South Seattle College Student Yohana Ayele Died In Mountlake Terrace Car Accident After Hitting Mattress That Fell Off Truck On Interstate 5
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (April 8, 2022) – A South Seattle College student identified as Yohana Ayele has tragically died in a Mountlake Terrace car accident on Interstate 5.
Snohomish County officials are saying that the accident took place on Monday. A mattress fell off of a semi-truck and went directly into the path of a car driven by Yohana Ayele.
The victim swerved in order to avoid the collision and collided with a semi-truck. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.
Despite life-saving measures, Yohana Ayele later died due to the severity of her injuries. It remains unclear if the truck driver hauling the mattress will face any citations following the crash.
Liability In Seattle Car Accidents Involving Unsecured Loads
Car accidents involving furniture that fell off of a vehicle may seem like a freak occurrence. But these collisions are actually very common. According to one report from USA Today, there are around 50,000 car accidents every year due to furniture or other debris that fell onto the roadway. These collisions result in around 125 deaths and 9,800 injuries annually. Debris tends to be more of a hazard on interstate highways, which is where about 1/3 of these crashes happen. There are a number of steps that drivers should take to properly secure their loads.
- If the driver is in a commercial truck, they should make sure that the back cargo door is properly latched.
- Objects must be properly tied down and secure to the vehicle.
- Each tiedown must be secure so that it does not become loose.
- Cargo that is likely to roll must be secured by chocks, wedges or a cradle.
It is illegal to not properly secure a load in Washington state. Pursuant to Maria’s Law, “A person who causes an injury or death by failing to secure a load properly can be charged with a gross misdemeanor and can face a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. […] Victims of such crimes are eligible for money from the state’s Crime Victims Compensation program.” In addition to criminal sanctions, drivers that cause accidents due to failing to secure their loads may be liable for civil damages.
Depending on the specific facts of any case, liability could extend beyond the driver that failed to secure their load. For example, if a truck driver was working and caused an accident after failing to secure their load, their employer could be vicariously liable. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. Similarly, a cargo loader could be liable for such an accident if their negligence contributed to furniture coming loose during a ride.
Even if the driver of a truck was just an ordinary civilian and not working, there could still be corporate liability for a crash involving a loose mattress. Many people buy mattresses from furniture stores and then request to have their purchase secured. If this is the case, the furniture store whose employee secured the mattress could be liable for the crash. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any accident involving furniture that fell onto the road.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The person who secured the furniture should be identified.
- The employment status of the driver carrying the load should be understood.
The family of any victim that died in a car accident involving furniture that fell onto the road may have recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages can help cover lost wages, medical bills and funeral expenses. If the victim survived for some period of time after a collision their family may also be able to pursue a survival action claim. Sadly, though, companies will often fight hard to deny any responsibility for an accident involving furniture that fell into the roadway. A Seattle wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Liability In Seattle Car Accidents Involving Unsecured Loads
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Yohana Ayele. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. This was a senseless and preventable tragedy that should not have taken place. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of the victim’s family.
Do you need more information about a Seattle car accident involving debris in the roadway? Our team of roadway safety experts are here to answer any legal 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 any particular accident we are here for you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
