Three people were killed in a car accident in Los Angeles early morning on November 22, 2009 after their SUV crashed into a big rig that was stopped on the shoulder of the 210 Freeway in Sunland. According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the 41-year-old man who was driving the SUV, a 40-year-old female passenger and a teenager sitting in a back seat all died in the vehicle after it caught fire.
The SUV became lodged under the big rig on impact. An 11-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl were rescued from the SUV by a passer-by before the vehicle caught fire, California Highway Patrol officials said. The victims' identities have not yet been released. The two children were taken to the hospital and are said to be recovering well. The 73-year-old driver of the big rig was also taken to the hospital after he complained of chest pains.
Tragic Car Accident
My heart goes out to the family and friends of these deceased victims and the two children who went through an extremely traumatic experience. I commend the Good Samaritan who stopped and pulled these two young children from the vehicle. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this family. They will certainly be in my prayers.
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 260 fatalities and 27,110 injuries involving car accidents were reported in the city of Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 712 deaths and 56,475 injuries were reported in 2007 as a result of car accidents.
Was the Big Rig Parked Legally?
This news report states that the fully loaded big rig was parked in the shoulder of the freeway. However, if I were a member of the victims' family, I would look into whether this big rig driver was actually parked legally. Something does not seem to add up in this fatal truck accident. The news report does not say that the SUV veered off the freeway and struck the large truck parked in the shoulder. If it is found the truck driver wasn't legally parked, both he and his employer -- the trucking company -- could be held liable for this horrific accident and the injuries caused.
This tragic incident is also typical of what happens in an "underride" crash where a vehicle rear-ends a higher chassis truck, goes under the truck and a "passenger compartment intrusion" occurs. Big rigs are required to have bumpers about 40 cm (20 inches) above the ground in order to prevent such "underriding." These types of accidents could result in serious head injuries, spinal cord injuries or death, as it did in this case. The Department of Transportation safety standards and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards require these rear impact guards on full trailers and semi-trailers over 10,000 pounds. This applies to vehicles manufactured on or after January 26, 1998.
I would look into whether the big rig involved in this fatal truck accident complied with state and federal law. The family or families of these victims would be well-advised to consult with a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who is highly skilled in handling truck underride accidents. Such skills will be necessary to determine what happened and who is at fault for this horrific crash. It would also be important to preserve the big rig and the SUV involved in this accident until accident reconstruction and biomechanical experts can conduct a thorough examination of both vehicles.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm 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.
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Dottie said:
Wow - great article. It is important that everyone understands the law and 18 wheelers. Thank you!