are often minimal with $15,000 to $30,000 in liability. Others rely on their personal auto insurance to cover losses if a two-vehicle crash occurs. If the company rented a vehicle to someone who had an expired driver’s license or a mechanical problem with the truck led to an accident, they may be held liable.
How an Injury Lawyer Helps Following a Two-Vehicle Crash
When an accident occurs that is the fault of a box truck driver, it is important to determine what insurance coverage can pay for injuries. A West Sacramento personal injury lawyer can work to determine what coverage applies, review your case, gather the records and evidence needed to support your claim and handle negotiations with the insurance company for you. In this way, you can recover your medical expenses, lost wages and be reimbursed for your pain and suffering.
Personal Injury Attorneys in West Sacramento
I am Ed Smith, a personal injury attorney in West Sacramento. Accident injuries can end up costing high medical expenses, the inability to work, and extended pain and suffering. If your accident injuries were caused by a negligent driver, we can offer you free and friendly advice about filing a claim for compensation. Contact us at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 to schedule a free virtual or in-person review of your case, to have your questions answered and find out about options to recover compensation. You can also contact us online if you prefer.
The injury lawyers at our firm have successfully handled cases involving injuries in all types of traffic accidents since 1982.
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