Soonataa Noa Died In Burbank Tractor Trailer Truck Accident On the Interstate 5 Freeway
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA (August 12, 2022) – One person identified as Soonataa Noa died in a Burbank semi-truck accident on the Interstate 5 freeway.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the collision took place around 8:20 a.m. on Thursday. Soonataa Noa was in a passenger vehicle when she was involved in a collision with a semi-truck under unclear circumstances.
The force of the collision caused a huge amount of debris and gasoline to spill into the roadway. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims.
Despite life-saving measures, Soonataa Noa died as a result of her injuries. The No. 4 and No. 5 lanes of the freeway were closed for several hours as police investigated and interviewed the semi-truck driver.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Burbank Semi-Truck Accidents
Thousands of people are killed every year in semi-truck accidents in the United States. According to the IIHS, “A total of 4,014 people died in large truck crashes in 2020. Fifteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 68 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 16 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.” There are a number of steps that truck companies should take in order to prevent accidents.
- Truck drivers should be properly licensed and adequately trained.
- Trucks should be regularly inspected and adequately maintained.
- Trucks can be equipped with hardware and software that can be used to prevent crashes such as forward collision avoidance systems.
All semi-truck drivers must get a commercial driver’s license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22107, no person shall move their vehicle from a direct course of action upon a roadway unless such a movement can be made with reasonable safety. Trucks tend to have large blind spots and many accidents are caused by truck drivers that make dangerous lane changes.
When a truck driver is negligent, the company that they work for could potentially 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. However, many companies try to avoid liability for crashes by hiring truck drivers as “independent contractors.”
Depending on the facts of any case, the company that loaded a semi-truck could be held at fault. It has been estimated that around 5% of all truck accidents are due in part to overloading. All trucks have a specific carrying capacity and when they are overloaded this can put excessive wear on the brakes and engine. This increases the odds that a crash will occur. There are many steps that should be taken after any semi-truck accident.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be sought.
- The police report for the accident should be examined.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any person that is killed in a semi-truck accident may have legal recourse through California Code of Civil Procedure 377.60. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, truck companies will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any crash. This is why it is so important that evidence is properly preserved and collected. In order to win any civil claim, plaintiffs will have to demonstrate negligence.
Investigating A Burbank Semi-Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Soonataa Noa. 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 the victim’s family.
Do you need more information about a Burbank semi-truck accident? Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
