Accident at Vintage Park Drive Intersection Caused by Locked Steering Wheel
A locked steering wheel caused an accident in a Vineyard intersection on August 9, resulting in an injury. The collision occurred around 9:54 a.m. at Vintage Park, and Caymus drives when the driver of a Ford Focus lost control and crashed into the center divider. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the vehicle ended up on the top of the median, and emergency responders with the Fire Department were called to the scene.
Roadway Closed While Accident Is Investigated
The collision blocked both the eastbound number one and westbound number one lanes. According to the police report, the driver’s steering wheel locked, which resulted in the collision. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved.
Causes of a Locked Steering Wheel
There are a number of reasons a steering wheel locks, and none of them are good. In some cases, the problem may be a defective part. When a steering wheel locks because of a defect, a claim can be placed against the manufacturer, part designer and others in the production line by filing an auto product liability claim. Following an accident of this type, it is important to retain the vehicle, so engineers can examine it to discover the problem. Some of the reasons that result in a locked steering wheel include:
- The engine quits with no warning: An engine that suddenly stops while you are driving can cause the driver to lose control, the power brakes to stop working, and lock the steering wheel. This can be caused by the engine overheating, low oil or transmission fluid, a failed motor mount, electrical problem, or faulty catalytic converter.
- The steering linkage fails: It seldom happens, but when the steering linkage fails, the steering locks up. While the driver can probably still maneuver the steering wheel to some extent, the lack of power steering and brakes can make it difficult to avoid an accident that causes serious injuries.
- Faulty power steering: While low fluid might lead to a locked steering wheel, another culprit can be mechanical such as the power steering rack. This can cause the wheel to lock up if the driver attempts turning in a certain direction.
- Bad steering lock: Meant as an anti-theft device, a defective lock or technical error can lead to the driver being unable to control their vehicle.
Investigation of an Accident
Auto defects are among the many causes of a traffic accident injury. Most traffic collisions are caused by driver negligence, while some may be attributed to government neglect when roadways aren’t kept in good condition. Whatever the cause, our investigators will find it so that the injured party can obtain fair compensation. Among the areas of investigation to uncover evidence, we:
- Examine the vehicle for possible defects
- Obtain a copy of the police report to look for mistakes since errors might prevent a client from filing a claim
- Interview any witnesses to the accident
- Conduct accident reconstruction to determine the paths the vehicle/vehicles took, which can point toward fault
- Check surveillance cameras in the area to see if any of them captured the accident on video
- Examine the roadway to look for signs of government negligence such as potholes, upheavals in the pavement, overgrown shrubbery, and poor lighting
Once the evidence has been gathered, our injury lawyers go to work to construct a strong case that supports our client’s claim for compensation.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. Auto defects cause many accidents that result in injuries or even fatalities. If you believe your accident was caused by a defective auto product, contact me for my free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You can also contact me online.
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My legal team and I have helped Vineyard and other Northern California residents since 1982 to get fair compensation after their accident injuries, product liability claims, wrongful deaths, and other cases.
Photo attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/car-accident-broken-glass-splatter-337764/
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