At least two individual were left injured after an accident that recently occurred on a Los Angeles highway. The crash involved two vehicles; an SUV and a commercial motor vehicle. The tractor-trailer accident occurred in the early hours of a Friday morning.
When police and paramedics arrived at the scene of the accident they noticed two individuals involved in the 18-wheeler accident were injured. They were both rushed to a nearby hospital where their condition was not initially announced. The collision also led to the spilling of a significant amount of diesel, which led to on and off ramps being closed for approximately two hours.
As can be seen from this accident, collisions involving large semis or commercial motor vehicles can be very treacherous. It is not only the size of these vehicles that presents a danger but also the sometimes hazardous nature of the loads they carry. In this case, it was a chemical that can be harmful if not appropriately cleaned up.
When a commercial motor vehicle is involved in an injury-causing accident, it is possible both the driver and the truck company that employs them could be held responsible for the victim’s injuries. Those with commercial driver’s licenses are held to a higher standard of care when they are operating a commercial motor vehicle, so if they do not exercise the minimum required level of care they may be considered negligent. Negligence can lead to liability for another’s injuries.
California residents that have been injured in a collision involving an 18-wheeler should speak with an experienced personal injury professional who can help them understand whether they may be able to recover compensation and if so, how to appropriately recover those damages.
Source: Los Angeles Daily News, “2 Hurt in Mission Hills truck crash on 5 Freeway,” Nov. 29, 2013