Accident on SR 99 Involves Big Rig and Honda Sedan
An underride accident occurred near Elk Grove on December 9 that left one driver with injuries. The collision occurred around 6:26 a.m. along south SR 99 just south of the off-ramp for Dillard Road between a big rig and Honda Civic. According to the incident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the Honda experienced a tire blowout, which caused the vehicle to slide underneath the big rig’s trailer.
Hazmat Crew Called in for Fuel Spill From Big Rig
Both lanes of traffic were blocked by the incident, and a hazardous situation was created when the semi began to leak about 50 gallons of fuel onto the roadway. A hazmat crew was called in to clean up the spill. The driver of the Honda managed to exit their vehicle, and medical attention was summoned to assess their injuries. It was reported that the driver suffered minor trauma in the car crash.
Accident Being Investigated by Authorities
The roadway was shut down for several hours, and traffic was diverted while the spill was cleaned up and the injured driver was attended to, and vehicles were towed from the scene. It was not reported whether the driver was transported to a hospital for additional evaluation. The CHP is investigating the underride accident to determine the events that led to the collision.
Liability in an Underride Accident
An underride is among the most deadly types of collisions. It occurs when a vehicle slides underneath another and usually involves a big rig. Accidents of this type can either be the fault of the individual in the smaller vehicle, the truck driver or the company that employs them. In other cases, poor roadway maintenance or a defect in a vehicle can be the cause. When you’ve suffered an injury or lost a loved one due to an underride accident, an injury attorney can determine the cause. If the trucker or company is found to be at fault, the injured party or grieving family can place a claim to recover compensation.
Underride Accident Causes
There are a number of reasons an underride accident occurs, and most of them are due to negligence of one type of another. Following are some of the most common:
- Weather conditions: When it is rainy, snowing, foggy or icy, the risk of an underride accident increases. Motorists and truckers need to adjust their speed to allow for more stopping room and avoid losing control of their vehicles.
- Old or worn underguards: Most big rigs have underguards in the back but not on the front or sides. This vulnerability can cause an underride accident, resulting in serious injuries. In addition, underguards that are inadequate or dated may not hold if the truck is struck by a smaller vehicle.
- Driver negligence: Speeding, drunk or distracted driving, and other acts of negligence can result in this type of collision.
- Defective auto parts: A defect in a driver’s tires, brakes, accelerator, or steering can lead to an underride accident with a big rig. Retaining a vehicle following a collision is important so that it can be examined for auto defects. If so, the injured party may place an auto product liability claim against the manufacturer.
- Poor roadway maintenance: Potholes, debris or oil in the roadway, weakened guardrails, and other problems can lead to an underride collision. The government entity charged with maintenance may be liable for accident injuries, and the injured party can file a claim for the recovery of damages.
Elk Grove Truck Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, an Elk Grove truck accident attorney. Truck accident injuries can be serious, and if the driver or company was at fault, you may want to find out about placing a compensation claim. Contact us for free and friendly advice at (916) 694-0002 or (800) 404-5400. You can also leave a message online, and we will get in touch with you.
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Since 1982, my team of injury lawyers and I have helped numerous people from Elk Grove in obtaining fair compensation for injuries suffered in truck and car accidents, claims involving wrongful deaths, and many other cases.
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Photo attribution: Image by falco from Pixabay
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