West Sacramento Resident Killed in Underride Accident
A pickup and a tractor trailer were involved in a fatal accident on Interstate 80 on Tuesday, October 24.
Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family and friends of the West Sacramento man who lost his life in this tragic accident.
Details of the Accident
The accident occurred on eastbound I-80 at about 6:00 p.m. when a West Sacramento resident, driving a pickup, hit the rear of a tractor trailer. A California Highway Patrol (CHP) spokesperson said that a medical response team pronounced the pickup driver, 39, deceased at the site of the accident. Authorities reported that the truck driver was not injured. At the time of this report, the accident remains under investigation as to cause. There is no word if drugs or alcohol were involved.
Underride Collisions
Twenty-five percent of all fatal truck accidents involve underride accidents. The accident occurs when a car or light truck hits the rear end of a tractor trailer and passes under it. Statistics from 2015 published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that when a passenger vehicle hits the rear of a tractor trailer, air bags do not deploy in most cases due to the height of the truck’s chassis. However, in many cases, the roof of the smaller vehicle is sheared off, causing traumatic injury to the occupants, including wrongful death. Even if those in the passenger vehicle escape decapitation, catastrophic head injuries commonly occur. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety began petitioning for more stringent requirements for underride protection as early as 2011.
Some Reasons Underride Accidents Happen
Aside from trucks not using underride guards of a quality that would prevent a smaller vehicle from sliding under the truck, there are other reasons the accidents happen. A truck that does not have markings making it more visible to other drivers, particularly at night, can often contribute to an underride accident. A slow moving truck, such as a vehicle entering or exiting traffic, can be mistaken by a driver as moving faster than it really is. This can also happen when a disabled truck is on the right side shoulder of the road without flares or triangles. Another issue relating to visibility concerns the placement of tail lights on big rig trailers, as well their brightness.
Difficulty in Determining Distance and Speed at Night
After trucks stop, such as when entering a busy highway, they often move at 10 to 20 m.p.h., slowly gaining speed. A passenger vehicle operator traveling at a speed of 65 m.p.h. might have trouble discerning the truck’s speed or distance. Visually a driver will interpret distance by the space between the vehicle’s taillights and their height. The brain can be tricked if the taillights are closer together as they would be on some trucks, making the distance seem further away. When a smaller vehicle is traveling at highway speeds, the driver may not be able to execute a safety maneuver in time to avoid crashing resulting in an underride collision.
Related Articles by Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer, Ed Smith:
Sacramento Truck Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento truck accident lawyer. Underride crashes commonly end in horrific injuries or even death. If you or someone you love has incurred serious injuries or a family member was killed in an accident with a big rig, please reach out to me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for compassionate, free, and friendly advice. You can also contact me online via my website, AutoAccident.com.
As an injury lawyer, I’ve assisted numerous Northern Californians, including those in Sacramento, face the trauma of an accident or losing someone they love. High medical bills and long periods of rehabilitation often occur. I pride myself in helping my clients in a compassionate way, never forgetting how difficult it is for them.
At AutoAccident.com, I’ve compiled pertinent information on a variety of legal subjects dealing with personal injury to help educate the public.
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Photo Attribution: Pixabay, Traffic Jam by Gellinger. CC0
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