Someone behind the wheel of a bigger vehicle doesn’t notice a smaller vehicle. It’s a common excuse given by drivers who cause accidents. For whatever reason, that driver failed to spot a car, motorcycle, or bicycle in front of them until the last second. Perhaps the driver is distracted, or drowsy, or just careless.
These accidents caused by inattention can take a catastrophic human toll, especially when they involve the massive big rigs that share our roads. The National Safety Council (NSC) looked at 2018 crash numbers and discovered that 4,862 large trucks were part of accidents involving fatalities across the U.S. 71% of the victims who died were occupants of the other vehicles involved. Another 112,000 large trucks were involved in accidents that left victims injured.
These accidents involving extremely heavy trucks and tractor-trailers that can leave victims with devastating injuries and take the lives of anyone on the road.
Fresno County Tractor Trailer Involved Deadly Crash
A Semi-Truck head-on collision with an SUV in Fresno Wednesday took a man’s life and left a woman badly injured. It happened on Highway 180 and Chateau Fresno Avenue west of Fresno around 1:40 in the afternoon. ABC30-TV reported on the accident on August 19, 2020.
The California Highway Patrol says a car not involved in the collision was slowing down on Highway 180 to make a left turn. The truck driver didn’t see the car until the last second and tried to avoid a collision. The big rig veered left into the path of an oncoming SUV and struck it head-on.
A male passenger in the SUV was killed. The woman driving was taken to the hospital with major injuries. The truck driver stayed on the scene to cooperate with the investigation.
Compensation for Victims and Families After an Accident
A deadly accident will leave behind family and friends to mourn the loss of the loved one. These tragedies can also leave an injured victim with a long recovery ahead. In either tragic case, the thought of a family or victim facing the bills that accumulate in the aftermath of an accident only adds to the hardships everyone will face.
A family of a deceased victim can seek justice and assistance with those costs through a wrongful death claim. The claim will hold an at-fault truck driver and perhaps the company he drives for responsible for the damages the accident left behind. A representative for the family, such as a spouse or children of the victim, can file this civil claim. The claim may allow the family to collect money for any hospital bills before the victim passed away, funeral costs, counseling, and provide money for the family to continue on without the financial support the victim would have provided.
A surviving victim of an accident can also file a claim for damages. These damages that can be compensated include hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, travel costs, cost of psychological therapy and lost wages from missed time from work.
The family of a deceased victim in California is allowed up to two years from the day the victim passed away to file a wrongful death claim. An injured victim is allowed the same two years to file a claim for damages, starting on the date of the accident.
Contact a Fresno Car Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in an accident in Fresno County or if a family member was lost as the result of a negligent driver, let a Fresno Car Accident Attorney help hold the truck driver and the company he drives for fully responsible for their mistake. An attorney can determine the best way to get the proper compensation for the physical and emotional hardships you and your family have been through.
After any accident in the Central Valley, contact attorney Martin Gasparian for a free consultation and case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case. He believes that every client should work directly with their lawyer, get honest advice, and personalized attention to detail their case deserves.
