Jerome Reed (Full Name: Jerome Dion Reed) Injured In Shafter Cement Truck Accident Following Tire Blowout On Lerdo Highway West of Scaroni Avenue
KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (October 24, 2022) – A cement truck driver identified as Jerome Reed was injured in a tire blowout accident on Lerdo Highway.
Buttonwillow CHP are saying that the accident took place around 10:07 a.m. on Thursday. Jerome Reed was driving a 2015 Peterbilt three-axle cement truck on the Lerdo Highway when one of the tires failed.
The tire failure caused the cement truck to travel through eastbound lanes of traffic and overturn before going into an orchard and parked vehicles. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim.
Jerome Reed was extricated from the cement truck and taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment for major injuries. A full investigation into the cement truck accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Shafter Cement Truck Accidents
Accidents involving tire blowouts may seem like freak occurrences, but they are actually fairly common. According to U Tires, there are an average of 33,000 accidents that happen every year due to tire blowouts. Larger vehicles such as vans and SUVs were the most likely to be involved in tire blowouts and rollovers. There are a number of factors that could potentially contribute to a tire blowout accident.
- Inadequate tire pressure
- Improper tire tread depth
- Previous tire damage
- Overloading
When a worker is injured on the job, they will typically have recourse through a worker’s compensation claim. Worker’s compensation in California is based off of a no-fault insurance scheme. There is no need for an injured worker to demonstrate liability for a crash. Depending on the facts of any case, an injured worker may be able to seek aid through a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident.
The company that created the tires for a cement truck could potentially be liable for a collision. Companies have a legal obligation to create products that are reasonably safe. To that end, tires should be adequately designed and tested to hold up under normal wear and tear. If a tire blowout was due to some design defect, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. For example, the outer parts of a tire wall and tread may not have properly bonded during the manufacturing phase. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any tire blowout accident.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The tire involved in the blowout should be preserved.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
It can be difficult to know where to begin after a serious collision. But it is important to remember that accident victims do have rights. Any person that is injured in a tire blowout accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that can come with a serious collision. Unfortunately, tire companies will often do everything in their power to avoid liability for any crash. A product liability attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Shafter Cement Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to Jerome Reed as he continues to recover from this crash. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar crashes. No worker should ever have to fear for their lives as they are performing their job duties.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a tire blowout accident? Our team of consumer safety advocates 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.
