Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

A tow truck driver was seriously injured early Saturday morning after a car crashed into him and pinned him against his rig on the 101 Freeway, just north of Melrose Avenue, ABC 7 News reported. The July 3rd accident occurred at about 2:15 a.m. At least one other person was also injured in the accident and taken to a local hospital.

Cause of the 101 Freeway Accident

The CHP is investigating the cause of the 101 Freeway tow truck accident. Further details about what happened were not available; it was not known if alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Tow Truck Driver Personal Injury Liability

Every year, a number of tow truck drivers suffer serious injuries or death when they are struck by other vehicles on the job. The family of the tow truck driver seriously hurt in this collision, and any other victims of this accident would be well-advised to speak to a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer about this accident, and the unique legal issues involved since this accident occurred on the job. An experienced attorney can help the victims protect their rights and obtain maximum compensation for their injuries, lost earnings, and pain and suffering, along with any other accident-related expenses.

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Two men in their 20's died and one person was critically injured in an accident on westbound Highway 101 in Agoura Hills early Friday, the LA Times reported. The July 2nd crash occurred at about 4:40 a.m. near Reyes Adobe Road, the California Highway Patrol said.

A small silver compact car headed westbound on Highway 101 (the Ventura Freeway) drifted onto the shoulder where it collided with a big rig parked on the shoulder. Both the driver and front seat passenger were killed in the collision. One of the victims was identified as Joshua Dubon, 23, of Santa Paula. The other victim, whose name was not released, was 24 years old. The backseat passenger, a 21-year-old Santa Paula man, suffered major injuries and was airlifted to a local hospital. The truck driver complained of shoulder pain following the crash, but was able to drive away from the scene of the crash.

The CHP is investigating what happened to cause this Highway 101 crash. Based on the limited information provided in news reports, it was not clear why the big rig was parked on the side of the road, and if it was parked legally. The CHP will also look into other possible causes, including fog or other reduced visibility, fatigue, or alcohol use.

Big-Rig Rear-End Underguard Collisions

There have recently been a number of very serious accidents involving passenger cars rear-ending big-rig trucks. On May 26th, a family of five suffered very serious injuries when in a rear-end big rig collision on Highway 101 north of Ventura. On May 21st, a 22-year-old Madera man died in a rear-end big rig crash on Highway 99 in Fresno County. Because there are federal Department of Laws in place that govern big rig trailer bumpers (also known as underguard bars), rear-end accidents involving big rigs have unique legal issues.

Wrongful Death Liability Considerations

While this Agoura Hills crash remains under investigation, the family members of the victims of this accident would be well-advised to consult with an experienced California truck accident lawyer as soon as possible, who is familiar with federal Department of Transportation (DOT) rear-impact protection requirements (see Code of Federal Regulations §571.224 Standard No. 224), as well as laws regarding parking big-rigs on the side of a highway. If the truck was not parked legally, or if the underguard bumper on the tractor trailer did not meet Department of Transportation regulations most recently amended in 2006, the trucking company may be liable for the wrongful deaths of the driver and passenger, and the serious injuries of the backseat passenger.

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A crash Wednesday afternoon involving a Saturn sedan and a big-rig truck left a family of five from Los Osos with serious injuries, KEYT News reported. According to reports, the driver of a big rig truck hauling 14,000 pounds of citrus and vegetables had pulled over to inspect his vehicles braking system. The truck driver pulled onto the northbound shoulder of the highway.

The sedan collided with the rear-end of the trailer near Mussel Shoals Road at 1:50 p.m., and was wedged under the back of the big rig. According to the Daily Sound, the truck driver and a good Samaritan off duty firefighter helped pull three children, a 2-year-old boy a 4-year-old girl, and a 6-year-old girl out of the back of the vehicle. Their parents, identified by the Ventura County Star as Christopher and Vanessa Dunne of Los Osos, remained trapped in their vehicle for nearly an hour.

A CHP officer said that the fire department had to use "extreme extrication procedures" to remove the parents. A helicopter landed on the highway and took the father to the hospital. The others were taken to the hospital by ground ambulance. The driver of the truck was not hurt. Our hearts go out to the Dunne family and we hope they all make a full recovery from their serious injuries.

Cause of the Crash

The facts reported in the news do not explain what happened, and at this point, there are really more questions than answers. It is not clear if the semi-truck was partly on the roadway, and whether it was parked legally. Also at issue is whether the underride protection bar (also known as a rear-impact guard or DOT bumper) met Department of Transportation requirements. The laws that govern rear-impact protection on tractor-trailer trucks can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations §571.224 Standard No. 224. The purpose of this federal regulation is to "reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries occurring when light duty vehicles impact the rear of trailers and semitrailers with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kg (approximately 10,000 pounds) or more."

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