Crushed Roofs Are Deadly in a Crash
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident and personal injury lawyer. Recently, there was a two-vehicle collision at one of the on-ramps along Interstate 5, which blocked several lanes of traffic. According to a statement about the incident by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), an injury was reported, which necessitated calling emergency services to the crash site.
What Happened
The accident happened a few minutes before 3:30 in the afternoon on the Florin Road on-ramp. Initially, it was reported as a single vehicle accident involving a Dodge Durango that went out of control, skidded and rolled over in the fast lane of I-5, ending up on its side. The report was amended later to say that two vehicles and a trailer were involved in the accident and that the van was lying on its roof.
Rollover Accidents
Rollover crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, are complex and can be violent. This is because the action of rolling over can cause multiple injuries to the people inside that might not have happened if the vehicle had remained upright. In addition, airbags employ during the initial impact of a crash but may not provide much protection in a rollover. Following are some of the reasons a rollover occurs:
- Impact in an accident: A vehicle that has been struck broadside is more likely to roll over in an accident than in a front or rear collision.
- Drunk driving: Nearly 50 percent of all rollover crashes resulting in fatalities have alcohol consumption as a factor. The majority of these fatal accidents happen in areas where the posted speed is 55 mph or higher.
- Driver behavior: The majority of rollover fatalities involve only one vehicle where the driver is performing routine driving such as going straight. This means that driver distraction, impaired driving, speeding or another error contributed to the accident.
- Speed: Excessive speed has been reported as responsible for about 40 percent of all rollover crash fatalities.
- Rural roads: Rollover accidents are more likely to occur on rural roads than in urban locations. This may be because rural roads often do not have barriers and are undivided, which affords a driver less protection.
- High center of gravity: Light trucks, SUVs, and vans, because of their high center of gravity, are more apt to roll over in a crash. SUVs have on average 75 percent more rollovers than sedans, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Crushed Roof
Crushed roofs during a rollover result in catastrophic injuries or cause vehicle occupants to be thrown from the car or SUV. Approximately, 250,000 individuals are killed due to a crushed roof annually. The NHTSA has set roof resistance standards and requires a minimum strength. In short, the roof must be able to support 1.5 times the vehicle’s weight before a crush of five inches occurs. This has been required since 1994 for selected vehicles and 1973 for cars. Plans are underway to increase the force to two and a half times the vehicle’s weight. If the weight is not properly supported, a product liability claim against the manufacturer may be filed.
Common Injuries From Crushed Roofs
There are certain injuries commonly associated with crushed roofs:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Cervical (neck) spine injury
- Lower back injury
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
Sacramento Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident and personal injury lawyer. If you have been hurt or someone in your family died due to a crushed roof injury, you need legal assistance to receive the compensation you deserve. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. You can contact me online if that is more convenient for you.
I’ve helped numerous Sacramento residents with all types of accidents, including those involving serious injuries and wrongful deaths.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/crash-car-accident-vehicle-2575962/
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