Rollover Accident Caused by Aggressive Driver
On May 30, a rollover accident occurred on the eastbound Capital City Freeway during the morning rush hour traffic. The accident happened just east of West El Camino Avenue at around 8:00 in the morning and involved an individual driving a Honda Accord. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the vehicle overturned several times, ending up against a fence.
The woman who reported the accident said that she saw the rollover through her rear view mirror and that the Honda had previously cut her off. This forced her to swerve away from the Honda, causing her to spin out. An ambulance was summoned to the scene of the crash to transport one person to the hospital for treatment.
Lanes Blocked
The freeway service patrol used their truck to block the El Camino Avenue ramp. This was to try and merge traffic. In addition, a tow truck was blocking the transition lane from the ramp to retrieve the vehicle that had gone off the road. No signs or flares had been set up as a warning for other motorists.
How a Rollover Accident Happens
Any vehicle can roll over. However, taller vehicles have a higher center of gravity. They also are top heavy. When this type of vehicle rounds a curve, the sideways forces shift the center of gravity to one side. This causes the vehicle to become unbalanced. Lateral forces increase not only with speed but also when rapid turns are made, such as when a driver overcorrects.
Causes of a Rollover Accident
Some of the causes of rollover accidents are:
- Type of vehicle: Tall, narrow vehicles are more prone to a rollover. This involves vans, SUVs, and pickups.
- Drunk driver: About 50 percent of all rollovers involve a drunk driver.
- Speeding: More fatal rollovers are due to speeding than other types of deadly accidents. About 40 percent of fatal rollover accidents are due to excessive speeding. Seventy-five percent of fatal rollovers are in areas where the speed limit is 55 mph and above.
- Eighty-five percent of fatal rollovers are single-vehicle crashes due to driver error.
Tire Grip Plays a Major Role in Rollovers
Too much tire grip can have an adverse effect on the risk of rollover. If the grip is too strong, it leads to an excessive sideways force that will eventually cause a rollover. Car manufacturers will equip the vehicle with tires that have less grip. While this may work, it is not an ideal fix since grip affects the vehicle’s ability to stop.
What an Attorney Can Do
It is important to know why an accident happened when establishing negligence. An attorney can use the methods he or she has at their disposal to investigate the crash with this in mind. Everything from tire marks to witness accounts provides information. On occasion, reconstruction experts are needed. Once responsibility for the accident is established, it is possible to build a strong case for compensation.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. Highways around Sacramento can be dangerous, especially if an aggressive driver causes problems. If you were injured in an accident caused by an aggressive driver, a personal injury lawyer could help you get compensation for your injuries. Call for my free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 in the Sacramento area. For others from Northern California, I offer a toll-free line at (800) 404-5400. You can also reach me by filling out the contact form online.
I have practiced personal injury law for 37 years. In that time, I’ve helped many people from Sacramento obtain the compensation they deserve. I specialize in all kinds of motor vehicle collisions, wrongful deaths, and many other areas of personal injury law.
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Photo Attribution: Depositphotos_5215698_l-2015
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