Trucking Collisions
On April 11, a bus trip to Humboldt State University took a tragic turn on Interstate 5 near the California town of Orland. Ten passengers were killed and another 30 were injured when a FedEx truck struck a sedan before crashing into the bus carrying dozens of prospective college students.
According to a California Highway Patrol dispatcher, the tour bus and the FedEx truck were originally on opposite sides of the interstate. After sideswiping a car, the truck reportedly crossed over a grassy median and struck the tour bus, without applying the brakes. In the wake of the collision, both vehicles caught fire and were severely burned.
The crash killed both drivers as well as five students and three chaperones. Sadly, this tragedy shines a spotlight on trucking collisions and the need for increased safety measures on U.S. highways.
In the wake of this crash, the National Transportation Safety Board has spoken out about the importance of implementing seatbelt, emergency exit and fire-safety rules to protect bus passengers. Sharing highways with commercial vehicles increases the chance of dangerous or even fatal collisions.
The facts speak for themselves: one out of nine traffic fatalities in 2008 resulted from a collision involving a large truck, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The organization reports that, of the fatalities resulting from crashes involving large trucks, 74 percent were occupants of another vehicle, 10 percent were non-occupants and 16 percent were occupants of a large truck.
Did you know:
- Nearly 90 percent of commercial truck collisions are caused or worsened by some sort of human error—either on behalf of a truck driver, other drivers, other vehicle passengers, cyclists or pedestrians.
- Approximately 75 percent of commercial truck collisions are caused by drivers of other smaller passenger vehicles, rather than the truck driver.
- Driver fatigue is responsible for roughly 30 percent of all commercial truck collisions.
- About 130,000 individuals are injured each year in truck collisions.
- About 22 percent of all truck accidents result in injuries.
Harris Lowry Manton can help if you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking collision. Our experienced attorneys can investigate accidents on a case-by-case basis. Contact us today to discuss your legal options. All information is kept strictly confidential, and the consultation is free.
RELATED MEDIA:
https://www.cnn.com/2014/04/11/us/california-bus-crash/index.html?c=homepage-t
https://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811158.pdf
https://www.texomashomepage.com/story/d/story/ten-people-dead-in-fiery-california-crash/11035/FgScnlq-Gkq8nGGkAthDXA
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