During Saturday traffic on February 23, a solo vehicle collision occurred in Sacramento along Interstate 5 southbound at the J Street off ramp. Details were sparse about the accident, however, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that a vehicle overturned for unknown reasons along the interstate at about 8:20 in the morning and caught on fire. Others stopped to help and were attempting to get the male driver out of the vehicle. An ambulance was summoned for the driver. It is unknown what injuries the man suffered or which hospital he was taken to for evaluation and treatment. The CHP is in charge of investigating the crash and to determine its cause.
Reasons for Solo Vehicle Collisions
Solo vehicle collisions occur most often in the following traffic situations:
- Solo vehicle collisions occur frequently in inclement weather and on slippery roads.
- Most single-vehicle crashes happen when teens are behind the wheel.
- In the years 1997 to 2004, there were over 5,000 fatalities due to solo vehicle collisions.
- On average, 700 single vehicle fatal crashes happen annually.
- At intersections, roughly 315 fatal single-vehicle crashes happen every year.
- Approximately 85 percent of fatalities at intersections with traffic signals occur to nonoccupants such as pedestrians.
- At stop-sign controlled intersections, 58 percent of fatalities are to vehicle occupants.
Driver Error in a Solo Vehicle Collision
Some of the most frequent driver errors that lead to single vehicle collisions are:
- Drunk driving: A drunk driver commonly loses control of their vehicle and hits a stationary object such as a tree or light pole.
- Drowsy driving: Motor vehicle operators who fall asleep at the wheel have a high instance of single vehicle crashes.
- Speeding: Speeding is a precursor to losing control of the vehicle. When this happens, the operator usually cannot avoid hitting a stationary object.
Automotive Defects
On some occasions, driver error is not the cause of a solo vehicle collision. Instead, a defect in the vehicle causes the driver to lose control. This can be linked to a brake, accelerator or tire defect in some cases. In such instances, the manufacturer may be held liable for the crash. Product liability can also include a crushed roof as a cause of a fatal accident. In these cases, the roof is not strong enough to withstand the weight of the vehicle in a rollover. The occupants of the vehicle suffer serious and often fatal injuries. The federal government has laws that require the manufacturer to ensure that the roof can hold at least 1.5 times the weight of the vehicle. A poor structure and faulty design allow the roof to cave in, causing occupants to be thrown from the vehicle or be trapped inside.
What an Attorney Can Do For You
An injury attorney can make sure that the crash is appropriately investigated for cause. He or she can visit the crash site, use crash reconstructionists, determine if the crash was due to a manufacturing defect and find out if roadway defects caused the crash. Once the evidence is accumulated, your attorney can negotiate with the insurance company or take the case to court to help ensure the compensation is just.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. Injuries in a solo vehicle collision can be serious or fatal. If this has happened to you or your loved one, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice. I can also be reached online at my website, AutoAccident.com.
I’ve helped numerous residents in Sacramento and the surrounding Northern California area to obtain the compensation they need and deserve in all types of car accidents, wrongful deaths, and traumatic injuries.
If you are thinking of retaining an attorney, you need to do some research first. To find out about my practice, you can go to the following links and read both client and peer reviews and how I settled prior cases:
Photo Attribution: Depositphotos_79189750_l-2015
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