According to a series of news agencies, a big rig was involved in an accident that happened on the Interstate 5 on Wednesday morning.
The reports indicate that the driver was able to escape serious injuries after his vehicle drove off the Interstate 5 while traveling near the Grapevine Inspection Facility. According to the California Highway Patrol, the vehicle ended up plunging into an aqueduct.
The driver was able to get out of the vehicle before the cab was completely covered with water as the vehicle sank. The authorities are investigating this accident and should have more details on this story. The causes behind the occurrence were not immediately available.
The big rig driver suffered injuries but nothing too serious, reports show. The southbound lanes of the road were closed for the CHP to investigate the occurrence. Crews were working to remove the big rig from the water for an unknown amount of time.
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Traffic was stalled Wednesday morning in South Sacramento when a big rig overturned on southbound Highway 99 between MLK and 47th Street exits. The California Highway Patrol issued a traffic alert for the area noting that the three leftmost lanes on the highway were blocked until a tow truck could remove the overturned commercial truck. No injuries have been reported in relation to this accident. Safety experts say that high speed is not always a factor in big-rig rollover accidents because the angle and weight distribution can cause a commercial truck to overturn.
Early morning commuter traffic on the 5 Freeway was backed up for several miles Tuesday after a commercial truck hit the center divider near Elysian Park and caught fire. The accident occurred shortly after 3 a.m., and the freeway was reopened around 7:30 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. No injuries were reported as a result of this accident.
Between 2003 and 2007, fire departments in the U.S. responded to an average of 287,000 vehicle fires per year and 31 per hour, approximately 17 percent of all reported fires in the U.S. These fires resulted in more than 1,500 injuries, approximately 480 deaths, and an estimated $1.3 billion in property damage. The demographic groups most likely to be killed in vehicle fires are young adults and older teens, and approximately 75 percent of all vehicle fires were caused by electrical or mechanical malfunctions.
According to the American Automobile Association proper auto maintenance is key for preventing vehicle fires. Vehicles should be inspected by a licensed auto technician at least once per year, and motorists should regularly monitor their vehicles for signs of wear and tear that might lead to fluid leakage, such as blistered or cracked hoses. Cracked insulation or exposed wiring could lead to an electrical malfunction and should be inspected by a professional as soon as possible, according to automotive safety experts. Visible exhaust fumes coming from the tailpipe or changes in the noises a running vehicle typically makes are also signs of potential mechanical problems that may lead to a vehicle fire such as high-temperature exhaust damage or a malfunctioning emission control system. Some vehicle fires are caused by lit cigarettes, and AAA advises motorists who smoke to take care to use the vehicle’s ashtray properly.
In the case of a vehicle fire, safety experts advise drivers to pull over as soon as possible and turn off the ignition to stop the flow of gasoline and shut off the electric current. Setting the emergency brake and putting the vehicle into park is also recommended to prevent the car from rolling away, and keeping the hood closed will limit the flow of oxygen to prevent the fire from spreading.
Once everyone has safely evacuated the car, experts advise moving at least 100 feet away to avoid danger from the fire as well as roadway traffic before calling 911. Many motorists in these situations are injured in the process of attempting to fight the fire themselves. AAA advises motorists to wait for professionally trained firefighters to extinguish the flames.
An estimated 37 model year 2009-2012 Jerr-Dan 50 Ton Heavy-Duty Wrecker vehicles have been voluntarily recalled by their manufacturer in cooperation with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration due to a potential hardware issue that may pose an injury hazard to the user. An error in the manufacturing process may have lead to the mounting hardware used to attach the front or middle of the wrecker frame to the truck chassis could become loose or fractured, potentially increasing the risk that the vehicle will become involved in an accident.
Mack Trucks, Inc., has announced a voluntary recall for more than 2,500 model year 2013 CHU, CXU, GU, LEU, and MRU trucks, equipped with Hayes Lemmerz steel wheels designated model number 90262, 90541, or 10073 because of a possible increased accident risk linked to a wheel separation issue. According to the official recall notice issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the wheel discs and rims on these vehicles may be inadequately welded together, potentially allowing them to separate during use. If this occurs while the vehicle is in motion, the likelihood it will become involved in an accident may increase due to loss of driver control.
Approximately 280 model year 2013 Freightliner brand, Business Class M2, Cascadia, Coronado, 108SD, 114SD, and certain model year 2013 Western Star 4700 and 4900 trucks have been voluntarily recalled due to a safety issue involving the vehicle’s wheels. The rims on these vehicles may partially or fully separate from the disk, due to a potential inadequate welding. If this occurs during vehicle use, the driver may lose his or her ability to control the vehicle, potentially increasing the risk of an accident.
According to investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, a collision involving a big-rig tractor trailer and an Amtrak passenger train that killed six people and injured 15 in June of 2011 was allegedly the result of poor brake system maintenance and inattentive driving. Despite flashing warning lights and a warning gate, the big-rig driver failed to apply the brakes quickly enough to prevent his vehicle from colliding with the passenger train, investigators determined, a situation made worse by improperly maintained brakes. The cause of the driver’s inattention will remain unknown, investigators say, but they said they suspect he was fatigued and possibly talking on a cellphone and they added that the inadequate maintenance of the truck’s brakes ultimately prevented the truck from stopping soon enough to avoid an accident when the driver began applying the brakes, approximately 300 feet away from the train. The driver, who had been treated for a hurt ankle was driving against the advice of his doctor, according to the NTSB’s report.
The number of injuries and fatalities may have been lower, NTSB investigators suggested, if passenger train cars were required to meet mandatory side-impact strength requirements, they also recommended the installation of fire doors inside trains to prevent fires from spreading between cars. I am hopeful that this investigation will help prevent these types of tragedies from occurring in the future.
A recent big-rig truck accident reminds drivers to exercise extreme caution in high speed wind conditions. According to the accident report released by the California Highway Patrol, a commercial big-rig truck overturned on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge after allegedly traveling at speeds in excess of 45 miles per hour despite signs warning of high-speed wind conditions on the bridge. The big-rig turned over on its side and blocked two lanes of traffic for more than five hours before rescue workers, who had to wait for the wind to subside before they could turn the big-rig upright, could clear the scene.
According to auto safety experts, high-speed wind weather advisories should be treated like all other extreme weather warnings, meaning motorists are encouraged to avoid driving at these times if at all possible. If driving is a necessity, experts advise motorists to keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times to prevent the vehicle from being blown off course by powerful gusts of wind. In these weather conditions, passing vehicles — especially tall vehicles such as big rig trucks — may also create strong flurries requiring quick corrective steering. Speeding in powerful winds is extremely dangerous, experts warn, because a brief, sudden gust will push a fast moving car much further off course before the driver can take steps to prevent the vehicle from running off the road or colliding with another vehicle.
Drivers are also reminded that other vehicles will be experiencing similar difficulties and should be watched carefully for signs they are being blown off course. Taller vehicles are he most vulnerable in high-speed wind, but great care should be taken to look out for the most vulnerable commuters — bicyclists, motorcycle riders, and pedestrians. Trailers, which do not have independent steering, are extremely susceptible to high speed winds, and safety experts recommend keeping them as far away from your vehicle as possible. Following too closely or attempting to pass at the wrong time can have deadly consequences. In the event of a vehicle breakdown, experts advise drivers to pull off the road ass far as possible and move to a location away from the vehicle to wait for help. Big-rigs and other large vehicles may be blown onto the shoulder in these conditions.
Tree branches and other debris are also a concern in fierce wind, especially in early morning hours before road crews have had time to clear them from the paths of vehicles. Large tree branches can become a deadly hazard if struck while traveling at high speeds. Twigs and small branches can be an indication of larger branches or fallen trees on the road ahead.
For the first time in the survey’s history, lack of parking for commercial big rig trucks appeared on the American Transportation Research Institute’s Top Industry Issues survey as a safety concern for truck drivers and those sharing the road. According to trucking safety experts, infrastructure reductions due to federal budget cuts combined with an increased number of commercial trucks on public roadways have created a shortage of roadside stopping places for truck drivers in need of rest or places to make repairs. In response, the Trucking Industry Mobility & Technology Coalition and the U.S. Dept. of Transportation have announced that they are co-sponsoring a free web-based seminar on possible solutions to this problem. The webinar is scheduled to take place on December 6.
A man was killed in Jacksonville, Arkansas, after his stalled car was hit by a big rig truck on Highway 67, and semi truck drivers reportedly posted comments on Facebook defending their safety records. According to these posts, big rig drivers are required to go through extensive training courses, and drivers are obligated to watch out for all the vehicles sharing the road with them, including those distracted by cellphones and other devices and activities. According to the Arkansas Trucking Association, big rig accidents kill approximately 5,000 people per year.
$7,000,000
Toxic Contamination Injury
Plaintiff brought an action that involved land contamination. Plaintiff's property had been contaminated due to the business operations of an adjoining landowner. Plaintiff received a binding arbitration award in excess of $7,000,000.
$14,000,000
Work Site Accident
Plaintiff was involved in a work site accident. Plaintiff was injured when a slab of marble fell on him. Plaintiff was able to obtain a settlement for $14,000,000.
$3,000,000+
Forklift Injury
Plaintiff brought an action against a forklift manufacturer under the theory of negligent maintenance and inspection. Plaintiff suffered serious injuries to his leg. Defendant refused to make any settlement offers until the eve of trial. At that time, Defendant offered only $150,000 to settle the case. Plaintiff received a jury verdict in excess of $3,000,000.
