One person was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after the car he or she was driving hit the rear of a semi-truck, which was stalled in freeway lanes. KTLA reports that the fatal big-rig versus car collision occurred the morning of March 26, 2010 in the southbound lanes of the 5 Freeway near Buena Vista Street, in Burbank. The front half of the sedan went under the truck and was crushed. The driver of the sedan sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. California Highway Patrol officials are investigating this incident.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of this victim who was killed in this terrible accident. Please keep them in your prayers.
Car Accidents
There were five fatalities and 548 injuries involving car accidents in Burbank, according to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Countywide car accidents claimed 667 lives and caused 52,229 injuries during the same year.
The Devastation of Truck Underride Accidents
It is hard to tell based on this news report why or how 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. This can result in catastrophic head injuries or even decapitation.
Large commercial trucks 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 spell out safety requirements for big-rigs manufactured on or after January 1998.
Liability Issues
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. If the trucking firm did not comply with federal standards, they could be held liable for the wrongful death of this motorist. Wrongful death claims usually seek damages to cover funeral expenses, lost future earnings, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages.
None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.
