Vallejo Big Rig Fire
I’m Ed Smith, a Vallejo truck accident lawyer. On Wednesday, January 25, 2017, a big rig truck caught fire on Highway 37 in Vallejo, causing temporary traffic delays.
Accident Details
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) traffic information indicates that the incident was reported to have happened a short distance east of Mare Island at about 2:10 p.m. The incident reportedly started when the brakes of the large truck caught fire. The driver told officers that after he realized his brakes were on fire, he attempted to use his fire extinguisher to stop the flames, but was unsuccessful. After only a few minutes, claimed the driver, the entire truck was involved in the fire.
When officers arrived at the scene of the accident, they found that no other vehicles had been involved and no injuries had occurred. Officers closed the eastbound section of Highway 37 to protect commuters from the hazardous fire and wreckage.
Cleaning the Wreckage
The Vallejo Fire Department reported a short time before 2:30 p.m. that the fire had been extinguished but that the eastbound side of the highway would remain closed until work crews could clear the area. The scene of the accident was not cleared until 4:00 p.m. and Caltrans crews remained busy with the multiple-hour-long process of preparing the big-rig to be transported.
Trucking Accidents
Because residents of Vallejo often have to travel on Interstate 80, they are generally accustomed to seeing semi-truck and tractor-trailer traffic accidents and know that the traffic jams these incidents cause can be drawn out over hours. Whether a big rig is transporting merchandise or produce to Vallejo or just passing through, these humongous motor vehicles are huge risks to drivers and passengers of automobiles that use the roadways of Solano County.
Common Negligent Behavior
Most truck drivers are very good at paying attention to the regulations and rules that the law dictates they should. However, when truck drivers do not comply to the safety laws they are required to follow, catastrophic accidents can occur. When a trucking accident happens because of a driver’s negligence, it is common that the driver is trying to get a shipment delivered on an unrealistic schedule. This causes drivers to lose sleep and have reduced alertness and reaction times as a result.
Trucking Companies and Accident Claims
The sad truth is that because large trucking companies are often liable to pay for damages that their trucks cause, and because they are often large companies with money to pay for extensive legal action, they can quickly make moves to disclaim liability when an accident occurs. Trucking insurance companies send out quick-response teams to accident sites to speak with witnesses and make sure their interests are represented in case a lawsuit is filed.
Vallejo Trucking Accident Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Vallejo truck accident lawyer. If you, or someone close to you has been seriously injured or died in an accident, call me at (707) 564-1900 for free, friendly advice. Or, contact me toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
For over 35 years, I have been offering my assistance to Vallejo residents in recovering just compensation in cases involving wrongful death and personal injury.
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I founded AutoAccident.com, Northern California’s leading website for topics relating to auto accidents and personal injury.
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