One Injured in Three-Vehicle Crash
One person was injured in a three-vehicle crash along Interstate 5 in Sacramento on April 6, 2018, according to a California Highway Patrol (CHP) spokesperson.
What Happened
The crash occurred shortly after 9:00 in the morning along the highway where it intersects with Sutterville Road. The accident involved a semi-truck pulling a green trailer, along with a black Honda Accord and Hyundai Elantra. The Hyundai reportedly ended up on the right-hand side of the interstate after the accident, while the Accord blocked the number two-lane. The Accord was moved off the road quickly to allow traffic to pass. One person was injured and treated by medical personnel.
Truck Accidents
About 500,000 accidents involving trucks occur annually. Four thousand trucks are involved in fatal crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that close to 70 percent of all accident fatalities involve those in passenger vehicles. That compares to about 16 percent of deaths involving occupants in trucks. The weight of a truck is about 20 to 30 times that of a passenger vehicle. This weight disparity is sufficient to explain the high incidence of deaths in smaller vehicles.
Another reason is that trucks sit much higher off the ground than cars. Because of this, cars and other passenger vehicles can pass under the truck from the side and rear of the vehicle. This often results in a shearing type action that rips off the roof of the passenger vehicle, causing serious injuries or death to those inside.
Side Underride Accidents
When a motor vehicle hits the side of a truck, an underride accident is likely to result. This accounts for about 200 fatalities each year. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires rear guards that prevent underride accidents, similar guards are not mandated for side impacts. Rearguards, also known as Mansfield bars named after the actress Jayne Mansfield who was killed in a truck accident, were first required in 1998. In 2014, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that the NHTSA issue mandates for side guards, but it was not binding. The Truck Trailers Manufacturers Association opposed the idea of side guards due in part to the additional weight. Currently, some engineers are working on side guards made from lighter-weight materials.
Problems Encountered by Trucks in Bad Weather
Trucks are not without problems in bad weather. This is due to a high center of gravity while pulling a heavy, sometimes unstable, load. On top of this, the area between the wheels on either side of the truck is not unusually large. Hydroplaning trucks can be dangerous. This is when the friction the wheels have on the ground is interrupted by a layer of water. Due to this, the driver has very little control, causing the truck to be like a ricocheting bullet. The truck driver is obligated to drive with what is described as extreme caution on rain-slicked highways. Speed has a detrimental effect on this effort.
Sacramento Truck Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident attorney. If you were hurt in a truck accident due to a trucker’s negligence, you will need a seasoned lawyer on your side. Phone me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 anytime for free and friendly advice. If you wish, you can reach me online too.
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