Personal Injury Blog

One Person Killed in Fatal Truck Accident in Burbank, California

April 1st, 2010

A disabled truck is being blamed for a fatal truck accident in Burbank, California that killed one person this week.

The accident occurred on Friday morning. According to news reports, a small passenger vehicle collided into a tractor-trailer that was stopped on the southbound 5 free way. The passenger car was wedged beneath the tractor-trailer rig. The driver died at the scene of the accident. It took emergency personnel at least three hours to remove the driver’s body from the wreckage. Investigators are still looking at the reasons for the crash. There is no information about why the tractor-trailer rig was stopped at the location.

If the truck was disabled, then the driver should have switched on his hazard lights. There is no information if the emergency lights were switched on at the time the passenger vehicle crashed into the truck.

Any accident involving a semi truck, tractor trailer or an 18-wheeler can lead to serious injuries. The huge risks for motorists when they share the highways with these massive vehicles, is the reason why truck drivers and the trucking companies that employ them, are held to such high standards of trucking safety. Trucking companies and truck drivers are subject to rules laid down by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, as well as state statutes

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration lays out at least 16 golden rules for truck and trucking companies to follow. These rules involve the hiring of safe, experienced and competent drivers. Companies are required to conduct drug and alcohol testing before they hire a driver. Besides, they must also conduct random drug and alcohol testing to ensure that intoxicated drivers are weeded out of their payroll.  Failure to do so can place the company liable in any injuries caused by a truck accident. The minimum legally allowed blood alcohol concentration level for a truck driver is .04% as opposed to .08% for the general motorist population.. Truckers caught driving at above .04% could place their employers at liability in any accidents and injuries caused as a result of intoxicated driving.

Earlier this year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also set up a website that will allow employees access to truck driver accident and inspection records. A trucking company can register at the website, and access records at a fee of $10 for every truck driver record. Records date back to 5 years in the case of accident records, and three years in case of inspection records. With the help of these records, trucking companies can find out a driver’s accident record, and make a safe decision before hiring someone.

Federal rules also lay out the maximum number of hours that a truck driver can drive at a stretch. Those currently stand at 11 consecutive hours, but the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is revising those rules. California truck accident lawyers have been very critical of the rule that allows drivers to drive for one extra hour in a 14-hour window.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of truck accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

Posted by Robert Reeves at 5:12 pm: No comments

Leave a reply



Share This Page With A Friend
Find The Reeves Law Group On

FreeConsultation

24 Hours
EASY & CONFIDENTIAL CLICK HERE ›
SPEAK TO A LAWYER NOW
1-800-644-8000

Client Testimonials

  • "I would recommend The Reeves Law Group to my family and friends for attorney representation of any bodily injury claims they might have..."

    — C.O., Los Angeles

  • "I cannot thank this firm enough. The attorneys and support staff were caring, attentive and diligent at every step of the way and produced an outstanding result in the case."

    — M.N., Orange County

  • "I am very happy with $981,932.68 The Reeves Law Group obtained for me for injuries I suffered in an automobile accident. The legal representation provided by the Reeves staff was excellent..."

    — G.D., Ventura County

  • "I appreciate the level of excellence and compassion put forth in my case. This law firm made what was stressful in the beginning a non-stressful case in the end. Thank you!"

    — J.H., Riverside

  • "I was very happy with attorney Pakiz of your office, who worked very diligently and was very courteous with me. I would not hesitate to call on or recommend your office in the future."

    — T.M., Orange County

  • "I would refer The Reeves Law Group to friends and family."

    — J.K., San Diego County

  • "I found the attorneys to be compassionate for my needs and tenacious against the insurance company representatives, while working to achieve an outstanding settlement result."

    — F.H., Los Angeles County

  • "Dear Mr. Reeves: Your representation and guidance during the pendency of my injury case are very much appreciated..."

    — A.C., Santa Ana

  • "I received great service and am very happy with the way your firm handled my case."

    — J.F., Orange County

  • "Great job on the whole process. It was a fast process, and there was always someone for me to talk to."

    — D. H., Rialto

  • "We came to you from another law firm that didn't help. Your offices made us feel like we were your only clients. Thank you so much for the terrific service!"

    — R.L. and E.L., Orange County

  • "Great job - great damages recovery! Thank you Mr. Reeves and staff for quality legal representation and results in my personal injury case."

    — M.I., Riverside County

Helpful Links

Our Blog Over 3,000 Articles Daily articles on Personal injury news & analysis
Click Here ►
Our Guarantee If there is no recovery you don't pay a fee
Learn More ►
Video Library A helpful resource for your injury case
Click Here ►