Two-Vehicle Collision on Golden State Highway Causes Rollover
A rollover accident happened in Sacramento on September 13 involving two vehicles. The collision was reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at around 8:51 a.m. along the Golden State Highway at the 47th Avenue eastbound off-ramp when a Toyota Tacoma pickup collided with a utility van. Both vehicles ended up on the right-hand side of the roadway but scattered small debris in all the lanes.
Investigation Underway to Determine Cause of Rollover Accident
The vehicle that overturned ended up on its side, and a tow truck was called to remove it. Emergency responders with the Sacramento Fire Department were called to the scene after they were requested. No additional information was provided about injuries in the rollover accident. An investigation into the incident is underway by the CHP to determine how the accident happened.
Causes of an Off-Ramp Rollover Accident
Accidents are common at the entrance and exit ramps on the freeway. Because of the traffic congestion and higher speeds, it can be challenging for a vehicle to safely exit the highway, especially if negligent drivers are in the area. Some of the reasons a rollover accident occurs at these ramp areas include:
- A driver refuses to allow another motorist space to enter their lane.
- The motorist slows suddenly to take the exit ramp and ends up being rear-ended.
- The design of the ramp is faulty and doesn’t allow motorists enough space to safely exit, which can cause a sideswipe or rear-end collision, resulting in a rollover accident. When the faulty design is involved, the government agency in charge may be held responsible. Because the timeline for filing against a government agency is much shorter than in other personal injuries, enlisting the help of an injury lawyer might be a good idea. In this way, the case will be handled before the statute of limitations expires.
- The driver is too far to the left to reach an exit and crosses multiple lanes of traffic. By doing so, it can not only cause a rollover accident but a multiple-vehicle collision.
- A driver is distracted by talking on a cell phone or texting, which can cause them to drift out of their lane, another reason for a rollover accident.
Why a Rollover Accident Is so Dangerous
When an accident occurs, the airbags deploy, and seat belts restrain those inside. However, in a rollover, the airbags may deflate and a defective seat belt can break, which causes those inside to be tumbled around inside the vehicle. This increases the risk of serious injuries and fatalities. In addition, if the seat belt breaks or the person inside the vehicle isn’t using one, they may be ejected from the vehicle, which often results in a fatality.
Another risk in a rollover accident is roof crush. Manufacturers are required to build vehicles where the roof can withstand 3.5 times the weight of the vehicle in a rollover. Not all of them do. This results in roof crush where the top of the vehicle caves in on the occupants inside, reducing their survivability space and resulting in potential traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage. Retaining a vehicle following any collision with injuries is advised, so the vehicle can be checked for roof crush and other defects. If any of these caused the injuries, the manufacturer may be liable through an auto product liability claim.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
My name is Ed Smith, and I’m a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. When a negligent driver or other entity is the cause of your injury, you may wish to find out about filing a claim against them for compensation. Give us a call for our free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or from long-distance at (800) 404-5400. We can be reached online also.
We’ve helped people in Northern California since 1982 in obtaining the compensation they deserve following an accident injury in all types of car crashes, pedestrian and bicycle collisions, and wrongful deaths.
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Photo attribution: Image by Valter Cirillo from Pixabay
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