Big-Rig Driver Causes Crash in Riverside
A distracted driver of a semi truck may have been responsible for a multi-vehicle crash in Riverside on the eastbound side of Highway 91 that involved four cars and sent three people to the hospital, according to a recent report.
The accident, which occurred west of Central Avenue, prompted closure of all of the highway except for part of the westbound lanes and caused massive traffic delays that stretched for seven miles, according to sources at the California Highway Patrol.
The 55-year-old truck driver apparently took his eyes off the road while searching for a water bottle. He did not realize that traffic ahead of him had slowed and could not stop in time to avoid rear-ending a Nissan Sentra. The Sentra then struck a Ford F-150. The truck continued forward and struck a Chevy Camaro and a Chevy Suburban, which rolled over, before coming to a stop on top of a Chrysler 200.
The victims of the various accidents included the 18-year-old driver of the Sentra; the driver of the Suburban; and the driver of the Chrysler 200, who suffered critical injuries and had to be extracted from the car. Another victim in a Honda Civic suffered minor injuries that were treated at the scene. One other car, a Nissan Armada, was also hit by one of the other vehicles, but the driver suffered no injuries.
Multi-Vehicle Crashes and Liability
Multi-vehicle crashes often result in very confusing liability issues. While it may be clear who caused the initial crash, there may be questions about the various levels of liability of other drivers. For example, when one vehicle is hit from behind and pushed into another car, was the victim of the first impact too close to the second car for safety? If so, that victim might also become a responsible party in the accident.
In order to sort out who is liable for each segment of a multi-vehicle crash, it may be helpful to have the assistance of an accident reconstruction expert. In these cases, a personal injury attorney may be able to help.
Daniel M. Gilleon of San Diego has been working with victims of accidents for years and has a strong relationship with many experts in the field of accident reconstruction and other areas. With his help, victims may be able to recover compensation for their injuries, even in confusing multi-vehicle crash situations. Call today for a free consultation.
