Semi and Passenger Vehicles Collide on Freeway
A big rig was involved in a freeway accident with other vehicles on June 17 that sent one person to the hospital. The collision was reported around 1:41 in the afternoon along northbound I-5 just south of the Sutterville Road off-ramp. The incident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that the number two and three lanes of the highway were blocked and included a sedan that plowed into an orange barrier in the center divider.
Witness Reports that Semi Left the Scene of the Accident
A Honda Accord was reported as disabled in the number two lane. One witness to the accident stated that a smaller vehicle struck a big rig and then crashed into the K-rail. The witness then stated that the semi kept going and should have reached the Sutterville exit.
One Person Hospitalized Following Freeway Accident
That party was located and advised to return to the freeway accident scene. One of the vehicles sustained a broken front axle in the collision and had to be towed. Sacramento Fire Department medics transported one person to a nearby hospital, but no information was released on whether their patient had suffered serious injuries.
Accidents Involving Big Rigs
Big rigs can be intimidating, and other motorists realize that a collision with one can end up causing severe injuries, and in some cases, fatalities. A big difference between an accident involving a large commercial truck and one that involves only passenger vehicles is liability. In a passenger vehicle crash, the at-fault driver is normally liable not so in an accident with a commercial truck.
Liability in a Big Rig Freeway Accident
While the trucker behind the wheel may be liable, so might the company that employs them, the individual/individuals who loaded the trailer, the person responsible for maintenance and repairs, and others. To make it even more complicated, truck drivers are required to carry a minimum of $750,000 in liability, but that doesn’t mean the insurance company wants to pay a claim.
How an Injury Lawyer Helps
An injury lawyer who handles truck accidents knows how to investigate a big rig crash to determine negligence and liability and collect the evidence to support their client’s claim. Among the areas of evidence collection are:
- The investigators check the truck driver’s electronic logging device or logbook to ensure that state and federal regulations were adhered to, including timed rest breaks and hours on the roadway driving.
- The background of the trucker and company that employs them is checked to see if either has a record of traffic infractions or past accidents.
- Accident reconstruction of the freeway accident is performed because it illustrates the positioning of the vehicles and how the crash happened.
- The police record is examined for errors.
- Witness statements are taken because they can corroborate how the freeway accident occurred.
- Area surveillance cameras from traffic lights, roadways, and nearby businesses are checked to see if the accident was captured on tape.
Our team of injury lawyers begins work once the information is compiled. They use it to construct a robust case against the at-fault driver.
Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. Truck collisions with passenger vehicles often cause injuries. I would be honored to offer you my free and friendly advice about your accident injury if you phone me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You can contact me online if you prefer.
From any type of traffic collision to truck accidents, traumatic injuries, and wrongful deaths, my legal team and I have helped many Sacramentans since 1982 in obtaining the compensation they deserve.
I’m honored to be a California member of the following associations:
Finding information about a law firm can help you decide whom to call when you could use some advice about placing a claim. You can find helpful information about my law firm below:
Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/highway-road-truck-vehicles-3392100/
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