Commercial trucks are a viable means of transporting goods across the country, but they are harder to operate than class C vehicles such as cars and SUVs. Since they are harder to operate, individuals who drive big rigs should use extreme caution when traveling; otherwise, truck accidents could occur. One semi-truck driver may have recently learned this lesson after allegedly being involved in a serious California accident in which 10 other cars were hit and one person was killed.
The truck was heading north on Highway 17 at about 7:50 a.m. near Lexington Reservoir. As of right now, what exactly caused the accident is unclear, but the investigation into the crash is still underway. The California Highway Patrol does not suspect that the driver of the big rig was intoxicated at the time of the crash, but speed could have been a factor. No criminal charges have yet to be filed against the driver.
Witnesses at the scene claim that the traffic was at almost a standstill on the northbound side of the highway when the commercial truck “piled into” several vehicles. There were a total of 11 vehicles, including the big rig, involved in the accident. At least seven people were injured, and one person was killed as a result of the accident.
In truck accidents such as this one, criminal charges are sometimes filed against the driver. While no criminal charges have yet to be filed after this specific accident, the family of the person who was killed could elect to file a California wrongful death claim against the truck driver. Additionally, anyone who was injured in the accident may be able to file personal injury claims against the driver as well. If successful, these civil claims could monetarily reimburse these persons for any damages sustained in the accident.
Source: San Jose Mercury News, “One person dead, seven hurt after big rig crashes into 10 vehicles on Highway 17“, Mark Gomez and Katie Nelson, July 10, 2014