Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman of our law firm are representing a family whose loved one was rear ended by a semi truck in San Bernadino County, California. The investigation conducted by the sheriff’s department found the truck driver at fault and recommended charges be filed against him. Fred and Eric are seeking compensation for the family in a civil action.
Fatal Rear-End Collision Case Facts
Vehicle 1 (V-1), a semi-tractor hauling a loaded trailer, was driving westbound on Air Express Way in the number 2 lane. Vehicle 2 (V-2), a car, was stalled on westbound Air Express Way in the number 2 lane with its hazard lights on. The truck driver claims that he did not see V-2 when he plowed into the back of the car, driving over a portion of it. The semi truck driver did not slow prior to rear ending the the car. The driver of the car tragically died at the scene. Fred and Eric are representing his family in a wrongful death action against the truck driver and trucking company.
Evidence of Distracted Driving
The accident investigation found evidence that the truck driver was distracted at the time of the accident. Investigators found a Thomas Guide (book of maps) on the driver’s side floorboard of the semi cab “as if it had been in the driver’s hand at the time of the accident.” A reenactment of the accident determined that there was no reason (other than distracted driving) for the truck driver not to see the stalled car in the road ahead of him.
According to the lead investigator:
“Throughout my investigation, I was unable to find any legitimate reason why [the truck driver] would not have seen V-2 in the roadway if he was driving his vehicle in a safe manner and looking at the roadway in front of him. Due to [the truck driver] driving a semi-truck, he is held at a higher standard for driving safely due to the higher probability of injury or death if his vehicle is involved in a collision. Based on my investigation, I recommend charges filed on [the semi-truck driver] for PC 192(c)(2) — Vehicular Manslaughter.”
California PC 192(c)(2) reads as follows:
“Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice [without malice means without the intent to kill]. (c) Vehicular — (2) Driving a vehicle in the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, but without gross negligence; or driving a vehicle in the commission of a lawful act which might produce death, in an unlawful manner, but without gross negligence.”
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman are lead lawyers on our Accident Law Team, which has won millions for families in wrongful death lawsuits against drivers, long-haul trucking companies, bus companies and others. They represent families throughout the United States. In 2012, they were named “Attorneys of the Year” for winning a jury verdict in a wrongful death lawsuit against a semi truck driver and the trucking company that owned the tractor-trailer rig. You can contact Fred and Eric for a free consultation here if your loved one was killed in an accident.
