Adan Rodriguez, of El Paso, Johnathan Haines, of Arlington, Injured In Palo Pinto County Truck Collision on I-20
PALO PINTO COUNTY, TEXAS (December 12, 2022) – Two people identified as Adan Rodriguez and Johnathan Haines were injured in a Palo Pinto County semi-truck accident on Interstate 20.
Palo Pinto County officials are saying that the collision took place on 5:15 p.m. on Friday. A Freightliner truck, a passenger vehicle and another semi-truck were all slowed due to traffic on the freeway.
A third semi-truck struck the slowed vehicle. That vehicle was then hit by a fourth truck. One person died due to their injuries.
Adan Rodriguez, 62, was a driver of one of the slowed trucks that was rear-ended. He was taken to the hospital with injuries. Johnathan Haines, 39, and his passenger were also injured in the crash.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims. A full investigation into the crash that injured Adan Rodriguez and Johnathan Haines remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Palo Pinto County Semi-Truck Accidents
Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured every year in truck accidents. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2020, 4,842 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash, a 4% decrease from 2019 but still a 33% increase since 2011. The involvement rate per 100 million large-truck miles traveled is down 5% from 2019, but up 18% since 2011.” The vast majority of truck accidents are preventable. There are a number of steps that truck drivers should take in order to prevent accidents.
- Truck drivers should be well rested before the start of their shift.
- Truck drivers should abstain from alcohol and other intoxicating substances.
- Truck drivers should continuously scan the road ahead of them for hazards.
Driving a commercial truck is much more difficult than driving a passenger vehicle. Truck drivers will typically need to get a commercial driver’s license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21703, the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than what would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the road. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear-ends another vehicle in their own lane.
Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a truck accident could extend beyond a truck driver. For example, the company that loaded a truck could potentially be liable for a collision. Trucks have carrying capacities and when a truck is overloaded this could increase the odds of a rear-end collision. In fact, it is estimated that roughly 5% of all truck accidents are due to overloaded trucks. Victims of truck accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
The FMCSA requires commercial trucks to carry between $750,000 – $5,000,000 worth of liability coverage. Trucks that carry hazardous materials will typically need higher insurance limits. Any person that is injured in a truck accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. A truck accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Palo Pinto County Semi-Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to Adan Rodrigue, Johnathan Haines and everyone injured in this crash. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened for the sake of all of the victims. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligence of another driver? Our team of personal injury attorneys 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 any type of assistance after a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991. Se habla español.
