Who is the Victim in 80% of Fatal Big Rig Crashes?

A driver was killed in a big rig crash on eastbound I-10 in Desert Center Thursday morning. The victim was driving a Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck towing a Nissan Sentra in the right lane west of Hayfield Road near Chiriaco Summit. At about 4:04 a.m., a big rig in the left lane sideswiped the pickup truck. The impact sent both vehicles onto the right shoulder. The pickup truck separated from the Nissan and rolled over onto its roof.

The pickup truck rolled partially underneath the big rig, trapping the driver. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials responded to the crash and pronounced the driver, a 47-year-old man from Guatemala, dead at the scene. CalFire then arrived to remove the body from the vehicle.

The big rig driver, 31-year-old Fabian Padilla, sustained unknown injuries in the collision. The CHP is still investigating the big rig crash. They say alcohol and drugs were not suspected to be factors.

In 2015, 2.6 million big rigs traveled on I-10, up 37% from 2013. Considering large trucks and tractor trailers are responsible for around half a million traffic accidents every year, this increase in big rigs on one of Riverside County’s main interstates is cause for concern. While there is some risk for the driver of the big rig in these accidents, 80% of fatal big rig crashes end the other driver’s life.

“When you have a collision between a truck weighing up to 80,000 pounds and a passenger vehicle, the driver of that significantly smaller vehicle is almost always going to lose. We have to do more to deal with this obvious public safety issue,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in a truck accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.

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