A driver was killed in a truck accident in Ontario after the tractor-trailer he was driving struck another big-rig that was parked on the shoulder and veered off the roadway. According to a press release issued by the San Bernardino County Coroner, California Highway Patrol officials were sent to the northbound Interstate 15 early morning on January 30, 2014 after reports of a two-vehicle accident. The officers found the tractor-trailer, which came to rest at the southbound Interstate 15 to Interstate 10 overpass. The driver of the tractor-trailer died at the scene. The investigation is ongoing.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of the deceased truck driver. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Truck Accident Statistics
There were 278 fatalities and 7,249 injuries involving truck accidents statewide in 2011, according to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In San Bernardino County, 34 people were killed and 648 were injured as a result of truck collisions in 2011. The three major causes of truck accidents included unsafe speed, improper turning and unsafe lane changes. Truck accidents in California constituted 9.3 percent of the total number of traffic accidents in the year 2011.
What Caused This Fatal Crash?
Based on this news report, it appears that the truck driver struck another big rig that was parked on the shoulder. This impact caused the striking truck to veer off the roadway and crash. I trust officials are looking into why the big rig was parked on the shoulder and if it was parked legally. If it was parked illegally, the family members of the deceased truck driver can seek compensation from the other driver and his or her employer.
In addition, the driver’s family members can also seek workers’ compensation death benefits. In such cases injured victims or families of deceased victims would be well advised to contact an experienced San Bernardino car accident lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. The best personal injury law firms will offer free consultations and comprehensive case evaluations to injured victims and their families.