Late morning on Monday, April 8, three people were seriously injured in a traffic collision between a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer. Around 11:15 am an accident was reported in Apple Valley, an unincorporated, rural-urban town in San Bernardino County. The accident occurred at the intersection of Stoddard Wells Road and Outer Highway 15.
When emergency response crews arrived at the scene, they found a Volvo semi-truck and a gray Ford F-150 on the dirt shoulder of the northbound I-15. The semi had sustained some front-end damage on the left, driver’s side.
According to Apple Valley Fire Department firefighters, there were a total of three patients. Extrication was required for at least one individual involved in the crash, though they did not specify who. All three patients were transported by ground ambulances to the Apple Valley airport and airlifted to trauma centers in other areas from there. Helicopters from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), REACH, and Mercy Air assisted with the airlifts for the three patients.
This accident is currently under investigation by the Apple Valley Police Department to determine the circumstances and cause of the incident.
Trucking Companies and Truck Drivers Legal Obligations On The Road
Truck drivers and trucking companies are held to a higher standard of care due to the size and weight of their vehicles. “This higher standard of care is mainly because trucks, especially large commercial ones, pose an increased risk on the road due to being larger and heavier than other vehicles,” says Brett Schreiber, a lawyer at Singleton Schreiber, “Accidents involving semi-trucks are much more likely to result in significant damage and injuries, and in some cases may result in death.”
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) imposes strict regulations on commercial trucking companies and their drivers to increase safety on the roads. Regulations imposed include areas such as strict driver qualifications, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, and more.
Truck drivers must undergo specific training in order to obtain their commercial driver’s license (CDL) that allows them to operate large trucks. Commercial truck drivers are expected to adhere to truck-specific safety protocols like maintaining safe speeds and following distances, proper lane usage, and more to mitigate the risk associated with their vehicles.
Additionally, trucking companies are responsible for ensuring the drivers they employ are properly trained, their fleet vehicles are well-maintained, and operations comply with relevant regulations (i.e. hours of service, cargo securement, etc). Failure to meet these regulations can result in serious consequences such as fines, penalties, and legal liabilities should they be involved in an accident.
What Can You Do If You Or A Loved One Are Injured In An Accident Involving A Semi-Truck?
If you or a loved one have been in an accident with a semi-truck that resulted in injuries, you may be entitled to some form of compensation.
Accidents involving semi-trucks can cause severe injury, leaving you with temporary or permanent disabilities, and some incidents may even lead to death. Often, when negotiating with trucking company’s insurance companies, they will try to give victims as little compensation as possible. Hiring an experienced truck accident attorney may be helpful when dealing with insurance companies in the aftermath of a truck accident.
If you’ve been injured in an accident with a semi-truck, you may be able to obtain compensation for things like:
- Property damage
- Medical bills
- Lost income and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- And more
If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident with a semi-truck, contact the attorneys at Singleton Schreiber by calling (619) 771-3473 or via email at info@singletonschreiber.com.
