California Highway Patrol Investigates Deadly South LA Tanker Truck Crash On The 110 Freeway
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (November 21, 2024) – One person was killed and two people were injured in a South Los Angeles tanker truck accident on the 110 Freeway not far from Century Boulevard.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the accident took place around 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. A tanker truck was carrying jet fuel when it was involved in a collision with five other vehicles.
The force of the impact caused the tanker truck to overturn and leak fuel into the roadway. Its driver was able to escape by kicking out the front windshield of the vehicle.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims. One driver tragically died in the collision, and two other people were injured.
A full investigation into the cause of the collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Los Angeles County Tanker Truck Accidents
Semi-trucks account for a relatively small number of vehicles on the roadway. But they are involved in a disproportionate number of fatal and serious injury collisions. According to the National Safety Council, “A total of 5,936 people died in large-truck crashes in 2022. The number of deaths increased 2% from 2021 and is up 49% in the last 10 years. The majority of deaths in large-truck crashes are occupants of other vehicles (70%), followed by truck occupants (19%), and non-occupants, primarily pedestrians and bicyclists (11%).” There are a number of reasons that semi-trucks can be particularly dangerous.
- A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh 80,000 lbs, thereby making even a low-impact collision catastrophic.
- A semi-truck traveling 65 mph can take the length of two football fields to come to a stop.
- Semi-trucks have large blind spots that may obscure the presence of smaller vehicles.
Semi-truck drivers will have to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL). They are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Despite this, speeding remains a major cause of fatal semi-truck accidents. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, “No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.” If a truck driver fails to slow down prior to a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. There may be numerous liable parties for any truck collision.
- The company that a truck driver worked for could be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees.
- A city or government municipality that maintained a road could be liable for a collision if it was caused by a dangerous condition on public property.
- The company that loaded a semi-truck could also be held at fault. Trucks have carrying capacities and weight limits. Exceeding these limits can dramatically increase the odds that a crash will occur.
One of the main causes of truck accidents is driver fatigue. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control estimated that staying awake for only 18 hours can reduce a person’s ability to drive safely, equal to driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05%. Part of the problem is that many truck companies will push their drivers to complete their routes on unrealistic delivery schedules, which can make them dangerously fatigued. It is important that victims of truck accidents understand that they do have rights. The family of any person killed in a semi-truck accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.
Investigating Los Angeles County Tanker Truck Accidents
We at Samer Habbas & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the person killed in this South LA tanker truck accident. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the California Highway Patrol. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County tanker truck accident? Our team of Los Angeles County truck accident attorneys is here for you. 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 any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 949-727-9300.
