One Dead in Highway 101 Crash in Novato
A rollover crash along U.S. Route 101 at Novato on September 10 killed one person. The California Department of Transportation issued a Sig-Alert shortly afterward, which caused the lanes along Highway 101 to be shut down for about three hours.
What Happened
The accident report came in around 2:30 in the morning and was reported to be near the on-ramp for Atherton Avenue. Officials with the California Highway Patrol said a vehicle left the road, turned upside down, landed on its roof, and was engulfed in fire when rescue personnel arrived. One fatality occurred caused by the accident. No information has been released on the identity of the victim. An investigation is being conducted into the cause of the crash.
Incidence of Rollovers
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, rollovers account for a small percentage of accidents at 2 percent. However, rollovers account for more than a third of all deaths from motor vehicle accidents. Roof strength plays a part in protecting accident victims from injury and death when involved in a rollover. A more vital roof on a vehicle helps reduce serious head injuries and helps prevent the accident victim from being ejected.
Roof testing performed by the IIHS showed that while side airbags and using seat belts certainly helped, roof strength played a big part in limiting the severity of injuries and number of deaths.
Preventing a Rollover
Some vehicles have more tendency to roll over than others. Some SUVs are subject to rollover due to their high center of gravity, and some vans and trucks. Some may also be subject to crushed roofs, which are more apt to cause fatalities and devastating injuries such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage. Some of these accidents may be attributed to manufacturer defects or poor design. In that event, the manufacturer may be held responsible for the product defect that led to the injuries or death of a loved one.
Many Rollovers Are Preventable
When a driver is involved in an accident involving another vehicle that results in a rollover, this may not be preventable. However, many rollovers are single-vehicle crashes, and some actions can help lower the number of rollovers of this type.
- Slow down when turning sharp corners. Turning a corner too sharply is the number one reason for a rollover accident that involves only one vehicle.
- Exercise more caution when weather conditions are adverse. Icy, wet, or snowy roads mean a driver should slow down and drive cautiously. This is especially true if the driver is in a vehicle with a high center of gravity.
- Allow sufficient room for other vehicles on the road. Drive defensively and do not tailgate other vehicles.
- Obey traffic laws. Reckless behavior such as running a stop sign, texting while driving, or driving aggressively contributes to accidents.
- Never get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you have been drinking or are under the influence of illegal or legal drugs. It has been proven that a driver’s reaction time is slower than usual and that poor decisions can result from drugged or drunk driving.
Novato Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Novato car accident lawyer. If you or your loved one has suffered an injury because of the negligent actions of another, please phone me at (415) 521-2515. My advice for you is free and friendly. You can call toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
I have helped the residents of Northern California for 35 years as an injury lawyer to protect their rights and obtain the compensation they deserve for their traumatic injuries and their wrongful death claims.
As a member of the Million Dollar Advocates, I have helped clients receive million-dollar settlements or verdicts.
Client ratings and comments are at Avvo, Yelp, and Google. Verdicts and Settlements on my website contain write-ups on some of my prior cases and their outcomes.
For information about personal injuries and our blog, go to the website I founded and own at autoaccident.com.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/highway-jam-traffic-pkw-autos-1761825/
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