Eloise Perez (Full Name: Eloise Sophia Perez) Died, Two People Injured In Valley Village Semi-Truck Accident On 101 Freeway
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (January 21, 2022) – A baby girl identified as Eloise Perez (Elli) was killed and two people were injured in a Valley Village truck accident on the 101 Freeway.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the crash took place around 1:30 p.m. on Monday. Eloise Perez was in a 2018 Land Rover with her mother and father.
A semi-truck merged directly into the lane of the Land Rover before crashing into it. Authorities said that the Land Rover rolled two times before coming to a stop.
Tragically, Eloise Perez was ejected from the Land Rover and sustained critical injuries. She was taken to the hospital along with her parents.
Despite the best efforts of hospital staff, she died due to the severe nature of her injuries. You can help support the family of the baby girl through GoFundMe.
According to the GoFundMe, “Are heart’s are broken, the tragic loss of our lovable Granddaughter Elli, (Eloise) Sofia Perez of only 7 weeks, from a horrific auto accident, our family is devastated. Her mother Cynthia underwent 6hr surgery for a broken Femur and Ankle.”
Liability For Los Angeles Semi-Truck Accidents
Truck accidents typically occur for many different reasons. According to the FMCSA, “Motor vehicle crashes are complex events. Usually they involve two or more vehicles. Elements that influence the occurrence of a crash may take place hours, days, or months before the crash. They include driver training and experience, vehicle design and manufacture, highway condition and traffic signaling, and weather conditions.” There are a number of steps that truck drivers should take to avoid collisions.
- Truck drivers should be well rested before heading out onto the road.
- Truck drivers should use commercial GPS to plan their routes.
- Truck drivers should take periodic breaks during their shifts.
Fatigue, in particular, is one of the most common contributing factors for semi-truck accidents. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that staying awake for only 17 hours reduces a person’s ability to drive safely equal to driving with a BAC of 0.05%. Staying awake for 24 hours further reduces a person’s driving ability equal to them having a BAC of 0.1%. There are limits on how many hours a truck driver can work, but these regulations are not always followed.
Truck drivers must be particularly cautious before re-entering a lane of the freeway. According to California Vehicle Code 22107, no person shall move left or right upon a roadway unless such a movement can be made with reasonable safety. Drivers must also use their signals to let other people on the road know what their intentions are. Many lane merge accidents take place when truck drivers fail to check their blind spots. There are several elements that must be proven for a plaintiff to demonstrate negligence for any crash.
- The defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty of care.
- The defendant breached that duty.
- The breach was the proximate cause of the harm that occurred.
- The plaintiff sustained damages.
It can be hard to know where to begin after any semi-truck accident. But it is important for accident victims to know that they do have rights. The family of any person that is killed due to the negligent actions of a truck driver may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. Sadly, though, it is extremely common for truck drivers to deny liability for any collision.
Investigating A Los Angeles County Semi-Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Eloise Perez. It is our hope that both of her parents will be able to recover from their injuries. No parent should ever have to go through something like this. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the California Highway Patrol.
Do you need more information about a Valley Village truck accident? Our team of truck 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 truck drivers are held accountable for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
