Dixon Big Rig Crash Fatally Injures Elk Grove Man
I’m Ed Smith, an Elk Grove wrongful death lawyer. An accident on California State Route 113 claimed the life of a man from Elk Grove in a crash with a semitrailer near Dixon. The identity of the victim is being withheld until the family has been notified. This was the third fatality caused by a traffic accident in this city in just a few days.
My prayers and sympathy are with the victim’s family in their time of sorrow.
What Happened
The collision happened when a man from Klamath Falls, Oregon, driving a tractor-trailer north along the highway was approaching the intersection at Midway Road when the victim in his Dodge Neon came into the intersection. Highway traffic is not required to stop at that intersection; however, a sign indicating that traffic should stop is located at Midway Road. The driver of the Neon reportedly pulled out and was struck by the tractor-trailer on the car’s left side, according to a representative of the California Highway Patrol.
Accident Aftermath
The driver of the Neon was declared deceased at the accident scene, while the tractor-trailer driver was unharmed in this collision between the two vehicles. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the CHP as to cause, and a request has been made for those with information about the accident to place a call to the CHP.
Collisions Between Motor Vehicles and Big Trucks
The year 2015 saw 296 fatalities due to motor vehicle collisions with big trucks in California, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While this is a small number compared to the total number of traffic fatalities, the risk of serious injury or death rises when a motor vehicle and large truck collide. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that those riding in motor vehicles represented 97 percent of the fatalities when involved in collisions with a big truck.
Crash Statistics for Elk Grove
In 2014, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety, there were 651 injuries and fatalities in Elk Grove caused by motor vehicle accidents. Drunk driving was a factor in 60, speeding in 166 and there were 245 arrests made due to DUI.
Negligence By Big Trucks
Although most accidents between a big truck and motor vehicle are caused by the driver of the motor vehicle, some are due to negligence by the truck driver or the company that employs that driver.
- Maintenance problems: Although drivers are required to perform a safety check on the trucks they are driving before they head out on the road, safety checks may be glossed over and problems overlooked. In addition, when a driver is working for a company, the company itself may be lax in providing proper maintenance.
- Distractions: It can be difficult for a truck driver to avoid distractions after driving for many hours. Distractions such as texting, looking off to the side and eating while driving can divert the driver’s attention from his/her focus on the road.
- Speeding: The more quickly a truck driver can reach their destination, the faster a new load can be picked up for delivery. While speeding is unsafe in any vehicle, it can be more dangerous when the driver is in a big truck.
- Uneven cargo: Improperly packing a big truck can create an imbalance in the load that can cause a rollover or make the driver lose control.
- Drowsy driving: Truck drivers travel long distances and do so because their timeline for delivery doesn’t allow much time for rest due to poor company scheduling.
- Driver lacks proper training: Novice drivers who lack sufficient training in safety and defensive driving can cause accidents.
Related Articles by Elk Grove personal injury lawyer, Edward A Smith:
- What is a Wrongful Death?
- Trucking Accident Kills Elk Grove Man – December 2015
- Accidents Involving Truck Driver Fatigue
Elk Grove Personal Injury Lawyer & Wrongful Death Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, an Elk Grove wrongful death lawyer. An accident with a big rig can cause devastating injuries or result in a wrongful death if the truck driver is at fault. If you or a loved one has been injured or has died as the result of truck driver negligence, please phone me at (916) 694-0002. You can also access my toll-free number at (800) 404-5400. My advice is friendly and free of charge.
Working as an injury lawyer since 1982, my legal team and I have defended the rights of Californians, including those in Elk Grove, obtain fair compensation for those who have suffered traumatic injuries and who have lost loved ones through a wrongful death.
Find former client comments/reviews at Yelp, Avvo and Google. Previous cases can be found at Verdicts and Settlements on my website.
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Top Photo Attribution: Wikimedia Commons – ambulance.png
Bottom Photo Attribution: Photograph of Elk Grove Personal Injury Lawyer, Edward A Smith
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