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Ojai Teenagers Injured in Tractor Trailer Accident

Two teenagers from Ojai were injured when their van crashed into a tractor-trailer last week. The tractor trailer accident occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway north of Ventura. The two teenagers were traveling in a van when a tractor-trailer that was stopped on the shoulder, suddenly pulled onto the highway. The van struck the truck, and the two teenagers inside sustained moderate injuries.

The driver, an 18-year-old Ojai male was trapped in the wreckage and had to be extricated by firefighters. He has suffered fractures, head injuries and bruises. His passenger an 18-year-old woman has suffered bruises and abrasions. The truck driver was not injured in the accident. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the tractor trailer accident.

According to the Ventura County Star, the truck driver apparently failed to yield to the oncoming car. Investigations are going on, and we will have to wait for a complete investigative report to know who was at fault here. The two teenagers here meanwhile were very lucky that they did not suffer serious injuries. Accidents involving smaller vehicles like passenger cars or vans with a tractor-trailer, can result in catastrophic injuries and death. That’s the reason why there are such high standards not just for the qualifications, training and experience of the truck driver, but also for the responsibilities of the trucking company.

Regulations can be set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and individual state agencies. These rules govern the number of hours that the truck driver can drive at a stretch, his use of drugs or alcohol, his training and other factors that can impact safety. The regulations also govern the maintenance of fleets and the hiring of drivers by companies. Trucking companies are required to follow responsible hiring practices. A truck driver will have a drug test administered not just at the time of hiring, but also randomly during his employment. Truck drivers have a much lower legally allowed limit of alcohol at .04 compared to .08 for the general motorist population.

Besides, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has strong rules restricting the number of hours that drivers can drive at a stretch. The hours are limited to allow truckers a reasonable period of rest, so they can get the sleep and rest they need before they begin to drive again. Tired and drowsy truckers have been a major topic of discussion over the past couple of years. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration  is currently in the process of revising the Hours of Service rules for truck drivers in the country.

California truck accident lawyers and trucking safety groups have called for setting the Hours of Service at 10 hours at a stretch, which will allow truckers to get the rest they need. A drowsy driver can be a major risk when he’s operating a passenger car, but when he’s driving a massive 18 wheeler, the risks to the safety of other motorists in the area cannot be underestimated.

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 http://www.robertreeveslaw.com/. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us at contact@robertreeveslaw.com.

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

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