Major Injury in Rollover on I-5 North of Florin Road Exit in Sacramento
A recent rollover accident along southbound Interstate 5 at 9:06 p.m. resulted in major injuries. The accident happened in the area north of the westbound Florin Road exit ramp. One of the vehicles, described as a gray sedan in the California Highway Patrol (CHP) report, hit the right-hand side barrier and overturned onto its roof. Good Samaritans stopped and tried to extricate the occupants out of the overturned vehicle.
Additional Details About the Rollover Accident
A flatbed trailer was called to the scene of the three-vehicle accident to remove the overturned vehicle. Lanes one, two and three were blocked, interfering with traffic flow. The CHP is charged with investigating the crash and remained on the scene. Other than saying the individual suffered a significant injury, no details were issued at this report’s time.
Rollover Crashes
The consequences of a rollover are due to the forces on occupants as the vehicle flips over. Any car can rollover; however, the likelihood of overturning increases when the center of gravity is high. Vehicles most likely to be involved in a rollover include pickup trucks, SUVs and vans. Heavy loads can add to the problem as they accentuate the vehicle’s imbalance.
Causes of Rollover Accidents
Some of the most common reasons for a rollover are:
- The driver loses control of their vehicle and leaves the roadway, striking a curb or debris. This causes an increase in the lateral force on the tires, leading to a rollover accident.
- Distracted driving: Being unaware of roadway obstacles or other issues can result in a rollover accident.
- Speeding: Increasing the speed makes it harder for the driver to maintain control.
- Aggressive driving: This type of driving usually involves risky maneuvers such as cutting in and out of traffic. This behavior can lead to increased friction between the tires and the road, causing the vehicle to turn over.
- Other vehicles: When another vehicle strikes a car or SUV, chances are a rollover will result. However, the vast majority of rollovers are single-vehicle accidents.
How to Avoid a Rollover Accident
There are ways to prevent a rollover accident. The following are some of the best:
- Don’t drink and drive. Overall, 50 percent of all rollover accidents involve an impaired driver.
- Drivers that have a vehicle with a high center of gravity need to take precautions to prevent a rollover. This means slowing down when approaching a curve or encountering road defects such as potholes.
- Don’t drive distracted. Taking your focus off the road often results in rollover crashes.
- Don’t speed. Driving over the speed limit or when conditions warrant a slower speed, put a driver in danger when it comes to rollovers. Be sure to slow down before entering a curve.
Investigating a Rollover Accident
Our investigators need to gather evidence that proves negligence on the part of another driver for your lawsuit to be successful. Here are some of the ways they do this:
- Investigators look for evidence that the manufacturer failed to protect drivers from a crushed roof. This happens when the infrastructure does not support the vehicle’s weight during a rollover, leading to head and neck trauma and fatalities. The evidence will be used to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer. The vehicle must be preserved for this investigation to proceed.
- The investigators interview witnesses.
- Our firm obtains video footage of the accident from surveillance cameras and cell phones.
- Accident reconstruction is used to determine liability.
- The investigators also review police reports for inaccuracies.
The data procured by the investigative team is an integral part of the final claim. The attorneys use it to structure a strong case for our clients.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith. I am an experienced Sacramento car accident attorney. Rollover accidents can cause serious injuries or death to you or a loved one. Please call me for free and friendly advice about your accident case. My number is (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400, or contact me online to get started.
Since 1982, I’ve been able to help numerous clients obtain the compensation they deserve for car accidents, traumatic head trauma, and wrongful death, among many other types of cases.
Learn more about my practice by using the following links:
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/accident-auto-damage-vehicle-1409006/
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