Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah – One person is dead after a collision between a passenger vehicle and a dump truck. The accident happened in Big Cottonwood Canyon on August 15th. Authorities identified the deceased driver as Jessica Minnesota.
Ms. Minnesota was traveling on State Route 190 when a dump truck, attempting to utilize the hillside as a runaway truck lane, collided with her vehicle. The driver of the dump truck later told authorities that his brakes had failed.
Ms. Minnesota did not survive the accident. Three passengers in the vehicle were injured and taken to area hospitals. The driver of the dump truck was also transported to the hospital.
No further information was immediately available. 
The Truck’s Condition Must be Investigated to Determine Fault
These types of preventable accidents involving large commercial trucks continue to plague our roadways. Had the truck not lost its brakes, the accident would not have occurred. To formulate a legal strategy, we must understand the truck’s condition before the accident and specifically why the truck’s brakes were not in working order.
The truck driver was exiting the roadway to utilize a runaway truck lane when it collided with the victim’s car. If the driver’s brakes were, in fact, not working, we must understand what caused the brakes to fail. The company that owns the truck is required by law to maintain its vehicles in a manner that would prevent these types of accidents. If the company did not inspect and repair its trucks and a brake issue was missed, the company could be held liable for its negligence.
Additionally, we must understand why the truck driver could not avoid the passenger vehicle as it exited the roadway. If the truck driver did not properly check the roadway before attempting to exit, the driver should be held liable. A truck driver cannot utilize a runaway truck ramp if doing so will cause an accident.
If the truck driver was improperly trained and did not understand how to check the roadway, the company could also be liable. If additional safety equipment could have allowed the driver to check the road before exiting, and that type of equipment is standard on dump trucks, the company could be held liable for not maintaining its fleet with the necessary safety updates.
An independent investigation must be conducted to understand the underlying causes of this accident. Once the details are uncovered, the parties involved should be held liable for their actions in this case. Our firm provides free case reviews and investigations to ensure all people have access to our courtrooms despite their current circumstances. If those affected by this accident, or others similarly situated, need legal counsel, do not hesitate to reach out to the Ammons Law Firm.
We extend our deepest condolences to the grieving family and pray the injured victims can make a full recovery.
Disclaimer: Information contained in this blog was compiled from third-party sources and has not been independently verified. Please inform us immediately if false or misleading information is contained in this post.
