BUTTONWILLOW, California—Three individuals suffered minor injuries in a nine-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck on I-5 near Twisselman Road. The accident occurred on October 29, 2022, around 11:20 a.m.
According to initial reports, a 2023 Freightliner semi-truck was traveling northbound on I-5. Traffic ahead of the semi-truck was at a standstill in two lanes due to a previous crash near Twisselman Road. The semi-truck driver failed to stop the truck before crashing into the rear of two other semi-trucks and a passenger car. The force of the impact caused the trucks and car to hit others, resulting in a 9-vehicle accident
One driver was transported to Kern Medical, another was taken to Mercy southwest, and a third driver declined medical treatment. I-5 northbound was closed for approximately 8 hours as crews cleaned debris from the interstate.
An investigation into the accident is ongoing. No further details are available.
Crash victims can pursue compensation against truck drivers, trucking companies, or other responsible parties.
It appears as though the semi-truck driver was negligent in failing to avoid this collision. When accidents like this could have been avoided but for another’s negligence, crash victims are often successful at obtaining compensation for their injuries.
Semi-truck drivers have a duty to avoid accidents like other drivers on the road. While this truck driver may have been distracted or unable to stop, semi-truck drivers must also be fully educated about common roadway dangers, such as sudden stops. Therefore, while a truck driver may have caused an accident involving eight other vehicles, a trucking company employing that driver may share in the liability for the accident.
Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, commercial trucking companies can be held responsible for the actions of their employees while on the job. This incentivizes commercial trucking companies to hire experienced drivers and to train those drivers always to prioritize safety.
While initial investigations may not dig into the training records of trucking companies, crash victims and their families can seek legal counsel to help initiate an independent inquiry into the crash. Often, skilled attorneys can uncover information about a truck driver’s prior training or driving record to show that a trucking company should share in the responsibility of the crash. Thus, crash victims can typically expect to receive compensation after suffering injuries in an accident with a semi-truck. Trucking companies’ insurance policies often cover a great deal of compensation awarded to crash victims, so those injured in this crash should not hesitate to pursue legal remedies.
The Ammons Law Firm is a nationwide personal injury firm focused on catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. Contact the Ammons Law Firm today for a free accident review.
Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice. Information contained in this blog was compiled from third-party sources or is the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if false or misleading information is contained in this post.
