Driver Appeared To Lose Control Before Fatal Box Truck Accident on Lankershim Boulevard in San Fernando Valley
SUN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA (April 1, 2025) – One person has tragically died in a collision between a passenger vehicle and a box truck along Lankershim Boulevard in Sun Valley.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place around 7:00 PM on March 18. A passenger vehicle was driving down the roadway when the driver may have lost control before being hit by a large box truck.
Surveillance footage from a local business was able to capture the collision. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victims.
One of the tires may have come off of the passenger vehicle before it then collided with a parked pickup truck. Sadly, one person died due to the severe nature of their injuries.
A full investigation of the Sun Valley box truck accident remains ongoing.
Liability for Sun Valley Truck Accidents
Los Angeles County is a central hub for many transportation and logistics businesses. As a result, there are many truck accidents in LA every year. These crashes can take place for many different reasons. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Elements that influence the occurrence of a crash may take place hours, days, or months before the crash. They include driver training and experience, vehicle design and manufacture, highway condition and traffic signaling, and weather conditions.” There are a number of reasons that larger trucks can be particularly dangerous.
- Trucks have a high ground clearance, which can lead to vehicles being pulled underneath the hood.
- Trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of other vehicles.
- Trucks have much longer stopping distances.
- Trucks have a wide turning radius, which can increase the likelihood of side impact collisions.
All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid collisions. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, no person shall operate a motor vehicle at a speed greater than would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the highway. If a truck driver fails to slow down in order to avoid a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Liability for any truck accident could extend beyond a driver. The company that manufactured a vehicle could potentially be held responsible. Companies have a legal obligation to ensure that their vehicles are reasonably safe. If a design defect contributed to an accident, this could form the basis of a strict product liability claim. There are a number of defects with a vehicle that may have inadvertently contributed to an accident or otherwise made it more severe.
- The treads on a tire may have come apart.
- The brakes on a vehicle may have stopped functioning.
- The suspension on a vehicle may fail.
- The roof on a vehicle may completely cave in following an accident.
Car accidents are often highly preventable. They tend to involve some amount of human error. But in many circumstances, issues with a vehicle beyond human error could easily contribute to a collision. It is important that all of the factors that caused an accident are properly understood. Victims of truck accidents are protected by a number of laws. In particular, when a person dies, their surviving family members are able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Los Angeles County Truck Accidents
We at Samer Habbas & Associates PC extend our deepest condolences to the family of the person who died in the Sun Valley truck accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to authorities. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to make the section of road safer so that other tragedies may be averted.
Do you need more information about a Sun Valley truck accident? Our team of roadway safety advocates is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected under the law. We can investigate any accident and help identify all potentially liable parties. This may include vehicle manufacturers and municipal entities that constructed a roadway. Whether you just have legal questions or would like a risk-free consultation about your particular situation, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 949-727-9300.
