52-Year-Old Man Critically Injured In Petaluma Big Rig Truck Accident On Highway 101
PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA (July 27, 2022) – A 52-year-old pedestrian was seriously injured in a Petaluma semi-truck accident by the Washington Street exit of Highway 101.
Sonoma County officials are saying that the collision took place around 12:20 p.m. on Tuesday. A man was sitting on the side of the off-ramp when he was hit by a semi-truck turning left onto Washington Street.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. He was rushed to the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries.
Petaluma police interviewed the driver of the semi-truck who remained at the scene. A full investigation into the collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Petaluma Semi-Truck Accidents
Semi-trucks are essential for the economy. They transport most of the goods that are bought and sold every year. But they can be particularly dangerous to pedestrians for a number of reasons. According to the IIHS, “Truck braking capability can be a factor in truck crashes. Loaded tractor-trailers require 20-40 percent more distance than cars to stop, and the discrepancy is greater on wet and slippery roads or with poorly maintained brakes.” There are numerous other factors that could potentially contribute to a crash.
- Semi-trucks have large blind spots that can easily obscure the presence of pedestrians.
- Truck drivers often work long hours and may become dangerously fatigued.
- A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 80,000 lbs. Even a low impact collision can be catastrophic.
Truck drivers will typically need to get a commercial driver’s license. They are held to a high standard in terms of safety and must do everything in their power to avoid collisions. To this end, they must recieve specialized training to be able to handle their vehicle safely. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21950, the driver of any vehicle must exercise due care and reduce their speed in order to avoid hitting any pedestrian upon a roadway. If a driver fails to exercise due care and hits a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
The company that owned a semi-truck could potentially be liable for a collision. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful acts of their employee drivers – insofar as those workers were operating within the course of their job duties. However, truck companies will often seek to avoid liability for crashes by hiring their drivers 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.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- The event data recorder (EDR) of the truck should be examined.
- Medical records should be preserved.
The FMCSA requires most commercial trucks to carry between $750,000 – $5,000,000 worth of liability insurance. Trucks that carry hazardous material will typically need higher insurance limits. Any person that is injured due to the negligence of a truck driver may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. A pedestrian accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Sonoma County Semi-Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to the man injured in this Petaluma truck accident. It is our sincere hope that he will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There are so many questions that need to be answered. Was the semi-truck driver involved in this crash distracted? Were they properly licensed? Were they paying attention to the road ahead of them?
Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligence of a truck driver? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of pedestrian 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 in order to recover. Whether you 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.
