Eureka Fatal Underride Crash

"Tears" by Rob. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic. 

Eureka Fatal Underride Crash

I’m Ed Smith, an Eureka car accident lawyer. In Eureka, on Tuesday, September 5, 2017, a Humboldt County resident lost their life after receiving major traumatic injuries in an underride accident.

Accident Info

Officers of the Eureka Police Department (EPD) responded to the collision at around 8:47 p.m. after they received a call indicating that somebody may have been seriously hurt. EPD reported that the accident took place on Railroad Avenue just north of West Wabash Avenue when a red Toyota pickup collided with a parked flatbed tractor-trailer truck.

Officers noted that the collision caused the pickup to underride the tractor-trailer and come to a stop underneath the flatbed, causing major damage to the front end and top of the smaller vehicle.

Injuries

When responders got to the wreck, they discovered that the single occupant of the pickup, identified as 22-year-old Kendall Schroeder, had sustained major traumatic head injuries. Medical officials soon pronounced Schroeder dead at the scene of the accident.

No other persons or vehicles were reported to have been involved in this collision.

We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Schroeder in this difficult time.

Investigation

EPD is currently conducting an investigation with hopes of finding out why this tragic accident happened. Officials have not yet determined whether drugs or alcohol were involved in the accident and are looking into factors such as faulty vehicle parts, the actions of other drivers on the roadway, vehicle speed, faulty roadway design, and more.

Underride Accidents

Underride accidents describe accident scenarios in which a small vehicle slides underneath a larger vehicle. These accidents are very dangerous due to the vulnerability of the heads of occupants in smaller vehicles. Because passenger vehicles don’t have much protection on the upper portion, underride accidents can often cause catastrophic injuries.

Common causes of vehicle underride accidents include vehicles tailgating trucks, motorists not noticing trucks due to rainy or foggy conditions, or negligent actions performed by truck drivers.

Since the year 1993, truck trailers are legally mandated to have reflective tape along the sides of and rear-end of the vehicle. However, many older trailers have not had these alterations made.

Wrongful Death

It is never easy to say goodbye to somebody that you care about. Those struggling with loss often feel despondent and calling a lawyer might seem far-off. However, having legal representation in the early stages of a case of wrongful death can help to prevent responsible parties from obscuring evidence that could be vital to your case.

The various deadlines, paperwork, and more can be overwhelming to those in a period of mourning. Calling a lawyer can help ease your mind and give you the time you need to focus on the important task of healing emotionally.

More from Eureka Car Accident Lawyer, Ed Smith

Eureka Car Accident Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, an Eureka car accident lawyer. If you’ve lost somebody you love in an accident, call me at (707) 564-1900 for friendly and free advice. If you are calling from elsewhere, you can use (800) 404-5400 toll free. You can also reach me online at AutoAccident.com.

Since 1982, I have provided assistance to Eureka residents with wrongful death and personal injury cases, helping them to obtain the money they deserve.

My clients have reviewed my work on Yelp, Google, and Avvo.

I’m in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a group of United States trial lawyers that have previous verdicts or settlements worth over $1 million.

View our Past Settlements and Verdicts here.

Visit AutoAccident.com for up-to-date news articles on Northern California car accidents as well as information on personal injuries.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Tears by Rob. CC BY 2.0
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