Hanford, CA: Fatal Big Rig Crash on Highway 198 near 7th Avenue
1 Killed in Fiery Hanford Big Rig Crash on Highway 198 near 7th Avenue
Hanford, California (August 5, 2019) – One person died in a fiery crash involving a big rig and a pickup truck Sunday night in Hanford, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The Highway 198 crash occurred at about 9:37 p.m. in the eastbound lanes near 7th Avenue.
According to CHP, for unknown reasons, a big rig went from the westbound lanes across the eastbound traffic and collided head-on with a Ford F-150. The big rig caught on fire after the impact.
The crash also left a power pole down, according to Caltrans Central Valley District 6.
One person was killed in the accident. It was not clear if there were injuries sustained in the collision.
Firefighters responded to the scene and put out the fire.
CHP is investigating the cause of the accident.
Truck accidents happen when a commercial truck collides with another vehicle, a bicycle or a pedestrian. Commercial trucks are relatively larger and heavier than other personal vehicles, and hence, when an accident occurs, victims may sustain major injuries or die in the crash.
Many truck accidents result from a variety of factors, including:
- Errors by the truck driver
The driver of the truck may trigger an accident by following the vehicle in front too closely. Trucks take a longer time to come to a stop, and following other vehicles too closely may lead to a rear-end crash.
- Fatigue that results from driving for long periods without rest. Commercial truck drivers are required to take rests after specified hours of driving. Failure to rest may cause drowsiness, which in turn leads to accidents.
- A truck driver may swerve off the road or into another lane while attempting to avoid a collision and end up colliding with other cars.
It is good to note that in addition to errors made by truck drivers, the drivers of other vehicles may also commit errors that lead to truck accidents.
- Equipment failure, weather and road conditions, goods being loosely attached, as well as pressure from trucking companies are other factors that may lead to truck accidents.
What do you do after a Truck Accident?
You need to seek legal help from a truck accident attorney. Truck accidents are relatively complicated compared to other car accidents. This is because there are various stakeholders involved in the trucking business. For example, the company hauling the goods may be different from the company owning the truck. The insurance companies covering the vehicle and goods may also be different. An expert is, therefore, needed to handle the case for a fair compensation.
Contact a Pacific Attorney Group Truck Accident Attorney at 1-800-358-9617 for help.
