There are some vehicles traveling the roads of Los Angeles that present more inherent dangers not only to their drivers, but also to the drivers of other vehicles who are sharing the roads with them. One example, as discussed in other posts in this blog, is an 18-wheeler. The drivers of these vehicles are held to a higher standard that the drivers of passenger vehicles, because these commercial motor vehicles present more danger in their size and the nature of the loads that they carry.
Readers in California likely often hear about a truck causing severe injuries when the other vehicle or vehicles involved are small passenger cars or motorcycles. However, a truck accident that recently occurred in Los Angeles did not involve any passenger vehicles and yet there were still 13 people left with injuries after the collision.
The accident involved a Los Angeles Metrolink train and a dump truck. The accident occurred right before 2:30 p.m. The dump truck was on the train tracks at the time the train was passing through the intersection. The security arms were working, but they did not help as the truck was already on the tracks when the arms lowered down. The accident is still under investigation and therefore it is unknown at this time why the truck was on the Metrolink tracks when the train was approaching.
There were 190 people aboard the train. Twelve of those passeengers suffered injuries from the impact. In addition, the driver of the dump truck was injured in the accident. When an individual is injured in an accident involving a commercial motor vehicle, he or she may be able to recover compensation for any injuries sustained in the accident. This compensation would help the victim pay for medical bills, lost income and possibly also for pain and suffering. The means for recovering this money is the filing of a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party that may be held accountable for the victim’s injuries.
Because truck drivers and their employers are held to a higher standard of care in terms of driving safely on the roadways, lawsuits involving these types of vehicles can very quickly become complicated. However, injured parties can be successful in holding negligent partie responsible for any accidents that they cause. It is important that an injured party maximizes any available compensation so as to best recover emotionally and financially as quickly as possible.
Source: United Press International, “14 hurt in LA Metrolink crash,” April 6, 2013
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