Crash on Highway 50 Near 59th Street Sends One Person to the Hospital
A motor vehicle crash on westbound Highway 50 in Sacramento snarled traffic and sent one person to the hospital on February 20. The incident happened between 59th Street and Stockton Boulevard at about 12:00 in the afternoon. The Sacramento Fire Department was called in to extricate one person from a severely damaged car. The motor vehicle crash involved a big rig and a passenger car. The injured person was transported to a local hospital for treatment and further evaluation. At the time of this report, the accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). It took some time for traffic to return to normal in the area.
Motor Vehicle Crash Involving a Big Rig
The majority of deaths in accidents involving big trucks are to those in passenger vehicles. This makes sense since a passenger vehicle is small and significantly lighter. Trucks can weigh many times more than an average motor vehicle. In addition, big rigs are taller and are higher from the ground. In 2018, about 4,200 people died in accidents with big rigs. Approximately 67 percent of the fatalities involved occupants of passenger vehicles. Another 15 percent of those killed were bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. The number of fatalities in passenger vehicles has increased in the last 10 years by about 31 percent. The number of trucker deaths also increased by about 51 percent.
Injuries in a Truck Accident
Due to the significant discrepancy between the size of the truck and the passenger vehicle, injuries are often severe. Some of the most common are:
- Spinal cord injuries: Partial and complete paralysis can result from a spinal cord injury. Partial paralysis often requires months of rehabilitation. Complete paralysis can leave the individual dependent, requiring at-home care for the remainder of their life.
- Back injuries: This is a common injury and can require surgery in some cases.
- Traumatic brain injury: From a concussion to a major bleed in the brain, TBIs are disabling and require surgery in many instances. TBIs also may make it impossible for a person to continue working at the same level of employment.
- Burns: Tanker truck accidents hold the possibility of burns. The tanker may leak after an accident, quickly causing the truck and passenger vehicle to become engulfed in flames. Serious burns require medical treatment to avoid the risk of infection and, on some occasions, surgery, including skin grafts.
- Internal injury: Due to the impact of a truck accident, an individual can suffer internal injuries. These can involve the lungs, heart, and abdominal organs. Cardiac bruising or rupture of the intestines are dangerous injuries and require swift medical and surgical intervention.
- Amputation: The amputation of a body part can be traumatic and disfiguring. It is necessary to have medical and surgical treatment, rehabilitation, and the use of prosthetic devices in many cases. Beyond this, the person may require help doing ordinary tasks.
- Fractures: Due to the intensity of the impact in a truck accident, broken bones are common. Many fractures heal with casting the appendage for a period of time. However, femur or pelvic fractures take more time to heal, along with hospitalization and months in rehabilitation. The cost of such an intervention can be daunting.
How an Attorney Can Help
Truck accidents are more complex when proving negligence. Because trucks require a higher degree of maintenance and attention to federal requirements, investigators must check additional items. Our investigators look for evidence at the scene of the crash, such as road marks. They speak to witnesses who saw the accident happen and check for traffic surveillance camera videos. They also review police reports for inaccuracies.
However, with truck accidents, investigators review trucker logs to make sure that proper maintenance was performed. It is also necessary to determine if the cargo was properly loaded as well as making sure that extra care was taken with hazardous materials. Our investigators look to make sure that lights or reflective tape are used to increase the visibility of the truck at night to avoid underride accidents. When all evidence has been amassed, it is released to our lawyers to build a strong case for our client.
Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. If you were injured in an accident with a big rig, you have the right to be compensated for your injuries. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. I can also be reached online.
I’ve helped Sacramento residents for the past 38 years receive compensation in all types of car accidents, traumatic injuries, and wrongful deaths.
I am proud to belong to the following organizations:
Learn more about my practice at:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/accident-car-rescue-4860938/
:cd llo [cs 814]