Overturned Truck Stalls Traffic in State Route 152 Accident
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced truck accident lawyer. An accident on California State Route 152 due to an overturned commercial truck caused delays in early evening traffic. Authorities have said the accident was caused by drowsy driving.
Accident Details
At about 6:30 p.m., a semi trailer, identified as a 2013 International, was headed west near Turner Island Road in Dos Palos when the driver, 57, fell asleep, according to a California Highway Patrol (CHP) representative. The driver of the big rig, a Compton resident, awakened and tried to gain control but overcorrected, resulting in a rollover. The semi blocked the two westbound lanes for approximately 90 minutes. The crash also caused property damage and hit a car parked nearby. The driver, Everett Pratt, was said not to have been injured. The CHP has ruled out involvement of alcohol or drugs.
Drowsy Driving
Truck drivers are under pressure to get their cargo to market as quickly as possible. If the trucker is an independent contractor, they are usually paid by the mile. In either case, the incentive to drive for longer periods without resting is problematic and results in catastrophic injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that overall, 800 deaths, 44,000 injuries and 72,000 crashes occurred in 2013 due to drowsy driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the numbers may be underreported and estimates that 6,000 fatalities occur yearly. The cost of falling asleep at the wheel is $109 billion annually, however, this figure excludes property damage as a result of a crash.
Rollovers and Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving has been linked to about half of all rollover truck accidents. When a trucker falls asleep and wakes suddenly, he or she may find it necessary to make a corrective maneuver to avoid crashing. The driver may:
- Oversteer, paving the way for a rollover
- Counter steer as a result of a correction, causing a rollover
Untripped Rollovers
Untripped rollovers are those where the vehicle is destabilized. This often happens on curves as a result of a steering correction. The vehicle’s weight and its speed are contributing elements. A driver who has fallen asleep with his or her foot on the accelerator frequently gains speed.
Fatal Trucking Accidents
As with other truck-related accidents, truckers are less likely to be injured in a rollover accident. On the other hand, cars and light truck passengers do not share the same fate. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2015, 3,852 people died in accidents between a truck and passenger vehicles. Of these, 69 percent or 2,646 individuals were occupants of passenger vehicles while only 16 percent or 600 were truck drivers or passengers. The remainder were motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Tractor trailers were involved in 75 percent of all truck crashes, while single unit trucks were involved in 25 percent.
Types of Injuries in Truck Accidents
Some of the most common traumatic injuries seen in truck accidents are:
Liability When a Truck Driver Falls Asleep
This is a complex area of the law that requires the experience of a seasoned truck accident lawyer. The trucker or the trucking company that employs them may be held accountable if the time requirements placed on the trucker are unreasonable. The new rules for ELDs or electronic logging devices will help in making sure truckers rest as they are mandated to do on interstate runs.
Merced Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced truck accident lawyer. If you have been injured in a truck accident due to a negligent act by a trucker or trucking company or when a family member dies due to negligence, call me at (209) 227-1931 and (800) 404-5400 toll free. I am available to provide you with free advice that’s friendly.
I’ve assisted many Californians, including those in Merced, in my 35 years of practice in claims against negligent drivers and in wrongful death lawsuits in my capacity as an injury lawyer.
I am a member in good standing in the Million Dollar Advocates, a group formed by trial attorneys all over the country who have won cases for $1 million or more.
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/accident-truck-6-axel-22-wheel-2351540/
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