Fatal Truck Accident on I-5 in Merced County
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) released a recent report of a fatal truck accident on I-5 in Merced County. The incident occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at the intersection of Highway 140 and Interstate 5.
Details on the Fatal Truck Accident on SR-140 and I-5 in Merced County
CHP traffic officers with the Los Banos area office responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash at Interstate 5 and SR-140 shortly after 2:10 p.m. Upon arrival, authorities located a 2011 Hyundai Sonata and a 2020 Peterbilt truck. A preliminary investigation revealed that the Peterbilt was driven by a 40-year-old Delhi man headed eastbound on State Route 140 while the Hyundai was driven by a 68-year-old Las Vegas man traveling northbound on the I-5 off-ramp.
The Peterbilt and the Hyundai reportedly collided at the intersection with the front of the semi-truck, allegedly striking the front driver’s side of the Hyundai. The impact of the collision caused the Hyundai to come to a rest along the north shoulder of SR-140. The Hyundai sustained major damage in the crash, while the Peterbilt was left with moderate damage and found along the south shoulder of State Route 140.
The Peterbilt driver was uninjured in the traffic collision, according to authorities. Sadly, the Hyundai driver and his passenger, a 66-year-old woman also from Las Vegas, NV., succumbed to their injuries at the scene. The Merced County Coroner’s Office has recently identified the decedents as Xu Zhao and Song Xiuming. Additional information on the fatal truck accident in Merced County was not immediately released by officials due to an ongoing investigation into the incident and its cause.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help Your Family
When you turn to our legal team at AutoAccident.com to handle your wrongful death case, you can depend on us to conduct an immediate independent investigation and start gathering the evidence necessary to obtain a successful resolution in your claim. Some of the ways our Merced truck accident lawyers build strong cases for fair compensation include:
- Send a Letter of Preservation of Evidence: Truck drivers and trucking companies are required by law to keep detailed records. However, some truckers and trucking companies may not comply with such regulations. That is why it is essential for a letter of preservation of evidence to be sent out to the at-fault driver and the trucking company to ensure that specific evidence related to the incident is preserved before it is lost or destroyed over time.
- Demand Documents from the Truck Firm: Our legal team will request that the trucking company turns over any documents related to the semi-truck accident in question. We will examine all documents to determine whether the truck driver or the trucking company has committed any state or federal violations. This may include determining whether the trucker had the proper qualifications to operate the large commercial truck, had the necessary supervision and training credentials, was following the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations and whether the trucking company administered a drug and alcohol test on the driver and conducted a background check to determine whether the trucker had a good driving record.
- Work with Accident Reconstruction Experts: When there are disputes regarding liability for a fatal commercial truck accident, it is often necessary to work with expert witnesses such as an accident reconstruction expert to properly determine fault. Experts in the field can evaluate data from the black box of the big rig, inspect the damage to the vehicles involved, and reconstruct the tractor-trailer collision through the use of animations. This may make all the difference in helping a judge and a jury understand how the big rig crash occurred and who is responsible for it.
- Meet All Filing Criteria and Deadlines: Wrongful death claims are subject to a strict filing deadline known as the statute of limitations. It is generally two years from the date of loss, as outlined in the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. However, it may be reduced to as little as 180 days in cases involving government agencies. When you entrust your case to our team of Merced wrongful death lawyers, you can rest assured that all filing criteria and deadlines in your case will be met accordingly.
Learn more about our legal team by watching this video.
How Our Law Firm Can Help Your Family
At our law firm, we recognize that no amount of money may undo the pain and devastation that comes with losing someone you love in an accident that was caused by a negligent driver. However, California law allows a family who has lost a member to hold the negligent party accountable for their actions through a wrongful death claim. Compensation from this type of case may help provide the financial relief survivors need to move forward from the situation.
Holding a negligent truck driver or trucking company liable for damages incurred may also bring attention to an issue and prevent a tragedy from happening to another family in the future. Contact us today to learn more about the claims process and how our legal team can help guide you and your family through it.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Merced
I’m Ed Smith, a Merced personal injury lawyer. If you have lost a member of your family due to the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company in Merced County or elsewhere in California, call our experienced accident attorneys today for compassionate, free, and friendly advice at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. You can depend on our legal team at AutoAccident.com to hold at-fault parties accountable for the loss of your loved one. Our law firm has the skills, knowledge, and resources to make this possible on your behalf. The best part about working with us is that we handle cases under a contingency fee agreement meaning there is no fee unless we obtain a favorable outcome.
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Our experienced attorneys at our law firm have helped many families like yours obtain the justice and fair compensation they deserve following the loss of a loved one in a commercial truck accident. Let us put our knowledge, skills, and resources to work for you and your case. See how we have resolved cases on behalf of past clients by visiting our Verdicts and Settlements page.
Photo Source: By “StockSnap” via Pixabay
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