Rollover Accident on Eastbound U.S. 50
A serious rollover accident in Sacramento on May 9 resulted in major injuries to one person in a single-vehicle collision. The accident was reported to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) at around 11:56 in the morning along eastbound U.S. 50 just east of the Bradshaw Road on-ramp.
The individual who called in the accident said the vehicle went off the roadway before rolling. The small SUV ended up on its side, trapping the driver inside. The accident is being investigated by the CHP to determine what happened to cause the rollover accident.
Additional Details on the Rollover Accident
Emergency responders with the Sacramento Fire Department arrived to extricate the driver. A dog was also discovered along the side of the road after the rollover and was rescued by one of the police officers. It is believed the dog was taken to the SPCA for care. The person who was injured was transported by Sac Fire responders to a nearby hospital for further treatment and evaluation.
Reasons That Rollovers Occur
While a rollover accident is often caused by driver error, others are caused for reasons outside the motorist’s control. Rollovers are a common cause of severe injuries and fatalities. The outcome can be worse when the vehicle experiences roof crush. This occurs when the pillars supporting the roof are not strong enough. A lawyer can investigate to see if the roof strength was insufficient to protect the passengers inside from serious injury, which is why it is crucial to preserve your wrecked vehicle after a rollover accident. Some of the reasons a rollover accident happens are:
- Vehicle defect: Defects can range from a bad tire to steering or accelerator problems. Serious injuries or fatalities can also be due to the vehicle itself. Although any vehicle can experience a rollover, certain types such as vans, light trucks and SUVs are more likely to be involved in these kinds of accidents.
- Reckless driver: A reckless driver is one who tailgates, cuts in and out of traffic, speeds and commits other infractions. This can cause another motorist to have to make an emergency maneuver or force them off the road, resulting in a rollover accident.
- Poor road maintenance: The government entity in charge of maintaining a roadway can be held responsible for accidents caused by neglect. Maintenance problems that can cause a rollover include potholes, weakened or old guardrails, debris or loose gravel on the road and others.
How a Traffic Accident Is Investigated
Investigating an accident is important to collect evidence and discover what caused it. Our investigators are sent to the accident scene right away to gather the evidence needed to support a client’s claim after being injured by another person’s or entity’s negligence. It includes:
- Talking to witnesses to get their statements
- Examining the police report for inaccuracies
- Traffic surveillance cameras and those at businesses can show the rollover accident as it occurred, which is important if another vehicle was involved
- Performing accident reconstruction, which can show another motorist’s negligence and the positioning of the vehicles as the collision occurred
- Looking for roadway damages such as upheavals and potholes that might have contributed to a rollover accident and implies liability by the government agency in charge of maintenance
- Checking for negligence by other drivers involved, from speeding to drunk, drugged or distracted driving
The gathered evidence is used by our lawyers when negotiating with an insurance company on the client’s behalf or preparing a court case.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. If you think your rollover accident injuries were caused by another driver or for other outside reasons, call for my free and friendly advice. You can reach me at (916) 921-6400 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400. An online form to contact me is available also.
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For over 38 years, I’ve helped Sacramentans obtain the compensation they deserve for traumatic injuries, wrongful deaths, and in all kinds of traffic accidents.
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