Accident Reported on I-80 in Single-Vehicle Rollover
A single-vehicle rollover crash occurred in North Sacramento on September 5 that trapped the driver inside their vehicle. The accident happened along westbound I-80 just east of the Norwood Avenue off-ramp around 7:37 p.m. The traffic accident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the SUV ended up on its side, driver side down.
Firemen Extricate Trapped Driver Following Single-Vehicle Rollover
The rollover trapped the driver inside the vehicle and blocked the number one lane. Emergency responders with the Sacramento Fire Department arrived to extricate the driver from their SUV. Additional information about possible injuries to the driver was not included in the report. Authorities are investigating the accident to determine the cause.
What Happens When a Rollover Occurs
Rollovers are one of the most dangerous possibilities in a car accident. Even though vehicles with a higher center of gravity experience rollovers more frequently, such as SUVs, vans and light pickups, they can occur in any car or truck. Although vehicles have safety features meant to protect the occupants inside during an accident, seat belts can break, the airbags can deflate and the people inside can suffer traumatic injuries. A rollover accident increases the risk of:
- Injuries from the sides of the vehicle when they cave in are common. Motor vehicles offer the most protection in the front and rear. The side supports aren’t as strong and can become crushed in a single-vehicle rollover.
- Roof crush occurs in some vehicles. Although all vehicles are required to have a roof and supports that can handle 3.5 times the weight of the car, not all of them do. Roof crush often results in traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage. Following any type of car accident injury, the vehicle should be retained, so it can be checked for roof crush.
- Seat belts are designed to withstand 1,000 pounds of force. However, the violence of a single-vehicle rollover can make a defective seat belt let go, where the occupants are either ejected or suffer traumatic injuries. In those cases, the manufacturer may be held responsible through an auto product liability claim.
- Defective airbags can injure those inside the vehicle. They may go off at the wrong time, deflate too soon or throw shrapnel at the people inside.
- Entrapment inside a vehicle can contribute to injuries. People inside may be trapped by becoming sandwiched inside the vehicle. Entrapment can prevent emergency responders from getting the trapped person out of the vehicle quickly, which can make injuries worse.
Ways to Avoid a Single-Vehicle Rollover
Other than when another vehicle strikes yours in a way that causes a rollover, drivers can exercise caution to avoid causing one themselves. These safety measures include:
- Always put on your seat restraint, and insist that others in the vehicle do so too. They are designed to protect you in an accident.
- Don’t speed. Speeding contributes to all types of collisions, including rollovers.
- Avoid distracted driving. Any activity that takes the driver’s hands, eyes or attention from the task at hand can cause a single-vehicle rollover. A vehicle travels a surprisingly long distance in the average five seconds it takes to send a text message.
- If you’ve been drinking, use a designated driver or call a taxi or rideshare to get home.
- Drive defensively. Stay alert to what other drivers are doing, and don’t make assumptions about their next move.
- Have your tires checked on a regular basis because improper inflation can contribute to a single-vehicle rollover.
Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento
My name is Ed Smith. I’m a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. Our legal team is here to offer you free and friendly advice when you’ve been injured in a collision. Call us at (916) 921-6400 or toll-free at (800) 404-5400. You can also message us online.
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We’ve helped many Sacramentans and other Northern Californians since 1982 in obtaining the compensation they deserve after any type of traffic accident and in truck and motorcycle collisions, wrongful deaths, and more.
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Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/accident-automobile-damage-vehicle-1409012/
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