ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Four people were hurt in a serious accident that happened in Orange County, California on Friday, January 9th, 2015. The news reports concerning the accident said that the crash happened sometime Friday morning.
Authorities said that four people, two adults and two children were hurt when the car they were in and a flatbed truck collided while driving on the 57 Freeway. Authorities said that the flatbed truck changed lanes moments before colliding with the rear of a Toyota Camry occupied by the four victims.
All four were taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries.
The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the accident.
Scene of the Accident
View from the Road
Commentary:
If the news reports about this accident turn out to be true, then more than likely, this accident is going to be on the shoulders of the truck and their lack of situational awareness. When any vehicle, especially a large commercial vehicle like a flatbed truck makes a lane change, they need to use their high-vantage point to look down the road and make sure the path they are about to occupy is clear of slowed or stopped traffic. If the truck driver failed to do this for whatever reason, be it using a cell phone, looking for directions on their GPS, or simply finishing breakfast, then the trucking company is probably going to be faulted for this accident, barring some major details missing or omitted from the news report.
But be warned, these trucking companies, even when they’re obviously at fault still wield nearly unlimited legal resources and decades of experience handling accidents on a monthly basis to fight off claims, no matter how valid. Even though the news article paints a pretty clear picture of fault, victims shouldn’t expect the trucking company to make things right without some legal arm-twisting.
— Grossman Law Offices
