A garbage truck accident injured three people on Interstate 80 westbound earlier this afternoon when it went down an embankment. A broken down Dodge Durango was parked in the emergency lane near Northgate Boulevard and was hit by the truck.
The garbage truck went through the guardrail and down the embankment according to the California Highway Patrol. The driver was taken to the UC Davis Medical Center with serious injuries. Two people who were next to the Durango were treated for minor injuries.
Crash Investigation
After a serious truck accident or car accident, those involved will need to cooperate with the investigation procedure. In this case, most likely the CHP will evaluate the accident scene, get statements from witnesses, and review footage from the accident, if it’s available. The negligent party will be responsible for damages to the victims and their families. A serious accident investigation can be very complicated. The police report will do its best to provide information of what happened, but should not be fully relied on as the end story.
In truck accident cases, there are many things to take into consideration that differ from car accidents. Because the driver of the truck is probably working in the scope of his employment, that changes the dynamic of the accident. There will need to be a review of the maintenance of the truck and the driving record of the driver. The truck driver will be evaluated for impairment and they will look at the hours he/she has worked to see if they were fatigued. There will also be an investigation into whether the driver was distracted at the time of the accident. If the driver was using their phone, this would be an indication of negligence on their part.
Many times in serious vehicle accident cases there will need to be a computer model that reconstructs the accident scene. Truck accident attorneys will hire an “expert witness” who specializes in reconstructing scenes based on the specifics of the accident itself. While the driver himself is being treated for major injuries, the two people who were next to the Durango may be able to offer an eye-witness account as to what happened just before the accident occurred. If there are other witnesses, the CHP will try to find them to gather more facts about the case. Since this is only one garbage truck, it may prove not to be as complex as a multiple vehicle car crash.
If you’ve been in a Truck Accident
The first thing to do is try to get to safety, if possible. You shouldn’t put yourself or others in danger trying to move the vehicle. You should immediately call 911 and get authorities to respond to the scene as quickly as possible. Try to take pictures of the scene and gather as much information as you can, including the names and addresses of witnesses and the other driver(s). Use your smartphone to take pictures of all relevant information, including the front and back of driver’s licenses, insurance cards, and registration. These will all be very important in trying to maximize your accident claim.
If you’ve been in a truck accident, it is always best to seek guidance from a Sacramento truck accident attorney or car accident attorney as soon as possible. This will ensure that evidence remains intact and the insurance company doesn’t pull any tricks. We offer free case evaluations and can be reached at (916) 619-5452 if you or a loved one needs legal assistance.
