VICTORVILLE, CA (May 10, 2022) – A Victorville accident left a driver critically injured, which required emergency response to airlift the driver to a trauma center.
The accident occurred around 3:06 a.m. on May 6 at the intersection of Air Expressway and Nevada Avenue. The two vehicles involved were a semi-truck and a sedan.
Due to the severity of the damage, firefighters took nearly 30 minutes to extract the injured driver from the crushed vehicle.
Helicopter Mercy 22 then airlifted the driver to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, CA.
A portion of the Air Expressway was closed in both directions until 6:30 a.m. while emergency response crews cleared the scene of the accident.
The cause and details of the crash are still under investigation.
Liability In Victorville Semi-Truck Accidents
Nearly 4,000 people are killed every year in collisions with commercial trucks. Most of the deaths involved people who are occupants of passenger vehicles. Underride collisions are especially hazardous for the occupants of passenger vehicles. These collisions can partially be mitigated by underride guards. There are a number of other measures that can help reduce the severity of truck collisions.
- Trucking Regulations: The truck industry is regulated to help ensure that trucks are maintained and that drivers are well rested. For example, truck drivers typically aren’t allowed to work more than 11 hours in a single shift.
- Braking Systems: Many commercial trucks are equipped with automatic braking systems that can detect vehicles in the roadway and slow down the truck to avoid hitting them.
- Crash Avoidance Technologies: Electronic stability control is now required on all new tractor-trailer trucks and buses. These systems are designed to intervene when a truck’s motion becomes unstable.
Truck drivers must get specialized training and obtain a commercial driver’s license. They are held to a high standard in terms of safety and serious traffic infractions can jeopardize their ability to maintain a CDL. Operating a truck is very different and much more difficult than operating a passenger vehicle. Among other things, it takes a lot longer to stop a commercial truck. Truck drivers must be aware of this. They need to take it into consideration in calculating a safe follow distance for the lead vehicle.
Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of accidents and also nearly always preventable. They tend to occur when truck drivers fail to maintain a safe distance with the vehicle ahead of them. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21703, no driver shall follow another vehicle more closely than what is reasonable and prudent for the speed of the vehicle and the conditions of the traffic on the roadway. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear-ends another vehicle – even when that vehicle is stalled in the roadway.
However, there could be situations when a truck driver may not be held at fault for a rear-end collision. For example, a vehicle may reverse while on the freeway. Or that driver could potentially make an unsafe lane change in front of the truck. In rare circumstances, a truck’s brakes may unexpectedly give out. This could potentially form the basis of a negligence claim on the part of a company responsible for maintaining the truck or creating its brakes.
If a truck driver was working at the time of a collision, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. However, many companies will try to evade liability by hiring their drivers as independent contractors. It is important to determine the employment status of a truck driver at the time of a collision. There are a number of other items that should be investigated.
- What was the speed of the truck at the time of the collision?
- Was the truck driver distracted when the accident took place?
- How long were they working prior to the crash?
- Did the truck driver receive adequate training?
Investigating A Los Angeles Semi-Truck Accident
We at West Coast Trial Lawyers wish the driver in this case a speedy recovery. Any person that may have information about what happened should reach out to the police. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened for the sake of all who have lost so much.
Do you need more information about an accident that took place in Victorville? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping accident victims get the information and resources that they are owed under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into a collision we are here for you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (888) 395-7234.