Uptick in Truck Accidents Leads to Problems for Motorists
A deadly string of commercial truck accidents has been in California news recently, including along Sacramento highways. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there was a 12-percent increase in fatalities involving big trucks from 2009 through 2018. The increase was attributed to an increased number of big trucks on the road. Officials with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) believe it may be a short-term spike but is concerning. The president of the American Trucking Associations believes motorists share the fault because they are addicted to texting and speeding.
The NHTSA has reported that those in passenger vehicles accounted for 72 percent of fatalities in collisions with big trucks. Eighteen percent of the fatalities were to truck occupants, and the remaining 10 percent of the fatalities were to pedestrians, motorcycle riders, and bicyclists.
Recent Commercial Truck Accidents
Two people riding in a pickup were killed in the vicinity of Elk Grove recently along Highway 99 by a commercial truck. The truck pushed their vehicle into a big rig, killing them. In Placer County that day, a chain-reaction collision happened on I-80 involving a commercial truck that overturned and required that one person be extracted. Two motorists in Yuba and Lincoln died after being involved in truck accidents in January. Near Merced, along Interstate 5, a motorist died when his car was struck head-on by a big rig that had crossed the centerline.
Commuter Freeway Congestion May Add to the Risk
Although the numbers in Sacramento County over the preceding five years were about the same, a recent uptick may highlight a problem in the area. Interstate 5 and Interstate 80 are among the busiest roads for commercial freight deliveries along the West Coast. In addition to normal freight such as food products and merchandise, Amazon, FedEx, and other delivery services are showing an increased presence due to the popularity of online shopping. This adds to the congestion.
Road Closures Last Longer in Truck Accidents
Because of their much larger size and weight, accidents that involve big trucks cause longer freeway closures. It can be a difficult job to right an overturned big rig, and the problem is compounded if that truck loses its load. In several recent crashes, big rigs ended up over the center dividers, which blocked traffic lanes in both directions. In Southern California, there are some freeways equipped with different sections for big trucks and motor vehicles. However, because of the cost involved as well as time and labor, this may not be a practical solution.
Big Trucks in Downtown Sacramento
In the downtown area of Sacramento along I-5, truckers and commuters have to share the lanes, which can be a problem, especially during the morning commute. The big trucks can legally move into the left lane to avoid the merge lanes for the ramp, but this causes more confusion and can lead to accidents as well as complaints from travelers. One Galt motorist said that he would rather drive in the slow lane when he’s taking Highway 99 to Sacramento, but he often finds his vehicle between big rigs and FedEx trucks. Since drivers of passenger vehicles are often advised to keep their distance from commercial trucks for safety’s sake, this can make the morning commute nerve-wracking.
Increasing Traffic Safety
According to the president of the California Trucking Association, he believes truckers are careful and act responsibly because their ability to earn a living depends on it. He said that truckers are concerned about drivers who cut in front of them, who are using cell phones or who loiter in a big rig’s blind spots. As part of a campaign to educate those in passenger vehicles, some trucks go so far as to have printed messages telling motorists where the blind spots are.
Additional help to keep truck drivers and other motorists safer may come from the CHP. The mandate for electronic logging devices in big rigs became effective in California in December 2019, and police are actively looking for truckers who do not follow regulations. Records maintained by an ELD show whether the truck driver is in compliance with the hours on the road, rest breaks, and time off. A failure to adhere to the mandate can result in the truck being placed out of service.
Seeking Help After a Truck Accident Injury
Because the drivers of big trucks have to follow specific state and federal regulations, it is important to enlist the help of a seasoned lawyer if you are injured by one. Our investigators check the police report for mistakes and talk to witnesses. The investigators look for traffic surveillance and business cameras that may have caught the accident on video. They also check to see if the driver broke any of the regulations or committed an error that caused your accident. Once the evidence is compiled, our lawyers use it to build a case to support the client’s claim. It is useful either in negotiating with the insurance company or building a case for court.
Truck Accident Lawyer in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a truck accident lawyer in Sacramento. When a collision caused by a big truck resulted in you being injured, you need an experienced lawyer to defend your right to compensation. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or from long-distance at (800) 404-5400 for my free and friendly advice. An online form to send me a message is also available.
Client reviews and previous cases handled by my law firm follow:
For 38 years, I’ve helped injured people in the Sacramento area get the compensation they deserve in wrongful deaths, all types of traffic accidents, and traumas such as brain injuries.
I belong to a number of associations and am especially proud of my membership in the following:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/traffic-transport-jam-highway-auto-2251530/
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