Interstate Accident Avoids Major Traffic Slowdown
A semi-truck collision with a passenger vehicle caused a minor injury on July 2 in Sacramento in a freeway accident. The accident was reported by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) as occurring around 2:17 in the afternoon along southbound I-5 just north of the U.S. 50 connector. A Ford Explorer crashed with a semi, but fortunately, both vehicles ended up on the right-hand side, which helped avoid a major traffic slowdown. One of the vehicles was reported as undrivable. Sacramento Fire Department emergency responders discovered a minor injury had occurred in one of the parties involved. The incident was reported as closed at 2:44 p.m.
Seeking Advice After a Semi-Truck Collision Injury
Many areas of potential negligence have to be checked for liability after a semi-truck collision. The ELD or logbook is examined to see if it has been falsified and federal and state regulations abided by with regard to driving hours and rest periods. The driving record of the trucker and company are checked for prior infractions and accidents.
Repair records for the truck are examined to see if faulty maintenance caused the collision. Those are only a few of the areas where negligence can occur. This is why it is a good idea to enlist the help of a personal injury attorney to help you obtain the compensation you deserve following a semi-truck collision.
Semi-Truck Collision Types
Because a big rig or other large commercial vehicle is much larger and heavier than a passenger car, serious injuries are common when a collision occurs. Truckers can cause or become involved in the same types of accidents as drivers of passenger vehicles. However, there are some accidents that are more specific to these huge vehicles that can lead to a semi-truck collision, such as:
- Blind-spot accidents: Although the driver of a motor vehicle can also cause an accident because they miss seeing a car to their side, it is much more difficult for a trucker. A trucker pulling a big rig and trailer has blind spots all the way around their vehicle. Those along the sides of the trailer are especially large. If the trucker starts changing lanes without realizing a vehicle is pacing them on the side, it can cause a serious semi-truck collision.
- Jackknifing: A jackknife happens when the trailer of a semi moves faster than the cab. This causes it to swing to the side, potentially crashing into other vehicles. Most jackknife accidents are caused by speeding, weather conditions or an inexperienced driver.
- Brake failure: When the brakes go out in a passenger vehicle, the driver knows there is trouble up ahead if you need to stop. However, when a semi loses its brakes, it can pick up speed and crash into multiple vehicles, which can be devastating. Brake failure is usually caused by a leaky air line or other types of poor maintenance.
- Override/underride accidents: When a smaller vehicle slides underneath a big rig or the semi rides over the top of a car, they are called underride or override accidents. While these are usually because of the negligent driver of a passenger vehicle, the commercial vehicle can also cause this type of semi-truck collision.
Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, and I’m a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. When your traffic accident injuries were caused by a negligent truck driver or company that employs them, you may be interested in my free and friendly advice on whether you can file a compensation claim. Contact us at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You can also reach us online.
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From any type of car accident to truck collisions, wrongful deaths, and other kinds of claims, we’ve helped many Sacramentans in obtaining compensation for their injuries since 1982.
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