22-Year-Old Motorcyclist Cyril Gayo, of Lake Elsinore, Died In Chino Big Rig Truck Accident By The Intersection of Flight Avenue and Merrill Avenue
CHINO, CALIFORNIA (June 27, 2022) – A motorcyclist identified as Cyril Gayo has died in a Chino semi-truck accident on Flight Avenue by Merrill Avenue.
San Bernardino County police officials are saying that the accident took place around 5:17 a.m. on Friday. Cyril Gayo was riding a motorcycle when they were involved in a collision with a semi-truck under unclear conditions.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Despite the best efforts of first responders, Cyril Gayo died due to the severity of their injuries.
The driver of the semi-truck remained at the scene and cooperated with police. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Anyone who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the San Bernardino County CHP.
Liability In Chino Semi-Truck Accidents
It has been estimated their nearly 10% of fatalities that occur on the highway were motorcyclists. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “When a motorcycle is involved in a collision with another vehicle, the motorcyclist invariably receives more serious injuries. The ratio of fatalities in two-vehicle collisions was 70 motorcyclist fatalities for each fatal injury sustained by the occupant of the other vehicle.” Semi-trucks pose a number of very serious and unique hazards to motorcyclists.
- Semi-trucks have a high center of gravity which makes underride collisions more likely.
- Semi-trucks have a wide turning radius that can make side-impact collisions more likely.
- Semi-trucks have large blind spots and often fail to see motorcyclists approaching from the opposite direction.
Semi-truck drivers must get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. They must follow all rules laid out in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations and are expected to be able to operate their vehicle with a high degree of vigilance. However, many semi-truck accidents occur when truck drivers make dangerous left turns. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21801, the driver of a motor vehicle intending to turn to the left must first yield the right of way to all traffic approaching from the opposite direction close enough to pose a hazard. If a truck driver makes an abrupt turn in front of a motorcyclist, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
When a truck driver is negligent and causes a fatal accident, their employer could potentially be held at fault. In general, employers are liable for the wrongful acts of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. Truck companies will often try to evade liability for collisions by hiring truck drivers as “independent contractors.” But many truck drivers are incorrectly labeled and treated as independent contractors. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any semi-truck accident.
- The employment status of the truck driver should be determined.
- The truck driver’s logbook should be examined.
- Maintenance records of the truck should be reviewed.
- Data from the truck’s event data recorder (EDR) should be downloaded.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any victim that died in a motorcycle accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through California Code of Civil Procedure 377.60. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that can come with the sudden and tragic loss of a loved one. Sadly, though, truck companies will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility for a collision. This is why preserving evidence is so important. A wrongful death attorney can investigate your case free of cost and help ensure that all relevant evidence is being preserved.
Investigating A Chino Semi-Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Cyril Gayo. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the San Bernardino CHP. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim’s family. It is our sincere hope that city officials will consider measures to help make this intersection safer.
Do you need more information about a Chino motorcycle accident? Our team of motorcycle 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 drivers are held accountable for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need more information about a specific collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
