Sacramento Rollover Crash Occurs Along Highway 99
Traffic along Highway 99 was snarled on June 19 following a rollover crash near the downtown area of Sacramento. The accident happened near 8th Avenue around 4:52 in the afternoon and involved a Chevrolet Suburban, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) report.
SigAlert Issued Following Rollover Crash
A SigAlert was issued for the area after the SUV rollover, which made the vehicle end up in the number two lane on its roof near the transition area for Highway 50 and the Broadway exit ramp. Authorities said that there were five passengers in the SUV. However, the number of injuries was not reported.
Traffic Backed Up Due to Rollover Crash
By 5:15 p.m., the traffic backup went further back than Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Authorities advised motorists coming from Elk Grove and areas further south to use an alternate route such as I-5 to avoid the traffic jam.
Rollover Accident Injuries
Rollovers are complex accidents that cause serious injuries. The incidence of rollover accidents is low at 2.1 percent, however, they account for 35 percent of all fatalities. Of these, 69 percent of the passengers did not have a seat belt on and were thrown from the vehicle. For the most part, rollover accidents lead to multiple injuries. Some of the most common are traumatic brain injuries, fractures, spinal cord trauma and lacerations.
Types of Rollovers
There are two types of rollovers: tripped and untripped. Tripped rollovers constitute 95 percent of these dangerous accidents. Usually, they occur when the vehicle leaves the road, and the tires dig into soft soil or hit the curb. The force on the tires can cause a rollover. Untripped rollovers usually occur when vehicles are traveling at a high speed and abruptly turn to avoid another vehicle.
Top Causes for a Rollover
Some of the top causes of a vehicular rollover are:
- High center of gravity: Pickups and SUVs have a high center of gravity and are more commonly involved in rollovers.
- Drinking: About 50 percent of all rollovers occur due to a drunk driver. Alcohol impairs a driver’s ability to control their vehicle, leading to many problems.
- Speed: About 40 percent of rollover crashes with fatalities involve speeding. In addition, 75 percent of all fatal rollovers occur at highway speeds.
- Single-vehicle crashes: Approximately 85 percent of all rollovers involve only one vehicle.
- Distraction: Distracted drivers do not focus on the road and because of this lose control over their vehicle.
Roof Crush
Manufacturers are required to build a vehicle that will keep occupants safe. One of the most devastating aspects of a rollover crash occurs when the occupants are injured due to roof crush.
This happens when the support structures do not withstand the weight of the vehicle during a rollover. The federal government provides guidance in this area, yet some manufacturers do not heed the advice. If the occupants are injured due to manufacturer negligence, a product liability lawsuit can be filed.
Investigating a Rollover Accident
It is important to garner evidence that will prove liability. Without negligence, the lawsuit will not proceed. We dispatch our investigators to the rollover crash site before evidence is destroyed or hidden. They obtain video surveillance footage showing the accident in real-time and speak to witnesses. Our investigators also review police reports for mistakes and check to see if the same vehicle model was involved in prior roof crush injuries. Once all the evidence is acquired, our lawyers use it to build a robust case for our clients.
Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. Call for free and friendly advice when a negligent driver caused your injuries at (916) 921-6400 or long-distance at (800) 404-5400. An online form to contact me is available also.
Top 1 Percent and the Million Dollar Forum are two of the organizations I’m honored to belong to.
I’m proud to say I’ve helped many Sacramentans over my 37 years as an injury lawyer to obtain fair compensation, whether their cases involve traffic accidents, wrongful deaths or any type of trauma.
Click on the links below to discover more about my law firm:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-accident-broken-glass-splatter-337764/
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