California Injury Blog
One person sustained fatal injuries in a Los Angeles car accident after the car he or she was driving hit the rear of a semi-truck, which was stopped on the 5 Freeway, in Burbank. According to KTLA News, the car crash was reported the morning of March 26, 2010 in the southbound lanes of the 5 Freeway, near Buena Vista Street. The front of the sedan was stuck underneath the semi due to the collision. The car’s driver died at the scene. An investigation is underway.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the person who was killed in this horrific accident. My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved this fatally injured victim. They will be in my prayers.
Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were five fatalities and 548 injuries involving car accidents in Burbank. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 667 deaths and 52,229 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2008.
Truck Underride Accidents
Based on this news report, it is not quite clear how or why this “truck underride” accident occurred. “Underride” typically happens in truck accidents that involve tractor-trailers or semis. In such cases, a smaller passenger vehicle rear-ends a higher chassis truck, goes under and a “passenger compartment intrusion” occurs. Big-rigs are required under federal law to have bumpers that are about 40 cm (or 20 inches) above the ground to avoid such underride accidents. The Department of Transportation (DOT) safety standards and also, Standard No. 223 of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards prescribe safety requirements for large trucks including, rear impact guards on full trailers and semi-trailers over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight manufactured on or after January 26, 1998.
Preservation of Physical Evidence
In this particular case, we do not know whether the semi-truck had a rear impact guard that complied with state and federal laws. The family of this deceased victim would be well-advised to contact a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who is highly skilled in truck underride accidents, accident reconstruction and the biomechanics of injuries. These are important skills that are necessary to determine precisely what happened and who is at fault in any serious injury accident. It is also important in such cases to inspect the big-rig immediately after the accident and before the trucking firm can alter it. The passenger vehicle in this case must also be preserved in its crashed condition so it can be examined for important evidence.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.