Pedestrian Died In Fresno Truck Accident Near The Intersection of Highway 180 and Blackstone
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (June 2, 2022) – A male pedestrian has tragically died in a Fresno truck accident in the Number 2 lane by the area of Highway 180 and Blackstone.
Fresno County officials are saying that the accident took place on Sunday morning. A pedestrian was in the number 2 lanes of the freeway when they were hit by a truck.
First responders were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. They were rushed to the Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC) with critical injuries.
Despite life-saving measures, the man died due to the severity of his injuries. Police interviewed the driver of the truck who remained at the scene.
A full investigation into the Fresno truck accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Fresno County Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are uniquely vulnerable in car accidents. They lack the protection of enclosed vehicles and are more likely to be overlooked. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than 7,000 pedestrians were killed in vehicle accidents in 2020. It has been estimated that nearly a third of all fatal pedestrian collisions involve an intoxicated driver. Commercial trucks can be particularly dangerous to pedestrians for a number of reasons.
- A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs. Even a low impact collision can be catastrophic.
- A semi-truck traveling at freeway speeds can take the length of two football fields to come to a complete stop.
- Semi-trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of pedestrians.
Truck drivers will often need to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. They must do everything in their power to avoid hitting pedestrians, even if those pedestrians are in the middle of the roadway. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, all drivers must operate their vehicle at a speed not exceeding what would be reasonable and safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. Drivers must also scan the road ahead of them for hazards. If a driver fails to take evasive action to avoid a pedestrian on the roadway or entering the roadway, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Depending on the facts of any case, a truck driver’s employer could potentially be liable for an accident. In general, companies are liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. However, many truck companies will try to evade liability for crashes by hiring their drivers as “independent contractors.” It is important to determine the employment status of a truck driver at the time of a collision. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any pedestrian accident.
- Surveillance footage of the accident site should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The truck’s event data recorder (EDR) should be examined.
- Work records of the truck driver should be reviewed.
The family of any victim that is killed in a truck accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, truck drivers will often fight hard to deny any responsibility for an accident. This is often the case when the victim was in the middle of a roadway at the time of a collision. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A California Pedestrian Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of the pedestrian that died in this collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of all who have lost so much.
Do you need more information about a Fresno County pedestrian accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that negligent drivers are held to account for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need more information about a particular accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
