[11-06-2022] Imperial County, CA – Two-Vehicle Collision Involving Box Truck on Interstate 8 Leaves Multiple Injured

Multiple people were injured following a two-vehicle collision that involved a box truck on Interstate 8 Sunday afternoon, November 6, 2022.

The collision took place at around 2:27 p.m. on Dunaway Road.

According to authorities, the Motorhome was traveling westbound west while the Box Truck was eastbound west.

The Motorhome had three occupants: a 50-year-old man from Las Vegas, Nevada, a 12-year-old girl, and a 10-year-old boy.

Meanwhile, the box truck’s occupant was a 62-year-old man from Santee, California.

Due to some reason, the box truck driver found it difficult to keep it in its lane and crossed the center median.

As a result, the two cars then collided with each other.

The box truck driver suffered minor injuries due to the collision, but he declined medical care.

The passengers of the motorhome driver also suffered minor injuries and were transported to the hospital.

When paramedics arrived, the 12-year-old female passenger was airlifted to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, while the 10-year-old male passenger was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center.

Authorities determined that everyone was wearing a seatbelt during the collision.

There is no evidence that impairment played a role in the collision, but further investigation is ongoing.

Truck Accident Statistics

In the US, a fatal semi-truck collision occurs once every fifteen minutes. Nearly 5,000 truck drivers die in the roughly 500,000 traffic accidents annually in the US.

Each year, there are 113 fatalities and nearly 3,000 injuries in truck accidents in California. Truck-related accidents in California cause 200–300 deaths or injuries yearly.

The number of fatalities from semi-truck accidents increased dramatically between 2009 and 2015. Tractor-trailer trucks contributed to more than 10% of traffic fatalities in 2015.

Tractor-trailer collisions are much deadlier than auto accidents. The main culprits are big-rig trucks because of their size and weight. Longer stopping distances are required for trucks carrying a lot of cargo.

Large trucks must be kept at a safe following distance of four seconds, as determined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration when traveling at less than 40 mph. If you are going more than 40 miles per hour, you should add a second to the calculation.

Reliable Truck Accident Lawyers at Imperial County

A truck must stop for a longer distance than a car for these and other reasons. Air brakes, which pressurize the truck to increase the braking force, are found on almost all trucks. Air brakes must be correctly applied to prevent the car from jackknifing. If the brake system is out of balance, it can impact steering, control, and stopping distance.

Usually, the accident is the fault of the truck driver, their employer, and the truck manufacturers. The trucking company could be held accountable if the truck driver was improperly hired or managed. This is particularly true if the driver was a paid agent for the company.

On the other hand, if you can show that the truck’s design flaw led to the collision, the manufacturer may be liable. Do not hesitate to contact our truck accident lawyers in Imperial County if you have been in a similar accident.

Have you or a loved one ever sustained injuries from a commercial vehicle? Call (888) 488-1391 or complete our “Do I Have A Case?” form to schedule a free consultation with an experienced California truck accident attorney.