Martha Flores (Full Name: Martha Alicia Flores), Monte Johnson (Full Name: Monte Harold Johnson) Died In Arvin Semi-Truck Accident By The Intersection of Malaga Road and Sunset Boulevard
ARVIN, CALIFORNIA (September 14, 2022) – Martha Flores and Monte Johnson were two of the three people killed in an Arvin semi-truck accident by Malaga Road and Sunset Boulevard.
Kern County officials are saying that the accident took place around 10:00 p.m. on Friday. A blue 2017 Volvo tractor trailer failed to stop at a posted stop sign and broadsided a Honda driven by Martha Alicia Flores who was transporting Monte Harold Johnson.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims. Martha Flores and Monte Johnson were seriously injured in the crash and life-saving measures were attempted.
Despite the best efforts of first responders, Martha Flores and Monte Johnson both died as a result of their injuries. Police interviewed the driver of the semi-truck who remained at the scene.
A full investigation into the Arvin tractor-trailer truck crash remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Arvin Semi-Truck Accidents
Semi-trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs and can be particularly dangerous to those in passenger vehicles. 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 semi-truck accidents are preventable. There are many steps that truck drivers can take in order to prevent collisions.
- Truck drivers should be well rested before the start of their shift.
- Truck drivers should take periodic breaks during their work hours.
- Truck drivers should constantly scan the road ahead of them for hazards.
Fatigue, in particular, is one of the most common causes of semi-truck accidents. According to research from the National Transportation Safety Board, truckdriver fatigue was a contributing factor in 30 to 40 percent of all commercial truck accidents. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that staying awake for only 17 hours can reduce a person’s ability to drive safely equal to driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. Staying awake for only 24 hours further reduces a person’s driving ability equal to having a BAC of 0.10%. For reference, truck driver’s are considered intoxicated with a BAC of 0.04% or higher.
Truck drivers will typically need to get a commercial driver’s license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. A serious traffic infraction could jeopardize a truck driver’s ability to maintain their license. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22450, the driver of any vehicle approaching a stop sign must stop within the limit line and yield the right of way to all cross traffic until it is safe to proceed. Any truck driver that goes through a stop sign without yielding can be held at fault for the collision through the doctrine of negligence per se.
If a truck driver was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are 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 crashed. However, truck companies will often try to evade liability for collisions by hiring truck drivers as “independent contractors.” There are a number of steps that should be taken after any truck accident.
- The employment status of the truck driver should be determined.
- The truck’s event data recorder (EDR) should be examined.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The truck driver’s logbook should be reviewed.
When a truck driver is negligent and causes a fatal crash, they can be held accountable through a civil claim. Family members of the deceased can seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, though, truck companies will often fight hard to deny liability for any crash. This is why it is so important that all evidence is preserved after any collision.
Investigating An Arvin Semi-Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the families of Martha Flores and Monte Johnson. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the Kern County CHP. This was a preventable crash that should have never taken place. There are so many questions that need to be answered.
Do you need more information about an Arvin semi-truck accident? Our team of consumer 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 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. Se habla español.
