Motorcyclist Died In Car Accident With Semi-Truck on Highway 152 Near Los Banos
LOS BANOS, CALIFORNIA (August 29, 2022) – A motorcyclist has died in a Los Banos semi-truck accident along Highway 152 not far from Volta Road.
Merced County officials are saying that the collision took place around 5:20 a.m. on Friday. A Harley Davidson rider was heading down the road when the driver of a 2021 Peterbilt big rig attempted to make a left turn directly in front of him.
The motorcyclist could not avoid the collision and hit the side of the semi-truck. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim.
Sadly, the person riding the Harley Davidson motorcycle died due to the severity of their injuries. Police interviewed the driver of the semi-truck who remained at the scene.
A full investigation into the Los Banos truck accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Los Banos Truck Accidents
Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured every year in semi-truck accidents. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2020, 4,842 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash, a 4% decrease from 2019 but still a 33% increase since 2011. The involvement rate per 100 million large-truck miles traveled is down 5% from 2019, but up 18% since 2011.” There are a number of factors that make semi-trucks particularly dangerous to smaller vehicles.
- Semi-trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of smaller vehicles.
- Semi-trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs and can take the length of two football fields to stop.
- Semi-trucks have a high center of gravity and are more prone to underride collisions.
All truck drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid causing accidents. A large number of truck accidents are due to truck drivers that make dangerous left turns. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21801, the driver of any vehicle intending to make a left turn must first yield the right of way to any vehicle traveling from the opposite direction that is close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement. If a truck driver makes an unprotected left turn in front of a motorcyclist, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
If a truck driver was working at the time of a collision, their employer could potentially be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees. However, truck companies will often try to evade liability for collisions by hiring drivers as “independent contractors.” It is important to determine the employment status of a truck driver at the time of a collision. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any truck accident.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
- Surveillance footage should be preserved.
- The truck’s event data recorder (EDR) should be examined.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
When a truck driver is negligent and causes a fatal collision, they can be held at fault through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the unexpected expenses that can come with the sudden loss of a loved one. Sadly, though, truck companies will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any crash. It is extremely important that all evidence is preserved after any accident.
Investigating A Merced County Car Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of the motorcyclist killed in this collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim’s family.
Do you need more information about a Los Banos truck accident? Our team of motorcycle safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. 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 more information about an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
