Driver of Van Injured In A Fresno Street Sweeper Truck Accident Along Clovis Avenue Near Highway 99
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (August 9, 2022) – The driver of a van was injured in a Fresno street sweeper accident along Clovis Avenue by Highway 99.
Fresno County officials are saying that the accident took place on Friday morning. A van was stopped at a red light when they were rear-ended by a street sweeper truck whose driver fell asleep.
The street sweeper kept going after the initial crash and hit a utility pole which brought down power lines. Those power lines fell on four other vehicles.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the driver of the van who sustained injuries in the crash. A full investigation into the collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Fresno Street Sweeper Accidents
Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in the United States. Commercial trucks make up only around 4% of all vehicles involved in collisions. But they account for 9% of all vehicles involved in traffic fatalities. The majority of collisions take place at intersections. There are also many different factors that could potentially contribute to a collision.
- Speeding
- Prescription drug use
- Driver fatigue
- Inclement weather
Fatigue, in particular, is one of the main contributing factors for truck accidents. Companies often push their drivers to complete their routes as quickly as possible. This often leads to safety compromises. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that staying awake for only 18 hours reduces a person’s ability to drive safely equivalent for driving with a BAC of 0.05%. Approximately 50,000 people are injured every year in collisions involving drowsy drivers.
Street sweeper operators are held to a high safety standard. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21703, the driver of any motor vehicle must not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear-ends another vehicle stopped at a traffic control device.
When the operator of a street sweeper is negligent, the company that they work for could also be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees are working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a street sweeper operator may have been completing their route when they were involved in a crash. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any car accident.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- The police report for the collision should be examined.
- An experienced personal injury attorney should be consulted.
Any person that is injured in a car accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Many victims may not realize the full extent of their injuries for several weeks or months after a collision. A truck accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Fresno Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to the person injured in this Fresno street sweeper accident? Anyone that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar collisions.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Fresno street sweeper accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
