Richard Smith, of Corning, Died In Orland Truck Accident on County Road 99W By County Road 7
ORLAND, CALIFORNIA (March 29, 2022) – A man from Corning identified as Richard Smith has tragically died in a big rig truck accident on County Road 99W by County road 7.
Glenn County police officials are saying that the accident took place on Monday. Richard Smith was traveling down the road when he was involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer truck making a turn onto County Road 7.
The truck hit the victim’s vehicle which forced the car into a power pole. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim.
Despite life-saving measures, Richard Smith died from his injuries. It remains unclear if the driver of the semi-truck will receive any citations following the crash.
Liability In Orland Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks are essential for the economy. The vast majority of goods that are purchased every year spend some amount of time in transit on a truck. But commercial trucks can also be very dangerous and are involved in many fatalities every year. According to the FMCSA, “In 2019, 4,805 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes. According to MCMIS, 60,744 large trucks were involved in injury crashes, and 110,256 were involved in towaway crashes.” There are a number of steps that can be taken in order to reduce the number of truck accidents.
- Truck drivers should be properly trained. Driving a commercial truck is substantially more difficult than driving a passenger vehicle.
- Commercial trucks should be regularly maintained.
- Truck drivers must follow all state and federal regulations. This includes taking periodic breaks to ensure drivers are well rested.
Fatigue, in particular, is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. Truck drivers work long hours at all times of the day when they would otherwise be asleep. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that staying awake for only 18 hours can reduce a person’s driving capacity equivalent to driving with a BAC of 0.05%. For perspective, it is illegal for truck drivers to operate their vehicle with a BAC of 0.04% or higher.
Truck drivers must exercise due care and take steps to avoid collisions. This is especially true when truck drivers are attempting to turn in the roadway. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22017, no person shall turn a vehicle to the right or left until such a movement can be made with reasonable safety. If a truck driver turned in front of a vehicle prior to a crash, there is a good chance they will be held at fault. There are a number of steps that should be taken after a truck collision.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be sought.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
The family of any victim that died in a truck accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and funeral expenses. Sadly, though, truck companies will fight hard to deny any liability for accidents involving their drivers. A truck accident attorney can investigate the facts of your case free of cost and get to the bottom of what caused an accident.
Investigating An Orland Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Richard Smith. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened for the sake of all who have lost so much. The vast majority of truck accidents are totally preventable.
Do you need more information about an Orland truck accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys 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 a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
