Any time fatal truck accidents occur, it is very tragic. Consequently, when the crash causes fatal injuries to multiple people — particularly children — it is even more disastrous. Truck accidents recently occurred in California in which 10 people, eight of which were high school students, were killed. The crash happened after a FedEx truck crossed the median and struck a bus containing the students.
The bus carried 19 students from multiple school districts, and it was heading north towards Humboldt State University to visit the campus. The FedEx truck, which was towing two 28-foot trailers, was headed south when it crossed the 58-foot wide median, barreled through shrubbery and entered the northbound lanes. The investigation is still ongoing, and it is not as yet clear why the FedEx truck crossed the median on the 5 Freeway near Orland.
The truck reportedly hit a car before slamming into the bus. A fire broke out as a result of the crash. Both the driver of the truck and the driver of the bus were killed, along with the eight students. Nine of the victims died at the scene, and the other later passed away at the hospital. The mother of one of the victims who died in the crash has already filed a negligence lawsuit against FedEx.
Just as the one mother has already done, the families of the other victims of the truck accidents also have the right to seek civil suits against the truck driver’s estate. The driver’s employer may also be added as a defendant. While seeking legal redress in a California civil courtroom will not bring back a loved one, a successfully presented claim may result in a monetary award for the families that could help them financially during this difficult time.
Source: NBC Los Angeles, “NTSB Issues Preliminary Report in Fatal California FedEx Truck, Bus Crash“, Jonathan Lloyd, April 25, 2014