Fatal Crash Closes Lanes on 405 Freeway

On early Tuesday morning, an accident involving a big rig and an SUV resulted in the closure of multiple lanes of the 405 freeway northbound in the Sepulveda Pass. According to reports of the incident, at least two vehicles – one big rig and an SUV – were involved in the crash. The accident occurred near the Bel Air Crest Road at approximately 4 a.m. Apparently, the big rig hit the stalled SUV. The impact killed a man in the SUV. A woman also sustained injuries in the crash. All lanes were reopened shortly before 11 a.m. There is no information regarding the specific cause of the accident. Were you or a member of your family affected by the accident mentioned above or any similar accident? Whether you suffered injuries or a member of your family died in an accident involving a big rig, it is important that you explore the possibility of pursuing a claim. Depending on the specific details of the incident, you might have grounds to pursue a claim. If you would like to learn more about your right to pursue a claim for the harm that you or a member of your family suffered, do not hesitate to seek the expertise of the lawyers at Downtown L.A. Law Group. At Downtown L.A. Law Group, our lawyers have many years of experience handling all sorts of accidents, including truck accidents like the one described above. When you contact our firm and allow our experts to handle your claim, you can be certain that our lawyers will do everything within their reach to guide your claim towards a successful outcome. Do not hesitate to contact our firm today.

The Possible Causes of Truck Accidents

There are many possible causes of accidents involving both commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles. Both the drivers of the passenger vehicles and the drivers of the commercial vehicles could be at fault under different circumstances. Some of the common causes associated with these accidents include the following:

• Speeding
• Disregarding traffic signals (stop signs or lights)
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Cutting other vehicles off
• Tailgating
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Driving distracted (using mobile devices)

However, there are a number of causes that are strictly associated with truck drivers and the type of work that they do. Consider the following points:

• Truck drivers do not have the appropriate license (a special license is required to drive commercial vehicles)
• Truck drivers do not have the appropriate training
• Truck drivers are overworked (long hours with no breaks)
• Truck drivers are fatigued (fall asleep or doze off at the wheel)
• Truck drivers are forced to adhere to strict deadlines

Based on the details of the accident above, the truck driver might likely be at fault. The incident report claims that the big rig crashed into the stalled SUV. It is unclear whether the SUV was stalled in a lane of the freeway or on the shoulder. It is also unknown whether the SUV had its emergency lights on. There are many questions surrounding the accident. Did the truck driver see the stalled SUV? Was the truck driver distracted while driving? Did the truck driver try to stop? Was the truck driver fatigued? Did the truck driver fall asleep at the wheel? Was the truck driver speeding? Regardless of the specific cause of the accident, it is important for all parties involved and affected by the accident to know that someone could be held liable.

Liability for Truck Accidents

In general, all drivers on the road owe each other a specific duty of care. All drivers must exercise caution while driving to ensure that they do not cause any accidents that could potentially harm others. When drivers exercise any sort of recklessness (like speeding, tailgating, and weaving in out of traffic), they are breaching their duty of care towards other drivers. When a breach of duty directly leads to an accident that results in injuries or deaths, the party that breached his or her duty of care while behind the wheel could be liable for all the harm suffered. If a truck driver is found to be at-fault for an accident, the truck driver’s employer could also face liability. For more information about possible liability for truck accidents, like the one mentioned above, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with our experts as soon as possible.

Call (855) 339-8879 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form today.

You Could Sue and Receive Compensation

After establishing liability, you could pursue a claim against the liable party or entity. Depending on the specific details of the harm that was suffered, you might be eligible to recover at least some sort of compensation. How much compensation could you receive? What type of compensation could you be eligible to recover? The type and among of compensation that you could receive will always depend on the details of your claim. Some of the common categories of compensation available for recovery include the following:

• Medical costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Funeral costs
• Burial costs
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages

For an in-depth evaluation of your claim to determine the specific type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive, do not hesitate to contact our firm immediately. Our truck accident experts are ready to fight for your right to recover the highest amount of compensation available for your claim. If you would like our lawyers to help you recover the compensation that you deserve, contact us immediately.

Important Steps to Consider

After any sort of vehicular accident, it is essential that the parties involved take very specific actions to ensure that they preserve their right to sue. You should consider the following steps:

• Seek medical attention as soon as possible
• Photograph all the injuries suffered
• Photograph the scene of the accident
• Gather the information of all parties involved (name and contact information)
• Gather insurance information
• Gather witness information
• Gather all documents or records associated with the accident and the harm suffered
• Seek legal assistance immediately

Learn more about your legal options: call (855) 339-8879 to speak with a representative now.

Even if you have missed a few important steps, seeking legal assistance immediately will ensure that your claim is on the right track towards eventually reaching a successful outcome. If you would like to learn more about the importance of following the different steps mentioned above, do not hesitate to contact our firm at your earliest convenience.

The Statute of Limitations

In addition to taking the steps mentioned above, the parties interested in taking legal action after truck accidents have to ensure that they have a thorough understanding of the statute of limitations that applies to their claims. A statute of limitations is a deadline – it determines the specific length of time that claimants have to file their claims. If claimants do not file their claims within the time set by the statute of limitations, they will likely lose their right to sue. In California, injury and wrongful death claims are typically subjected to a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that affected parties only have two years to file. However, many exceptions could apply – tolling or pausing the applicable statute of limitations. Considering the fact that those with legitimate claims could lose their right to sue if they fail to file within the time allowed by the statute of limitations, you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible.

Contact Our Firm Today

There is nothing that could prepare you for dealing with the aftermath of a truck accident, especially if you or a member of your family suffered significant harm. However, with the appropriate legal assistance, you could prepare to take legal action against the party or entity liable for the tragic accident. If you are interested in filing a claim and fighting for your right to recover compensation, do not hesitate to contact Downtown L.A. Law Group as soon as possible. At our firm, we are ready to provide you with the representation that you need to sue and recover the compensation that you deserve. We offer free legal services (free consultations and free second opinions) that allow all affected parties regardless of financial situation to speak to our lawyers. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns. These free legal services are available as part of our Zero-Fee guarantee, which ensures that our clients never have to pay any upfront costs for our legal services. Our firm is also based on contingency; therefore, our clients will not be responsible for paying any legal fees until after reaching a successful claim outcome. If you do not win, you will not be required to pay us anything – do not hesitate to contact our law firm immediately.