New State Bill Could Prevent More Bay Area Truck Accidents

By Kelly Balamuth on September 10, 2015

Last summer, a truck accident on Highway 17 took the life of a twenty-six year old while he was sitting in stopped traffic near Lexington Reservoir near Los Gatos. A truck hauling dirt was driving downhill and couldn’t stop; causing a 10-vehicle collision that killed the young man and injured seven more.

The driver of the truck had been driving a big rig for less than three months. He was driving with too much weight, too fast, on too steep of a grade. He jammed on his brakes but they couldn’t take all of the pressure.

Several lawsuits have been filed against the driver, the trucking company, and the company for whom the dirt was being hauled. The lawsuits alleged negligence in the driving, firing, training and supervision of the tractor trailer. The lawsuits have not been resolved at this time.

The decedent’s trying to help pass a new state bill that would require more training for big-rig drivers and help prevent crashes by inexperienced truckers. The Commercial Driving Safety Bill SB 344 would regulate all commercial driving schools under the state Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. It would require all truckers to complete a Department of Motor Vehicles-approved driving course in addition to passing the DMV’s written and driving test.
At Balamuth Law, our Bay Area wrongful death lawyers understand how devastating the loss of a loved one can be. The purpose of a wrongful death suit is to provide financial relief to family members who have been injured emotionally and financially as a result of their loved one’s death. The sudden passing of a loved one may result in a family member being expected to pay for the expenses of the accident and resulting death; such as hospital bills, funeral costs, and burial expenses.

Wrongful death cases can be difficult, fraught with emotion and loss. Our Walnut Creek personal injury attorneys respect our clients and do our best not only to maximize their recovery but also to remain as sensitive as we can to our clients’ needs while still providing aggressive representation. Please contact us today at (888) 254-1234 to find out how we can help you.