Good Samaritans Help Driver After a Rollover Accident on I-5
A solo vehicle accident caused an injury when it overturned on the West Side Freeway in Sacramento on July 9. The collision happened around 5:30 p.m. along southbound I-5 just north of the Sutterville Road off-ramp when the driver of a Mercedes lost control for an unknown reason and went off the roadway. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the sedan went down an embankment, where good Samaritans who stopped tried to help the driver out of the vehicle, which had turned onto its side.
Authorities Investigating to Determine Why Driver Lost Control of Their Vehicle
A tow truck was called to upright the car and bring it back up to the roadway. Medics with the Sacramento Fire Department arrived at the scene to assess the driver, who complained of pain to their neck and back. The accident is being investigated by authorities to determine what went wrong and caused the rollover.
Causes of a Solo Vehicle Injury Accident
Most accidents involving a single vehicle can be attributed to driver error. Perhaps the driver was speeding, texting at the time it happened or just looking away from the roadway. However, on occasion, a solo vehicle injury accident happens because of an outside influence, including:
- Objects in the roadway: A vehicle that drops part of its cargo on the road or lack of maintenance by the government entity in charge can lead to a solo vehicle injury accident. This can cause a driver to swerve, lose control and go off the road. In cases such as these, the driver who dropped the cargo in the road or the government entity charged with maintaining the roadway can be held financially responsible for injuries. By investigating the collision, a personal injury attorney can determine if this was the cause of the accident injury.
- Mechanical defect: A tire that blows out, locked steering wheel, and engine or brake failure can lead to a solo vehicle injury accident. In cases where a defect in the vehicle was the cause of the crash, the manufacturer and others may be held liable by filing a product liability lawsuit. It is important following any collision to retain the vehicle. In this way, our engineers can examine it to determine if a defect in the auto led to the solo vehicle injury accident.
- Animals in the roadway: It isn’t uncommon for a deer or other animal to suddenly appear in the road, leading to a solo vehicle injury accident. At other times, it might be a horse, cow or another animal that walks into the path of a driver, which can cause a solo vehicle injury accident. The owner of the animal may be found liable for not properly restraining their farm animals to keep them off the roadway.
- Hit-and-run drivers: Aggressive drivers or hit-and-run motorists can either force another car off the road or strike a vehicle and leave the scene. Our investigators can determine if another vehicle was present that caused the solo vehicle injury accident and locate that driver to hold them responsible. If the driver cannot be located, we can help the injured party obtain fair compensation by helping them use their uninsured/underinsured motorist policy.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, and I am a Sacramento car accident lawyer. A vehicle rollover can cause serious injuries, and not all of them are caused by driver error. If you suspect an outside influence caused your accident, call us for our free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. We can also be contacted online.
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We have helped numerous injured people from Northern California garner compensation caused by all kinds of traffic accidents, pedestrian and bicycle collisions, and wrongful deaths since 1982.
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