Traffic Stalled on U.S. 50 by Collision Involving a Jackknifed Big Rig
A multiple-vehicle accident along a Sacramento freeway caused problems for motorists on November 1. The incident report issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that the collision occurred around 12:11 p.m. along westbound U.S. 50 just east of the Stockton Boulevard off-ramp. It involved a three-axle big rig hauling a bobcat, a pickup truck pulling a boat, and possibly a passenger vehicle.
Heavy-Duty Tow Trucks Required to Remove Big Rig After Multiple-Vehicle Accident
The big rig jackknifed and ended up on top of the center divider. A SigAlert was issued warning motorists that westbound Highway 50 and eastbound lanes at Stockton were blocked because of a collision. No alternate routes were provided. Heavy-duty wreckers were required to remove the vehicles and boat. At the time of this report, injuries in the multiple-vehicle accident had not been announced. The accident is under investigation to determine how it happened.
Big Rigs That Cause a Multiple-Vehicle Accident
Because of their large size and weight, when a big rig causes a collision it can end up as a multiple-vehicle accident. Jackknifes are especially dangerous and usually happen because the truck driver is going too fast when turning. This causes the truck to go into a skid, and the trailer, because it’s going faster, swings around to the side in the shape of a jackknife. This can sweep over other nearby vehicles, even resulting in a side underride accident. Other types of big rig collisions that can cause a multiple-vehicle accident include:
- Blind-spot accidents: Big rigs have blind-spots all the way around that prevent the driver from seeing other vehicles, especially along the sides of the trailer being pulled. If a trucker attempts to change lanes without realizing there is a vehicle in the way, it can cause a multiple-vehicle accident.
- Accidents caused by braking: Brake failure in big rigs is common. Inexperience in handling a big rig, which uses brakes that are much different than those in a passenger vehicle, can cause them to overheat and fail. Going downhill is a problem in itself because drivers usually use lower gears to slow rather than braking to avoid burning them out. That’s why motorists sometimes see runaway ramps in some locations for truckers who have lost their brakes. It’s easy to see that a big rig with no brakes could cause a multiple-vehicle accident.
- Wide turns: A really large vehicle such as a tractor-trailer runs into problems when making a turn. The driver often has to swing into the adjacent lane to make that turn. However, if other vehicles are in that lane, it can cause an accident.
- Overloading or badly loading the cargo: A big rig that is overloaded becomes top-heavy, which can cause an accident in high winds, when going down a steep hill or rounding a sharp curve. Badly loaded cargo can shift, which can result in a rollover, impacting other vehicles nearby.
An injury lawyer can determine if negligence by a truck driver caused your accident injuries. When this has been shown, the injured party can place a claim for compensation to recover their medical expenses, lost wages, and for their pain and suffering.
Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. When you’ve suffered injuries because of a negligent trucker, you might benefit from the advice of a lawyer on whether you can file a claim for compensation. You are welcome to call us for our free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. We can also be reached by messaging us online.
Having information about a law firm can be helpful, especially if you’re looking for someone to call for advice. The links that follow show how our law firm has helped others:
My legal team and I have helped many people in Northern California since 1982 in getting fair compensation for injuries caused by truck accidents, all types of car crashes, bicycle and motorcycle collisions, wrongful deaths, and others.
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Photo attribution: Image by Ralf Vetterle from Pixabay
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