Review of Madera Truck Accidents
I’m Ed Smith, a Madera truck accident lawyer. Madera is criss-crossed by Highway 99 and State Route 145. This combination of major trucking roads makes serious truck accidents a common occurence.
Madera Truck Accidents in 2017
On 24 May, a big rig driver narrowly escaped injury in a truck accident south of Chowchilla near Madera. In the accident, the driver crashed into a guardrail at the Highway 99 to Highway 152 transition. This collision caused the truck to jack-knife and catch fire.
Meanwhile, one day earlier, another truck driver lost his life shortly after passing through Madera. This driver’s truck caught fire while on the highway due to reasons still under investigation. This fire then ignited the 9,000 gallons of gasoline the truck was transporting.
Both of these accidents involved trucks that used Madera as a pass-through location on their way to various destinations.
Speed in Madera Truck Accidents
Madera truck accidents tend to be high-speed accidents, largely because of Madera’s status as a “pass-through” town. This means that Madera is often not the destination for big rigs and their cargo. As a result, big rigs often speed through Madera as they pass-through on their way to other destinations.
These higher rates of speeds endanger local residents because residential roads criss-cross the big rig commuter roads. This literally puts Madera residents on a collision course with speeding big rigs.
Combination of Personal Vehicles and Big Rigs
While speed is an important factor, many of the most serious truck accidents in Madera involve personal vehicles and passing big rigs. For example, on 26 May 2016, an elderly couple and a truck driver were killed in a devastating collision.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the couple made an unsafe lane change in front of a tractor-trailer carrying sheets of glass. The truck was then unable to avoid striking the couple’s motor home. This sent both vehicles careening to the right side of the road where they both struck eucalyptus trees lining the road. All three people were killed on impact.
This accident is one of many in the area that shows the dangers of sharing roads with big rigs.
Environment in Madera Truck Accidents
Like in any area, the surrounding environment is an important factor. In a 5 January 2017 accident, a falling boulder landed on a passing semi truck. This crushed the cab of the truck and caused the truck to crash into another passing semi. Both drivers were injured in this accident.
This illustrates another factor in Madera truck accidents: the environment. Madera sits at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills and at the start of the Central Valley. This means roads range from straight and flat to curvy with steep grades. These diverse driving conditions only add to the risk of truck accidents in Madera.
Fires in Madera Truck Accidents
One of the most significant factors in Madera truck accidents is fire after the crash. In both the 23 May and 24 May truck accidents, the trucks caught fire after crashing. Additionally, the truck in the 26 May 2016 also caught fire.
The causes of these fires vary, but can have devastating consequences like in the 23 May accident and the 2016 accident where three people died.
Madera Truck Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith and I am a Madera truck accident lawyer. No matter where they occur, truck accidents can be devastating. If a truck accident injures you or kills a loved one, please call me at (559) 377-7676 for free, friendly advice. I can be reached toll free at (800) 404-5400.
I have worked as an injury lawyer for more than 3 decades. I take my cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing up front. I get paid after the successful outcome of your case. It is free to call and talk to me about your truck accident by phone.
Please read my reviews on Yelp, Avvo, and Google and see my Past Verdicts and Settlements page.
I am a proud member of the Million Dollar Forum, an association of top performing trial lawyers with verdicts in excess of $1 Million.
Sources:
23 May 2017 Accident: www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article152138817.html
24 May 2017 Accident: http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article152412664.html
8 December 2016 Accident: http://abc30.com/news/3-people-are-dead-following-a-fiery-crash-in-madera/1356741/
Image Attributed to Max Pixel
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