Allan Schultz, Susan Shultz, of El Dorado Hills, Injured In Kern County Semi-Truck Accident On Interstate 5 North of Twisselman Road Near Lost Hills
KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (November 4, 2022) – Two people identified as Allan Schultz and Susan Shultz were injured in a Kern County semi-truck accident on Interstate 5.
Kern County officials are saying that the accident took place around 10:40 a.m. on Monday. A 20-year-old truck driver was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to slow down for stopped traffic.
The truck driver collided with four vehicles and injured Allan Schultz and Susan Shultz in the process. Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident in order to help all of the victims.
Multiple people sustained injuries and were treated at the scene. Allan Schultz and Susan Shultz were transported to Mercy Hospital in order to receive treatment.
The truck driver involved in the crash remained at the scene and cooperated with police. It remains unclear if the truck driver will face any citations for the collision.
Liability In Kern County Semi-Truck Accidents
A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs and can be extremely dangerous to smaller vehicles. In fact, a fully loaded semi-truck traveling at 65 mph can take the length of two football fields to come to a stop. This is one of the reasons it is so important that truck drivers are well trained and constantly scanning the road ahead of them. There are a number of factors positively correlated with semi-truck accidents.
- Younger and less experienced truck drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes.
- Truck accidents are more likely to occur when trucks are not properly maintained.
- Truck accidents are more likely to occur if truck drivers are not well rested or over-worked.
Fatigue, in particular, is one of the leading causes of semi-truck accidents in the United States. Truck drivers have very difficult jobs and demanding schedules. It is common for truck drivers to be pushed to complete their routes as quickly as possible, which can often leave them dangerously fatigued. The Centers for Disease Control has estimated that staying awake for only 18 hours can reduce a person’s ability to drive safely equal to driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05%.
All semi-truck drivers will typically need to get a commercial drivers license. They are also held to a very high standard in terms of safety. Many collisions are due to truck drivers that are speeding. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, no person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed greater than what would be reasonable or prudent given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. Even driving the speed limit could be considered reckless in slowing traffic.
Depending on the facts of any case, the company that a truck driver worked for could be held at fault for a collision. Employers are typically held vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a truck driver may have been delivering packages when they were involved in a crash. Victims of semi-truck accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations
The FMCSA requires commercial trucks to carry between $750,000 – $5,000,000 worth of insurance coverage. Trucks that transport hazardous materials will typically need higher insurance limits. Any person that is injured due to the negligence of a truck driver may be able to seek aid 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 unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Kern County Semi-Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to Allan Schultz, and Susan Shultz. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. This was a preventable crash that should not have taken place. There needs to be some accountability for the victims.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Kern County semi-truck accident? Our team of truck accident 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 in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after a collision, we are here for you. You can always reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
