Driver Injured in Tracy Truck Accident
Knowing the dangers of sharing the roads with semi-trucks, I want to keep you updated on local trucking accidents.
Details of the Accident
On 7 February, a PT Cruiser collided with a tractor-trailer on Tracy Boulevard, near Sugar Road in Tracy. The tractor-trailer driver was unharmed in the accident, but the driver of the PT Cruiser was apparently severely injured as he was airlifted from the scene of the crash to the hospital. The names of the drivers have not been released.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), one or both vehicles crossed the double yellow line on the two-lane section of road where the accident occurred. The vehicles then collided head-on, totaling the PT Cruiser and trapping the driver inside. The tractor-trailer sustained moderate damage to the engine block, but the frame was largely undamaged.
Details of Efforts to Extract the Victim
The force of the semi-truck striking the PT Cruiser caused the metal to crumble, trapping the PT Cruiser in his vehicle. The Tracy Fire Department said that it took several tools to extricate the man, including a saw and a hydraulic ram known as the “jaws of life.” Because of this time delay and the severity of the PT Cruiser driver’s injuries, the driver was airlifted to a local hospital.
Extreme Damage Common to Collisions with Semi-Trucks
Unfortunately, the extreme damage that trapped the PT Cruiser driver in his vehicle is common in trucking accidents due to weight differences. The average car weighs around 3,500 pounds while semi-trucks and tractor-trailers often weigh between 20,000 and 80,000 pounds.
Cause of the Accident
No cause is known at this time, but the police are actively investigating this accident. Officers responded to the accident shortly after the crash and began fully documenting the scene. This includes taking photos of both vehicles, measuring skid marks, and documenting the exact location of both vehicles
Speed was likely a factor in the accident. According to local residents, drivers on these roads often speed and pass in dangerous locations.
Impact of Farm Roads
The narrow poorly maintained farm roads where the accident occurred likely also contributed to the accident. Local residents also report that the narrow roads often mean semi-trucks traveling on them are partially in the opposing lane. Accidents are consequently very common along these roads in Tracy. In fact, this was the third serious accident in two weeks along Tracy farm roads.
Injuries Common in Similar Accidents
CHP has not released any additional details on the state of the PT Cruiser driver’s injuries, but similar trucking accidents provide insight into common injuries. Extensive leg trauma, including a dashboard knee is common. Trucking accidents also often cause spinal injuries and other back trauma. Victims in trucking accidents also sustain internal organ damage, including abdominal trauma and chest injuries.
Determining Liability in Trucking Accidents
Determining liability in this accident will likely be fairly straightforward because CHP was on the scene soon after the accident, but this is rarely the case when a commercial truck is involved. Many truckers and trucking companies will rapidly repair trucks involved in accidents in order to hide potential evidence of negligence. Additionally, drivers are often unavailable for follow-up interviews with the police. These common practices make it essential that victims of trucking accidents seek experienced legal advice.
Contact a Tracy Trucking Accident Lawyer for Help
I’m Ed Smith, a Tracy trucking accident attorney. If you, or a member of your family, have been seriously injured or tragically lost their lives in a trucking collision, please call me today at (209) 227-1931 for free, friendly advice. Or, toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
Read my customer reviews on Yelp, Avvo, and Google.
I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Trial lawyers in this forum have won multiple cases worth over a million dollars.
I have been practicing personal injury law exclusively since 1982.
Take a look at my Past Verdicts and Settlements page.
Español hablado aquí por accidentes de camiones.
Image Attribution: Wikimedia Commons
:kw